Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Promoting Inclusion And Employee Engagement To Improve Remote Teams’ Performance, Bruce Edward Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

External factors such as the pandemic have forced organizational leaders to embrace flexible work structures. Differences in remote versus collocated workplaces escalate the importance for company leaders to uncover strategies to maintain employee engagement and performance. Grounded in the organizational support theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies leaders of remote, diverse teams with high engagement and inclusion use to achieve high team performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews from a purposeful sampling of five nationally distributed managers. A thematic analysis uncovered three themes: flexible leadership behavior, fair execution of human resource policy and …

Education To Increase Nurse Knowledge And Compliance With Social Determinants Of Health Screening, Bonnie Rieger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To provide holistic care and ensure positive patient health outcomes, the social determinants of health (SDOH) must be addressed. Research demonstrates that while medical care is a contributor to wellness, the SDOH serve an influential role in patient health outcomes. There is limited literature describing how to best educate practicing nurses about SDOH concepts. The purpose of this DNP project was to provide an educational intervention to increase inpatient staff nursing knowledge of the SDOH. Sources of evidence used to create the education module included scholarly literature describing the SDOH concepts and their application to patient, community, and population health. …

Perception Of Effective Leadership Concerning Nurse Satisfaction And Intent To Leave, Tina Marie Rose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses are an essential part of patient care, and improving retention is important to quality outcomes and the cost of care. An integral aspect of nurse retention is job satisfaction, which may relate to communication provided by organizational leadership. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there was a relationship between perceived effective leadership, nurse job satisfaction, and nurse turnover intent. This potential relationship between leadership communication and nurse turnover was studied with the competing values framework as the theoretical structure. The two research questions addressed the independent variables of perceived effective leadership in a hospital setting …

Heterosexual Male Sexual Assault Victims Experience Of Challenges In Reporting Their Victimization, Jessica Lynn Rundle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify the gender specific challenges male sexual assault victims face when they report their victimization. Researchers can use their knowledge of these challenges reduce the stigmatization that is correlated with being a male sexual assault victim. The theoretical basis for this study was Joseph Pleck’s sex role strain paradigm, also known as the gender role strain paradigm. The research questions pertained to the psychological challenges that male sexual assault victims encounter when they begin seeking out services. The sample for this study consisted of eight heterosexual male participants who are sexual assault …

Relationship Between Nurse Managers’ Cultural Humility Practices And Nurse Retention, Jessica Scharfenberg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some hospital administrators experience yearly loss of human capital, resulting in economic and noneconomic consequences that require resource reallocation to sustain operations. Grounded in the cultural humility theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of their nurse managers’ (a) openness, (b) self-awareness, (c) egolessness, (d) self-reflection and critique, (e) supportive interaction, and nurse turnover intention. Participants included 142 registered nurses working in the Midwest United States. Data were collected using Foronda’s Cultural Humility Scale and the Michigan Organizational Assessment Questionnaire. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated the model could significantly predict …

Mental Health Professionals’ Perceptions Of Referrals To School-Based Mental Services Among Elementary Students, Dr. Adrienne L. Stephens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBarriers exist to the referral process for mental-health services among elementary-school students from the perspective of school-based mental-health service professionals. The problem addressed in this study was that lack of mental-health referrals can delay or prevent treatment of mental-health issues, causing those mental-health problems to worsen over time. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of school-based mental-health service professionals regarding these barriers to mental-health referrals. Pescosolido’s theory of the revised network model was the guiding conceptual framework for this study. The study was guided by research questions focused on how school-based mental-health professionals perceived …

Perceptions Of Teachers In A Private Residential Juvenile Treatment Facility, Douglas E. Stevenson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem for this study was the lack of research about what teachers consider to be the successes, the risks, and the potential dangers of working in a school prison setting. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate teacher perceptions about successes, risks, and potential dangers of teaching in a prison school setting. This research study was guided by Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, which presents a framework for the study of human motivation and personality. The research question examined teachers’ perspectives about the successes, the risks, and dangers of working in a private residential juvenile treatment facility. …

Parents’ Perceptions Of The Traits, Characteristics, And Circumstances Of Modern-Day Mass Shooters, Matt Talbot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is little research on parents’ perceptions about the traits, characteristics, and circumstances ascribed to mass shooters and the sources of information shaping these perceptions. Understanding parents’ beliefs about mass shooters and mass shootings can serve to inform approaches to training and education and recommendations for media reporting on such events. Evidence-based knowledge helps parents become more equipped to serve as early interventionists for those who may be moving along a pathway of violence. Application of Gerbner’s cultivation theory frames the process by which media sources shape perceptions. In this phenomenological qualitative study, semi structured interviews were conducted with 19 …

Sub-Saharan African Immigrants’ Experiences In Utilizing Mental Health Services In Baltimore, Helen Tanwani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMental illness is associated with poor quality of life evidenced by unemployment, homelessness, and substance abuse. Despite the adverse effects of mental illness, research has indicated that mental health-seeking behaviors and experiences in accessing mental health services among immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa are under-researched. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of sub-Saharan African immigrants in accessing mental health services in Baltimore, Maryland. To achieve the objective of this study, a descriptive research study was conducted utilizing semistructured one-on-one in-depth interviews with eight sub-Saharan African immigrants in Baltimore. Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic data analysis approach …

Role Of Racially Concordant Patient-Physician Relationships In Health Outcomes Among African American Women, Joy Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract There are gaps in the literature regarding how patient-physician racially concordant relationships affect African American women’s health. This quantitative study evaluated the effects of non-minority physician influence on the perceptions of medical mistrust, racial discrimination, and healthcare-specific racial discrimination on African American women. The behavioral model for vulnerable populations guided the study. Two research questions involved understanding the relationship between trust in the physician scale and medical mistrust and the association between racial discrimination and perceived healthcare-specific racial discrimination among African American women living in a Southern U.S. state. A stratified random sampling strategy was used to obtain a …

The Experiences And Perspectives Of Documented Hispanic Immigrants Dealing With Survivor’S Guilt, Fallon Victoria Wall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic immigrants are understudied and underserved; this is a population that continues to battle injustices and discriminatory actions due to immigration policy. The Hispanic population struggles with immigration stress and deportation, which contributes to difficulties such as psychological distress, physical health problems, acculturative stress, employment difficulties, and decreased access to support and services. In this study, a generic qualitative design was utilized to explore immigration stress and the experiences of documented Hispanic immigrants dealing with survivor’s guilt as it relates to the deportation of their loved ones. Relational cultural theory as used in the study to explore the Hispanic population, …

Strategies To Reduce Voluntary Turnover In The Automotive Manufacturing Industry, Mattie Patricia Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhen employees leave their jobs voluntarily, the unexpected loss can significantly impact a company's bottom line, including a drop in revenue, morale, and productivity. Employee turnover is a challenge for plant managers in automotive manufacturing because of the high expense of recruiting, hiring, and orienting new workers. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies plant managers in the automotive manufacturing industry use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. The participants were four Alabama manufacturing plant managers who reduced excessive employee turnover. Semistructured interviews and available public information were used to collect data. …

Enrollment In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math Courses After Enactment Of Texas' House Bill 5, Carlana Cla'shette Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student participation and performance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) have been an education concern in the United States for years. In 2013, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 5 (HB5) to support increases in STEM awareness, particularly among ethnic minority and female students. To date, no studies have been conducted on the impact, if any, of HB5 on Texas high school students’ course selections in STEM areas. Further, it is unknown whether the impact that does exist is equally distributed across socioeconomic status (SES), race/ethnicity, and gender groups. The purpose of this nonexperimental correlational quantitative study was to determine …

Doctoral Students’ Motivations To Complete A Degree In Education Online, Terence Branch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enrollment in online doctoral programs is increasing; however, 41% of these students do not graduate. Student achievement in online learning depends on motivation. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore doctoral students’ perspectives on how educational technology supports their motivation to earn a degree in education. Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory comprised the conceptual framework that guided this study. Research questions were designed to investigate if online technology supports doctoral students’ basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 participants who earned doctorates online. Thematic analysis was employed to …

U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Women Career Barriers To Success, Angela Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Active-duty military, senior female enlisted leaders in grades E7-E9 are underrepresented in the Navy due to navigating organizational, social, and cultural barriers. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenology study was to explore the lived experiences of U.S. Navy retired senior enlisted women who served in pay grades E7-E9 in the United States, overcame career barriers, and achieved success in a male-dominated organization. This transcendental phenomenological study’s research questions focused on the experiences of U.S. Navy senior enlisted women who overcame career barriers and achieved career success in a male-dominated organization. The career resilience framework was used to assess the …

Managerial Strategies To Improve Warehouse Safety Culture, Rasheen J. Chatmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An unsuccessful safety program can negatively affect warehouse efficiency, profitability, and reputation. To provide a safe work environment, warehouse leaders need guidance on establishing policies and training to ensure that all employees are adequately trained and understand the safety expectations of the organization. Grounded in high-reliability organization theory, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore managerial strategies to improve the warehouse safety culture. The participants were five warehouse managers who demonstrated the ability to successfully improve their organization's safety culture. Data were collected through virtual semistructured interviews and reviews of organizational documentation. The data were analyzed using …

Strategic Leadership Steps For New Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Keisha Stacy-Ann Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

States grapple with how to address the opioid epidemic and the growing need for behavioral health (BH) services. Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs) are a new industry solution to address the need for integrated and coordinated physical and BH care. New CCBHCs are funded by the Federal 223 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) grant. However, they must be certified by states to meet the SAMHSA criteria for continued funding. This qualitative study presents a single-case study of a Southern state’s behavioral health department’s (SSBHD) leadership strategy for certifying the CCBHCs in its state and creating a …

Experience Of Established Mental Health Counselors Working With Adults Who Have Intellectual Disabilities, Margarete Denk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with disabilities make up the largest minority population in the United States. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) make up a significant portion of this population, yet there are limited studies addressing counseling with the I/DD population. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs has addressed the need for disability competence in their upcoming 2024 standards. The purpose of the phenomenological study was to describe lived experiences of established counselors working with adult clients diagnosed with an I/DD. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used along with the social model of disability. The study involved six …

Disparate Access To Medical Coverage Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Care In Low-Income And Rural Communities In Georgia, Crystal Alexis Symone Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparate access to diabetes care in rural and low-income communities among older adults has been an ongoing issue among Americans. Type 2 diabetes in low-income and rural communities has continuously burdened many residents due to age, costs of care, income, geographic location, and education levels. Researchers have demonstrated that providing resources and tools to rural and low-income communities would assist in decreasing type 2 diabetes and increase education and awareness. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study using secondary data was to examine the relationship between health insurance status and lack of access to health care resources and delay of …

Digital Collectibles: Exploring Non-Fungible Tokens (Nfts) Through Twitter Messages, Peter Haried, James Murray

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The growing popularity of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has created a new digital collectibles asset class and market. NFTs are unique digital tokens built on blockchain technology that can represent anything from art, property rights, certificates of authentication to sports collectibles. The use of blockchain provides the framework for digital ownership and brings the notion of scarcity to the digital NFT asset class. With the emerging NFT market and growing consumer base little work has investigated the factors behind NFT interest and participation. Using a dataset of 26,444 tweets on NBA Top Shot, one of the largest and most popular NFT …

Human-Centered Design For Strategic Organizational Shifts In Complex Times, Kristen Laviano Snow

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Nonprofit organizations are faced with unprecedented challenges as they seek to accomplish their lofty missions in a complex environment, ripe with uncertainty. The global COVID-19 pandemic brought forth new problems for communities and workplaces. As a result, some old ways of working may no longer be useful. To make meaningful progress on their social missions while navigating an unfamiliar post-pandemic context, nonprofits need new tools to help them understand and respond to changing community needs. Evidence has shown design thinking to be an effective approach to developing innovative strategies tailored to real needs, however, it has not been widely practiced …

Writing As Transformation: An Action Research Study On Trauma-Informed Curriculum, Nena L. Weinsteiger Guzman

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Trauma exposure is endemic, and this study seeks to address childhood trauma in a compassionate and restorative manner. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are serious childhood traumas that manifest as toxic stress which can damage the developing brain of a child and affect overall health. The implications are expressed dualistically: academic performance of youth is subdued & diminished, and behavioral interactions can range from unreceptive to erratic and aggressive. Trauma exposure is a predictor of adverse outcomes, which range from higher rates of suspension, expulsion, and incarceration, to dire outcomes, such as lower life expectancy and quality of life. Streamlining trauma-informed …

We're Listening: A Study Of Music Preference In Modern Society, Michael B. Glover

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the formation of music preference in an effort to identify specific ages when preferred music is likely to be discovered. One hundred one individuals participated in an online survey, answering questions about their listening habits, music preferences, and the social elements that contributed most to those preferences. Participants were asked to identify their current, second, and third favorite music at the time of the study and whether their preferences had changed over time. According to findings, males were likely to discover their current favorite music at the age of 12.46 years, and …

The Effects Of Gonoodle Engagement On Mathematics Skills Of Middle School-Aged Students With Autism, Cheryl D. Barrett

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF GONOODLE ENGAGEMENT ON MATHEMATICS SKILLS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS WITH AUTISM

Abstract

By Cheryl D. Barrett

University of the Pacific

2023

Academic achievement of students with disabilities has long been a concern in special education, and this work addresses the academic achievement gap between students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their typically developing peers. This study aimed to increase mathematical achievement in fluency and calculation skills for students with ASD using GoNoodle. Additionally, this study intended to extend evidence about existing research on the efficacy of GoNoodle as an appropriate academic intervention tool for students with …

A Qualitative Study Examining The Literacy Experiences Of Male Middle School Students Inside And Outside Of School, Ari Raymond Colondres

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

A literacy gap is a difference between a person’s ability to read for understanding and meaning-making and their anticipated ability to read for their grade level. A larger proportion of males are at least one or more years below grade level in reading ability compared to their female peers. This reading difference is called the gender literacy gap. Students over one year below grade level are at an increased risk of dropping out of high school and face the possibility of diminished lifetime earnings. Gender, low levels of motivation, low socio-economic status, low engagement, and school perceptions of literacy are …

A Qualitative Study Of Understanding Female Navy Veterans’ Experiences With Representation And Inclusion In The U.S. Military, Antwanisha K. Williamson

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Research about women in the military helps to address the ongoing concerns about the lack of inclusion of female perspectives, which contributes to oppressive power dynamics and lack of women’s representation in practice, policy, and procedures. The problem this dissertation addressed is the lack of representation and inclusion of female perspectives regarding power and privilege that affect military practices, policies, and procedures. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand female Navy veterans’ experiences with representation and inclusion in military practices, policies, and procedures. Applying a larger conceptual framing using radical feminism, liberal feminism, and critical theory helped to …

Identifying Success Strategies For Hmong American Students In Higher Education, Jason Xiong

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Hmong Americans' postsecondary completion rates remain low when compared to other Asian ethnic groups. As the Hmong population continues to grow, so does the need for intervention to increase the total number of postsecondary graduates. Many Hmong Americans are first-generation college students and continue to face challenges and barriers that prevent them from being successful in higher education. “Forty-seven and a half percent of Hmong adults (25 years or older) reported having attended college, but not earning a degree” (National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education, 2011). Without a college degree, Hmong Americans face limited resources …

Examining Attention To Leadership When Hiring School Administrators In A High Poverty, Ethnically Diverse School District: A Case Study, Veronica A. Tigert

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods case study was to understand the hiring practices of a school district when considering a principal and how the school district attends to leadership within those hiring practices. The central premise of the study was leadership matters and is second to teaching in student achievement. However, the historical record paints a picture of less than adequate attention to effective hiring practices and a limited scope when addressing leadership. A small school district in California was selected to participate in the study. The design incorporated mixed methods to analyze the hiring practices through a survey …

Singing In The Key Of Life, Georgia Braun Mcbride Agerton

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Singing is often used in music therapy sessions. It can provide physiological, psychological, and interpersonal benefits, and music therapists use it to address clinical goals including improved blood oxygenation, emotional expression, and increased interpersonal engagement between clients and their family members. Singing uniquely combines musicality, the body as the instrument, and meaningful words. Furthermore, the voice is a personal instrument, which makes musical engagement accessible to many people. Though singing can provide various benefits, many people experience singing negatively, especially when singing with an exposed voice, i.e., when others can hear their singing voice. Whidden (2015) found that one can …

Exercise Behavior And Recreational Sports Participation Predicts Academic Success In University Students, Natalie Matian

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Most universities offer fitness and recreational opportunities. Few prospective studies have measured the effect of those services on academic outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of exercise behavior and recreational sport participation on student success. We tracked 1,507 students at a private D1 university for 4 years. Upon completion of the 2017-2018 academic year, we exported a registry of every undergraduate student who accessed the university fitness center. We documented how often students swiped into the recreation facility and participated in group exercise classes, personal training sessions, and rock tower usage; these served as independent …