Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of The Yield Curve On Bank Equity Returns: Evidence From Canada, Robert N. Killins, Peter V. Egly, Sourav Batabyal

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

We examine the reaction of Canadian banks equity returns to changes in yield curve spreads. We find that Canadian banks equity returns are positively impacted by contemporaneous (and lagged) yield curve spreads. Our results also suggest that Canadian banks have become more sensitive to changes in the slope of the yield curve in the post 2007-2009 financial crisis. We also find an asymmetric impact of the slope of the yield curve on Canadian bank equity returns. For equity investors, the yield curve’s relevance varies with spreadmaturities. Our findings have important implications for the estimations of banks’ cost of capital and …

Threshold Effects Of Terms Of Trade On Latin American Growth, Andre C. Vianna, Andre V. Mollick

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

This paper investigates nonlinear relationships between terms of trade volatility (totvol) and economic growth in 14 Latin American economies from 1997 to 2014. In the 2000s, Latin American countries experienced accelerated economic growth often attributed to commodity price booms. We split the sample into two regimes based on totvol thresholds determined by bootstrap techniques. Fixed-effects, instrumental variable and dynamic panel regressions address endogeneity in trade-growth, subject to traditional economic channels such as domestic investment, population growth, exchange rate, government size, and institutions. We find statistically significant thresholds and stronger trade-growth links during the 2000s commodity boom and in larger economies.

Soil Response Of Helicopter Liming In The Monongahela National Forest, Jarrett Douglas Fowler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Soils in the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) are acidic due to sandstone parent material, acid deposition, uptake of base cations by vegetation, and release of organic acids by organic matter (OM) decomposition. Increases in soil acidity have caused declines in forest health and changed species composition and nutrient status. Liming can neutralize soil acidity, but no large-scale liming projects have been done on acid forest soils in the USA. In anticipation of acquiring funding for a proposed liming project in the MNF, in 2007 and 2009 10 sites were selected to sample and analyze soils before lime was applied. In …

Development And Dynamics Of Us Welfare Policy, Liza Gordon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation I analyze the development of contemporary US welfare policy with special consideration given to the importance of race and gender. In the introductory chapter I outline how the development of the American welfare state has continuously neglected the needs of women and minorities as well as how classist, racist, and sexist appeals have been prevalent throughout US history in relation to welfare policies. The remaining chapters analyze how contemporary welfare policies including the 1996 welfare reforms and state drug-testing for welfare laws carry on these American legacies. In Chapter 1 I examine how the classist, sexist, and …

Psychometric Evaluation Of Genetic Literacy Instruments In A National Sample, Jamey T. Brumbaugh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The concept of genetic literacy continues to grow in clinical and social significance. Whether transforming current healthcare practices or raising questions about genetically-modified foods, genetic information and technologies are primed to further influence people’s lives. There is a growing need to understand how genetic literacy is currently assessed in order to inform and improve future test development. This study aimed to investigate the assessment of genetic literacy by psychometrically examining three contemporary genetic literacy instruments (i.e., Genetic Knowledge Survey, International Genetic Literacy and Attitudes Survey (iGLAS-GK), and University of North Carolina Genomic Knowledge Scale (UNC-GKS). Psychometric properties, including internal consistency …

The Prevalence Of Burnout Among Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Program Directors, Jessica Suedbeck, Emily A. Ludwig, Susan Lynn Tolle

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Workplace burnout in academia is a problem that affects career satisfaction and longevity. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout among entry-level dental hygiene program directors.

Methods: The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) survey was used to determine prevalence of burnout in 325 dental hygiene program directors from across the United States. The survey was disseminated electronically. The CBI contains 19 questions that measure overall, personal, work-related, and client/student-related burnout on a five-point Likert type scale. The survey also included nine demographic and three open-ended questions related to burnout. Descriptive statistics, one sample t-tests, and …

Barriers In Implementing A Unified Collaborative Policy To Combat Female Sex Trafficking In Edo-State,Nigeria., Grace Chikaodili Uzochukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHuman trafficking has been a historical and global concern as well as a global crime against humanity that violates individual rights, freedom, and privileges. Human trafficking has become a growing phenomenon in Edo State, Nigeria, while the existing policy to combat it has proved ineffective. There was a gap in understanding strategies for the unification of the policies at the level of Edo State, Nigeria, and the level of the United Nations (UN) to ensure better outcomes in the fight against human trafficking. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore perceived barriers to implementing collaborative policy unification …

Exploring The Religious Motives Of The Boko Haram Terrorism In Nigeria, Andrew Abah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Boko Haram (BH) terrorism in Nigeria has persisted for over a decade, and the attacks continue to get more sophisticated, deadly, and well-coordinated with each passing year. Given the sect’s focus on religious institutions, especially churches and mosques considered not to be practicing the kind of Islam the BH expresses, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore the religious motivation that drives their terrorist activities. The primary research question that guided this qualitative study on the religious motivations, reconciliation of activities and beliefs, and perspectives regarding minimizing BH terrorism in Nigeria. The study’s theoretical framework was the frustration-aggression theory …

Social Determinants And Academic Success For Online Undergraduates Mediated By Mental Health, Jamie Michelle Claus Getz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSocial determinants of health (SDH) are social and economic systems that directly contribute to health disparities and inequalities. This study examined SDH and their relation to education, also an SDH. The relationship between SDH and online undergraduate achievement, as measured by grade-point average (GPA), was studied. Cumulative inequality is the theoretical framework that guided the study; it underscores the complexity of interaction between personal, social, and environmental stressors in relation to a student’s academic performance. The quantitative survey design allowed for potential relationships between variables to be observed and studied based on the survey responses per self-report from 212 online …

Impact Of Emotional Disturbance On Crime Among Latinos In Texas, Patricia Kendra Sellers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Latinos are a minority population who are largely stereotyped as violent and vulnerable to committing crimes in America. While Latinos’ vulnerability to committing crimes is attributed to multiple factors, little attention has been drawn towards the relationship between Latinos’ emotional disturbance and probability toward perpetrating or preventing crime. The rational choice theory, trait theory, and biological theory were used to show relationships between emotional disturbance and cognitive processes underlying recidivism that are common among Latinos in Texas. This study investigated the impact of emotional disturbance on decision-making processes among Latinos in Texas as a motivator or deterrent to engage in …

Noncompliance With Regulations On The Use Of Safety Helmets By Motorcyclists In Tamale, Ghana, Mohammed Wumbei

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMotorcyclists’ nonadherence to safety helmet regulations results in an increased risk of accidents, often leading to traumatic injuries or death. This noncompliance is prevalent in the rural and peri-urban areas of the developing world, particularly in Tamale, Ghana. The purpose of this qualitative case study research was to apply the theoretical framework of rational choice theory in the examination of motorcyclists’ considerations in deciding whether to comply with government safety helmet regulations. Motorcyclists in Tamale were convenience sampled for observation and a subset recruited for interview. The study followed the qualitative case study approach by conducting observations and in-depth face-to-face …

The Effect Of Acupuncture On The Stress Levels Of Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Ghana, Derrick Tettey Dicker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Around the world, the use of acupuncture is increasingly becoming a common alternative treatment for the symptoms often associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the treatment of acupuncture appears to be lacking in Ghana because mental health professionals, patients, and the government representatives are largely unaware of its potential efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture treatment on patients with PTSD in Ghana. The study was conducted through the lens of psycho-physiological trauma. A research question was formulated to investigate the association between the independent variable, acupuncture treatment, and the dependent variable, the …

Psychosocial And Academic Outcomes Of De-Shifting Three-Year High Schools In The Republic Of Trinidad And Tobago, Joanne Shurland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe vision of the first postcolonial leader of Trinidad and Tobago was to build a nation of citizens who were educated. Education for All drove the new post-independence government in 1962 with a focus on free and equal education. This was achieved by using a three-year double shift schooling system to provide two school cycles in the morning and afternoon. This system was implemented in the early 1970s but was fraught with challenges. After achieving its Education for All mandate, the government de-shifted the three-year double shift schools and converted these to five-year full day schools by 2008. This study …

Data Modeling Of Cognitive Structure In Physiotherapy Students Learning Gross Anatomy, William Allan Besselink

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cognitive structures that promote deep learning of gross anatomy are integral to musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice yet poorly understood. This quantitative, criterion-related validation study addressed two data modeling strategies (multidimensional scaling and Pathfinder networks) as a potential visual and quantitative representation of the cognitive structures of physiotherapy students learning gross anatomy. The study was grounded in the Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational theory of cognition. The research questions addressed the agreement (reliability, accuracy, and association) between student and expert cognitive structures and included the derived quantitative parameters as predictor variables in multiple regression to examine potential relationships with unit grades. An online …

Biogeographic-Stratigraphic-And-Environmental-Distribution-Of-Basilosaurus-Mammalia-Cetacea-In-North-America-With-A-Review-Of-The-Late-Eocene-Shoreline-In-The-Southeastern-Coastal-Plain, Kathlyn M. Smith, Alexander K. Hastings, Ryan M. Bebej, Mark D. Uhen

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

A new specimen of Basilosaurus cetoides was discovered on the banks of the Flint River in Albany, Georgia, USA, in 2010. This fossil, which was the most complete specimen of the species from Georgia to date, consisted of five nearly complete and two partial post-thoracic vertebrae, tentatively identified as S4 through Ca6. During excavation, however, the site was looted and most of the specimen was lost to science. Nonetheless, we use this discovery as an opportunity to update the current state of knowledge on the stratigraphic, biogeographic, and environmental distribution of Basilosaurus in North America, as well as the position …

Mapping The Lived Experiences Of Bisexuals, Barbara Ann Hopkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bisexuality is often met with binegativity, dismissal, and marginalization due to misconception of identity and behavior and its consideration as a transitional phase before the adoption of a monosexual identity. There is a lack of in-depth research regarding bisexuality apart from lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender/sexual studies; it is important to understand and differentiate bisexuality as a separate identity rather than a subset of heterosexual or homosexual identities. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of bisexuals through the lens of sexual configurations theory (SCT). SCT is a relatively new theory that has yet …

Ghanaian Immigrant Women In The United States Beliefs About Maternal Nutrition And Fetal Development, Yassi Azhdari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ghanaian women, in their native country, experience a high rate of anemia, malaria, and malnutrition while pregnant. Poor health outcomes for mother and child are caused by a lack of protein in their diet, food taboos, consumption of nutrient-poor foods, and infections. These conditions may cause pregnancy complications such as premature birth, or maternal or fetal death. There is little known about, the differences between the Ghanaian and U.S. birth experience, and foods used by Ghanaian immigrant women while pregnant. The biopsychosocial model was used in this descriptive qualitative study to examine how Ghanaian immigrant women are impacted by pregnancy …

Social Media Multitasking, Academic Performance, And The Fear Of Missing Out, Lynn Esol Varela

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In college, social media use that is not directly associated with classroom activities (i.e., nonacademic social media use) can serve as distractions that undermine academic performance. The purpose of this quantitative investigation was to examine the potential relationships between nonacademic social media multitasking, academic performance (measured as self-reported, overall grade point average), and fear of missing out. Though some research indicates that social media use is associated with poor academic outcomes, the mechanism of this relationship is less understood. The variables that were examined included nonacademic social media multitasking (independent variable), academic performance (dependent variable), and fear of missing out …

Parenting A Child With Autism: Predictors Of Parental Self-Efficacy, Robert Milton Guy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the rate of children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) increases, so too does the number of parents learning to cope with their child’s disability and its effects on their own health, well-being, and parental self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which subjective social status, parental social supports, and fatigue were factors predicting parental self-efficacy in parents of children diagnosed with ASD residing in the state of Oregon. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was used to frame this study. The sample for this study consisted of 120 parents of children diagnosed with ASD …

Executive Coaches’ Perspectives On Leadership Role Identity Construction In Aspiring Female Leaders, Candice St. Pierre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current efforts to develop and promote women to senior-level positions in organizations remain insufficient. Many leadership development programs are not designed to help women develop a sense of leader identity and self-efficacy. Executive coaching is a process to develop leaders that is customizable for individuals to address their specific needs and goals. A phenomenological study was conducted to gain insight into the lived experiences of executive coaches to discern their strategies and practices for working with women who aspire to attain senior leadership roles. Ten executive coaches working with aspiring women leaders as part of a Network of Executive Women …

Intimate Partner Violence: Effects Of Emotional Abuse In Women, Judith Marie Watiti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEstimates by the U.S. Bureau of Statistics point to over 30% of women being victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) yearly. Severity and frequency of violence in childhood have been shown in several studies to predict adult interpersonal violence. Research has shown that emotional abuse predicts other forms of abuse, thus identifying it as a potential causal link to IPV. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether emotional abuse mediates the relationship between history of childhood abuse and IPV. Social learning theory served as the theoretical framework for the study, in which 182 adult female participants from …

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 …

The Impact Of Medicaid Expansion On Private Behavioral Health Organizations, Syreeta Mae Garner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Communities prosper when the mental health needs of community members are met, but unaddressed mental health problems can contribute to enormous social and economic cost. Behavioral health resources are integral to the successful mitigation of adverse implications associated with mental illness. This qualitative case study was conducted to determine if Medicaid expansion has provided benefits for individuals with behavioral health needs and if behavioral health providers have been able to continue to provide quality services, despite the increase in referrals. The organization identified for this study is located in the southeastern United States and is known for providing not only …

Citizens' Perspectives On Accountability Of Nongovernmental Organizations Providing Drinking Water In Northern Ghana, Abdul-Nashiru Mohammed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAccountability is an important concept in public administration and across multiple sectors. NGOs work towards achieving their social purpose and yet, they are perceived to be accountable only to their donors but not to citizens. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore perspectives of citizens in three districts: Bongo, Wa, and Sagnarigu in Northern Ghana on how NGOs demonstrate accountability in fulfilling their commitments in drinking water provision. It specifically investigated the lived experiences of citizens: local government authorities, traditional authorities, and individual citizens from the districts. Research literature emphasized upward accountability resulting in a gap observed …

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 …

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 …

Cultural Differences Among Psychologists In Pursuit Of Self-Care, Lisa Paliotta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychologists experience a myriad of professional stressors and barriers to self-care that can affect their well-being and ability to offer effective care to patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between demographic variables, professional stressors, barriers to treatment and help-seeking behaviors among psychologists. Using a revised Bearse survey and the professional quality of life measurement, data were collected and analyzed using analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression. The 235 respondents comprised 74% women, 62.3% European American, and 56.2% reported having a PhD in psychology. Findings indicated significant differences between non-European American and European American ethnic …

Transformational Leadership And Fiscal Sustainability In The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, Ophelia Gemma Wells-Cornwall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fiscal sustainability is an existing problem for countries in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), particularly during a time of crisis. The concept of fiscal sustainability is a function of the policy posture of the government, which is largely influenced by leadership. Theoretically, the characteristics associated with transformational leadership align with what is required to design and implement fiscal policies that promote fiscal sustainability. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory and Kingdon’s multiple streams framework, this quantitative correlational study involved examining the relationship between transformational leadership and fiscal sustainability in the ECCU. Data were collected from 85 participants working within …

Parental Stress And Coping In U.S. And Caribbean Immigrant Parents Of Adolescents, Simone A. Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The immigrant population in the U.S. is growing, and the way immigrants cope with the stress of parenting may differ from parents in their host country. There is a gap in the literature regarding knowledge about how Caribbean parents cope with parenting stress compared to U.S. parents. The purpose of this quasi-experimental quantitative study was to predict coping strategies used by Caribbean immigrant and U.S.-born parents of adolescents living in the U.S based on country of origin using transactional stress and coping theory as frameworks. Thirty-seven U.S.-born and 37 Caribbean-born caregivers living in the U.S. were recruited from social media …

Correlation Between Therapeutic Outcomes And Acculturation For Hispanic Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Laura H. Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHispanic veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have a higher prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than veterans of other ethnicities, and yet little research is devoted to examining this discrepancy. The purpose of this quantitative study, framed by Leininger’s cultural care theory, was to examine self-identified outcomes of three treatment modes and how they correlate with acculturation for Hispanic veterans diagnosed with PTSD at outpatient clinics and community outreach agencies. Independent variables were individual and group behavioral therapy, or a combination of both. Dependent variables of PTSD and well-being scores and level of acculturation were examined …