Digital Commons Network^™

Methods For Teaching Mindfulness Within The Workplace, Gerrel March

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Over the past few years, the world has been shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic and technological advancements that have contributed towards work-life imbalances. Now more than ever, organizations are focusing on improving mental health and well-being. This understanding holds value towards the hospitality industry as employee wellbeing has a direct link towards consumer experience. Considering the nature of the business, employees endure distress resulting from emotional labor, long work hours, etc, understanding how organizations can improve well-being is critical. This paper attempts to make significant contribution towards understanding both individual and organizational outcomes of mindfulness, best practices, and potential limitations …

Exploring The Relation Between Musical And Dance Sophistication And Musical Groove Perception, Samantha R. O'Connell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Listening to groovy music is an enjoyable experience and a ubiquitous human behavior in some cultures. Specifically, many listeners agree that high-groove songs are enjoyable, familiar, and likable compared to low-groove songs. While the pleasurable and dance-inducing effects of musical groove listening seem omnipresent, what is less known is how subjective feelings towards music, individual musical or dance experiences, or more objective musical perception abilities are correlated with the way we hear music with groove. Therefore, the present online study aimed to evaluate how musical and dance sophistication relates to musical groove perception. One-hundred and twenty-four participants completed an online …

A Qualitative Study Of School Psychologists' Perception And Interpretation Of Their Professional Identity, Elizabeth A. Sanders

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The primary focus or aim of this qualitative multiple-case study was to increase understanding of how experienced school psychologists define themselves as professionals within the field, taking into consideration the profession’s collective or organizational identity, the parameters established by the organization, and the actual performance of the job within the educational setting. Specifically, this study examined how the individuals’ definitions had changed over time and what lived experiences led to development and change in professional identity. Six school psychologists with 10 or more years of experience from a large urban Southwestern school district’s school psychology department were invited to participate. …

Examining The Training Transfer Practice Of A Financial Institution: An Action Research Study, Maria Lourdes Lourdes Gutierrez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Many organizations rely on training to improve the skills and knowledge of its human resources. The underlying assumption is that employees will use what they learned when they return to the workplace. Although there is evidence that learning occurred it does not always result in transfer (Mosel, 1957). Transfer is an issue of concern for training practitioners. If despite the significant investment no return is realized, then the training is not effective and the investment is wasted. This action research study was conducted in a financial institution in the Southwestern United States. The purpose of this study was to (1) …

Mental Health Research Productivity Of Nasp-Approved School Psychology Programs: 2010-2015, Mala Nash

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

With the evident need for mental health support of children and adolescents, there are identified professionals prepared to provide services within the school setting. The school psychologist is considered a key resource for providing mental health services such as preventive and crisis response (Dwyer, 2004; Armistead, 2008). Based on our country’s mental health needs and the significant role that schools can make in meeting those needs, it is pertinent to take a closer look at the literature specifically related to mental health. This review focused specifically on the field of school psychology’s contribution to mental health literature and established a …

The Effects Of A Retrieval Practice Intervention On Undergraduates’ Monitoring And Control Processes Using Performance Feedback In A College Classroom, Meganclaire Cogliano

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The present study examined the effects of a classroom intervention on students’ metacognitive monitoring of retrieval practice performance feedback and metacognitive control of future study decisions. The sample included 103 undergraduate students enrolled in five sections of an introductory educational psychology course. A true experimental design was used to randomly assign students to trained (n=49) and control (n=54) conditions within each section.

During the semester, students completed a pre- and post- metacognitive awareness inventory (MAI), 10 practice-tests, 10 feedback monitoring assignments, and a cumulative final examination. The feedback assignments required students to identify areas of mastery (i.e., well-learned topics) and …

Using Generalizability Theory To Investigate Sources Of Variance Of The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 With Trainees, Dorothy Rita Parriott

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be considered a serious developmental concern, which, complicated by its rising rate, creates a challenge for psychologists in properly and consistently diagnosing the disorder. Various types of assessments such as reporting measures, observation systems, and standardized assessments are currently used in the identification of ASD. Any one instrument typically examines multiple domains of functioning such as intellectual, neuropsychological (including adaptive, attention, sensory, motor, language, memory, executive functioning, academic, and social/emotional), and behavior (social and repetitive/restricted). Often, evaluators combine assessments that were not originally meant to detect ASD with those that were intended for that purpose. …

Evidence-~Based Practices: An Exploratory Study Concerning School District Professional Development Considerations, Pamela Marie Juniel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The identification and implementation of evidence-based practices by special education and general education teachers continues to be an issue in the field of education (Cook & Cook, 2011; Cook, Tankersley, Cook, & Landrum, 2008). Since the mandates of providing students with disabilities access to the general education curricula (IDEA, 2004) with services based on empirical research (NCLB, 2001) are required, teachers are implored to improve their teaching skills (Cook et al., 2008). Recently, the field of education has made efforts to support teachers in the identification and use of evidence-based practices by establishing a system and process for identifying evidence-based …

Listening To The Ranks: Perceptions Of The U.S. Air Force Occupational Health And Safety Training, Melissa Jo Breunig

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Occupational health and safety hazards are abundant in military environments. Due to the hazardous occupational settings, injuries remain a public health concern in the United States military. Public health plays a critical role in injury reduction by addressing the need for comprehensive safety education training, and more specifically, exposure related injuries. A secondary data analysis was completed using Communication Theory as the overarching framework to analyze 13 qualitative interviews conducted with Airmen to gain their perceptions of the occupational health and safety training at Nellis and Creech Air Force Base (AFB). Pedagogy and training content were the two main themes …

Increasing Labor And Delivery Nurse Knowledge Of Triaging Non-Obstetrical Medical Emergencies In Pregnant Women Through The Use Of Simulation, Julie Hoffman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect simulation training has on an OB nurse's ability to correctly triage pregnant patients. Registered Nurses (RNs) working in OB triage must be able to correctly and expediently identify the care a pregnant patient needs. OB triage nurses are trained to recognize pregnancy related issues that commonly present during the months leading up to delivery. It is as important for these nurses to have the skills to realize when a pregnant patient is having a non-obstetrical health crisis. A group of OB triage RNs participated in simulation-training scenarios based on non- …

Descriptive Experience Sampling Interactive Multi-Media Training Tool For Subjunctification And Illustrative Interviews, Stacy Lynne Reger

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Modern experience sampling methods attempt to understand the phenomenology of inner experience through a variety of methods, including questionnaires, diaries, and verbalization of ongoing cognitive processes. The goal of such studies is to minimize potential roadblocks to accessing inner experience, such as retrospective recall, memory failures, and bias. The current project focuses on one such method, Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES). DES is an idiographic, exploratory, and ecologically valid method of studying inner experience. In this method, participants wear a beeper with an earphone that emits a random beep. When the beep sounds, the participant is to write down notes about …

The Effects Of Observation, Dialogue, And Attentional Focus In Dyadic Training Protocol, Carolina Granados

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The present study examined the impact that dyad training with an emphasis on attentional focus has on learning in the performance of a golf putt. The participants were randomly divided into four dyad groups: dialogue and observation with external focus, dialogue and observation with internal focus, dialogue and no observation with external focus, and dialogue and no observation with internal focus. Participants were given a set of instructions to verbalize to their partners during practice. These instructions were designed to generate either an internal or an external focus. The results determined that those participants who were instructed to have an …

The Efficacy Of Emotional And Instructional Support (Eis) Training And Consultation On Head Start Teacher-Child Interactions, Rory Brown Sipp

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There is an increased need for quality in the field of early care and education and, teachers interactions with his or her students are the catalyst for providing and ensuring quality within early childhood environments (La Paro, Pianta, & Hamre, 2008). The study examined the effect of training and consultation on Head Start teacher and child interactions as measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System, also known as the CLASS.

Twenty-one Head Start teachers located in Southern Nevada served as participants in the study where non-threatening and evidence based training and consultation was provided over six weeks. Trainings were provided …

Skeletal Muscle Damage, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness And Performance After Resistance Training With Leucine And Carbohydrate Or Carbohydrate Alone, Matthew Steven Stock

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adding leucine to pre and post-exercise carbohydrate beverages on blood markers of muscle damage, muscle soreness, and squat performance. Eighteen resistance-trained subjects performed 6 sets of squats to fatigue using 75% of the 1-RM with 3 minutes rest between sets. Subjects consumed a carbohydrate beverage (.25 g/kg) 30 minutes before and immediately after exercise with or without the addition of leucine (45 mg/kg) in randomized, double-blind fashion. Creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and subjective surveys of muscle soreness, were analyzed before, 24 hrs, 48 hrs, and 72 hrs …

A Comparison Of Social Skills Training Approaches On Preschool Teacher And Child Behaviors, Keith J Hyatt

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The first purpose of this study was to determine whether instruction to teachers resulted in differences in their performance. The second purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two social skill training methods, a proactive approach and a reactive approach, on increasing the "positive initiations" and/or "positive responses" of preschool children toward their peers during small group art activities. The proactive approach consisted of the teacher providing children with 5 minutes of instruction in specific social skills prior to the art activities, while the reactive approach consisted of the teacher providing verbal praise for "positive initiations" and …

A Qualitative Case Study Approach To Define And Identify Perceived Challenges Of Knowledge Management For Casino Hotel Industry, Ming-Lun Lee

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The overall goal of this study is to analyze and establish the importance of KM applications in the hotel industry, with two purposes in mind. The first is to explore hotel organizations' awareness and perceptions of KM applications. The second purpose is to identify casino hotel executives' perceived challenges of KM. Qualitative case studies and descriptive research designs with interviews were applied to accomplish the study objectives; Case study subjects' perceptions regarding KM definitions, KM functions, and expected benefits of KM were identified and discussed. Casino hotel executives perceive knowledge sharing, change resistance, and knowledge transfer major challenges of KM. …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Child Maltreatment Reporting Training Program For Mandated Mental Health Professionals, Krisann Marie Alvarez

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Despite a legal mandate to report suspected child maltreatment, the literature has consistently reported a failure by mandated professionals to report suspected maltreatment. Lack of knowledge regarding child maltreatment, reporting requirements and possible consequences of reporting have been cited as impediments to reporting. Previous research has recommended the development of training programs to address these hindrances. However, empirically validated training programs specific to the reporting of child maltreatment in mental health professionals have yet to be developed. Therefore, this study is the first to examine the efficacy of a child maltreatment reporting training program which addresses knowledge of child maltreatment …

Financial Benefits Of On-Site Athletic Training Services For A Performing Arts Show, Ritasue Morgan Campbell

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the cost of providing on-site athletic training treatments for a performing arts show, versus the cost that would be incurred for off-site treatments. As a profession, athletic training is growing quickly and entering a wide expanse of new settings. The physical nature of work, profit driven mindset of organizations and non-traditional occupational settings all contribute to the need for cost benefit analysis research regarding on-site athletic training. Using a cost avoidance formula, this research will examine if there is a difference in the direct cost of treating employees through an on-site athletic …

Leadership Training And Emotional Intelligence In School Nurses, Anne L Diaz

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Now more than ever, nurses need to be leaders. However, most studies of leadership, whether in nursing, business, or the military, have focused on individuals in administrative positions. School nurses practice in primarily autonomous circumstances, where they need to possess substantial leadership skills and the ability to identify and manage emotions to ensure an optimal educational learning environment for the students under their care; Three leadership theories were combined to form the Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Model as the framework for a leadership training program. This two group before and after quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of a leadership training program …

Multi-Unit Restaurant Management Training: An Exploratory Study, Stan Suboleski

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This exploratory study focuses on the training practices and procedures of branded multi-unit restaurants. The study is specifically focused on aspects of training as they relate to the position of multi-unit managers (MUMs). The goal of the paper is to investigate current MUM training programs and trends. Very little literature exists on the specific topic of this study. A literature review focuses on three areas: the nature of the multi-unit restaurant industry; the definition and role of the multi-unit manager; and the need for and importance of training the MUM. Descriptions of current training programs in place at branded multi-unit …

Internet Utilization As A Medium For Training Employees In Multi-Unit Restaurants, Dipendra Singh

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Employee turnovers costs for multi-unit restaurant companies amount to millions of dollars each year. A large amount is spent on training new employees, so that the service and product standards can be maintained throughout the outlets. However, very little attention is being paid to the Internet as an efficient and cost effective medium for training employees; The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between multi-unit restaurant companies and their current and perceived future Internet usage for employee training. Multi-unit restaurant companies with different annual revenues were categorized and examined for the extent of Internet usage in training; …

An Analysis Of Social Skills Instruction Provided In Teacher Education And In-Service Training Programs For General And Special Educators, Nicole Dobbins

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The effective demonstration of social skills in classroom and personal settings is essential to successfully develop and sustain professional and personal relationships. Students with disabilities often exhibit social skills deficits which, in turn, place them at risk to experience school failure, peer rejection, and/or mental health problems (Elksnin & Elksnin, 2006). There is an increasing number of students with disabilities receiving instruction in the general education classroom setting (U.S. Department of Education, 2003). Direct instruction of social skills is imperative to ensure the academic and personal success of students; The research supports the direct instruction of discrete social skills behaviors …

Training Professionals' Impressions And Opinions About Their Role In Hospitality, Valentini Kalargyrou

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Billions of dollars are spent yearly on employee training. Thus, extensive research has been done on why training is important to the advancement of organizations. However, little research has been done on the actual providers and facilitators of the training and development. This research is designed to identify the feelings, insights, emotions, expectations, and beliefs of the training professionals about their role in hospitality. A qualitative research, Zaltman's Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) was performed with ten training professionals from two hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada. Study results indicated (1) the importance of their role within the organization, (2) the high …

Plyometric Training In Female Adolescent Soccer Players, Amaris Christine Vandyke

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to measure the effects of low impact plyometric training on vertical jump and kicking distance in female adolescent soccer players. Comparisons at three separate time intervals: pre-test, 7 weeks, and 14 weeks were made between individuals completing normal soccer training and competition and those additionally completing once-weekly plyometric training. No significant difference in kicking distance was found between groups at pre-test (p = 0.5005) or 7 weeks (p = 0.1174). However, the plyometric training group had significantly longer kicking distance after 14 weeks (p = <0.0001). The control group displayed a significant decrease in kicking distance between 7 and 14 weeks (p = 0.0081). No significant difference in vertical jump height was found between groups at pre-test (p = 0.8366) or 7 weeks (p = 0.1077); however, the plyometric group had a significantly higher vertical jump after 14 weeks (p = 0.0144). Once-weekly plyometric training may improve soccer performance.

An Examination Of The Efficacy Of Problem Solving Skills Training For Adolescent Substance Abuse: Results Of A Pilot Study, Jennifer Dawn Karmely

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The literature investigating adolescent substance abuse has identified both social skills deficits and parental conflict as variables which both predict and maintain substance abuse. Supported by these findings, the present study evaluates the efficacy of utilizing cognitive problem solving skills training with adolescent substance abusers and their primary care giver (Youth-Parent Cognitive Problem Solving Training - YPCPS). This treatment condition is an alteration of Individual Cognitive Problem Solving Training (ICPS, Azrin, Donohue, Teichner, Cram, Howell, and DeCato, 2000) which was developed as a treatment modality for individual adolescent substance abusers. The interventions instructed participants, through a brief 5 point strategy, …

Paraeducator Training: An Investigation Of Current Practice And Related Needs, Brian D Saffle

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Over the past two decades an increased number of paraeducators have been hired to work with special education teachers (French & Pickett, 1997, Stanovich, 1996). There has been a concurrent shift in paraeducator responsibilities. Instead of primarily providing clerical support, paraeducators are now expected to provide instructional support to the most challenging students in the system (i.e., those with disabilities) (Giangreco, Broer, Edelman, 1999). Numerous researchers, educators, and members of professional organizations have noted concerns about the training and/or lack thereof for paraeducators (French & Pickett, 1997). Debate exists regarding whether or not paraeducators possess adequate training and skills to …

Culture Clash: Making The Case For A New Paradigm In Police Cultural Training, Hal S Edwards

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Hiring standards in most police agencies result in most officer candidates having little, if any, meaningful exposure to the "oppositional" culture of the urban, minority poor. Given the current popularity of the Community Oriented Policing paradigm---with its emphasis on positive police/community relations---current police hiring and training practices handicap police agencies in their efforts to gain the trust of urban, minority communities. A content analysis of United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division investigations under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14141) was found to support the hypothesis that the interface between the police …

Identifying Training Needs Of Tradeshow Exhibitors, Yonghee Kim

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify training needs of tradeshow exhibitors by examining exhibitors' perceived importance and knowledge level of training issues using training needs analysis. This study also examined differences in training needs by exhibitors' past exhibiting experience and cultural background. A survey was conducted with 369 randomly sampled exhibitors attending a tradeshow in Las Vegas. Exhibitors considered meet and greet skills, following-up on customer leads, and creating attractive booth designs/displays the most important factors for better performance at tradeshows. Less experienced exhibitors were less knowledgeable of almost all training topics. Exhibitors who had non-American cultural backgrounds …

Strategic Training In The Use Of Causal Diagrams: Facilitation Of Superior Mental Models, Anne Seyer Poliquin

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study focused on the influence of strategic learning on the construction of causal diagrams and their role in text learning. A causal diagram is an instructional adjunct designed to enhance text comprehension by providing a visual representation integrating elements of cause and effect. The Integrated Model of Text and Picture Comprehension (IMTPC) (Schnotz & Bannert, 1999) suggests that diagrams improve learning because they facilitate the construction of mental models via simultaneous comprehension of visual and text elements. However, there is no information on how to achieve this benefit consistently. Scevak, Moore, and Kirby (1993) have demonstrated that this benefit …

Hamstring/Quadriceps Strength Ratios: An Analysis And A Strength Training Study, Heather Jessica Lee

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study was performed to examine the hamstring:quadriceps (H:Q) ratios of female soccer athletes, and to test the effects of a six week strength training program on these ratios. Twelve NCAA Division I female soccer athletes volunteered for this study. Subjects completed two practice sessions, a pretest, six weeks of strength training, and a posttest. The isokinetic pre and posttesting was performed on a KIN-COMRTM dynamometer, with the trials in a set order (concentric 240, 180, 60°/s and eccentric 60, 180, 240°/s). Gravity correction was used on all trials. The H:Q strength ratio was examined conventionally (concentric hamstrings:concentric quadriceps) and …