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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Thematic Analysis Of Online Predatory Grooming Behavior Among Male Offenders, Ryan Christopher Dronek Jan 2023

Thematic Analysis Of Online Predatory Grooming Behavior Among Male Offenders, Ryan Christopher Dronek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media sites, gaming platforms, and online communication tools have been integrated into children’s everyday lives. This has created a new avenue for child predators to identify, communicate, and victimize children. Just as the internet and the ability to communicate online have evolved, predatory grooming behavior has evolved as well. This qualitative study aimed to identify predatory grooming themes and the thematic stage progression for online male offenders who target child victims using online chat rooms. O’Connell’s typology of cyber sexploitation and online grooming practices was used to explore online child predators’ grooming themes and stage progression. Nine male Wisconsin …

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Promotion To Fire Officer: Ems Is An Essential Component Of Promotional Testing, Brenda Kay Farlow Jan 2023

Promotion To Fire Officer: Ems Is An Essential Component Of Promotional Testing, Brenda Kay Farlow

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFor the past 25 years, the number of fire department responses to structure fires nationally has gone down. Structure fires now reflect less than ten percent of the responses of the fire service. In the same period, emergency medical services (EMS) have become the overwhelming activity of most fire departments. The problem is the promotional process focuses on firefighting knowledge and skills while ignoring the absolute need for EMS competencies, in some capacity, for a supervisory position. The lack of change in the promotional process is related to the organizational culture of the individual fire departments and the collective difficulty …

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Colorism And Women Who Self-Identify As Black In Leadership Roles, Alyse Poitier Gardner-Kennedy Jan 2023

Colorism And Women Who Self-Identify As Black In Leadership Roles, Alyse Poitier Gardner-Kennedy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWomen who self-identify as Black in executive director leadership roles in a nonprofit agency are still experiencing colorism in the workplace. Color-based bias, also called colorism, within the Black community centers on advantages and disadvantages for people of the same race. Colorism typically allows more benefits for lighter-skinned individuals who self-identify as Black than darker-skinned individuals who self-identify as Black. This study explored the lived experiences of women who self-identified as Black in executive director leadership roles in nonprofit agencies and who have experienced colorism (i.e., intragroup discrimination) in the workplace. The research question investigated the emotional effect on women …

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African American Women And Social Support Networks To Overcome The Strong Black Woman Schema And Depression, Teia Jelisia D. Clements Jan 2023

African American Women And Social Support Networks To Overcome The Strong Black Woman Schema And Depression, Teia Jelisia D. Clements

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental illness disorders within the United States are on the rise. Researchers have indicated that African Americans are less likely to seek mental health compared to European Americans. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how social support networks influence African American women between the ages of 25 and 50 in addressing the strong Black woman (SBW) schema and depression. A conceptual framework consisting of the SBW collective theory guided the study. A purposive sample of 16 African American women who use social support networks to address the SBW schema and depression was obtained through flyers posted …

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College Students’ Psychosocial Functioning 2 To 5 Years After Death Of A Parent, Carla C. Elbel Jan 2023

College Students’ Psychosocial Functioning 2 To 5 Years After Death Of A Parent, Carla C. Elbel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship regarding a loss of parent during adolescence with psychosocial development into early college years (18 through 22 years of age) as measured by the Modified Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (MEPSI). A sample of 15 young college students, ages 18 to 22, completed the MEPSI and a second sample of young college students 18 to 22, who lost a parent, completed the MEPSI. No significant difference was found in the variance of the means; therefore, the null hypothesis was retained. A small sample t test analysis was used to compare the …

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The Lived Experiences Of Young Adults Moving From Juvenile Detention Centers To Employment Or Education, Tramyna B. Harris Jan 2023

The Lived Experiences Of Young Adults Moving From Juvenile Detention Centers To Employment Or Education, Tramyna B. Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are not many young adults who experience a successful turnaround after they leave a juvenile detention center. Many young adults who leave juvenile detention centers are at risk of reoffending and returning to the system due to a paucity of resources. It is vital to recognize the positive and successful experiences of those young adults who do not re-enter the criminal justice system. The purpose of this research study was to understand (a) the different experiences of certain young adults involving their successful turnaround story, (b) why the young adults engaged in criminal activity, and (c) what interventions worked …

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The Relationship Between Adolescent Stress In Five Domains And Depression: Rumination As A Moderator, Crystal Victoria Lupo Jan 2023

The Relationship Between Adolescent Stress In Five Domains And Depression: Rumination As A Moderator, Crystal Victoria Lupo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior to this study, understanding the impact of rumination as a moderating factor in predicting the interaction between specific domains of stress and adolescent depression remained largely unknown. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of response style theory of depression, control mastery theory, and diasthesis stress model, the purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to examine the link between five domains of adolescent stress (i.e., school, family, peers, appearance, and sports) and depression, the relationship between rumination and depression, and the moderating effect of rumination on these relationships. Participants included previously data collected from 635 adolescents from a midwestern U.S.city. …

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Single-Term Soldiers’ Job Satisfaction And Job Meaningfulness In Second Careers, Bethanie Hiramoto Jan 2023

Single-Term Soldiers’ Job Satisfaction And Job Meaningfulness In Second Careers, Bethanie Hiramoto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Past researchers have informed future researchers of the challenges soldiers experience when transitioning to civilian life and the civilian workplace. This qualitative study aimed to understand the lived experiences of six single-term soldiers and their levels of job satisfaction through job meaningfulness in their second careers. Data for this study was collected using semi-structured interviews and interview protocols. The theoretical framework combined Herzberg’s two-factor theory, McClelland’s needs theory, and Organizational Socialization. The entire study was framed through this framework, and collected data were analyzed. The findings of this study indicated that job meaningfulness occurred while in their single term in …

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Attachment Bond Experiences Among Adults Using Service Dogs To Mitigate Psychiatric Disabilities, Marcia Lynn Jackson Jan 2023

Attachment Bond Experiences Among Adults Using Service Dogs To Mitigate Psychiatric Disabilities, Marcia Lynn Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMental illness has a negative influence on U.S. society, affecting more than 21% of adults. Worldwide, approximately 264 million people are impacted by psychiatric conditions. Despite the prevalence of psychological disorders, treatment resources are lacking. As such, the addition of adjunctive therapeutic interventions could benefit society. Researchers have demonstrated that the bond formed between humans and animals offers a vital healing tool. However, there was limited information on the use of service dogs in the psychiatric population. This qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis explored how adults with psychiatric diagnoses describe attachment to service dogs used to mitigate the symptoms of their …

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Experience Of Established Mental Health Counselors Working With Adults Who Have Intellectual Disabilities, Margarete Denk Jan 2023

Experience Of Established Mental Health Counselors Working With Adults Who Have Intellectual Disabilities, Margarete Denk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with disabilities make up the largest minority population in the United States. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) make up a significant portion of this population, yet there are limited studies addressing counseling with the I/DD population. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs has addressed the need for disability competence in their upcoming 2024 standards. The purpose of the phenomenological study was to describe lived experiences of established counselors working with adult clients diagnosed with an I/DD. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used along with the social model of disability. The study involved six …

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The Reconciliation Of Cognitive Dissonance Among Social Workers In Substance Use Treatment Settings, Miranda Ashley Kieler Jan 2023

The Reconciliation Of Cognitive Dissonance Among Social Workers In Substance Use Treatment Settings, Miranda Ashley Kieler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although harm reduction (HR) and abstinence-based treatment approaches are both useful in addiction treatment, the former is less accepted and integrated into practice. Social workers who embrace an HR approach but who work at substance abuse treatment facilities that are abstinence based may experience cognitive dissonance because they perceive their work role to be incompatible with social work practice values and education. Little was known regarding how practitioners with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree experience and reconcile cognitive dissonance related to their HR education and abstinence-only practice in substance use treatment centers. To address this gap in the …

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Executive Transition In Nonprofit Organizations, Gail Quincene Knight Jan 2023

Executive Transition In Nonprofit Organizations, Gail Quincene Knight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many nonprofit organizations lack strategies for succession planning and executive transitions. Without effective talent management and succession planning strategies, nonprofit organizations are in jeopardy of survival. The purpose of this multiple qualitative case study was to explore how nonprofit organizations in a southwestern state without a succession plan in place prepare for executive transition when an impending change is imminent. These multiple case studies were based on the conceptual framework of transition management. Identified through purposive sampling, 12 participants (two senior-level executives and two board members) from three nonprofit organizations in a southwestern state were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Also, …

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Filipino Americans’ Attitudes And Experiences With Mental Health And Help-Seeking Behaviors, Kelsey Guerrero Jan 2023

Filipino Americans’ Attitudes And Experiences With Mental Health And Help-Seeking Behaviors, Kelsey Guerrero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Filipino Americans suffer from mental illness at an alarming rate and have a low rate of seeking mental health treatment. Because Filipino Americans are underrepresented in social science research, psychologists do not understand how to resolve this issue within the Filipino American population. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to describe the experiences with mental health and treatment of Filipino Americans. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model theory and Latane’s social impact theory served as the theoretical foundation for the study. A sample of 12 Filipino Americans was interviewed using a semistructured interview design. Participants were asked 10 questions addressing their …

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Space Debris Mitigation: A Unified Policy Framework, Forrest Randall Jones Jan 2023

Space Debris Mitigation: A Unified Policy Framework, Forrest Randall Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Space debris is a growing problem that impacts the ability to maneuver and conduct space missions, creates hazards for people on Earth, and has the potential for severe environmental damage. Clean-up efforts are not viable in the modern era due to a lack of viable, affordable, and safe technology conducive to such lines of effort. This leaves mitigative and preventative policy measures as the most effective way to proffer a solution to the problem. Public policy has largely failed to address space debris mitigation effectively due to the fragmentation of policies standards and a lack of horizontal integration of policies …

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Locus Of Control, Mindfulness, And Perceived Caregiver Burden In Informal Caregivers Of People With Dementia, Tiffany Marinos-Sterge Jan 2023

Locus Of Control, Mindfulness, And Perceived Caregiver Burden In Informal Caregivers Of People With Dementia, Tiffany Marinos-Sterge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAdult informal caregivers play an essential role in the care of people with dementia living in the community. Adult informal caregivers may experience a host of negative psychological, emotional, and physical effects because of their roles as caregivers. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the influence of locus of control and mindfulness on the perceived caregiver burden experienced by adult informal caregivers of people with dementia, controlling for relevant sociodemographic characteristics. Social determination theory and social learning theory provided the theoretical foundation for this study. Variables were measured using the Caregiver Burden Inventory, Mindfulness Attention Awareness …

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The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Call Center Workers’ Organizational Commitment, Andrea L. Lamar Jan 2023

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Call Center Workers’ Organizational Commitment, Andrea L. Lamar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The call center industry is instrumental in servicing the consumer in many facets of service-oriented presales and aftersales support. Little is known about the relationship between leadership styles, call center workers, and organizational commitment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between leadership styles transformational, transactional, laissez-faire, and outcomes of leadership with organizational commitment in a call center environment. Using Survey Monkey, a data collection agency, a nonprobability convenience sampling procedure was used to select the 350 call center workers' samples. The analysis used was Pearson's correlation and multiple regression. The study used multifactor leadership and organizational …

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Predictive Factors Of Bullshit Receptivity Among Adults, Gregory Coffing Jan 2023

Predictive Factors Of Bullshit Receptivity Among Adults, Gregory Coffing

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bullshit receptivity is a relatively new concept in the field of psychology and refers to people’s susceptibility to providing meaning to meaningless claims. Ascribing meaning to meaningless claims is a way to make inaccurate judgments regarding the behaviors, events, and interactions around each person. The research on bullshit receptivity is scant. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional survey design study was to investigate whether critical thinking, individualism–collectivism, political ideology, religiosity, right-wing authoritarianism, social–dominance orientation, and need for closure predict bullshit receptivity. These variables were selected to represent a greater conglomeration of daily internal and external factors that affect a person’s …

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A Phenomenological Study On Protective Factors Preventing College-Aged Criminal Activity During Cameroon’S Anglophone Crisis, Melvis N. Asongwed Jan 2023

A Phenomenological Study On Protective Factors Preventing College-Aged Criminal Activity During Cameroon’S Anglophone Crisis, Melvis N. Asongwed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Anglophone crisis, in which marginalization of the English-speaking regions in Cameroon began in October 2016 and has become one of the most prominent social problems in the nation’s history. It has led to loss of lives, infrastructure damage, displacement of families, incidents of mass violence, unemployment, and a rise in criminal activity in the Anglophone regions. Grounded in the phenomenological approach and guided by the general strain theory (GST), this qualitative inquiry explored the protective factors that have reduced or prevented criminal activity for college students in the Anglophone regions during the crisis. Semi structure interviewing guided participant responses. …

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Sociodemographic Predictors Of Veterans’ Health-Related Quality Of Life, Tamala Jones Choice Jan 2023

Sociodemographic Predictors Of Veterans’ Health-Related Quality Of Life, Tamala Jones Choice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a theoretical concept that intertwines physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning, with a focus on the impact that health status has on quality of life. Although sociodemographic factors are associated with lower HRQoL, how these factors influence HRQoL in military veterans is less understood. The study’s purpose was to examine the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics (gender, military pay grade, military branch, and geographic location) and perceived HRQoL measured by the SF-8 survey among veterans living in a metropolitan community in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. A cross-sectional recruitment study design yielded 90 …

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Experience Of Burnout Among Psychiatric Hospital Staff, Cindy Cisneros Jan 2023

Experience Of Burnout Among Psychiatric Hospital Staff, Cindy Cisneros

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Negative experiences at work are common at inpatient psychiatric hospitals and can result in burnout. This is especially the case for psychiatric hospital staff, as they are commonly the first and most frequent line of contact for patients in acute psychiatric care. This study provided relevant insight into the factors that influence the experience of burnout among psychiatric hospital staff that care for patients in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Research on how burnout affects psychiatric hospital staff apart from other medical professionals is not robust and lacking in qualitative analysis. The transactional model of stress and coping framework constituted the theoretical …

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Clinical Counseling Supervisors’ Perspectives Of Gatekeeping During Prelicense Supervision, Marquita R. Garrett Jan 2023

Clinical Counseling Supervisors’ Perspectives Of Gatekeeping During Prelicense Supervision, Marquita R. Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis interpretive phenomenology qualitative study explored the clinical counseling supervisors’ perceptions of gatekeeping during the supervision of postgraduate prelicense counselor trainees, specifically around problems of professional competence (PPC). This study aimed to address a gap in research surrounding gatekeeping relative to the specific needs of postgraduate prelicense counselor trainees. Exploring the gaps in gatekeeping, specifically around PPC regarding ethics and multiculturalism in clinical supervision, might increase the necessity for professionalism and recommendations for continuity across state lines. Data were collected from nine participants through Zoom interviews and analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Selection criteria included clinical counseling supervisors with …

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Implicit Motivations In Personality Systems Interactions Predictive Of Burnout In Mental Health Professionals, Yi-Chien Hung Jan 2023

Implicit Motivations In Personality Systems Interactions Predictive Of Burnout In Mental Health Professionals, Yi-Chien Hung

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout among mental health professionals (MHPs) has been of interest to scholars and practitioners since the 1970s. For MHPs, burnout leads to less effective client treatment outcomes, increased turnover rate, and decreased overall wellbeing. Despite a significant body of literature on MHP burnout, there is little literature on how MHPs’ implicit motivations (IMs) may influence and contribute to their burnout. Understanding how IMs correlate with burnout may help with self-awareness and specific therapeutic treatments, both of which are important in preventing and alleviating burnout. Grounded in motive disposition theory, personality systems interaction theory, and theory on dimensions of burnout, this …

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The Relationship Between Perceived Occupational Stress, Gender, Education, And Job Skill Level, Rumena Hm Kabir Jan 2023

The Relationship Between Perceived Occupational Stress, Gender, Education, And Job Skill Level, Rumena Hm Kabir

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOccupational stress is a common problem among workers, and it may have implications for productivity, job satisfaction, and employee wellness. The purpose of this study was to explore different skill levels related to perceived occupational stress and whether gender and education influence it. Publicly available secondary data for this study came from the Public Library of Science at-risk and intervention thresholds of occupational stress using a Perceived Stress Scale 14 survey from June 2017. The 500 participants in the secondary data were a random sample of workers from five occupational health centers recruited during annual work medical examinations. Findings indicated …

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College Experiences Of Female Students With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Cleo Patrick Jan 2023

College Experiences Of Female Students With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Cleo Patrick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis study, using feminist trauma theory as the conceptual framework, addressed a gap in the literature about female university students’ experiences with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the academic and social supports needed for college success and degree completion. Nearly 30% of college students will drop out during their 1st year in school. Research suggests that personal histories of simple and complex traumas may be influential factors contributing to dropout rates. There are limited programs or resources in colleges and universities to address the needs of students struggling with past traumas aside from routine student counseling. The purpose of …

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A Phenomenological Examination Of Single Mothers Rising Out Of Poverty, Shaunta Hemingway Jan 2023

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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The Effects Of Parental Engagement Programs On Grades 3-5 Milestones Student Achievement, Deborah Malone Jan 2023

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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Strategies Global Virtual Team Leaders Use To Improve Trust And Communication, Sarah Crandell Monday Jan 2023

Strategies Global Virtual Team Leaders Use To Improve Trust And Communication, Sarah Crandell Monday

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global virtual team (GVT) members’ inability to effectively build trust and communication has the potential to negatively impact organizational outcomes. Organizational leaders are concerned with team members’ inability to build trust and communication, as it is the leading cause of reduced productivity and efficiency levels within GVTs. Grounded in the social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies GVT leaders use to improve trust and communication among GVT members. The participants were 18 GVT business leaders from six organizations located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Data were collected using semistructured …

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Nonprofit Social Service Employees’ Perceptions Of Barriers Or Facilitators To Voting Registration Among Previously Incarcerated Individuals, Anthony J. Nixon Jan 2023

Nonprofit Social Service Employees’ Perceptions Of Barriers Or Facilitators To Voting Registration Among Previously Incarcerated Individuals, Anthony J. Nixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most U.S. states have applied permanent restrictions on incarcerated individuals in custody for crimes more serious than misdemeanors. After the time is served and limitations are removed, the right to vote may not be restored to previously incarcerated individuals. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore what nonprofit social service employees perceive to be barriers or facilitators to voter registration among previously incarcerated individuals. The social acceptance model provided the theoretical framework to support the study. Data collection was completed through a brief demographic survey and individual interviews with 15 nonprofit organizers in Ohio. Data were analyzed …

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Developing Postsecondary Education Programs For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Jocelyn Rae Mcglynn Jan 2023

Developing Postsecondary Education Programs For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Jocelyn Rae Mcglynn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with intellectual disabilities have higher rates of unemployment compared to other population groups. There is limited knowledge regarding the development of postsecondary education (PSE) programs that provide employment skills training and education to individuals with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the development of PSE programs for those with intellectual disabilities. Dewey’s experiential learning theory was the framework for this study. Invitations to participate were sent to directors and faculty of all PSE programs in one northeastern U.S. state. Ten directors and faculty agreed to be interviewed. The research question addressed the perceptions …

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Developing Postsecondary Education Programs For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Jocelyn Rae Mcglynn Jan 2023

Developing Postsecondary Education Programs For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Jocelyn Rae Mcglynn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with intellectual disabilities have higher rates of unemployment compared to other population groups. There is limited knowledge regarding the development of postsecondary education (PSE) programs that provide employment skills training and education to individuals with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the development of PSE programs for those with intellectual disabilities. Dewey’s experiential learning theory was the framework for this study. Invitations to participate were sent to directors and faculty of all PSE programs in one northeastern U.S. state. Ten directors and faculty agreed to be interviewed. The research question addressed the perceptions …

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