Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Teacher Perceptions Of Leadership Styles And The Relationship To Job Satisfaction In Adult Basic Education Settings, Troy James Nickel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adult basic education (ABE) teacher job satisfaction presents as a need for research to examine how the policy shifts to meet accountability requirements have influenced leadership styles in ABE settings. The study aimed to investigate the impact of leadership style (transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire) on job satisfaction of ABE teachers. Additionally, specific ABE teacher demographic variables that influenced the relationship between leadership style on teacher job satisfaction were examined. The theoretical framework applied to the study was the Transformational Leadership Theory. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) were administered to 137 ABE teachers from across the …

Experienced Barriers To Tacit Knowledge Sharing In Anglophone West Africa, Vivienne Ameh Ogbonna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public sector projects in Africa fail because of the absence, poor quality, and inadequate exchange of tacit knowledge through the project life cycle. The purpose of this research was to understand the barriers team members experience in sharing their ideas, skills, and know-how that is necessary to prevent waste and achieve successful projects. The conceptual framework for this interpretative phenomenological study was from the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior. The framework served as the lens to identify and interpret the lived experience on tacit knowledge sharing of 13 project managers on public sector projects in …

Social Responsibility Perceptions Of Community Flood Resilience In Nigeria, Reginald Olisa Oranye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Flooding is a severe threat to livelihoods and socioeconomic development in Ogbaru riverine communities of Anambra State, Nigeria. Limited success in the traditional approach of using predominantly structural measures, such as flood channels, to manage floods makes it imperative to explore nonstructural resilience initiatives that would potentially better protect vulnerable flood-prone communities. This study contributes to addressing the problems of ineffective flood management by developing vital social responsibility (SR) data and information that can enhance community flood resilience through individual and collective responsibilities for resilient action. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore SR perceptions of flood …

Exploring The Impacts Of Workplace Loneliness On Criminal Justice Senior Leaders, Johanna Papa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological qualitative study aimed to explore the impacts of workplace loneliness on senior leaders of various criminal justice organizations. The theoretical framework used was Descartes' views of the self-concept theory, which explained how individuals defined and described themselves within a social context. Using purposive sampling and semistructured telephone, and email interviews of 16 criminal justice senior leaders from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, this research was conducted to answer the overarching question of this study. Workplace loneliness was a professional hazard. The key findings revealed that at least 87% of the criminal justice senior leaders reported feeling or have …

Strategies African American Stepfathers Use To Build Positive Relationships With Their Stepdaughters, Shauntele Peynado-Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have shown that strained relationships between stepfathers and their stepchildren contribute to family dysfunction and stress. As the number of blended families in the United States continues to rise, it is important to determine how stepparents develop positive relationships with their stepchildren. The purpose of this study was to determine what strategies African American stepfathers use to develop positive, supporting relationships with their school aged stepdaughters. Family systems theory guided this research. The generic qualitative approach was used to conduct the study. Purposeful sampling resulted in data being collected from 7 participants using semi structured interviews. Colaizzi's 7-step method …

A Phenomenological Study Of Factors Influencing Senor Female United States Marine Corps Officer Retention Decisions, Angel Rae Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study showed factors that influenced senior female U.S. Marine Corps' (USMC) officer retention decisions. The qualitative study was based on the interpretivism research philosophy and Mobley's model of turnover and employed a phenomenological research design to identify themes regarding participants' perceptions of their lived experiences involving their professions and factors that affected their mandates to remain on active duty. The study included 11 women volunteers who had either earned membership in General Officer (GO) ranks or were competitive for within the USMC as a colonel (CV); they were recruited through purposive sampling, and data were collected through interviews. Data …

Teachers' Use Of Technology In Lesson Planning And Presentation In Palau, Sinton Soalablai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School leaders must balance strong public demand for technology in schools, scarce and increasingly strained public financial resources, lack of research with clear relevance to the local context, and having to respond to real-time demands to make immediate and prudent decisions that affect long-term strategy. In recent years, the Palau Ministry of Education (PMOE) invested heavily in an expensive 1:1 tablet program but had not determined if the program produced the expected positive changes in elementary teachers' instructional delivery. Guided by experiential learning theory, the purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if the 1:1 tablet program resulted …

The Perceptions And Experiences Of Clinical Caseworkers In Promoting Pregnancy Prevention In Foster Youth, Ruby Ann Stroman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teen pregnancy prevention has been a focus for clinical and medical professionals for many years now, and it is an extensively documented social issue, especially in the foster care system. In an effort to promote pregnancy prevention, clinical caseworkers who work with foster youth educate at-risk youth in regards to the difficulties that can be experienced as a result of teen pregnancy. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of clinical caseworkers as they promoted pregnancy prevention in foster care youth. The 6 purposefully selected respondents were all clinical caseworkers. The study used …

Efficacy Of Preventions And Interventions For At-Risk Students In Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs, Helga Venus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students, who are repeatedly referred to Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEPs), are at risk for future school dropout and for feeding the pipeline from schools to prison. In the United States, this is true especially for minority students, and regardless of referral reasons or intervention efforts. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to examine attitudes of DAEP students and teachers regarding the influence of mandatory versus discretionary referrals, frequency and duration of referrals, and punitive versus creative interventions on positive behavioral outcomes. Data for the quantitative phase were collected via an online survey from public high …

Perception Of Stress Observed By Family Members Of Dentists Who Have Committed Suicide, Lillian D. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research aimed at the observed stress from being a dentist, and how it may have

impacted the occurrence of their suicide did not appear to be prevalent among empirical

suicide studies. The purpose of this basic, qualitative study was to explore how the

family members perceived occupational stress as precursor events in dentists who

committed suicide. Using the interpersonal theory of suicide as the conceptual basis, 4

family members of dentists who committed suicide were interviewed to understand how

family members perceived occupational stress in the dentist using semi structured

interviews. Through a series of precoding and recoding, interview data …

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, Zero-Tolerance Discipline, And The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Lois V. Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Zero-tolerance discipline policies led to the introduction of police on school campuses and has resulted in a disproportionate number of in-school arrests and referrals of Black middle-school students, subjecting them to the school-to-prison pipeline. An abundance of data suggest the negative effects of zero tolerance; however, less is known regarding alternative evidence-based strategies such as the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). Grounded in stage environment fit and labeling theoretical frameworks, the purpose of this study was to examine if JDAI status (pre-JDAI and post-JDAI) could predict arrests and referrals, while controlling for race, gender, and age. Secondary data were collected …

Experiences Of Jamaican Adult College Students In Counseling, Pamela Victoria Gray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the introduction of counseling services in Jamaica in the 1960s, young adults continue to encounter obstacles in utilizing the services made available to them. Some significant factors impacting how individuals use the professional counseling services are (a) the clients’ historical and political background, (b) the ill-treatment of people with mental illness, (c) cultural practices and values, (d) the stigma toward mental illness, and (e) knowledge deficiency concerning psychological issues and psychosis. This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological research describes the experiences of Jamaican adult college students in counseling with counseling professionals. Seven participants volunteered through the networking sample method from universities …

The Influence Of Attachment On Learning Dispositions Of Nontraditional Community College Students, Kristen E. Muleya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nontraditional students constitute the majority of college students in the United States, yet compared to traditional students obtaining a bachelor’s degree, they are disproportionally at risk of not completing community college. Most research consists of traditional college students as participants. Research is needed on attachment styles and learning dispositions of nontraditional students to understand the needs for academic success. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to investigate the differences between 174 nontraditional community college students’ attachment style (independent variable) and their behavioral learning dispositions (dependent variables). Attachment theory served as the theoretical foundation for this study. This study …

Strategies Road Freight Transport Leaders Use To Increase Driver Retention, Johnny Mumphrey Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The turnover of skilled over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers in the road freight transportation (RFT) industry results in significant yearly financial losses to organizations across the United States. Leaders in the industry continue to struggle to develop successful strategies for retaining these drivers. Grounded in the motivation hygiene theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies 5 transformational leaders from two RFT firms in North Texas used to improve OTR driver retention. Data collection included semi structured face-to-face interviews, a review of company webpages, and an assessment of company documents (e.g., employee handbooks, training manuals, and vision …

Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of Public School Violent Intruder Drills, Kati Oakes Pusey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public schools in the United States are increasingly implementing violent intruder drills in response to school shootings; however, the impact these drills have on the well-being of preservice teachers is not fully understood. A lack of knowledge also exists as to how intruder drills contribute to preservice teachers’ motivation to enter the profession. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of preservice teachers who have participated in violent intruder trainings and drills. Using prospect theory as the framework, the key research questions addressed preservice teachers’ perceptions of violent intruder incidents and drills as well as their …

Locus Of Control And Mindfulness As Moderators Of The Job Demand-Control Model: Effects On Burnout, Basia Andrejko-Gworek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBurnout is considered a health hazard of contemporary workplaces and additional research is needed to identify protective factors against this phenomenon. The job demand-control model specifies job control as the key buffer against strains, but empirical support for its buffer hypothesis is limited. The present study accounted for both structural and person factors and tested a revised hindrance job demand-control model in prediction of burnout. By incorporating the challenge-hindrance stress framework with tenets of the transactional stress framework and the differential reactivity of personality theory, it was proposed that inclusion of hindrance stressors (i.e., interpersonal conflict, role conflict and organizational …

Comparison Of Advance Care Planning Interventions And Older Adults’ Advance Directive Completion Rates, Tammy Biehler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the benefits of advance care planning (ACP), only one third of older adults in the United States have completed it. To address this gap, health care organizations are implementing ACP programs to engage older adults in the process. These programs can be delivered in various ways, including 1:1 conversations, classes, and web-based tools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate which ACP option was associated with highest participation and advance directive (AD) completion rates in older adults. Social cognitive theory provided the framework to understand the impact the ACP environment and personal characteristics’ have on the odds …

School Social Workers And Perceived Barriers When Providing Services To Lgbtq Children, Jason Ray Bullard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The proliferation of bias and prejudicial attitudes towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community have been studied and empirically recognized throughout modern history. School social workers, as the school-to-home mental health liaison, have a duty to protect and support vulnerable populations of students. Research supports the overarching need for specific support provision for young LGBTQ children as they often report not feeling safe or supported within educational settings, leading to an overall decreased sense of wellbeing. This study, based on critical race theory as well as normative theory and democracy, used qualitative semistructured interviews with …

The Need For A Balanced System And More Community-Based Programs And Interventions In Juvenile Justice Reform In Georgia, Ebony R. Bullock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem that this study addressed was the rising juvenile crime in Fulton County, Georgia. Georgia’s juvenile justice system went through a significant overhaul in 2013 that promised to reduce juvenile crime and recidivism, create more community-based interventions and programs, reduce the number of juveniles in out-of-home placement, and save taxpayers money. Despite the efforts put into place by House Bill 242 of 2013 (HB242), there was still an increase in juvenile crime, and there were not many community-based interventions and programs put into place. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of HB242 on juvenile …

Foster Care Service Barriers And Social Work Practice In The Virgin Islands, Anna Maria Clarke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative research study explored service barriers social workers encountered while working with their foster clients aging out of placement in the Virgin Islands. This study provided an understanding of the problem and seminal literature that warrants further study in the future. The foundation for this study was grounded in ecological systems theory. Data collection consisted of narrative interviews with social workers from a single government agency. Six social workers from the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands discussed the challenges they encountered while working with their foster clients aging out of placement. Key findings …

The Role Of Social Media In Supporting U.S. Citizens’ Trust In Government, Terrence M. Cole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

This qualitative study was designed to examine citizen trust in government relations. Data consisted of information from 23 semistructured interviews from 14 consumers/clients and 9 information technology coordinators in Oakland, California participating in a 501 C3 nonprofit agency and 2019 Pew Center surveys. Data were analyzed using content analysis and cross-verified through the process of data source triangulation. Results of each group interviews in comparison to survey results from the Pew Research Center’s 2019 Trust and Distrust in America study indicated that participants demonstrated trust in social media platforms, and these platforms informed participants’ views on their trust in …

Emotional Intelligence, Self-Directed Learning, And Online Success In Adult Learners: A Mediation Model, Amanda C. Coté

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Online education has been established as a viable option for adult learners. More recently, it has been adopted by many institutions as a critical component in their long-term planning and success. Despite consistent growth rates in online enrollment, and the advantages to online learning, attrition rates for online courses remain higher than traditional (ground) courses. Bar-On’s theory of emotional intelligence (EI) and Knowles’ self-directed learning (SDL) theory have been positively linked with online academic performance and identified as predictors of learning online and life success. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to explore EI and SDL as predictors …

Differences In Turnover Intentions Between Nonmillennials And Millennials In Nonprofit Organizations, Kevin Allen Dennis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The consequences of turnover in nonprofit organizations can be costly. Grounded in the person-organization fit theory, the purpose of this cross-sectional survey study was to investigate turnover intentions among generational cohorts in nonprofit organizations. The research questions addressed whether differences in turnover intentions existed among generational cohorts and whether job satisfaction and organizational justice perceptions influenced turnover intentions in nonmillennials and millennials working in nonprofit organizations. Survey data were collected from 192 employees from nonprofit organizations. The survey included the Perceived Overall Justice scale, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Intent to Stay scale. Data were analyzed using t tests …

Risk Factors Of Infant Mortality Disparity In Indian River County, Florida, Cecilia Miguelina Escorbore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infant mortality in the United States is a great concern to families, communities, and professionals in the public health field. More concerning is the infant mortality racial disparity, prevalent throughout the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors of infant mortality disparity in Indian River County (IRC), Florida. Using socioecological theory as the theoretical framework, this study explored whether there is an association between infant mortality among Black infants and geographic location as well as measures of socioeconomic status (age, educational level, health insurance status, and marital status) associated with infant mortality among Black infants …

What Do The Stories Of Indigenous Youth Reveal About Their Educational Experiences?, Kenneth Paul Ealey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While the voices of Indigenous youth in other parts of the world have been sought out, no studies have specifically focused on the educational experiences of urban Indigenous youth in Canada. This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of youth-adult relationships among Indigenous youth attending urban high schools in Western Canada. The study was approached from a postcolonial perspective aligning with Native Theory. This position is grounded on the premise that the experiences and stories of participants reveal their lived realities. Indigenous youth, 18 to 21, were recruited through targeted information sessions and word of mouth. Over 30 youth expressed …

Nonprofits’ Financial Health And Healthy People 2020 California Program Outcomes, Tammie Vanessa Johnson-Lozolla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are essential for implementing U.S. health promotion policies such as the Healthy People 2020 Nutrition and Weight Status 9, 10.4, and 15.1 program goals. Obtaining and sustaining NPO funding are pervasive problems. Prior research has focused primarily on NPO financial measures without taking into consideration a conjoint assessment of program outcomes connected to their primary mission. This study examined the influence of financial, accountability, and transparency measures on a selection of California NPOs whose program goals focused on Healthy People 2020 nutritional outcomes. Using Mohr’s program theory lens, this quantitative study examined financial strategies and administrative components …

A Phenomenological Study On Adoption Disclosure Experienced By Adult Adoptees, Carmen H. Leggett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis research addressed the psychological experiences that adoption disclosure has on adoptees and their systems. In this phenomenological study eight interviews were conducted that consisted of four females and four males guided by general systems theory. Interviews were conducted via video conference, telephone, and email/telephone. Data saturation was achieved after the fourth interview as no new information had surfaced and similar responses were being echoed repeatedly from the participants. However, the interviews continued because the stories being shared by the participants were invaluable and to ensure the sampling criteria of eight participants was met. The interviews were transcribed, and several …

Use Of Machine Learning To Predict Ethical Drift In Law Enforcement, Ryan Mann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. law enforcement agencies are facing a legitimacy crisis. Incidents of police misconduct are the subject of widespread media coverage. Officer conduct continues to be a problem despite effectiveness of candidate screening. Underlying causes of ethical drift must be understood to reduce police misconduct. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to examine the relationship between police ethical drift and agency size, officer age, officer gender, and officer education level. Ethical drift was the conceptual framework. Archival secondary data from local law enforcement agencies and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission were obtained …

Nongovernmental Organizations As Peoples Representatives In Policy Design: The Case Of The Nairobi County Government, David Maina Micro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Constitution of Kenya mandates public participation to be observed in all processes of policy review and policy design. Despite the well-intended provision, far-reaching meaningful involvement of the public in policy development has largely failed to materialize; yet, the voice of the public in policy design remains an important success factor to inclusive and sustainable development. The purpose of this case study was to understand how public participation was influenced by the relationships between nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the Nairobi County government, while designing the Nairobi City County Public Participation Act of 2015. The theoretical framework for this study was …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Community Programs In Reducing And Deterring Juvenile Delinquency, Susan Michelle Newton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Indianapolis, the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, continues to experience a high rate of offenses committed by juvenile offenders. Community programs are in place to assist in the deterrence and/or reduction of juvenile crimes, yet the city’s crime rate continues to increase with youth being the perpetrator of many of these crimes. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of these programs, which has not been adequately studied. The research questions focused on identifying which of the city’s current programs are perceived as being effective or ineffective in reducing juvenile delinquency and why so. …