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2004

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A Case Study Of Unlv Students Enrollment And Financial Services: The Trend To Blend Key Student Services Into A One-Stop Shop, Christina F. Twelves Dec 2004

A Case Study Of Unlv Students Enrollment And Financial Services: The Trend To Blend Key Student Services Into A One-Stop Shop, Christina F. Twelves

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

No abstract provided.


Estimating The Economic Recreational Value Of Paracas National Reserve In Ica Peru: A Fair Fee Implementation Approach, Jaqueline Garcia-Yi Dec 2004

Estimating The Economic Recreational Value Of Paracas National Reserve In Ica Peru: A Fair Fee Implementation Approach, Jaqueline Garcia-Yi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Paracas National Reserve (PNR) is one of the fifty-seven protected areas that belong to the National System of Protected Areas (SINANPE) of Peru. Located in Ica Department, on the Pacific coast of Peru, it is the only coastal-marine ecosystem currently protected by the Peruvian government. PNR has been internationally recognized, principally as a wintering area for bird migrations. It has been designated as a Regional Shorebird Reserve by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (1991), a Ramsar site by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1992), and a Particular Sensitive Sea Area by the …


A Study Of Education Reform In Texas: State Mandated Testing Results, Effects, And The University Of Texas-Pan American, Monica M. Trevino Dec 2004

A Study Of Education Reform In Texas: State Mandated Testing Results, Effects, And The University Of Texas-Pan American, Monica M. Trevino

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The study will use scores on TASP, and ACT as predictors of first year college success. First year college success will be measured by first-year year college grade point average and number of class hours dropped. We expect to find a high correlation between standardized test scores and college success. In order to continue yearly state test administration efforts, data needs to be found supporting that these efforts are sufficient. If this evidence is not present, then state mandated achievement testing needs to be reconsidered for use as a requirement for receipt of a high school diploma, school accountability, and …


U.S. Policy Toward Iraq Within The Context Of Complexity Theories, Alexander Rayssan Dawoody Dec 2004

U.S. Policy Toward Iraq Within The Context Of Complexity Theories, Alexander Rayssan Dawoody

Dissertations

This research investigates the trajectory of the U.S. policy toward Iraq and the factors that went in the making of its phase shifts. The research is qualitative in nature, uses official governmental documents, articles, books, focus groups and one-on-one interviews in order to answer three questions: How does a linear observation interpret the U.S. policy toward Iraq? How do the new sciences of complexity interpret the U.S. policy toward Iraq? How does a linear observation of the U.S. policy toward Iraq contrast and compare with that of a complex analysis? The language of the research is metaphorical. Its analytical model, …


Management Style, Organizational Climate, And Organizational Performance In A Public Mental Health Agency: An Integral Model, Pamela Sue Meserve Erbisch Dec 2004

Management Style, Organizational Climate, And Organizational Performance In A Public Mental Health Agency: An Integral Model, Pamela Sue Meserve Erbisch

Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes and estimates the interactions between domestic investment and each type of capital flow under uncertainty and capital market imperfection in 13 oil-producing countries from 1981 to 2003. First, we discuss the recent development in investment theories under uncertainty, irreversibility, and imperfect capital market. Secondly, decomposing uncertainty into permanent and transitory components--based on C-GARCH--we constructuncertainty measures of broad macroeconomic variables in addition to oil price.

Thirdly, a model of four simultaneous equations is developed to capture dynamic interactions. My contribution is twofold. First, not only do we consider the impact of uncertainty and credit market imperfection on investment, …


The Differences In Performance Between Large And Small Organizations In Mental Health Settings, Randy Parker Dec 2004

The Differences In Performance Between Large And Small Organizations In Mental Health Settings, Randy Parker

Dissertations

The quantitative part of this study examined the relationship between organizational size and staff performance in mental health group home settings.The data from two hundred and sixty-two group homes from small, medium, and large umbrella organizations were examined. The results of independent third party evaluations were compared across these umbrella organizations. Evaluations measured compliance and performance mandated by federal health and safety regulations.

The qualitative part of this study involved on-site interviews with group home staff from various organizations at various professional levels which scored either a low or a high number of errors. A qualitative analysis was conducted to …


Leadership Competency Needs Of U.S. Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, John Nathaniel Vinson Dec 2004

Leadership Competency Needs Of U.S. Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, John Nathaniel Vinson

Dissertations

College campus police administrators operate in a complex administrative environment that produces difficult leadership challenges. In order to manage these challenges, police administrators need to possess certain leadership competencies. This study fills a gap in the academic literature by examining the perceptions of campus law enforcement administrators in the United States as to the kinds of leadership challenges they face, and the nature of the leadership competencies needed to manage these challenges. A nationwide survey of college campus police administrators at four-year colleges and universities was conducted to (1) explore their perceptions regarding the major leadership challenges they currently face, …


The Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Nutrition Health Status Among Adult Wic Participants, Damita Jo Zweiback Dec 2004

The Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Nutrition Health Status Among Adult Wic Participants, Damita Jo Zweiback

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between locus of control orientation and the nutrition health status of adult WIC participants in Michigan. The locus of control variable is defined as the degree to which an individual perceives reinforcement or outcomes as contingent upon his or her own behavior. It ranges from internal to external. Internal locus of control is the individual's belief that s/he is an actor and can determine one's fate within limits. External locus of control is the person's belief that s/he is controlled by forces outside of one's self (Lefcourt, 1976; Koger, 1999). …


An Exploratory Study That Examines Perceptions, By The Regulated Community, On The Effectiveness Of Air Quality Permitting For Clark County, By The Department Of Air Quality And Environmental Management, Scott Jelinek Nov 2004

An Exploratory Study That Examines Perceptions, By The Regulated Community, On The Effectiveness Of Air Quality Permitting For Clark County, By The Department Of Air Quality And Environmental Management, Scott Jelinek

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA) made the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for establishing and maintaining federal programs that control air quality. In turn, each state was delegated responsibility for air quality within its borders, although this responsibility may be shared with Native Americans or tribal lands. In many states, jurisdiction has been delegated to regional or local agencies that are then responsible for air quality in their respective air basins. Even though terrain or water bodies define the physical boundaries of air basins, they are usually designated by County boundaries for regulatory convenience (Wooley, David R., 1997).


Factors That Contribute To Nursing Job Satisfaction At Valley Hospital, Christopher Jones Oct 2004

Factors That Contribute To Nursing Job Satisfaction At Valley Hospital, Christopher Jones

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The United States is in the midst of a nursing shortage and it is expected to get even worse in the coming years due to several trends. These trends include the aging of the workforce where many nurses will be retiring in the next few years, the low enrollment in nursing schools, nurses leaving the profession for other fields of work and the lack of interest that many people are showing towards a career in nursing.


Establishing A Cyber Warrior Force, Scott D. Tobin Sep 2004

Establishing A Cyber Warrior Force, Scott D. Tobin

Theses and Dissertations

Cyber Warfare is widely touted to be the next generation of warfare. As America's reliance on automated systems and information technology increases, so too does the potential vulnerability to cyber attack. Nation and non-nation states are developing the capability to wage cyber warfare. Historically, the Air Force and DoD have concentrated their efforts toward defensive network operations. However, a shift in doctrine has shown both the Air Force and DoD acknowledging the potential for Information Warfare. What appears to be lacking is the trained and educated cyber warrior force that will carry out the information operations if needed. This research …


Traces Of Desire And Fantasy : The Government-Generated Discourse On Technology In Post-Handover Hong Kong, Sze Chung Chow Sep 2004

Traces Of Desire And Fantasy : The Government-Generated Discourse On Technology In Post-Handover Hong Kong, Sze Chung Chow

Theses & Dissertations

Information technology almost became the savior for Hong Kong in the process of recovering from the Asian financial crisis immediately after the Handover. The claims to establish and further the development of information technology were made against a certain perception of Hong Kong, in which the place in past decades had indulged in the wrong direction of labour-intensive, cut-throat production in the manufacturing industries and bubble-like speculation in the real-estate sector, and against a certain vision of the future, with more and more competition in the age of globalization, neo-liberal economies, and so on.

This thesis demonstrates, firstly, how the …


Is The Maquila Industry A Factor Influencing Migration To Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico?, Maria Cristina Guzman Sep 2004

Is The Maquila Industry A Factor Influencing Migration To Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico?, Maria Cristina Guzman

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis is divided into three chapters. Chapter one starts with the historical background of the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico and has a brief definition of migration explaining the factors that push or pull someone to make the decision to move. Chapter two contains the thesis statement, methods, and scope. In chapter three, there is a summary of the findings and conclusions. Analysis of the data collected through a survey conducted in 1997 among maquila workers reveals that a total of 51.01% of both the men and women's moves were influenced by the maquila industry. A similar pattern was …


Political Violence And Conflict Resolution: The Struggle For Peace In Northern Ireland, Lisa G. Fox Aug 2004

Political Violence And Conflict Resolution: The Struggle For Peace In Northern Ireland, Lisa G. Fox

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Political violence, especially in ethnoreligious conflicts, continues to threaten the stability and security of the international environment. Motivations for using violence are complex and can evolve over time. As long as one or more of the motivations continue to exist, parties to a conflict will feel that violence is a legitimate course of action and, thus, the conflict will persist.

Theories about the causes of conflict and the approaches that should be taken to terminate it mostly propose a single approach. A single approach, however, will address certain issues while leaving others unresolved, allowing some motivations to continue stimulating conflict. …


From Violence-Prone To Violence-Prepared Organizations Assessing The Role Of Human Resources Management In Preventing Workplace Violence In American City Governments, Saleh Abdel Rahman Ahmed Aug 2004

From Violence-Prone To Violence-Prepared Organizations Assessing The Role Of Human Resources Management In Preventing Workplace Violence In American City Governments, Saleh Abdel Rahman Ahmed

Dissertations

Violence is a significant occupational hazard in the American workplace. Nearly a thousand employees are murdered on the job each year and workplacehomicide has become the leading cause of death for women and the second for men. From 1993 to 1999, there were an average of 1.7 million nonfatal violent victimizations each year, accounting for 18% of all violent crime. Although government employees accounted for 18% of the U.S. workforce, they made up 37% of workplace violence victims.

A review of literature found no unified definition of workplace violence. Recent scientific research regarding this problem is rare, despite its increasing …


Examining The Meaning And Experience Of Self-Determination And Its Impact On Quality Of Life For Individuals With Cognitive Disabilities, Carol Marie Sundberg Aug 2004

Examining The Meaning And Experience Of Self-Determination And Its Impact On Quality Of Life For Individuals With Cognitive Disabilities, Carol Marie Sundberg

Dissertations

There is a national agenda for advancing self-determination for persons with disabilities. Broadly defined, self-determination means having control over ones own life. The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of self-determination and its effect on the quality of life of persons with cognitive disabilities. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was selected. Ten individuals from a community mental health system in southwest Michigan participated in the study. Participants had a developmental disability and were dependent on others for their care. The research combined qualitative interviews with behavioral observations and proxy interviewing, and included the audiotaping of those interviews. …


An Investigation Of Integrating Change Through Participatory Processes In Police Service Business Planning, Tobi Hermann Jul 2004

An Investigation Of Integrating Change Through Participatory Processes In Police Service Business Planning, Tobi Hermann

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the extent to which Ontario police business planning processes include effective citizen engagement and participation. A content analysis of public consultation data in the London Police Services was conducted and compared to municipal police department documentation in Windsor, Waterloo, and Sudbury. The findings reveal that police services in Ontario have embraced participatory mechanisms to engage the citizenry in an effort to renew democratic principles, increase perceptions of accountability, and legitimize the decisions made in the policy process.


The Role Of Religious Congregations In Providing Programs And Social Services In The Local Community: A Case Study Of London, Ontario, William Jaques Jul 2004

The Role Of Religious Congregations In Providing Programs And Social Services In The Local Community: A Case Study Of London, Ontario, William Jaques

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the extent to which religious congregations contribute to the provision of programs and social services within their respective communities based on a survey of 30 religious congregations in London, Ontario. The findings reveal that religious congregations are working diligently to provide programs and services to residents in their communities and the programs and services that they offer contribute to the overall health and well-being of these areas


Potential Alternative Revenue Sources For Municipal Infrastructure Maintenance – A Case Study: County Of Peterborough Transportation Infrastructure, Chris Bradley Jul 2004

Potential Alternative Revenue Sources For Municipal Infrastructure Maintenance – A Case Study: County Of Peterborough Transportation Infrastructure, Chris Bradley

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines whether the funding system for local infrastructure is adequate to ensure a sustainable, well-maintained transportation network and if there is a single, more effective means of funding local infrastructure maintenance based on a case study of the County of Peterborough. The findings reveal that the current funding system for local infrastructure maintenance is inadequate to ensure a sustainable, well-maintained transportation network and alternative revenue sources include the federal GST, the provincial PST, the gas tax, income tax, subsidies and transfers, infrastructure maintenance funding programs, and user fees.


Community Accountability In Ontario’S Healthcare Sector: A Case Study Of Six Hospitals, Catherine Cuylle Jul 2004

Community Accountability In Ontario’S Healthcare Sector: A Case Study Of Six Hospitals, Catherine Cuylle

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines how community accountability is exercised by the governing boards of hospitals based on case studies of six hospitals in Ontario – London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation (HHS), The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), University Health Network (UHN), Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre (S&W), and Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH). The findings reveal that hospital boards face a number of issues and tensions that stem from directing their accountability efforts towards the organization, the government, and the community in which they serve.


Intergovernmental Relations: An Analysis To Test The Effectiveness Of The Position Of An Intergovernmental Relations Officer At The Local Level, Michael Di Lullo Jul 2004

Intergovernmental Relations: An Analysis To Test The Effectiveness Of The Position Of An Intergovernmental Relations Officer At The Local Level, Michael Di Lullo

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines whether an intergovernmental relations officer is an effective position for local government based on surveys administered to chief administrators in 33 mid-sized Ontario municipalities. The findings reveal that having the position in local government is advantageous and effective for a municipality because it can generate greater opportunities with regards to revenue sourcing from the provincial and federal government.


Business Process Re-Engineering (Bpr): A Tool For Improved Customer Service In Municipalities, Lee Doyle Jul 2004

Business Process Re-Engineering (Bpr): A Tool For Improved Customer Service In Municipalities, Lee Doyle

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the appropriateness of business process re-engineering (BPR) in the improvement of customer service in local government. A content analysis of documents, a survey administered to municipal managers in 26 municipalities in Ontario, and a case study analysis of BPR implementation in four municipalities were conducted. The findings reveal that there is no clearly defined process or format for conducting BPR in Ontario municipalities.


The Establishment Performance Measures And Indicators For Social Housing In Ontario – The Background And The Process: What Are The Challenges?, Kathyrn Zarfas Jul 2004

The Establishment Performance Measures And Indicators For Social Housing In Ontario – The Background And The Process: What Are The Challenges?, Kathyrn Zarfas

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the barriers that stakeholders must address with respect to effective public sector performance measurement within the context of social housing in Ontario based on a case study of the Service Managers Expert Panel. The findings reveal that the challenges associated with establishing an effective performance management program include program history, peer support, and having the necessary knowledge and desire to make the program work.


An Empirical Investigation Of A Model Of Environmentally Concerned Consumer Behavior And Its Determinants: The Moderating Role Of Market Mavenship And Product Involvement, Kishwar A. Joonas Jul 2004

An Empirical Investigation Of A Model Of Environmentally Concerned Consumer Behavior And Its Determinants: The Moderating Role Of Market Mavenship And Product Involvement, Kishwar A. Joonas

Doctoral Dissertations

Extant literature offers incomplete explanations of environmentally concerned consumer behavior (ECCB), based on subsets of determinants. In this study, I have presented an integrated model of ECCB, and examined the main effects of three key psychological determinants (environmentally concerned beliefs and attitudes, personal norm, and perceived consumer effectiveness) and two key socio-cultural determinants (injunctive norm and collectivist orientation), on four dimensions of ECCB, namely purchase behavior, search for information, conserving behavior, and supporting intent. The study also examined the interactional effects of market mavenship and involvement on these direct linkages.

I conducted a national online survey among members of environmental …


A Cross-National Analysis Of The Impact Of Conscription On Crime Rates, Nicolette G. Rose Jul 2004

A Cross-National Analysis Of The Impact Of Conscription On Crime Rates, Nicolette G. Rose

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Research has repeatedly shown that males in the age range of 16 to 24 years account for a disproportionately large volume of crime (Sampson and Laub 1993 ). The armed forces are major employers of young males in this crime-prone age range and could thus play an important role in crime prevention. The military provides many varied opportunities including a highly structured and regimented institution in which rigid behavioral norms and close monitoring are imposed. Some other incentives that service provides include educational opportunities through the" Advanced Individual Training", the GI Bill, in-service tuition assistance, and world-wide travel. All these …


Overcoming Resistance To Change: An Analysis To The Department Of Defense's Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, Irene C. Johnson Jun 2004

Overcoming Resistance To Change: An Analysis To The Department Of Defense's Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, Irene C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to investigate the impact of change on organizations, in the absence of a preparedness program and to develop strategies for overcoming resistance to change, in the midst of a proposed initiative that has become stalled as a result of mistrust and cynicism. The results of this research suggests a framework of management techniques that will offer leadership approaches to resurrecting a stalled change initiative and overcoming personnel's resistance to a proposed change project, in order for the project to be more widely accepted. A series of personal interviews and focus groups, a qualitative method …


Child Welfare And Devolving Federalism: An Analysis Of The Effects Of Federal Funding Schemes On Selected Child Welfare Outcomes In Michigan, Timothy J. Kangas Jun 2004

Child Welfare And Devolving Federalism: An Analysis Of The Effects Of Federal Funding Schemes On Selected Child Welfare Outcomes In Michigan, Timothy J. Kangas

Dissertations

Child abuse and neglect has become a pervasive problem across the United States. Between 1985 and 1995 the foster care population in the United States grew by 79%, with costs soaring into the billions. During the mid-1990s, in an effort to address this issue, the federal government shifted from using a funding scheme identified with a traditional model of federalism to one identified with devolving federalism. In Michigan, the focus of this research, this shift in approaches occurred through the issuance of block grant funding for child welfare programming. The intent of this shift was to decentralize elements of the …


The Corporate Culture Of Nevada Hospitals, Sherese Marie Warren May 2004

The Corporate Culture Of Nevada Hospitals, Sherese Marie Warren

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The initial focus of this study is to identify the dominant culture of Nevada hospitals and to determine whether hospital organizations in Nevada share similar corporate values and beliefs. If differences exist, what are the distinctions in those organizations that make them different? The competing values framework was used to diagnose four corporate culture types of each hospital. The clan culture possesses high affiliation and concern with teamwork and participation. The developmental culture is based on risk taking, innovation, and change. The hierarchical culture reflects values and norms associated with bureaucracy. The rational culture emphasizes efficiency and achievement (Quinn & …


Public Libraries: Is Independence Better?, Gayle Hornaday Apr 2004

Public Libraries: Is Independence Better?, Gayle Hornaday

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the origin of public libraries in the United States during the nineteenth century, they have been primarily supported by public taxation, due to their intended purpose of benefiting all of society, and especially the economically disadvantaged. Public libraries are provided in much the same spirit as public education, to uphold the American value that knowledge and information should be equally available to all, without regard to individual ability to pay. The dilemma of how to pay for library services has involved considerable debate in the library community about the implementation of user fees to supplement revenue, as an alternative …


Assessing Community Participation In Development Planning: A Case Study Of Participants' Perceptions From A Small Rural Community In St. Lucia, Augustine Dominique Apr 2004

Assessing Community Participation In Development Planning: A Case Study Of Participants' Perceptions From A Small Rural Community In St. Lucia, Augustine Dominique

Capstone Collection

This research paper is a case study of participants' perceptions of their involvement in a process of development planning undertaken by the community of Laborie on the island of St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. Participants are drawn from an overall sample determined by case design theory and the boundaries of the case under investigation. During in-depth interviews participants provide responses to questions on the authenticity of the participatory process. Data from participants is validated through triangulation with evidence from a focus group meeting and other documents and artifacts from the 3-year development planning process. The research also investigates how …