2019 Program & Posters

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  2019 Walden University Research Symposium

  Daniel W. Salter

  Welcome to the 2019 Walden University Research Symposium. We are glad you can join us for our first symposium in conjunction with Winter Graduation in seven years. The Research Symposium is an annual event that showcases research projects from our academic community, especially work by our recent graduates. The poster presentations provide an opportunity for researchers to engage with all individuals attending the symposium and potentially to network with other interested researchers. If there is a theme this year, beyond the shared focus on social change, it would be research aimed at understanding how to respond to the challenges that face people in their daily lives. The “magic” of a research symposium can be found in the interactions between presenters and audience, however. So, please, don’t be shy—step up, ask questions, make comments, and enjoy the experience.

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  A Comparative Study of Two Mosquito-Control Techniques Implemented in Three States

  Christina Spoons

  Research is needed on the use of the sterile insect technique and genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to reduce the number of biting females in the United States. This case study used purposeful sampling of key informants who are experts on mosquito abatement and public health to compare the effectiveness of these two mosquito abatement strategies. Findings revealed that both techniques resulted in a reduction in the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Both techniques were found to be safer, cheaper, and more precise than traditional pesticides. More public concern was noted with the genetically modified mosquito technique.

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  Transformational Leadership and Job Satisfaction in the Federal Government

  Dorothy M. Thomas

  To support the yearly Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), this correlational study examined the relationship between employee’s perception of their leader’s transformational leadership theory constructs and job satisfaction. Using 192 randomly selected federal employees, the analyses concluded there is significant relationship between variables, at least 5.3% variation in job satisfaction. Further research is recommended addressing the diversity of the federal workforce. Trust between leadership and employees implies a step in the right direction that improve productivity and community relations.

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  Financial Strategies and Initiatives for Preventing Rural Hospital Closure

  Chinue Uecker

  U.S. rural hospital closures have increased 34% since 2015 due to financial reasons, affecting access to healthcare services in rural communities. This multiple-case study explored strategies that rural hospital leaders implement to improve their hospitals’ financial performance in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The key themes were rural hospital leaders’ decision-making when addressing rural hospital financial performance, developing synergies with external providers and hospitals, creating effective short-term and long-term strategies, and translating success to the entire organization.

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  Strategic Learning Skills of Walden Students: Highlighting the Resources

  Vicki L. Underwood, Kimberly V. Burton, Anne Rojas, and Melanie Brown

  To be successful, students need awareness of their learning skills, with guidance provided to help them focus on building needed skills. Strategic learning skills of incoming Walden University students, undergraduate through doctoral levels in all colleges, are being assessed. Immediate individualized feedback linked to targeted resources within Walden is provided while accumulating data for developing evidence-based resource materials for all Walden learners.

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  The Issues and Perceptions of Muslims Concerning Religious Accommodation in the Workplace

  Daniel W. White

  Religious accommodation in the workplace has been a growing issue in the business community, partly as a result of an increasing number of religious discrimination cases in the United States. Using pluralism and religious pluralism as the theoretical frameworks, the focus of this phenomenological study was to investigate Muslim employees’ perceptions concerning religious accommodation. Survey results suggested that very few companies were providing religious accommodation for their employees. One implication is that companies need to begin communicating more effectively with their Muslim employees about their religious needs.