Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Social Workers' Role In Treating Individuals With Neurological Impairments From Brain Trauma, Kimberly D. Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nearly 1 billion individuals worldwide are diagnosed with a neurological condition. Neurological conditions might harm an individual’s overall mental state and quality of life. This qualitative action research project examined the social worker’s role in treating individuals with neurological impairments due to brain trauma. Information was gathered using a focus group of 4 rehabilitation social workers in Dallas, Texas, about their experiences related to utilizing social work practice with patients who have neurological conditions. Data from this action research project revealed an understanding of the psychosocial benefits of social work services for individuals with neurological impairments due to brain trauma …

Risk Perception Of Terrorism And Individual Preparedness In Thailand, Pinida Neenlapathna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 2001, terrorist incidents in Thailand have caused more than 6,600 deaths and nearly 13,000 people have been injured. The Thai government has employed various counterterrorism measures, but there is little attention paid to terrorism awareness and preparedness. Following the tenets of social cognitive theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the predictive relationship between the risk perception of terrorism (i.e., perceived probability, perceived seriousness, perceived impact, perceived coping efficacy, perceived government preparedness, and perceived frontline responder preparedness) and individual preparedness among Thai people. The study was conducted with a convenience sample of 327 Thai adults who …

Adjunct Faculty Employment And Student Success In Texas Institutions Of Higher Education, Robin L. Palmer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractJust over half of faculty members teaching in institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States work part time. Previous research on the relationship between part-time faculty employment and student success has produced conflicting findings and may have resulted in ineffective use of part-time faculty. The purpose of this retrospective, prediction study was to determine if the percent of part-time faculty, several institutional variables, and student demographics were significant predictors of retention and graduation rates at IHEs in Texas. Berger and Milem’s theory of organizational behavior and student outcomes grounded this study using secondary analysis of publicly available archival …

Customer And Employee Social Media Comments/Feedback And Stock Purchasing Decisions Enhanced By Sentiment Analysis, Drew Mikel Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warns professional investors that sentiment analysis tools may lead to impulsive investment decision-making. This warning comes despite evidence showing that aided social sentiment investment decision tools can increase accurate investment decision-making by 18%. Using Fama's theory of efficient market hypothesis, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether customer Twitter comments and employee Glassdoor feedback sentiment predicted successful investing decisions measured by business stock prices. Two thousand records from 3 archival U.S. public NASDAQ 100 datasets from March 28, 2016, to June 15, 2016 (79 days) of 53 companies with …

Association Between Maoa U Vntr Genetic Polymorphism And Aggression, Gender, And Race In Adolescents, Almaz Adair Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A genetic polymorphism found in the upstream region of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene upstream variable number tandem repeat (u VNTR) has been shown to have an influence on aggression with mixed results. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between the u VNTR genetic polymorphism of the MAOA gene and aggression in an adolescent population 13–18 years of age. The conceptual framework was based on the biosocial model of antisocial behavior that indicates genes can influence aggressive behaviors with or without environmental influences. Data (N = 2506) from the National Longitudinal Adolescents and Adult …

Electronic Media Use And Dating Aggression Among Young Adult College Students, Christy Bazemore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Electronic media are popular for communication among adults ages 18 to 25. However, electronic media may also be used as tools for dating aggression, such as intimidation, insult, control, or abuse. The purpose of this quantitative casual-comparative study was to examine whether adult attachment styles predict electronically-mediated dating aggression. Adult attachment style theory provided the framework for the study. Survey data were collected from 300 first-year college students ages 18 to 25. The independent variable was students’ attachment style as measured by the Experiences of Close Relationships Scale–Revised. Dependent variables were operationalized using the Partner Electronic Aggression Questionnaire, the Situational …

The Lived Experiences Of Caregivers Of Children With Reactive Attachment Disorder, Abby Baumgart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents of children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) encounter challenges in parenting and parent-child relationship development that are not typical to most parental situations. The purpose of the qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of caregivers of children with RAD, to identify current met and unmet needs, to explore the experiences the caregivers of children with RAD have and the resources available to them. The study included a hermeneutic phenomenological foundation and incorporated the conceptual frameworks of family systems theory and attachment theory. A nonprobability, self-selection sampling strategy was utilized with recruitment through Facebook support groups. Methods included …

Self-Efficacy Of Older Homeless African American Men, Renee Carnithia Harvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Older adults in the United States without permanent housing are witnessed living in shelters, cars, and on street corners in many urban centers and older adults now make up a third of the homeless population. There are stressors that may precede, or may result in homelessness, which may also affect older (i.e., age 50 or above) homeless adults' abilities to maintain their self-efficacy, a key to their self- management. This study further explored the lived experiences of self-efficacy among older homeless African American men. A descriptive phenomenological design and individual semi-structured interviews of 10 African American homeless men, aged 50 …

The Values Influencing Assistant Principals' Decisions To Utilize School Resource Officers, Tracy Yvette Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School administrators use control and maintenance to create a safe learning environment for students in the United States public schools. However, when school resource officers (SROs) within U.S. schools are assigned authority over disciplinary procedures certain students become negatively impacted. Substantial research has been conducted regarding the impact and roles of SROs, but very few studies explored the opinions of assistant principals (APs), the individuals typically responsible for the enforcement of school discipline. In this study, a qualitative interpretative design was used to explore what values and beliefs guide APs in their decisions to involve SROs in school disciplinary procedures. …

Work Adjustment And Family Caregiver Engagement In The Healthcare Transaction, Cynthia Uecker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unpaid family caregivers in the U.S. now exceed 40 million people, and the question of how to effectively support the family caregiver is now decades old. Healthcare’s dominant perspective is reasonable because healthcare sees the family caregiver in the healthcare transaction. The research consistently reports caregivers cite lack of information and training as a primary reason for feeling the healthcare provider is non-supportive. This qualitative phenomenological study employed semi-structured interviews to explore whether non-supportive might represent a disconnect between caregiver and the healthcare provider purposes with respect to the caregiver role. The theory of work adjustment provides context for considering …

Middle School Teachers’ Experiences Implementing The Workshop Model In Their Classroom, Patience Ndidi Onyegwara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Due to the increasing diversity in U.S. schools, there is a need for differentiated and individualized educational models for these learners to be successful in the future. However, little is known about innovative educational models allowing differentiation and individualized education. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the experiences and perceptions of middle school teachers implementing the innovative Workshop Model (WSM) of teaching and learning. The conceptual framework for this study included the diffusion of innovation, sociocultural, and andragogical theories, and the principles of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). The participants were 10 middle school teachers …

Coalition Sustainability After Federal Funding Is Expended: A Case Study, Shawnee Marie Seese

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community coalition sustainability has been a focus of scholars as community coalitions deliver vital programs and services for communities in need. Despite the value coalitions bring to U.S. communities, they often become vulnerable after federal funding is expended. Researchers acknowledge the need to build understanding of coalition sustainability and have identified factors that contribute to the sustainability of programs, but studies on the topic remain quite limited. Federal funding requirements are more stringent than in previous years, requiring evidence of sustainability planning, which increases the urgency to identify those elements that ensure sustainability. The purpose of this study was to …

Alternative Therapy For Veterans Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Shannon Rae Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An increasing number of veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has led to an increased demand for treatment within the Veteran Affairs health care system. Presently, veterans diagnosed with PTSD receive psychotropic medications and intermittent therapy sessions. Nurses are challenged to educate veterans about other health care issues based on verbalized side effects from prescribed PTSD medications limiting veterans’ ability to focus. Identifying alternative treatment options may improve treatment choices, reduce side effects, and promote positive outcomes for veterans with PTSD. This systematic review provided evidence-based practice information by addressing whether alternative therapy such as biofeedback would improve the …

Juvenile Recidivism After Release From A Juvenile Detention Center In Atlanta, Georgia, Jacquelyn Monique Nelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After undergoing a form of rehabilitation (i.e., youth detention centers in Georgia), statistics show that juveniles have a 65% chance of reoffending within 3 years after being released. The Georgia Juvenile Justice System’s $300 million annual budget raises concerns about the acts of juvenile recidivism. The purpose of this research was to understand why juveniles reoffend after being in a juvenile detention center in Atlanta, Georgia. The conceptual framework for this study was centered on the alternative to youth detention centers. The research question addressed factors that led juvenile delinquents to reoffend after receiving an alternative treatment. This study had …

Optimizing Body-Worn Camera Usage For Desired Outcomes And Solutions, Andre Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Body-worn camera (BWC) use in the application of the law enforcement function has become a novelty during the last few years in the United States. BWCs are being implemented in localities without adequate research about community perceptions. Moreover, very few studies have been conducted about the perceptions of community members in a particular area about these devices. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to better understand the perceptions and beliefs of community members from different backgrounds about BWCs. The research questions entailed learning about current perceptions regarding BWCs and how these devices impact trust, safety, and accountability. Social …

First Responders' Perceptions Of Diversity Training Practices To Assist At-Risk Populations, Sara Parry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

New York State first responders, including police, fire, and emergency medical personnel, often lack consistent awareness and diversity training to assist at-risk populations, which can pose challenges to preparedness and response strategies during disasters and emergencies. The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness and diversity training practices among first responders across New York State in assisting people with at-risk characteristics during disasters. Punctuated equilibrium theory provided the framework for the study. Data from interviews with 15 participants and from historical and legal documents were coded and analyzed to identify themes. Findings indicated that that there had been …

The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Profitability Of Small, Nonprofit, Private, Higher Education Institutions In Georgia, Walter V. Murray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small, nonprofit, private, higher education institutions (SNPHEIs) are facing economic challenges that threaten their existence. This threat represents a public policy problem because 28% of all higher education in America is delivered by SNPHEIs. The purpose of this study was to investigate any correlational relationships that may exist between the organizational culture (OC) in SNPHEIs and their financial sustainability. Based on the competing values framework, a causal relationship between OC and organizational profitability within the SNPHEI was posited. In this study, both descriptive and comparative research questions were used; they focused on the OC types identified in the competing values …

The Relationships Among Body Appreciation, Self-Esteem, Academic Self-Efficacy, And Academic Achievement, Alicia Camille Latty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Because poor body image is correlated with poor academic outcomes, it is possible that body appreciation may be associated with improved academic outcomes. The problem that was addressed in the current investigation was the lack of research on the potential relationships between academic outcomes and positive body image, conceptualized as body appreciation. Accordingly, this study leveraged a positive psychology approach to examine the ways body appreciation and self-esteem predict academic self-efficacy and self-reported GPA. The framework combined Bandura’s (1977) theory of self-efficacy and Higgins’ (1987) self-discrepancy theory with Seligman’s (2000) positive psychology approach. This quantitative study followed a non-experimental correlational …

Developing Teacher Leaders Through Professional Development Offered In A District Teacher Forum, Suzanne T. Koty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition is an ongoing problem in education, and the lack of leadership opportunities contribute to that problem. Teachers who serve in leadership roles are more likely to remain in the profession and positively impact students and the profession as a whole. However, there is little qualitative research to address how teachers develop the needed leadership skills to take on additional leadership roles. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of participants in a District Teacher Forum. The District Teacher Forum is a cohort of teachers identified as Campus Teachers of the Year led by the …

Behavioral Health Leadership Perspectives On The Transition To Medicaid Managed Care, Cynthia Lyn Gee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare and behavioral healthcare reform are sweeping across the United States to improve health outcomes, increase client satisfaction, and to decrease healthcare expenditures through statewide transitions to Medicaid managed care (MMC). Leaders of behavioral health organizations face significant challenges when implementing wide scale organizational change. A case study design was used to explore senior leaders’ experiences with transitioning from a fee for service environment to MMC at a behavioral health organization, which operates in the Northeastern region of the United States. The Baldrige excellence framework was used as a conceptual lens to assess the organization’s effectiveness in key factors. Senior …

Reducing Voluntary Employee Turnover In Supermarkets, Elena Wynn Cubillo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supermarkets in the United States are experiencing losses in profitability due to an increase in voluntary employee turnover. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies supermarket managers use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. Participants were 5 supermarket managers in the Southeast United States who successfully reduced voluntary employee turnover. Participants responded to 7 open-ended, semistructured interview questions. A review of company documents and peer-reviewed journals supplemented the data collection. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data and 4 themes emerged: compensation, employee recognition, organizational culture, and empowerment. The …

The Lived Experience Of Monogamy Among Gay Men In Monogamous Relationships, Kellie L. Barton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on male gay relationships spans more than 50 years, and the focus of most of this research has been on understanding the development processes, consequences, and risk factors of nonmonogamous relationships. Few researchers have explored the nature and meaning of monogamy in the male gay community. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore the lived experience of monogamy to give voice to other expressions of gay male relationships and potentially add to the literature surrounding clinical implications of treatment. The framework for developing the research emerged from the construct of the monogamy gap, derived from theories of …

Oligarchic Cartelization In Post-Suharto Indonesia, Bonifasius -. Hargens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A few ruling individuals from party organizations overpowered Indonesia‘s post-authoritarian, representative democracy. The legislative process of the 2017 Election Act was the case study employed to examine this assumption. The underlying thinking was that there was a contest between ―wealth power‖ (oligarchy) and ―participation power‖ (democracy). The power of wealth controls the party and government institutions. Notwithstanding the presence of participation power, there was, however, no balance between wealth power and participation power, because the formal control of politics was in the hands of party oligarchs. The study purpose was to bridge the gap in knowledge by exploring how the …

Aviation Maintenance Technician Decision-Making, Dominic Hemingway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aircraft accidents caused by human decision-making errors cause property loss and fatalities on a global scale in the aviation industry. Aviation repair technician decision-making perceptions influence aviation safety. The purpose of transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of aviation repair technicians related to decision-making perceptions regarding aviation safety. The central research question and sub-question focused on the lived experiences of repair technicians’ decision-making perceptions. The naturalistic decision-making framework, decision theories, and decision-making models comprised the lens to assess the impact of aviation maintenance technician decision-making perceptions in aviation safety. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 12 …

The Relationship Between Authentic Leadership In Project Managers And Project Success, Laurie Levy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Authentic leadership has been shown to influence prosocial employee attributes and behaviors. However, the relationship between authentic leadership in people without positional authority or power in an organization has not been studied as extensively. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between nonpositional leaders in an organization and the authentic leadership components of relational transparency, self-awareness, ethical/moral values, and balanced processing, and to determine if authentic leadership in an organization’s project managers predicted project success. A second purpose was to determine if the possession of a project management credential moderated the relationship between authentic leadership and …

Exploring Strategies For Recruiting And Retaining Diverse Cybersecurity Professionals, Vivian Lyon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The cyber threat landscape has led some cybersecurity leaders to focus on a holistic approach encompassing people, processes, and technology to make their government agencies and organizations more responsive to a more diverse and inclusive cyber workforce to protect critical infrastructure from hackers or cybercriminals intent on causing harm. This qualitative multiple case study used Schein’s organizational culture theory to explore strategies used by cybersecurity leaders to attract, recruit, and retain diverse cybersecurity professionals to effectively and efficiently protect sensitive systems from rising cyber threats. The study's population consisted of cybersecurity leaders from 3 government agencies and 9 organizations in …

Effective Strategies Small Business Leaders Use To Address Ransomware, William Jason Tuttle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business leaders face a wide range of cybersecurity threats. Ransomware is a specific cybersecurity threat that cybercriminals can use to deny small business leaders’ access to data in exchange for a ransom payment. Grounded in routine activity conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore effective strategies small business leaders use to address ransomware. Data were collected from 5 leaders of small businesses in the southeast region of the United States. Data sources included interviews and archival documents. Data were analyzed using Yin’s 5 step process. The analysis revealed 3 primary themes: ransomware strategy, …

Gender Differences And Neurocognitive Function In Cocaine And Methamphetamine Addiction, Gwendolyn F. Royal-Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Cocaine and methamphetamine-addicted women are more likely to suffer from personal life traumas that lead to persistent and committed drug abuse. In addition to social-psychological problems associated with drug abuse are neuropsychological processes involving specific regions of the brain responsible for working memory, decision-making, and impulse control. Classical and operant conditioning theories of learning provide a paradigm foundation for this quantitative, correlational study that utilized archival data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). I analyzed a randomly selected sample of 186 adults who voluntarily participated in an eight week treatment program for cocaine and methamphetamine (MA) addiction. …

Social Media And Customer Engagement: Customer Relations In A Digital Era, Nadia Delanoy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Traditional big data analytics do not include the contextual facets that social media narratives and customer engagement do. There is currently a gap in research on how customer relations managers can integrate social media in their existing data analytics to improve business performance. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory multiple case study was to further understand of how customer relations managers can use social media within the context of already existing data analytics across industries in Canada. Communication theory was the conceptual lens for assessing customer relations management and consumer feedback within an increasingly digital business environment. Purposeful sampling was …

Afriican American Students' Experiences Of Stress From Discrimination In Online Doctoral Education, Senovia Wyche

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

There is a lack of current research about the experiences of stress related to discrimination encountered by African American students in online doctoral programs. Such discrimination can negatively impact the academics, educational experiences, and overall health of this student population. In this generic qualitative study, how African American students in online doctoral programs interpreted, perceived, and responded to their experiences of stress regarding discrimination was explored. Using the conceptual framework of Lazarus and Folkman’s cognitive appraisal theory, the research questions addressed stress related to discrimination encountered in online educational institutions, discriminatory factors perceived as inhibitors towards earning a doctoral …