Researchers have found that minorities suffering from traumatic stress report increased levels of stress in the absence of supportive and committed work environments; however, a paucity of empirical research exists for First Nations Peoples (FNP). The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine the nature of the relationship between FNP's associated symptoms of historical loss, assessed by the Historical Loss and Associated Symptoms Scale, and organizational commitment, as measured by the Three Component Employee Commitment Survey. A total of 118 residential school survivors completed surveys. Correlation analysis was used to determine the significance of historical loss in relation to organizational commitment among survivors. Results showed an inverse relationship between affective commitment and associated symptoms of historical loss and between continuance commitment and associated symptoms. No statistically significant correlation was found between normative commitment and historical loss or associated symptoms. Findings can help inform targeted engagement, recruitment, and retention initiatives designed to accommodate FNP perspectives and experiences into organizational culture and systems. Implications for positive social change include better understanding of factors impacting career progression among FNP, such as organizational commitment. Results may also inform culturally safe interventions that help FNP to be successful.

Although structured decision making and risk assessment protocols have successfully been used in human service programs, little research has been done on their applicability in the child support program. In this study, problems identified with child support case management were examined, along with positive and negative attributes of various risk assessment tools utilized in other arenas. The overall research problem asserted that there are no structured decision making protocols in the child support program to support case assignment by enforcement difficulty. The primary research question asked whether or not a process stratified by risk and level of enforcement difficulty could be developed to increase child support collections and improve program cost-effectiveness using custodial parent data obtained at time of intake. The theoretical foundation of the study revolved around descriptive decision theory and specifically, risk assessment as means to stratify child support caseloads. A nonparametric quantitative research methodology was utilized to examine 1501 cases from the program. The goal was to identify those variables that had the greatest impact on case payment so that they could be incorporated into a structured decision making protocol. The results of the data analysis, using a Cramer's V test for association, indicated that of the 11 independent variables chosen for the study, seven variables appeared to be very strongly associated with the dependent variable. Those variables were custodial parent age, gender, ethnicity, welfare status, number of children, relationship to each child and the ages of the children. Ultimately, the social change implication is to improve collection of child support payments for low income children and families. Enhancing the economic lifestyles of these individuals has the potential to reduce government dependency and to improve economic self sufficiency.

Burnout has led to turnover and poor counselor performance within public sector rehabilitation. Scholarly literature on burnout among mental health counselors and school counselors are abundant. However, few researchers have compiled studies to evaluate burnout among rehabilitation counselors. No research could be found that examined the relationships among job demand, control, support, and burnout among public sector rehabilitation counselors. The Job Demand Control- Support (JDC-S) model indicates that stress from work is developed based on work demands, perceptions of control, and the perceived support that is received. The purpose of this research study was to determine the extent of the prediction, if any, between burnout and job demand, job control, and job support for public sector rehabilitation counselors. This study examined the following research question through a multiple linear regression: Job demand, job control, and job support (as measured by subscales of the Karasek and Theorell Job Content Questionnaire) predicts burnout (as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory) among public sector rehabilitation counselors. Instruments used in the study included the Job Content Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. An electronic questionnaire was sent to 1,000 certified rehabilitation counselors throughout the United States;197 were returned. The results of this study suggest that there is a likelihood of a lower risk of stress because of high autonomy on the job. Moreover, there was a significant prediction between burnout (as described by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) to job demand, job control, and job support. Results of the study may contribute to social change through increasing the wellness of counselors within the public rehabilitation counseling sector, which, in turn, could lead to improvement in the quality of services for clients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles internal locus of control and self-efficacy play in moderating how employees manage their perceived work stress and positively engage in the behaviors that facilitate autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, self-acceptance, positive relations with others, and purpose in life. Investigators have documented the relationship between perceived workplace stress and strain and showed that how employees cope with perceived stress influences their psychological and physical health. However, there is less information available about the relationship between how employees cope with perceived workplace stress and engage in behaviors that facilitate their psychological well-being. A quasi-experimental methodology was used; male and female tire manufacturing production workers working in a shift work manufacturing environment were surveyed using a secure online server. Data collection tools included the Perceived Stress Scale, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Form C 4 subscales, the Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, and Ryff's 6 Scales of Psychological Well-Being. Hypotheses were analyzed using moderated multiple regression analyses. Employees who operate from an internal locus of control and who demonstrate high levels of self-efficacy reported lower levels of perceived stress and higher levels of self-acceptance. The implications for social change provide organizational leaders with insight into the potential benefits and saving of both financial and human capital by screening and training employees to better understand how to evaluate and develop their abilities to operate from an internal locus of control, as well as how to improve their self-efficacy skills.

Workplace bullying is a global problem that leaves workers emotionally harmed and organizations financially strapped; yet in many cases, business leaders fail to adequately address the problem. The purpose of this research was to determine if the top leader had a direct impact on the presence of bullying within the workplace. Based on personality trait theory as a theoretical foundation, the key issue this study explored was the relationship between the presence of workplace bullying and observed narcissistic behaviors exhibited by the top leader. Participants consisted of 84 human resources professionals reporting directly to the CEO/president of companies located in the United States. Observer-rated assessments were used to measure the leader's observed narcissistic behaviors along with the prevalence of bullying within the workplace. Logistic regression and Pearson correlation were used to analyze assessment data. Results revealed a strong and positive relationship between top leaders' observed narcissistic behaviors and the presence of bullying within the organization. These results suggest the top leader may not only directly impact the presence of workplace bullying, but may actually create the problem. This study contributes to social change by providing support for the need to use personality assessments when hiring or promoting top leaders. By identifying those who contribute to the sustainability of bullying, these individuals can be excluded from the selection process and workplace bullying will therefore be minimized, improving the well-being of employees and the financial performance of organizations, world-wide.

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Darbe atlikta teorinė neįgaliųjų profesinės reabilitacijos specialisto profesinės kompetencijos apibrėžties analizė. Iškelta hipotezė, kad neįgaliųjų profesinės reabilitacijos specialisto profesinė kompetencija yra daugiamatis konstruktas, kurio turinys grįstas trimis lygiais: konceptualiuoju (žinios, asmeninės savybės, nuostatos), instrumentiniu (gebėjimai ir vaidmenys) bei integraciniu (funkcijos ir socialinis veiklos tinklas). Siekiant identifikuoti neįgaliųjų profesinės reabilitacijos specialisto profesinės kompetencijos struktūrą buvo: a) išanalizuoti 5 užsienio šalies (JAV) neįgaliųjų profesinės reabilitacijos specialistų pareigybiniai veiklos aprašai, išskiriant profesinės kompetencijos struktūrines dalis (taikant kokybinį tyrimą – dokumentų analizę); b) atskleistas neįgalių asmenų (N=5) požiūris į profesinės reabilitacijos specialisto profesinę kompetenciją (taikant kokybinius tyrimus – pusiau struktūruotą interviu ir diskurso analizę); c) nustatyti neįgaliųjų profesinės reabilitacijos specialisto profesinės kompetencijos struktūrinių dalių ypatumai, remiantis specialistų (N=135), dirbančių neįgaliųjų profesinės reabilitacijos sistemoje požiūriu (taikant kiekybinį tyrimą – anketinę apklausą). Svarbiausios empirinio tyrimo išvados: 1. Atlikus teorinę analizę buvo atskleista neįgaliųjų profesinės reabilitacijos specialisto profesinės kompetencijos struktūra, kurią sudaro trys lygiai: konceptualusis, instrumentinis bei integracinis. 2. Remiantis atliktu tyrimu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The paper deals with the theoretical analysis of the definition of the professional competence of vocational rehabilitation specialist of the disabled. Hypothesis: it is supposed that the professional competence of vocational rehabilitation specialist of the disabled is complex construct and the content of it is base don three levels: conceptual (knowledge, personal characteristics and attitudes), instrumental (abilities and roles) and integrational one (functions and social network of work). Trying to identify the structure of professional competence of vocational rehabilitation specialist of the disabled there were: a) analyzed 5 descriptions of duties and activities of the vocational rehabilitation specialists of the disabled in a foreign country (USA) picking out structural parts of the professional competence (qualitative research – analysis of documents); b) revealed opinion of professional competence of vocational rehabilitation specialist of the disabled by 5 disabled persons (qualitative research – half structural interview and discursive analysis); c) defined peculiarities of the structural parts of the professional competence of vocational rehabilitation specialist of the disabled by an opinion of 135 specialist which work in a system of vocational rehabilitation for disabled (quantitative research – interrogatory by filling the form). The most important empirical conclusions that were drawn are: • Revealed structure of the professional competence of vocational... [to full text]

In hospitals in the United States, the ratio of nurses to patients is declining, resulting in an increase in work demands for nurses. Consequently, organizations face challenges with nurses' organizational commitment. Studies have revealed generational differences, as determined by birth year, in employee levels of organizational commitment in a number of organizational settings. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the impact of generational cohorts on the organizational commitment of nurses. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional design was to address whether generational cohorts of nurses differed in their levels of organizational commitment, and to investigate whether licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) differed in their levels of organizational commitment. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit 132 nurses in Alabama for this study. A MANOVA was employed to test the mean differences in organizational commitment by generational cohort status and nursing degree. Results revealed that generational cohort status did not have a significant impact on nurses' levels of organizational commitment. However, the findings showed that LPNs had significantly lower levels of affective commitment than RNs. This study provided information that may be of use to hospital administrators and human resource managers in communicating the need for flexible incentive packages to address the needs of a diverse workforce. Results from the study may promote social change by providing information about how nurse credentials are associated with their organization commitment. This association is critical for building organizational stability, organizational effectiveness, and nurse recruitment and retention.

Narcissistic transformation leaders have inflicted severe physical, psychological, and financial damage on individuals, institutions, and society. Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) has shown promise for early detection of narcissistic leadership tendencies, but selection criteria have not been established. The purpose of this quantitative research was to determine if item response theory (IRT) could advance the detection of narcissistic leadership tendencies using an item-level analysis of the 20 transformational leadership items of the MLQ. Three archival samples of subordinates from Israeli corporate and athletic organizations were combined (N = 1,703) to assess IRT data assumptions, comparative fit of competing IRT models, item discrimination and difficulty, and theta reliabilities within the trait range. Compared to the generalized graded unfolding model, the graded response model had slightly more category points within the 95% confidence interval and consistently lower X2/df item fit indices. Items tended to be easier yet more discriminating than average, and five items were identified as candidates for modification. IRT item marginal reliability was .94 (slightly better than classical test theory reliability of .93), and IRT ability prediction had a .96 reliability within a trait range from -1.7 to 1.3 theta. Based on 8 invariant item parameters, selection criteria of category fairly often (3) or above on attributed idealized influence items and sometimes (2) or below on individual consideration items was suggested. A test case demonstrated how narcissistic tendencies could be detected with these criteria. The study can contribute to positive social change by informing improved selection processes that more effectively screen candidates for key leadership roles that directly impact the wellbeing of individuals and organizations.

The United States is experiencing a shortage of registered nurses, and institutions of higher education are unable to graduate enough prepared nurses to reduce this employment shortage. A significant relationship between personality traits and academic performance has been found; however, how personality traits combine with students' self-efficacy of job performance and stress susceptibility to impact nursing students' academic performance has yet to be demonstrated. This study, grounded in the five-factor model (FFM) of personality traits, self-efficacy, and stress theories, sought to determine whether self-assessments of the NEO-Five Factor Inventory, the Nursing Practice Self-Efficacy survey, and the Susceptibility Under Stress Survey would predict academic performance, as measured by grade point average (GPA). The sample consisted of 197 nursing students attending 2-year nurse education programs at 3 community colleges in the northeastern United States. This correlational, quantitative study examined the relationship among the personality traits of the FFM, self-efficacy of job performance, stress susceptibility, and the GPAs of nursing students. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the strength of the relationship among the variables. Self-efficacy and conscientiousness were significant predictors of GPA. Given that nurse education programs are a rigorous field of study with high attrition rates, the implications for social change include the addition of specific types of support for nursing students to facilitate their progress and success in a competitive degree program that will benefit them and address the nursing shortage, which ultimately benefits hospitals and patients.