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Perceiving A Competitor: Culture And Cognitive Biases Of The Strong Enemy And The Pacing Threat, Allison Abbe

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The United States and China are prone to systematic cognitive and cultural biases that distort their mutual perceptions. Addressing these biases through cultural education and professional development is essential to overcoming blind spots in understanding the United States’ primary competitor. By applying dynamic constructivist theories from cross-cultural psychology to national security, this monograph builds on existing scholarship to reveal specific cognitive asymmetries between Western and East Asian observers. Differences such as holism, dialecticism, social inference, and perspective taking reflect the cultural lenses through which security actors perceive their competitors’ actions and intentions, but US observers often overlook the cultural factors …

Parents' Perspectives Of Factors Contributing To Speech Delays In Children Born During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alva Jessica Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted children’s developmental environments by limiting access to childcare, healthcare, and opportunities for social interaction, raising concerns about speech and language outcomes in children born during this period. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this qualitative study was an exploration of factors associated with speech and language delays and examined parents’ perceptions and experiences in Philadelphia. The qualitative study included a sample of nine parents who cared for children during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine period. Analysis of the interview data revealed five emergent themes: (a) limited social interaction during the pandemic, (b) delayed identification and diagnosis …

Leveraging Innovation And Resilience: A Qualitative Project Of Mid-Level Managers Driving Business Performance In Multinational Corporations, Karla Karey Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee underdevelopment in multinational corporations (MNCs) can weaken the organization’s agility and competitive advantage in the global market. Mid-level managers must be leveraged effectively, as this level of management holds primary adaptive responsibility for building, integrating, and reconfiguring resources during organizational change. Grounded in the dynamic capabilities theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies mid-level managers in MNCs use to improve dynamic capabilities. Participants were 10 U.S.-based MNC mid-level managers with experience using strategies to improve dynamic capabilities. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available documents, including strategic plans, …

General Education Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Supporting Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Inclusive Elementary Mainstream Classrooms In Central California, Leah Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was a gap in practice about general education teachers’ support of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in inclusive elementary mainstream classrooms in Central California, where regional inclusion rates fall below state and national averages. Grounded in Universal Design for Learning, the purpose of the study was to explore general education teachers’ perceptions regarding inclusion and recommended support for students with ASD in inclusive elementary mainstream classrooms. For this basic qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 general education teachers who taught grades 1 through 6. Through open, in vivo, and subsequent axial …

Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge, Confidence, And Competency In The Use Of The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Theresa Buabeng

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff Education to Improve Staff Knowledge, Confidence, and Competency in the Use of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale

English As A Second Language Students’ Perceptions On Their Reasons To Persist In An Adult Learning Program In Connecticut, Laurie Anne Winek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that 30% of the English as a second language (ESL) students drop out of classes after the first 2 weeks in an adult education program in Connecticut. Grounded in Tinto’s model of student departure, the purpose of this study was to explore ESL students’ perceptions on reasons they persisted in an adult education program in Connecticut. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with five students. The data analysis procedures used open coding and categories, with eight themes emerging: ESL students persisted when their instructors cultivated lifelong learning; included …

Improving Medication Adherence Through Structured Telephone Follow-Up To Reduce 30-Day Readmissions Among Adult Patients With Heart Failure, Angela Dean Hamilton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project addressed high 30-day hospital readmission rates among adults with heart failure (HF), a problem associated with poor medication adherence and inadequate transitional care that nurses are uniquely positioned to address through discharge education, medication reconciliation, and postdischarge follow up to improve patient safety and quality of care. The practice-focused question asked: In adult patients discharged with HF, how does a structured, nurse-led, telephone follow-up intervention focused on medication adherence, compared with usual discharge care, affect 30-day hospital readmission rates over a 90-day implementation period? The purpose of this DNP …

Cultural Integration Of Ethiopian Immigrants And Refugees And Role Of Ethnic Nonprofits In Chicago, Aklilu Abraham Adeye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the availability of institutional services and interventions, cultural integration outcomes among refugees and immigrants often remain uneven. Existing literature has demonstrated the important role of nonprofit organizations in supporting refugee and immigrant resettlement and early integration. However, comparatively little research has examined how refugees and immigrants themselves experience the influence of nonprofit services on long-term cultural integration. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore how nonprofit services and programs influence the cultural integration experiences of Ethiopian refugees and immigrants in Chicago through the lens of the new assimilation theory and the integration context perspective. Data were …

Effective Strategies Small Business Owners Use To Sustain Their Businesses During Periods Of Disruption, Tracey Starr Moon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses experience significant challenges sustaining operations during periods of disruption, including economic uncertainty, natural disasters, supply chain interruptions, and other environmental changes. This is a concern for small business owners because disruptions can reduce revenue and strain limited financial and operational resources, putting their continued survival at risk. Grounded in the resilience theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies small business owners use to sustain their businesses during times of disruption. The participants were six small business owners in the southern United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and …

Strategies To Improve Communication Among Culturally Diverse International Manufacturing Teams, Bessem Enow Nchenge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inefficient communication and insufficient collaboration in multicultural organizations can result in suboptimal team performance and stifle employee creativity. Manufacturing firm leaders who struggle with communication issues are concerned about deterioration in team cohesion, worker productivity, and information flow. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry research project explored strategies that leaders of international manufacturing firms use to bridge cultural differences and improve communication among international team members to enhance team performance. The participants were six leaders from manufacturing firms in the southwestern United States with international manufacturing agreements who demonstrated measurable success in improving communication among …

Implementing Routine Trauma Screening Using The Ace Questionnaire And Pcl-5, Esther Amune

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This evaluation of a quality improvement initiative addressed inconsistent trauma screening and electronic documentation at an outpatient site. The baseline trauma-screening completion rate was 60%, below the organization's 80% target. The gap was relevant to nursing because nurses support screening, documentation, referral, coordination, and follow-up. The practice-focused question addressed whether the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Questionnaire and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), or PCL-5, would improve documented screening completion and trauma-informed treatment planning over 10 weeks. The purpose was to incorporate both tools into care and …

Staff Education To Improve Skills In Detecting And Addressing Medication Nonadherence Among The Psychiatric Nursing Staff, Uchenna Owunna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education project focused on addressing the knowledge gap of medication nonadherence patterns by the psychiatric nurses in outpatient settings. Nonadherence to psychiatric medications is a major health issue that leads to disruptions of care and symptom relapse, hospitalization, and suboptimal treatment outcomes as well as high healthcare costs. Thus, improving the capacity of the psychiatric nurses to enhance medication adherence through staff education is essential. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine if a comprehensive medication adherence education program would increase psychiatric nurses’ knowledge and skills in assessing …

Adults’ Lived Experiences With Placement In Child Protective Services During Adolescence, Michaela First Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perceptions of safety and emotional support during involvement with child protective services (CPS) during adolescence may play a significant role in shaping attachment experiences and relationships in adulthood. Although researchers have examined the effects of child maltreatment and foster care involvement, limited research has explored how adolescents perceive emotional support and safety during CPS involvement and how those experiences influence attachment in adulthood. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of adults who experienced CPS involvement during adolescence and to understand how perceptions of safety and emotional support are reflected in their adult attachment relationships. …

Exploring The Experiences Of Nigerian Army Personnel With Toxic Leadership, Shamsideen Toyin Shafaru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Toxic leadership has been shown to be present in Nigeria, promoting negative consequences for organizations and adverse effects on employee performance. However, how toxic leadership behaviors impact Nigerian Army operations and the performance of personnel have not been studied. Exploring toxic leadership in the Nigerian Army is important because the way in which leaders exercise influence determines the effects it has on followers. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of Nigerian Army personnel who had worked as subordinates of individuals who exhibited toxic leadership traits and its impact on their performance. The theoretical …

The Lived Experiences Of Midlife Black Women In Atlanta Managing Hypertension Through Nonpharmacological Interventions, Beth Feagins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this qualitative phenomenological study, the beliefs and lived experiences of midlife, low-income Black women with hypertension were explored, concentrating on understanding how social determinants of health influence effects adherence to diet, physical activity and stress management. Social determinants of health and how health beliefs shape adherence to behaviors were examined. The study was guided by a dual theory approach of the social cognitive theory and theory of planned behavior. Six women, identified as Black, between the ages 40-60, diagnosed with hypertension and living in Atlanta, Georgia, participated in the study. Data was analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological analysis and revealed …

Implementation Of A Standardized Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screening Process In An Outpatient Psychiatric Practice, Dela Mensah Frimpong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was an organizational change initiative designed to implement a standardized suicide risk screening process in an outpatient psychiatric practice. The identified practice problem was inconsistent staff use and documentation of suicide risk screening, which could result in missed warning signs, delayed provider notification, incomplete documentation, and inconsistent follow-up care. Suicide risk identification is an essential nursing responsibility and a key component of patient safety (The Joint Commission, 2024; Zero Suicide, n.d.). The practice-focused question examined whether staff education and implementation of a standardized Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) workflow would improve staff compliance, documentation completion, and knowledge …

Staff Education To Improve Clinical Staff Knowledge, Confidence, And Use Of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Phq-9) In Outpatient Depression Screening, Madjou Stella Ngantche

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions encountered in outpatient practice, yet inconsistent use of standardized screening tools contributes to missed opportunities for early identification and intervention. In outpatient settings, nurses and other clinical staff are often responsible for administering depression screenings; however, many lack formal education on the standardized use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). To address this practice gap, this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project was implemented in an outpatient setting to determine whether staff education on the use of the PHQ-9 would improve staff knowledge, confidence, and intent to use …

Staff Education On Medication Nonadherence In Primary Care Clinic, Priscillia Adaugo Obasi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was a staff education initiative designed to address the practice problem of a lack of evidence-based approaches to patient education on medication compliance in a primary care clinic. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library search engines/databases, revealing nine studies that supported the premise that patient education can promote medication compliance. A practice-focused question underpinning this project was: Will staff education on evidence-based methods for educating patients about the importance of medication adherence result in increased staff knowledge? Baseline staff knowledge and educational needs were obtained using …

Impact Of Emerging Technologies On Leadership Identity Of Behavioral Health Leaders, Jenah Habermehl

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emerging technologies are reshaping behavioral health leadership by changing documentation, communication, ethical responsibilities, and role expectations. Qualitative case study research methodology was used in this study. The problem addressed in this case study was the limited understanding of how emerging technologies influence the leadership identity and professional values of behavioral health leaders. The Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework guided this study of behavioral health leaders at a privately operated behavioral health organization in the South Atlantic region of the United States. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with four behavioral health leaders at the organization and gathering internal archival and …

Placement Scores As A Predictor Of Math Success For Students With Learning Disabilities, Latosha Knighton Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) are not appropriately placed in college math courses at Southern State Community College (SSCC, a pseudonym). Guided by Piaget’s constructivist learning theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the predictive relationships between American College Testing (ACT), Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) standardized placement exams math scores and Intermediate and College Algebra course success. The sample in this study consisted of 946 SWLDs who completed at least one standardized placement math exam and enrolled in either an Intermediate …

Training Strategies For Employees To Use Electronic Human Resource Management Systems, Anita Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective electronic human resource management (e-HRM) training can weaken HR employees’ ability to use digital human resource (HR) systems that support HR operations, employee services, and workplace efficiency. HR managers in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) recognize that poor e-HRM training undermines employees’ confidence, consistency, and accuracy in HR tasks. Grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM), the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore the effective strategies some SME HR managers use to train HR employees to use e-HRM systems. The participants were eight SME HR managers in the southeastern United States with experience …

Improving Pcu Nurses’ Knowledge Of Evidence-Based Mindfulness Techniques Through Targeted Education, Dairia Moore Mohammed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The progressive care unit (PCU) is a high-acuity setting in which nurses manage patients with complex health conditions, respond to rapid changes in clinical status, and navigate ongoing physical and emotional demands. The practice problem that I addressed was, presently, stress-management support is typically informal, optional, and reactive rather than systematic, evidence-based, and preventive. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a structured educational intervention designed to increase nurses’ knowledge of evidence-based mindfulness breathing techniques that could be integrated into the daily PCU workflow. The practice-focused question was: In PCU nurses in an acute care setting, how …

Reducing Urinary Tract Infections In Long-Term Care Residents, Felicity Antwi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement (QI) project addressed delays in diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs) at a skilled nursing facility (SNF), where reliance on urine culture testing and patient monitoring resulted in an average diagnostic period of 72 hours. A high UTI incidence and UTI-involved hospitalization rate are both nurse-sensitive indicators that are important to address in the nursing practice context because they portend negatively for nursing quality and safety. This quality improvement (QI) project addressed the practice-focused question: among long term care (LTC) residents with suspected UTIs in a nursing home (NH), how does reducing the diagnostic period from 72 hours …

China Maritime Report #57: Sailing Thousands Of Miles Without Losing Course: The Roles And Authorities Of The Plan Party Standing Committee, Jeffrey Becker, Brian Waidelich

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings:

• The Navy Party Standing Committee (NPSC) is the Chinese Navy’s core leadership body, but it does not operate independently; it functions within the broader Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and PRC military hierarchy.
• Politically, the NPSC ensures that China’s Navy remains loyal to the CCP with Xi Jinping at its core. Administratively, it ultimately directs personnel, training, procurement, logistics, fiscal management, readiness, and modernization.
• Military reforms have preserved the NPSC’s authoritative role within the Navy, and today’s members have gained more diverse operational experience earlier in their careers than their predecessors. 
• At the same time, members’ shorter average tenures …

Unh Receives $10m For Statewide Expansion Of Stem And Literacy Learning Project, Beth Potier

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Terahertz Electromagnetic Effects And Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity In Dna, F. Matthew Mihelic Md

Faculty Publications

The effects of terahertz electromagnetic stimulation of the DNA molecule can be understood through modeling of the quantum logical mechanics of the DNA molecule.  Coherent conduction of electron spin states along the aromatic nucleotide base pairs and chirality-induced spin selectivity are two characteristics of the DNA molecule that are involved in the precise separation of the double-stranded DNA molecule at a specific location.  Such modeling can inform predictions of DNA strand separation and has significant implications for understanding DNA transcription bubble formation.

Rockin’ Rover On The Rainbow Road, Michael Kolta, Lawrence Burgee, Ying Yuan

Transformations

This paper presents a progressive series of age-appropriate lesson plans for grades K-12 that all use the same interdisciplinary activity to educate students about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) simultaneously. Technology from Texas Instruments (TI) was employed including a TI Nspire graphing calculator that can run Python programs, a TI Innovator Hub, and a TI Rover. The TI Rover is a small, robotic car that has sensors and is controlled by the calculator via the Hub hardware interface. A Python program was developed that uses the color sensor in the Rover to detect the color on colored paper …

Economic Development Corporations In Small Communities, Mary L. Bullock

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Type A and Type B Economic Development Corporations (EDCs) in supporting economic growth in small Texas communities. Using key indicators such as population trends, employment, infrastructure, housing, and legal frameworks, this paper compares how each EDC structure addresses these issues. While both Type A and Type B Economic Development Corporations contribute to economic growth, Type B EDCs are generally more effective in small Texas communities due to their broad ability to fund housing projects, create critical infrastructure, and shape quality-of-life community development projects that have a more immediate and measurable impact on unemployment, population …

Artificial Intelligence And Law Enforcement: Transforming Current And Future Policing Operations, Decision-Making, And Public Trust, Chad Taylor

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

Artificial intelligence is having a major impact on our society. Many of our industries are attempting to grasp the benefits of this technology, and law enforcement is no different. Investigative, efficiency and administrative tools are all utilizing artificial intelligence to some degree. However, new tools bring new concern from communities. This article will investigate how artificial intelligence is being integrated into current and future law enforcement operations and decision-making. It will also investigate how AI affects public trust and what the profession needs to do to build community confidence. Regardless, artificial intelligence is a technology that is here and will …

The Human Side Of Leadership: How Personality Assessments Build Self-Aware, Accountable, And Emotionally Intelligent Public Sector Leaders, Hillary Faulkner

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

Public sector organizations face a persistent set of leadership challenges, including miscommunication, inconsistent accountability, and reactive decision-making, that are rarely resolved through technical training alone. This study examines how the intentional use of personality assessments can improve self-awareness, emotional intelligence, accountability, and communication among public sector leaders, and how those improvements contribute to more effective and cohesive leadership teams. Using a qualitative case study design, this research draws on Organization Analysis and Design (OAD) personality assessment data and in-depth interviews with two supervisors at a municipal government organization in Henderson, Texas, who participated in a structured six-month personality-based leadership development …