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Articles 4141 - 4170 of 5392

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Law Enforcement Officer Knowledge Of Mental Illness, Nashira Funn Jan 2017

Law Enforcement Officer Knowledge Of Mental Illness, Nashira Funn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Media and activist groups have recently exposed the problem of negative interactions between law enforcement officers and civilians. Many of these civilians have a mental illness. Various researchers attribute these negative interactions to insufficient officer knowledge of mental illness due to a lack of training, education, and personal experiences. Very little research addresses how insufficient knowledge of mental illness may influence interactions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and analyze self reported law enforcement knowledge using Malcolm Knowles' conceptualization of adult learning theory and andragogy as the theoretical framework. This framework bases self-directed learning/training on a needs …

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Employee Perceptions Of Loyalty As A Factor Of Performance. Grounded Theory Approach, Chanaz Gargouri Jan 2017

Employee Perceptions Of Loyalty As A Factor Of Performance. Grounded Theory Approach, Chanaz Gargouri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The relationship between employee loyalty and organizational performance has long been recognized but not included in performance appraisal models. This study identifies the perspectives of Master of Business Administration (MBA) candidates at a small private university in the eastern U.S. Fifteen interviews were conducted after distributing flyers among MBA classes and interested students volunteered to participate. The study was qualitative, based on personal interviews, to explore how loyalty is perceived in relation to performance. The theoretical framework used was Hogan's (1983) socioanalytic theory to explain differences in people's performance at work. Through use of a grounded theory approach, employees' perceptions …

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A Case Study Of Rural Community Colleges' Transition To Entrepreneurship, James D. Genandt Jan 2017

A Case Study Of Rural Community Colleges' Transition To Entrepreneurship, James D. Genandt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The traditional role of workforce training by community colleges in support of regional economic development is insufficient to help rural areas survive in a global economy. Rural community colleges are uniquely positioned to provide enhanced economic development support through entrepreneurship and small business development programs. Using Woolcock and Narayan's conceptualization of social capital, the purpose of this case study of 4 community colleges in a midwest state was to identify specific entrepreneurship strategies rural community colleges use relative to economic development. The data were collected via email and telephone interviews with 11 employees connected to leadership and/or economic development from …

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Perceptions, Thoughts, And Feelings, Of Women Who Stutter In Four Life Domains, Nancy Ann Georges Jan 2017

Perceptions, Thoughts, And Feelings, Of Women Who Stutter In Four Life Domains, Nancy Ann Georges

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I explored how stuttering affects adult women in aspects of their life in 4 domains: social, occupational, academic, and financial. The literature contains few studies on adult women who stutter, and this research addressed these women regarding the kinds of problems they have encountered in their lives. The results of this phenomenological study identified the perceptions, thoughts, and feelings of adult women who stutter regarding how their speech disorder affected them in the 4 domains. The theoretical orientation used for this study was positive psychology. Positive psychology reflects how women who stutter used positive coping strategies to move forward, despite …

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How Same-Sex Spouses Of Female Enlisted Soldiers Perceive Support In Military Communities Post-Dadt/Doma Repeals, Cristina F. Gutman Jan 2017

How Same-Sex Spouses Of Female Enlisted Soldiers Perceive Support In Military Communities Post-Dadt/Doma Repeals, Cristina F. Gutman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The end of the Vietnam War heralded the beginning of the all-volunteer Army. In the interest of soldier retention, research focused on the military spouse, their challenges and needs. Four decades of research indicate that soldier deployments, separation from loved ones, and limited career options were among factors negatively impacting psychological and physiological well-being of this population. Support offered through military formal and informal support networks, however, provides some relief. The repeals of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and Defense of Marriage Act expanded the military family to include same-sex spouses yet a review of the literature revealed no research on …

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Understanding Judiciary Interpretation Of A Qualified Disability Post-Ada Amendments, Daniel Frank Hallman Jan 2017

Understanding Judiciary Interpretation Of A Qualified Disability Post-Ada Amendments, Daniel Frank Hallman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 1990, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was enacted to support disabled Americans as they sought to procure equality in society and the workplace. Despite these intentions, full implementation of the ADA has been fraught with court challenges and legislative amendments. As it currently stands, it is unclear as to how the judicial system is collectively interpreting a qualified disability. Using Clark and Connolly's interpretation of legal textualism as the theoretical foundation, the purpose of this case study of the Americans with Disabilities Act was to better understand and explore how the judiciary is currently interpreting qualified disability post-ADA …

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Combat Service And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder As A Violent Crimes Predictor In Oef/Oif Veterans, Rachel L. Ivory Jan 2017

Combat Service And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder As A Violent Crimes Predictor In Oef/Oif Veterans, Rachel L. Ivory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is an established link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and criminal activity. Of every 100 veterans who served during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), 11 to 20 percent are diagnosed with PTSD each year. Previous research has documented that veterans are incarcerated at higher percentages compared to nonveteran inmates, though little published research examines incidence of PTSD relative to violent crime. Using Agnew's general strain theory as the foundation, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine combat service, PTSD, and specific violent crimes as defined by the FBI as murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, …

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The Relationships Among Kindergarten Entrance Age, Preschool Experience, And Reading Achievement, Courtney Lynne Kowalczyk Jan 2017

The Relationships Among Kindergarten Entrance Age, Preschool Experience, And Reading Achievement, Courtney Lynne Kowalczyk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children participating in kindergarten programming across the United States are expected to perform at a higher level than ever before. Many of these children are unprepared and developmentally unready for the academic tasks that await them. Researchers have shown that an older age at the start of kindergarten is a predictor of academic achievement. Researchers have also shown that prior preschool experience impacts academic achievement. What has been unknown though is how the relationship between both beginning kindergarten at an older age and attending preschool prior to beginning kindergarten impacts academic success. Using Piaget's theory of development as a foundation, …

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Predicting Success Of Developmental Math Students, Isaac Martinez Jan 2017

Predicting Success Of Developmental Math Students, Isaac Martinez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Addressing the needs of developmental math students has been one of the most challenging problems in higher education. Administrators at a private university were concerned about poor academic performance of math-deficient students and sought to identify factors that influenced students' successful progression from developmental to college-level coursework. The purpose of this retrospective prediction study was to determine which of 7 variables (enrollment in a college success course, math placement results, frequency of use of the developmental resource center, source of tuition payment, student's age, gender, and race/ethnicity) would be predictive of success in developmental math as defined by a final …

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Lived Experiences Of Secondary Victims During The Parole Process: A Phenomenological Approach, Jessica Millimen Jan 2017

Lived Experiences Of Secondary Victims During The Parole Process: A Phenomenological Approach, Jessica Millimen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Secondary victims of traumatic violent crimes are subject to continuing the process of fighting for the loved ones they have lost. Once the offender is incarcerated, such victims may still have to face the process of parole if the offender has been granted a possibility of parole after years served. There is a gap in the literature and a need for research in the area of lived experiences for secondary victims as they progress through the parole process. For this study, a phenomenological study was utilized with 10 secondary victim participants. Participants were interviewed questions via telephone and the data …

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Creating Leadership Efficacy Through Digital Media In The Electricity Supply Industry, Kenny Moodley Jan 2017

Creating Leadership Efficacy Through Digital Media In The Electricity Supply Industry, Kenny Moodley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders lack transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication in the electricity supply industry. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication to mitigate electricity-related shutdowns and other electricity-related product recalls. The conceptual framework for this study aligns with general systems theory. The participants recruited in the study were business leaders, key account electricity consumers, and electricity consumers located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The rationale for the target population was their success in implementing transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication …

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Servant Leadership And Its Effect On Employee Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intent, Dennis M. Mitterer Jan 2017

Servant Leadership And Its Effect On Employee Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intent, Dennis M. Mitterer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experts expect a shortage of more than 900,000 nurses by 2022, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections. Turnover in nursing contributes significantly to the shortage and often results from poor leadership of nurse managers. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate how servant leadership behaviors affected the psychological state and behavioral response of staff nurses as reflected by job satisfaction and turnover intention. Specifically, the research question addressed whether servant leadership positively contributes to the psychological states and the behaviors of staff nurses leading to greater job satisfaction. The study design was correlational, …

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Spiritual Well-Being, Intelligence, And Job Satisfaction Among U.S. Federal Employees, Jesse Earl Moore Jan 2017

Spiritual Well-Being, Intelligence, And Job Satisfaction Among U.S. Federal Employees, Jesse Earl Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Until a slight 1% increase in FY2015, job satisfaction within the United States federal government had decreased between 2010 and 2014. However, even with the slight increase, the job satisfaction level was low which presents a cause for concern for federal government agencies. A growing body of research has indicated that employees are looking for ways to express their spiritual essence in the workplace. Research in this area has suggested that when organizations allow their employees to exercise their spiritual essence in the workplace it not only increases job satisfaction for the employee but also increases job performance. This study …

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Initial Findings Of A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Program, Hesper B. Nowatzki Jan 2017

Initial Findings Of A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Program, Hesper B. Nowatzki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the emphasis of benefits on preventive health, many older adults are not receiving the recommended age specific, evidence based screenings and vaccinations. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is designed to address modifiable risk factors with aging adults and close gaps in care not captured in routine office visits. Although a free Medicare benefit to patients, and a reimbursable service to health care providers, participation in the AWV is low nationwide. The purpose of the project is to introduce an AWV program to a rural health clinic in Northwest Illinois that has a population consisting of over 25% of …

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Competition And Academic Entitlement, Linda L. Parker Jan 2017

Competition And Academic Entitlement, Linda L. Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a university or college setting, academic entitlement occurs when a student thinks that he or she may deserve an acknowledgement that has not been earned. By understanding the potential contributions, negative effects on the student, faculty, and administration can be avoided. Using the social learning theory and cognitive evaluation theory as the framework, the purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between competition, an activity in which only one or several will win a contest or accolade. Amazon's Mechanical Turk was used for the recruitment of 552 students residing in the United States, from freshman to doctorate …

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Attribution Style And Depressive Symptoms Among African American Women, Pamela Mischell Robinson Jan 2017

Attribution Style And Depressive Symptoms Among African American Women, Pamela Mischell Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness is a major social problem in the United States and this nation has the largest number of homeless women. Minority women appear to be more affected than other individuals. Specifically, they are more vulnerable, impoverished, and disenfranchised than all other groups in the nation. These factors affect their emotional well-being and ability to move toward and achieve sustainability. Particularly, African-American women are disproportionately represented in the homeless population, yet they have not been adequately examined in research studies and there are minimal empirical studies that focus on homeless African-American women. Beck's cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Weiner's attribution theory …

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Recidivism: An Analysis Of Race, Locus Of Control, And Resilience, Danisha Latrell Thomas Jan 2017

Recidivism: An Analysis Of Race, Locus Of Control, And Resilience, Danisha Latrell Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recidivism is a growing problem in the United States that has contributed to prison overcrowding. In the United States, this is especially true for minorities, who have the highest incarceration, conviction, and recidivism rates. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the relationship between race, recidivism, locus of control, and resilience. For the quantitative component, the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC) and the multidimensional locus of control scales were used to measure resiliency and locus of control differences among racial groups (N = 126) on parole at a Fort Worth, Texas parole office. For the qualitative component, in-depth …

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Psychological Resilience In Correctional Officers: The Role Of Demographics, Manuel Chapa Villarreal Jan 2017

Psychological Resilience In Correctional Officers: The Role Of Demographics, Manuel Chapa Villarreal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional officers occupy an important societal role in maintaining safety and assisting in the rehabilitation of inmates; however, both their performance and mental health are highly susceptible to fatigue because of working in a high stress environment. This study investigated the relationship between correctional officers' demographic factors (level of education, marital status, gender, and race/ethnicity) and their psychological resilience. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC-10) was used to measure correctional officers' resilience when responding and or coping with stress. This study utilized the stress-vulnerability model as a framework to investigate protective factors against and risk factors for psychopathological symptoms. Participants …

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The Psychological Impact Of Taser Utilization In Police Officers, Yolanda Waters Jan 2017

The Psychological Impact Of Taser Utilization In Police Officers, Yolanda Waters

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A substantial body of scientific and medical research has examined the relationship between conductive energy devices and their physical risk to humans. This phenomenological study focused on the psychological impact of Taser utilization in police officers. This research explored how the experience of using a Taser in the line of duty affected officers from the conceptual framework of stress inoculation training and its applicability to Taser certification; the typical mental processes associated with using less-lethal weapons, perceptions of Taser training; and, the preparation provided in training for citizen injuries and deaths. Fifteen officers who had deployed a Taser were included …

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Keeping The Children: Nonviolent Women Offenders In Two Michigan Residential Programs, Denise Smith Allen Jan 2017

Keeping The Children: Nonviolent Women Offenders In Two Michigan Residential Programs, Denise Smith Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Seventy-five percent of women offenders confined to prison, jails, or residential treatment programs are custodial parents of minor children at the time of their separation. Little is known, though, about how prosocial networks are used to address the effects of separation from children. Using Bui and Morash's conceptualization of the theory of gendered pathways, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand, from the perspective of incarcerated women, the experience of using prosocial networks to cope with the effects of separation. Data were collected through interviews with 10 mothers from 2 residential treatment programs in Michigan. Interview data …

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Foster Parents' Attachment Style As A Moderator Of Children's Negative Behaviors And Placement Disruption, Alicia Araiza Jan 2017

Foster Parents' Attachment Style As A Moderator Of Children's Negative Behaviors And Placement Disruption, Alicia Araiza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a demonstrated association between children's negative behaviors, placement disruption, and foster parents' attachment style in early childhood; however, there is an absence of research examining this relation among foster children in middle childhood. Researchers have found that in early childhood, children respond more favorably to foster parents with a secure attachment style, while greater placement disruption is associated with foster parents having an insecure attachment style. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between foster children's negative behaviors, placement disruption in foster children during middle childhood, and foster parents' attachment style. Bowlby's and Ainsworth's attachment …

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Exploring Social Support Networks Of African American Emancipated Foster Care Women, Donna Marie Barrett Jan 2017

Exploring Social Support Networks Of African American Emancipated Foster Care Women, Donna Marie Barrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many youth exit the United States foster care system each year and face challenges related to housing, employment, health care, and education. After emancipation, foster youth can experience family instability, educational disruption, incarceration, unemployment, unstable housing, and emotional problems at a much higher rate than youth in the general population. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the experiences of African American foster women and the social support they received in finding housing upon exiting foster care system. Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory provided a conceptual framework of social interrelation for the study. Data were collected from a purposeful …

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A Quantitative Study Examining How Training Enhances Policy Compliance, Therese C. Bensch Jan 2017

A Quantitative Study Examining How Training Enhances Policy Compliance, Therese C. Bensch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For decades, the Department of Defense has been plagued by persistent cost, schedule, and performance problems in defense acquisition programs. Recent changes in Department of Defense acquisition policy were intended to improve efficiency and are demonstrating some improvement in terms of overall cost improvements, yet little is understood about whether training efforts related to the new policies are producing policy-compliant behavior on the job. Using Edgar Schein's 'Onion Model' of organizational change as the theoretical construct, the purpose of this study was to examine through an ex post facto, cross-sectional longitudinal study whether there is a significant relationship between learning …

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Leadership Practices That Improve The Workplace Safety Environment, Nathan Nomore Chikono Jan 2017

Leadership Practices That Improve The Workplace Safety Environment, Nathan Nomore Chikono

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate leadership is the reason workplace accidents in the mining industry remain high, making the industry one of the most hazardous operational activities in the world. Unsafe leadership practices may result in death or injury to workers. A group of 30 mining company leaders from 3 gold mines in Zimbabwe revealed an exception to these hazardous practices, however, notable through their outstanding safety improvement records. To better understand what these practitioners were doing, this multicase study research design explored their strategies to improve the workplace safety environment in the mines. Data were collected using audio-recorded semistructured interviews and document analyses. …

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African American Male Police Officers' Perceptions Of Being Racially Profiled By Fellow Police Officers, Michael Armstrong Campbell Jan 2017

African American Male Police Officers' Perceptions Of Being Racially Profiled By Fellow Police Officers, Michael Armstrong Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American police officers, as other African Americans, report being subjected to racial profiling by police officers, and that these encounters have, in some cases, resulted in excessive and unjustified use of force. These types of occurrences have resulted in a divide between African American and Caucasian police officers. The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of African American male police officers in the State of New Jersey who feel they have been discriminated against by fellow law enforcement officers. Weber's social relationship theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. Data …

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The Relationship Between Coping Strategies And Burnout For Caregivers Of Adjudicated Youth, Debra Marie Dix Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Coping Strategies And Burnout For Caregivers Of Adjudicated Youth, Debra Marie Dix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the human services field little is known about the impact of coping strategies on the problem of burnout for primary caregivers of delinquent youth in placement. The purpose of this correlational research was to examine the relationship between coping strategies, youth psychopathology, and burnout. This study was based on Maslach's theory of burnout and Lazarus and Folkman's transactional model of stress and coping. To assess the prevalence of burnout and coping strategies, 82 primary caregivers of adjudicated youth in placement in the state of Michigan, completed self-report questionnaires: the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Brief COPE Inventory, and the Child …

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Executive Director Experiences With Consumer Operated Service Provider Governing Board Members, Merideth Mccallick Erickson Jan 2017

Executive Director Experiences With Consumer Operated Service Provider Governing Board Members, Merideth Mccallick Erickson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Consumer Operated Service Providers (COSPs) are programs that are directed and administratively controlled by mental health consumers for their peers. As such, many mental health consumers have been placed in the position of serving on a COSP and often with unclear descriptions and no training. As a result, there is often a disconnect between the will of the board and the vision of the executive director, leading to tension and the possibility of failed mission. Using servant leadership as the guide, the goal of this case study was to explore the experiences of executive directors who operate Consumer Operated Service …

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The Impact Of Education And Gender On The Facilitation Of The Duluth Model Anger Management Course, Charlise Gloria Hogue-Vincent Jan 2017

The Impact Of Education And Gender On The Facilitation Of The Duluth Model Anger Management Course, Charlise Gloria Hogue-Vincent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence, specifically intimate partner violence (IPV), is a major social problem in the United States despite legislative efforts aimed at reducing it. The Duluth model, which is the preeminent domestic violence intervention model used in the United States, is a male-only group intervention based on feministic views that domestic violence stems from men's behaviors to assert power and control in relationships. While the model is widely emulated, its policies and practices are under scrutiny from researchers who question the program efficiency, pointing to high recidivism rates. Guided by feminist theory, the purpose of this generic qualitative study was to …

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Therapeutic Alliance Between African American Clients And European American Providers: A Phenomenological Study, Dr. Pamela Johnson-Hood Jan 2017

Therapeutic Alliance Between African American Clients And European American Providers: A Phenomenological Study, Dr. Pamela Johnson-Hood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans do not seek mental health help at the same rate, as do European Americans; furthermore, African Americans who do seek help tend to leave therapy prematurely. A poor therapeutic alliance between African American clients and European American clinicians may be one reason that African Americans do not seek therapy or leave prematurely. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of African American clients in therapeutic relationship with European American clinicians. Rogers' theory of therapeutic alliance, which included empathy as a key concept, served as the conceptual framework of this study. Through purposeful sampling …

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Community-Oriented Policing And Crime Rates And Crime Clearance Rates In North Carolina, Elizabeth Wrenn Johnson Jan 2017

Community-Oriented Policing And Crime Rates And Crime Clearance Rates In North Carolina, Elizabeth Wrenn Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While community-oriented policing was touted as a new paradigm in American policing, little data reflects its success in reducing crime and/or increasing crime clearance rates. Researchers have failed to definitively describe community policing as a successful style of policing, leaving much more research to be done on its effectiveness as a crime reduction method. Using Trojanowicz's seminal conceptualization of community-oriented policing as the foundation, the purpose of this correlational study was to determine whether there are statistically significant associations between community-oriented policing, crime rates, and crime clearance rates for the 9 municipalities of Carteret County, North Carolina. Data for community-oriented …

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