Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Relationship Between External Influences And State Education Policy Processes, Jessica Chrystal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Political agendas and political attention often change based on media attention and business influence, ultimately impacting policies. Elementary and secondary education policies have evolved to improve academic rigor and increase global competitiveness. Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were established based on state-level elementary and secondary education student needs. The purpose of this quantitative content analysis was to explore how external factors influenced state-level policy actors during the formulation and implementation of one state’s CCSS. All policies follow the policy process, which often includes various actors influencing various phases. Agenda-setting and political embeddedness are two critical components in the policy process …

Parental Involvement And Academic Achievement Of Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Marie Myrlene Dupont-Krommie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have persistently encountered academic difficulties resulting from their struggles to cope with educational standard rules hindering their academic achievement. Parental involvement significantly provides an optimistic effect on students' academic achievement; however, there is sparse literature that focuses on the effect of parental involvement on the academic achievement of children with ADHD. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the involvement of parents of children diagnosed with ADHD through their academic life, explore those parents' perceptions of themselves as contributors in their children's academic lives, report their views as influential participants in …

The 2009 Niger Delta Amnesty: Evaluation Of A Policy Failure, Christian Obidiche Eze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2009, the federal government of Nigeria under then-President Musa Yar’adua established the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), which became their flagship program in combating militancy and turning repentant ex-militants into positively contributing citizens. This is a multi-dimensional problem that involves governmental ineptitude, exploitation by multinational oil companies, and lack of sustainable developmental measures as primary drivers of instability in the Niger Delta. There are arguments that the 2009 PAP Program brought about little positive change in the region. This program brought about peace initially in the region until early 2016, when there was a brief but very destructive return to …

Influence Of Parenting Style On Frequency Of Alcohol Consumption By Jewish Male And Female Emerging Adults, Thomas Gross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The health hazards associated with young adults’ frequency of alcohol consumption have been well documented. It has been shown that 40.1% of emerging adults have been involved in binge drinking (i.e., consumption of more than five drinks in a row). The current prevalence rates of alcohol use among young male and female adults are 19% and 26%, respectively. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of perceived parenting style (i.e., permissive, authoritarian, or authoritative/flexible) on the self-reported frequency of alcohol consumption of 138 U.S. Jewish male and female college students ages 19 to 27 years. The …

Collaborative Governance In Public Education Through Democratic Management Of Polarities, Michele Greene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a democratic society the use of inter- and intraorganizational collaboration as a pragmatic approach to addressing social issues germane to sustaining that democracy is a challenge, especially in the realm of public education reform. The Common Core State Standards Initiative, an attempt at collaboration to reform public schools initially adopted by more than three fourths of U.S. states, created an ongoing response that included proponents and opposers. The opposition in Pennsylvania led to the State reneging on its original commitment to the Common Core State Standards created by the initiative. Research revealed a gap regarding the ability of the …

Perceptions And Experiences Of African American Americorps Program Participants, Dean Michael Hindenlang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AmeriCorps, a voluntary public service program founded in 1993, has largely consisted of a nonminority middle-class group, generally 20 to 29 years old, who had the financial assistance of family while serving. African American participants may be experiencing AmeriCorps-based programs differently, in areas such as financial solvency, job readiness skills, and the ability to begin or return to college. This qualitative study was designed to reveal the perceptions and experiences of African American participants who have completed AmeriCorps service in a Midwest metropolis. Using the lens of critical race theory, which explored African American Corps members through a historical position …

African American Parents’ Experience Accessing Support Services For Their Autistic Child, Akisa S. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The perspective of African American parents of an autistic child is vital to understanding the experiences and challenges of accessing autism support services for their child. The purpose of this qualitative, generic study was to explore the experiences that African American parents in Philadelphia County, PA had in accessing and maintaining autism services for their children. The behavioral health model and the resilience theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 African American parents accessing autism support services in the Philadelphia County area. The data were analyzed using the six steps of thematic …

Examining The Impact Of Mental Health Education On Bias And Stigma In Cit Trained Officers, Jennifer L. Krause

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational nonexperimental research was to examine the relationship between the mental health education received through Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and the perceptions of public mental health stigma, self-stigma, and attitudes toward seeking mental health services among law enforcement officers. The study’s theoretical framework integrated gender-role conflict theory and Goffman’s stigma theory in explaining the influence of the police culture on officers’ adoption of more traditional masculine roles. This research used three instruments: the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire to measure perceptions of public stigma, the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale to measure self-stigma, and …

Coping Strategies Of Dual-Role Informal Caregivers, Lorilee Maldonado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are nearly 43.5 million informal caregivers (ICGs) in the United States, and this number will nearly double by 2030. Trying to fulfill the needs of an aging family member and commitments to work, home, and other relationships create a constant state of stress that may result in either leaving the workforce or placing the care recipient in a facility. Finding strategies that support both roles is economically and socially critical. This study explored the strategies that some ICGs have acquired that enable them to cope with these pressures. Work-family conflict theory, focusing on the conflict between work and family …

A Behavioral Healthcare Approach To At-Risk Youth Substance Prevention Program Development, Debra Mcintyre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Providing quality services that meet the needs of clients is key to organizational sustainability for behavioral health organizations. Strategic development of substance prevention programs for at-risk youth will play an important role in capacity building. The focus of this study was to identify the need for developing a targeted and effective substance abuse prevention program to support at-risk youth who have trauma experiences before they begin misusing substances to cope with their challenges. The Baldrige excellence framework was used to guide this descriptive case study of a behavioral health organization in the Northeastern region of the United States. The data …

Lived Experiences Of Haitian Immigrants In The United States During The Trump Administration, Klaudya Phillips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racism that is either blatant or perceived has contributed to all contemporary markings of group advantage and disadvantage along ethnic and racial lines, which includes differences in education, employment, housing, health, and health care. Understanding how these elements are impacting immigrants will be the key to helping this population overcome problems they might experience. One demographic whose emotional experiences have yet to be fully explored are Haitian immigrants. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore how the political climate under the Trump administration impacted the psychosocial lived experiences of Haitian immigrants who immigrated to the United States …

Strategies For Retaining Employees In The Trucking Industry, Dionne Bell- Pursley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover is a recurring problem in organizations, affecting performance and productivity while depleting organizational resources. High driver turnover rates raise a company’s operating costs and reduce driver productivity, service quality, and highway safety in the trucking industry. When trucking industry leaders understand such factors, they can develop and implement strategies to increase truck driver retention. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory and supported by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, the purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies trucking company leaders use to increase truck driver retention. The participants included eight executives from trucking companies in the southeast …

End-Stage Renal Disease Patients' Experience Of Anticipatory Grief, Felicia Nicole Speed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although prior researchers have suggested that end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients experience depression that impacts their adherence to treatment and quality of life, there is a lack of understanding of how ESRD patients experience anticipatory grief related to their mortality and loss. This lack of knowledge has made it challenging for social workers to address treatment adherence and palliative care issues during the care planning process. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions of loss and grief of ESRD patients who were undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The conceptual framework was anticipatory grief, specifically how patients perceive their own …

Catalysts To Transformational Leadership Between Managers And Analysts In Public Service, Eugene Davis Stevenson Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transformational leadership (TL) is the ability of a leader to convince a subordinate or follower to adopt organizational goals as their goals. Transformational leaders utilize intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence to engage and mold their employees. Within the sphere of public management, current leadership research acknowledges the effect of TL but is still incomplete or inconsistent on how to catalyze TL consistently. The focus of this study was how TL is used between managers and analysts within California state public service. The theoretical framework for this study is complexity theory. Complexity theory states that the world …

Emotion Regulation, Affective, Continuous, And Normative Commitment For Turnover Intentions Among Degree-Seeking Employees, Danette Colleen Sutter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multiple researchers have investigated employee turnover related to affective, continuous, and normative commitment, and none reported the predictive power of emotion regulation reappraisal on these components of commitment with turnover intentions among degree-seeking employees. The purpose of this quantitative survey research study was to explore emotion regulation reappraisal and its predictive power for organizational commitment associated with degree-seeking employees' intentions to quit jobs. In this study, a small sample of N = 18 degree-seeking employees took part in survey methodology. Multiple regressions were performed to calculate the variance of independent variables, emotion regulation and affective, continuous, and normative commitment associated …

Junior Managers’ Perceptions Of Executives Leadership Styles And Communication Practices, Kaprina Townsend

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective communication and leadership practices continue to be an ongoing problem within organizations due to executives’ inability to effectively lead and communicate. The primary concern in this study was how junior managers perceive the effectiveness of executives’ communication practices as well as how executives’ leadership styles influence the junior managers. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of junior managers. The leader-member exchange theory provides the framework for this study on exploring junior managers lived experiences and their perceptions on how executives’ leadership styles influence them and their perception of executive’s ability to disseminate top …

Retention And Efficiency Of Qualified Teachers In Rural Nigerian Secondary Schools, Mary Abiodun Abioye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Low retention rates and inadequate efficiency of qualified teachers in rural Nigerian secondary schools have negatively impacted the educational system in Nigeria. Rural communities have suffered negligent and untold hardship. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify strategies that influence the retention and efficiency of teachers working in rural Nigerian schools. Although it is not unusual for a teacher to change schools, the rate of turnover of teachers in rural areas is quite high. Hence, it is instructive to consider the theories, concepts, and models that impact the retention and efficiency of teachers within these communities. Data …

Leadership Behavior On Burnout Among African-American Licensed Professional Counselors, Chinedu Augustus Akubudike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe impact of leadership behavior on burnout among mental health workers has been an area of study among scholars since 2004. For example, poor leadership behavior has been found to impact burnout among licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and leadership strategy has been found to be essential in addressing a clinician's burnout. However, existing literature has indicated that some U.S. behavioral health organizations lack leadership qualities that would facilitate a decrease in burnout among mental health providers. Therefore, I examined the issues associated with the leadership of XYZB behavioral health clinic in northeastern Washington, DC, and its approaches for remediating burnout …

The Experience Of Childhood Sibling Violence And Partner Violence In Adult Relationships, Chelsey Almond Barger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Victims of sibling violence may be at increased risk for revictimization in peer and dating relationships, and sibling violence may influence how the young adult reacts to conflict in their interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of childhood sibling violence with adults who later experienced intimate partner violence. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was the conceptual framework of this study. The research question was how individuals perceive and describe the effect of sibling violence in childhood as this relates to the experience of intimate partner violence as adults. Five individuals who experienced childhood sibling violence …

Terrorism And Social Media: Extremist Groups And College Student Recruitment, Marion Donald Bell Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

College students are particularly vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist organizations. Social media is the primary tool used by extremist groups to target college students. This research was conducted to examine the extent to which college students are affected by extremist groups on social media. A qualitative research design was implemented to collect data from a diverse group of college students. Participants consisted of five experts in homeland security or law enforcement and 12 individuals who were students or recent graduates in fields related to law enforcement and homeland security. Social learning theory provided the theoretical foundation for this research. Results …

Expectation Setting As A Retention Strategy To Improve Military Veterans’ Transition Into Civilian Organizations, Sarah O. Bashorun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military veterans entering the civilian job market have experienced challenges adapting to the civilian work place culture, which poses undesirable retention rates. This qualitative study addressed the research gap in understanding contextually the lived experiences with setting expectations and its impact on veterans withdrawing from the organization from the perspectives of veterans, HR, and hiring managers. This study was based on the met expectation theory that posits that an employee’s incoming expectation needs to match their expectation while on the job to avoid withdrawal behaviors. To confirm the theory and address the purpose two research questions were used: (a) addressed …

Export Success And Sustainable Strategies For Cameroonian Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Christian N. Bikai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAccording to the Cameroon Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 99.8% of companies, employ over 70% of the active population, and contribute significantly to economic growth and development. However, less than 25% of new SMEs in Cameroon survive beyond 3 years. Sustainability is essential to small business owners in exporting coffee from Cameroon as an indicator of economic growth and job creation. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study guided by the transaction cost economics theory was to explore strategies owners of small businesses exporting coffee from Cameroon use to sustain business beyond …

Exploring The Dating Experiences Of Biracial Women, Camela Callaway-Higgins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Census data highlight swiftly changing demographics in the United States with over 9 million people self-identifying as multiracial. Scholars agree that the multiracial population has been historically understudied, and that this population may have differing experiences from the majority and other minorities. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the dating experiences of women who self-identify as Latina and Caucasian. This study was grounded in literature pertaining to the unique experiences of multiracial individuals, with emphasis on biracial relationship experiences, family influence on biracial identity and experiences, and the history of biracial identity theory development. …

Strategies Required For Complying With North American Free Trade Agreement, Daniel Arthur Chavez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The failure of U.S. small home textile business owners to comply with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) regulations can have adverse business outcomes. Small U.S. textile owners must comply with NAFTA regulations to sustain business operations. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore strategies small home textile owners use to comply with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) regulations when trading with Mexico. The participants were four owners of SMEs located in the greater New York City area who use successful strategies to export to Mexico. The data were …

The Predictive Relationship Between Probation/Parole Officer Factors And Recidivism Rates Among Female Offenders, Crystal Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this quantitative, longitudinal, correlational study was to examine if probation officers’ (POs) knowledge of the post release needs of the female offender, their use of positive feedback with the offender, and their supportive relationship with offender were significantly predictive of recidivism at 3 years post release in a sample of 363 female offenders under probation/parole in the state of Michigan between 2011–2014. The study was guided by the PO as coach theory. Data obtained from archival data sets from the Probation/Parole Officer Interactions with Women Offenders, Michigan, 2011–2014 study were utilized in the study. One binomial logistic …

Social Workers' Perspectives Of Depression In Baby Boomers Born Between 1946 And 1955, Karen Cohen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAs the leading-edge baby boomer (L-E boomer) cohort continues to age, demands of mental health services in treating diagnosed depression in this cohort are increasing. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) are the most likely social workers to provide services to L-E boomers diagnosed with depression. LCSWs were the chosen participants for this generic qualitative study to gain knowledge of their perspectives of working with L-E boomers diagnosed with depression. Grounded in generational theory, this study used a generic qualitative approach allowing for nonrestrictive measures for capturing the data. NVIVO assisted in coding the data and identification of common themes, words, …

Adult Day Care Staff Education To Improve Communication And Behavioral Management Skills, Kathy Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIneffective communication and behavioral management skills are quality and safety issues that were identified at a local adult day care facility in the Southwest United States. Administrators at the facility identified a knowledge gap in communication and behavior management techniques for patients with cognitive impairment. An educational program, with a PowerPoint presentation and verbal feedback as key components, was developed and used to address the identified gap in practice related to individuals with cognitive impairments at the facility. The adult learning theory and the plan-do-study-act model provided supportive frameworks for program development and staff education. The project question explored whether …

Impact Of Diversity Trainings On Commitment And Exploration Of Ethnic Identity, Donna Louise Dockery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increased attention continues to be given to diversity and social justice in the field of psychology. With the increased attention, training has been seen as the primary method of changing behaviors and biases. To date, literature on the effectiveness of workplace diversity training on organizational and employee outcomes was lacking. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of diversity trainings on the commitment and exploration of ethnic identity of nonminority individuals in the workplace. The theoretical foundation was Helm’s theory of White racial identity, which was used to examine the various ways identification with White culture influences …

Primary Care Physicians’ Attitudes, Beliefs, And Actions Toward Geriatric Treatment, Andrea Renee Holzner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the United States, an estimated 49.2 million older adults seek specialized geriatric medical treatment from a primary care physician (PCP). Due to a nationwide geriatrician deficit resulting from significant aging population growth, PCPs now manage specialized geriatric issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive assessments, and physiological impairments, such as Parkinson’s, due to non-normative aging. Although PCPs may take geriatric courses, geriatric specialization is beyond a normative primary care medical practice. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore primary care physician attitudes, beliefs, and actions, toward geriatrics and to expand the understanding of primary care physicians’ geriatric …

Positive Perceptions Of Mentoring Influences On African American Male Public High School Students, Jazzmea Houghton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many African American males face challenges due to historical and current negative viewpoints of this population. However, urban communities also play a vital role in the obstacles encountered, which impacts this population’s well-being. The purpose of this project was to gain knowledge from mentors on how a mentoring program positively affected the cognitions, behaviors, and academic progress of African American, male, public high school students residing in urban communities and effective ways mentorships foster resilience. This qualitative research study used a cognitive behavioral theoretical framework and a resilience theory conceptual framework, and narrative semistructured interviews were conducted. The mentors’ positive …