Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence In Liberia, Nathaniel Benjamin Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of sexual violence against women in Liberia is a disturbing problem. Despite the significant number of individuals who have faced sexual assault in this country, little is known about the roots and long-term implications of this phenomenon within the context of Liberia, as well as the instruments that could be effective in remedying its effects. This study was conducted to understand how conflict-related sexual violence affects women in Liberia and suggest ways to help address it. The research questions addressed the effect of war-related sexual violence against women in Liberia and the strategies that are necessary to remedy …

Colonial Legacy, Education, And Employment Opportunities: The Case Of Cameroon, Frantz Batoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe history of colonialism is one of the most powerful factors affecting the development of newly independent African states and limiting their chances for successful evolution. This research involved Cameroon and employment and educational issues associated with colonialism. The division between France and Britain contributed to the establishment of bilingualism within its territories, which is a source of multiple problems today. The study involved investigating the current situation in Cameroon through the lens of colonialism and its influence on countries. Theoretical foundations for this study were the colonial and postcolonial theory, neocolonialism, and concept of postcolony. They are used to …

Generational Cohort Membership And Career And Organizational Commitment Among Law Enforcement Officers, Erinn Elizabeth Vranches

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Career and organizational commitment are topics of interest in multiple fields, including law enforcement. With the exodus and transition of generational cohorts, there is a need to understand generational differences to address the recruitment, training, and retention of officers. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between generational cohort membership, career commitment, and organizational commitment among law enforcement officers. Two theories were used for the foundation of this study: Manheim’s theory of generations and Super’s developmental self-concept theory. The study method was quantitative and the design, correlational. A survey containing demographic questions and items from the Occupational …

The Role Of Mistrust In African American Organ Donation, Gina M. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican Americans (AAs) who suffer from life-threatening organ failure often need an organ transplant to sustain or to improve their quality of life. The shortage of donor organs, and AAs willing to become organ donors, limits the number of organs available for transplant. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of AAs regarding the role of mistrust and to understand its influence on their organ donation decision-making. Social cognitive theory guided this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study designed to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of the AAs related to the role of mistrust in their …

Employee Development And Workforce Engagement In A Behavioral Health Organization, Lakisha R, Brimage

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ongoing training at the targeted behavioral health organization is necessary to improve employee knowledge, skills, and abilities to drive engagement and overall organizational performance. The purpose of this case study was to determine what leadership practices and strategies are currently in place and what training modules improve employee development for the purpose of improving workforce engagement. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was used to guide the qualitative case study of the nonprofit organization, which provides social services to low-income families in the United States. Data sources included semistructured interviews with two behavioral health leaders at the organization and reviews of organizational …

Case Manager Perspectives On Transition Services For Youth With Intellectual Disabilities, Alecha Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth with intellectual disabilities have poorer outcomes during the transition period from school to adulthood. Very few studies were found that examine the perspective of the human service case manager. The perspectives of human service case managers were examined regarding the services that are needed to help youth with intellectual disabilities transition effectively. The study's purpose was to determine the services available and those needed to help support the transition from school to work, college, or in living independently for youth with intellectual disabilities. The theoretical framework for this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory used to explore the errors …

Mediators Between Job Stress And Health Quality Of Life Among Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Aida M. Benitez-Rexach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal affliction that affects millions around the globe, impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The biopsychosocial model, Folkman and Lazarus’ transactional model of stress, Leventhal’s common sense model of self-regulation health and illness, and Bronfenbrenner’s human ecology theory are relevant to conceptualize interactions among environmental factors, biopsychosocial responses, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This quantitative, cross-sectional, complex correlational study sought to provide more understanding of how and whether IBS symptoms of pain, cognitive functioning, and interpersonal functioning serve as mediators between work stress and HRQoL. A total of 133 English-speaking volunteers from …

Public Policy And African American Victims Of Inner-City Violence, Michael Andrew Benson Sr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effects of being victimized or being a witness to a violent traumatic event without the support of public institutions, such as criminal justice, social service agencies, and mental health care clinics has led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and success factors for victims of inner-city violence as it related to access to public administration institutions to address their victimization. Self-efficacy theory was used as the theoretical foundation, and the study’s research question focused on victimization and access to public policy institutions. The study used a qualitative design with 10 …

Puerto Rican Retired Teachers’ Perceptions About Their Financial Sufficiency, Rossana López León

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Puerto Rico, the Teachers’ Retirement System, which has a membership of around 36,000 retired public-school teachers, is currently facing major restructuring and budget cuts, as part of a larger restructuring of all government agencies to meet the economic emergency they were facing. The recent retirement system reforms were focused mainly on cutting benefits, such as medications, Christmas and summer bonuses, and the cost-of-living adjustment. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of retired teachers regarding their financial sufficiency, and to identify their attitudes, beliefs, and opinions/feelings in light of their socioeconomic profile. The research question focused …

Mental Health Treatment And The Criminal Justice System, Susana Lehan-Trasente

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The criminal justice system has established interventions for those who have mental illness and have been charged with criminal complaints. In New York State, the Mental Health Court has been established to address these issues and is to be used by all counties. However, the treatment and probation interventions vary from county to county. Saratoga County uses a Single Point of Access (SPOA) which receives referrals from the general court and probation officers. SPOA refers clients to a variety of treatment interventions available in the county. In Monroe County, the Mental Health Court refers the criminally involved/mentally ill individual to …

Faith-Based Leaders’ Perception On The Need For Active Assailant Contingency Planning, Tanzania Merriweather

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Violence is identifiable as a common threat to public and community safety. Violent incidents have had an extensive history within society and are especially concerning when orchestrated against religious institutions. There is existing research concerning massive violent incidents in sanctuaries and churches; however, there is limited research on the perceptions of religious leaders on the need for safety planning to prepare for and combat these incidents. This phenomenological study was completed to explore the perceptions of eight faith-based leaders on the need for safety contingency planning for sanctuaries and churches. The research questions posed for this study were designed to …

Mindfulness Skills And Retention Risk In First-Generation Undergraduate Students, Tim Morenz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

First-generation college students experience more negative emotional states and higher stress levels than their continuing generation peers, take approximately two years longer to complete undergraduate degree programs, and are less than one percent likely to re-enroll in college. Mindfulness skills have been reported to alleviate anxiety and stress, improve adjustment to college, and improve academic performance, but a gap in the literature existed specific to first-generation college students. Guided by the theory of planned behavior and the monitor and acceptance theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between trait mindfulness skills and retention risk in …

Generational Shifts In The Perception Of Workforce Commitment, Christopher Donald Raiford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Costs of staffing, training, and retention have always been significant expenses for U.S. corporations. The most recent addition to the workforce, the millennial generation cohort, presents a new set of challenges to leadership. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences related to the perception of commitment of millennial generation participants employed in the U.S. community banking sector. The conceptual framework included generational theory and organizational theory. Data were collected from 11 participants via semi-structed Zoom interviews. Data were analyzed for codes, categories, and themes. Results indicated that (a) millennials value leadership that invests in …

Exploring Goal Setting And Motivational Experiences For Adult Workers With Autism, Daniel Ball

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhile the heterogeneity of autism for adults has been much more accepted over the past 40 years, research still has a broad gap to fill as there is scarce empirical evidence on how interventions, such as motivational tactics, need to be adapted to meet individual abilities and needs. Also, the number of workers entering the workforce each year is growing as a ratio. It is posited by various authors that one in 52 people are now diagnosed as having the disorder and this number has doubled over the past decade. Furthermore, 80% of this population is underemployed or unemployed, representing …

Effective Succession Planning And Organizational Development For Behavioral Health Leadership, Amanda Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High turnover rates can challenge an organization's ability to provide quality care to clients, maintain a safe environment, and achieve strategic goals. Effective retention strategies can allow the organization to grow and develop to continue to provide services for those in need. The focus of this study was identifying how an organization can improve its retention strategies, create succession plans, and decrease turnover to encourage organizational growth. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was used to guide the study, focusing on leadership, workforce, operations, and management. Data were collected through multiple sources. Semi structured interviews were used to gather data through open-ended …

First-Generation College Graduates’ Perceptions Of Participating In Required Academic Advising Sessions For Degree Completion, Frances Paige Fowler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many first-generation students enter college underprepared, leading them to face challenges that include failure to persist to degree completion. Empirical literature informs how academic advising programs help students persist to degree completion; however, a literature gap exists related to how regularly required academic advising programs influence students to persist to degree completion. This basic qualitative study provides insight into the perceptions of first-generation college graduates regarding how their regularly required academic advising sessions helped them to persist to degree completion. The conceptual framework is Tinto’s theory of student retention, which addresses students’ academic and social integration. Eight first-generation college graduates …

Best Practice Strategies To Prevent Suicide In Behavioral Health, David Solomon Gamble

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe capacity for mental health clinicians to provide culturally relevant suicide prevention services has become an issue within current society, given the complexity and impact of the circumstances that have disrupted everyday life. Thus, this became a problem for the organization and the target population used for this study. The current capacity of leadership and clinicians who provided prevention services was developed to address the underlying mental health disorders and not directly address the environmental impact. The approach for the study adhered to Yin's work on case studies. The case study research provided the process and outcome data by introducing …

Social Work's Unremitting Identity Crisis: Can The Dsw Provide Answers?, Debra Joyce Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis study is centered on a long-standing professional identity dilemma that poses potential problems for the future of the field of social work. Current literature points to specific shortcomings in the field that threaten the future of the profession. Some researchers also suggest that the reemergence of the Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) may be used to solve some of the identity concerns with the profession. The study further asserts that practicing licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) have not been a part of the conversation regarding the identity issues or the remedies that the field is considering. Using both a …

The Social Construction Of Performance Enhancing Steroid Policies And Their Impact On U.S. Army Service Members, Trevor Scott Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States military has seen a continued rise in the use of illicit performance enhancing substances, particularly androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS), by service members in highly demanding occupational specialties. Despite these rising trends, there remains a lack of understanding of how U.S. Army substance abuse policy impacts service members’ motivations to use banned performance enhancing drugs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the motivations of service members who use performance enhancing AAS, as well as the impacts of substance abuse policies on those individuals. This study’s questions asked how social constructs and Army policy impacted service …

The Linear Evolution Of Local Emergency Management Training In Response To Domestic Terrorism, Jeffrey Januchowski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis paper presents a research study in the field of emergency management. The study aims to identify training or educational needs for the emergency manager at the local level of government to effectively handle disasters. The study uses phenomenon theory with semi-structured interviews that gather data from emergency managers that have experience with major disasters and training requirements. Participants were experts in the emergency management profession with the ability to speak appropriately about the phenomenon. Research questions identified the training methods that produce the best results along with the specific hazards emergency managers may encounter. The research design used questionnaires …

Strategies To Increase Emergency Department Patient Flow, Judith Faith Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOvercrowding in emergency departments (EDs) is a systemic issue, resulting in inefficiencies affecting patient care quality. Hospital leaders struggle with reducing bottlenecks in EDs and providing a better patient care experience. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies used to reduce inefficiencies in EDs. The participants included five directors, administrators, and clinical managers from a hospital ED in Idaho Falls, Idaho, who successfully used strategies to reduce inefficiencies in EDs. Data were analyzed from semistructured interviews and a review of organization documents and artifacts following Yin’s five-step data analysis …

Homophobia In Jamaica And Its Impact On The Victimization Of Homosexual Adult Males In Montego Bay, St. James, Dr. Shahila D. Edwards-Grey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractJamaica has been listed among the most unfriendly nations for homosexual males. Previous research indicated that due to the biopolitical and sociocultural norms of the Jamaican society, homosexual males continued to be targets of various forms of discrimination based on their sexual orientation. However, research reflecting the lived experiences of homosexual males in Jamaica is sparse. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to provide details on the encounters of victimization due to homophobia of adult homosexual males in the parish of St. James, Jamaica. Data were collected through observations and in-depth interviews with eight men who identified as …

The Experiences Of Resettled Liberian Refugees: A Research Study On Whether Public Assistance Can Affect Their Living Standards., Mwalimu Steve Boley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe study investigated the extent to which the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes of resettled Liberian refugees in the Delaware Valley region have been affected by their use of public assistance and the overall effect that it has had on their living standards. It also explored whether participants in the study would likely persuade other resettled Liberian refugees in their community to utilize available public assistance programs as a means of improving their living standard. The study utilized Humanist Theory as the theoretical framework to interpret its findings. The research methodology was based on phenomenological approach in which a generic demographic …

A Phenomenological Examination Of Single Mothers Rising Out Of Poverty, Shaunta Hemingway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transitional factors that help mothers to acquire higher education, community resources, and stable employment and the family dynamics that impact their success are often shadowed by domestic violence, chronic poverty, substance use, mental health, and public assistance. There are 12 million single-parent households in the United States, of which 80% represent single mothers as primary caregivers to children; the majority of which are living below the poverty level. Few extant studies have employed a strengths-based approach to investigate how single mothers rise out of poverty. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the lived …

The Effects Of Parental Engagement Programs On Grades 3-5 Milestones Student Achievement, Deborah Malone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the Every Student Succeeds Act sets the parameters for parents and families to be involved in their children’s education, there are no specified guidelines on how that involvement should be designed to best impact student achievement. The purpose of this study was to compare Grade 3-5 students’ mean Milestones test scores in English Language Arts, mathematics, and science (dependent variables) at two Southeastern United States elementary schools which offered parental involvement/parental engagement programs—a nonmandatory or mandatory program (independent variable), represented by School A and B, respectively. The theoretical foundations of the study were the social and human capital theory …

Preincarceration Collaborative Religious Coping Strategies Of Black Males With A History Of A Criminal Offense, Pearlette E. Springer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans are 56% of the incarcerated population in the United States. Black males spend an average of 13.4% of their working lives incarcerated and 82.6% of their working lives addressing the stigma and restrictions associated with incarceration. The purpose of this study was to address a gap in research by exploring the preincarceration collaborative religious coping strategy experiences of Black males with a history of criminal offenses. Pargament’s theory of collaborative religious coping strategy guided the research, interview questions, and data analysis. The qualitative narrative approach with purposeful and snowball sampling was used to recruit and collect data from …

Food Safety And Free Trade Area In East Africa, Diana Ogwal Akullo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Africans experience high incidences of foodborne diseases annually leading to poor public health, yet there is limited information on implementation of food laws in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya from the perspectives of public officials with knowledge of and experience with implementing food laws, policies, and regulations to inform policy on food security and safety and help mitigate foodborne diseases and associated trade concerns between countries. The study’s research question involved identifying the perceptions of public officials on the impact of food laws on the food safety delivery systems in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The study applied complex adaptive system theory …

The Role Of Diversity Management Policies And Practices In Advancing Inclusive Culture, Christopher Emeka Babundo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe Roles of Diversity Management Policies and Practices in Advancing Inclusive Culture by Christopher Emeka Babundo

MBA, Azusa Pacific University, 2014MA, Azusa Pacific University, 2013 BS, University of Benin, Nigeria, 2002

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Walden UniversityAugust 2023

U.S. Senate And House Perspectives On Missile Defense Systems Opposed By Russia And China, Constance Valarie Baroudos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States and its allies and partners have deployed three missile defense systems to protect against Iranian and North Korean missile threats: the European Phased Adaptive Approach, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and Ground-based Missile Defense. Russia and China oppose these systems because they view them as undermining their strategic interests. The purpose of the present study was to better understand the perspectives of Senate and House Armed Services Committee HASC members about the three missile defense systems in congressional hearings. The three models of the congressional behavior model, the preference, simple party, and asymmetric categories, and neorealism and …

Colonial Legacy, Education, And Employment Opportunities: The Case Of Cameroon, Frantz Batoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe history of colonialism is one of the most powerful factors affecting the development of newly independent African states and limiting their chances for successful evolution. This research involved Cameroon and employment and educational issues associated with colonialism. The division between France and Britain contributed to the establishment of bilingualism within its territories, which is a source of multiple problems today. The study involved investigating the current situation in Cameroon through the lens of colonialism and its influence on countries. Theoretical foundations for this study were the colonial and postcolonial theory, neocolonialism, and concept of postcolony. They are used to …