Digital Commons Network^™

Motherhood, Memory And Aging : Object Recognition Performance, Julia Margaret Friedenberg

Master's Theses

Reproductively experienced female rats have been shown to have attenuated stress responses, improved visual systems, and better memory and learning. This study sought to extend those findings by comparing aged reproductively experienced and aged virgin female rats on an object recognition task, as well as comparing levels of corticosterone and 17p-estradiol and neural activation. Multiparous (MP, 2 reproductive experiences) females performed better on the task and demonstrated quicker habituation to the task than nulliparous (NP, no reproductive experiences) females. No hormonal or neural activation differences were found. The present study contributes to the growing research areas of reproductive experience and …

Automatic Spatial Processing Of Threatening And Positive Information In Participants With High And Low Levels Of Trait Anxiety, Ryan W. Hansen

Master's Theses

The study sought to investigate potential differences in automatic spatial processing of threatening and positive information in anxious and non-anxious individuals. Participants evaluated threatening and positive words and pictures in a memory task in which the stimuli's varying spatial position was incidental to the task. Participants demonstrated increased accuracy with threatening stimuli, and a decreased accuracy when the word location varied between initial presentation and test. The results did not provide evidence that threatening stimuli were associated with an increased degree of spatial processing, or that this relationship would be influenced by trait anxiety.

Intricacies Of Development : The Impact Of Maternal Experience And Isolation On The Social Development Of Juvenile Male Rats, Lillian Maria Christon

Master's Theses

Reproductive experience induces changes in females. Parity-related differences in maternal treatment of offspring can induce enduring changes in offspring. The relationships between maternal experience, early social isolation, and development were explored in rodents in this experiment. Male rats were weaned from multiparous (MP) and primiparous (PP) mothers and placed into isolation or social housing for four weeks. They were then observed in a social-interaction test. Social behavior and neural oxytocin and vasopressin were assessed post-testing, while corticosterone levels were measured across the four weeks. Weaning was extremely stressful for all offspring. PP- and MP-raised pups exhibited differences in social behavior, …

Early Vocabulary Development In English, Mandarin, And Cantonese : A Cross-Linguistic Study Based On Childes, Shuxia Liu

Master's Theses

Early language development is an exciting topic in the field of child language acquisition. Only a limited amount of cross-linguistic studies has attempted to investigate the similarities and differences in child language development across different languages. In this thesis, I present a study based on English, Mandarin and Cantonese corpora extracted from the Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES, MacWhinney, 2000). I investigated the lexical compositions of certain lexical categories (nouns, verbs, and adjectives) in children and their caregivers’ vocabularies across eight different children age groups ranging from 13 to 60 months. ANOVA, frequency analysis, and cluster analysis were used …

Quality Of Life For Patients And Caregivers: Palliative Care Funding Opportunities, Edward Joseph Schaub

Master's Theses

Development of the field of palliative care, which was nourished through extensive private foundation funding over more than a decade, has to some extent been stalled because of sharply reduced private funding, a lack of understanding by the general population, and the inaction of major institutions.

This study investigated the current state of palliative care funding efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area (the "Bay Area") and across the U.S. The individuals that participated in the research component of this study included palliative care experts and palliative care funders. Through two separate surveys and two interview groups their perceptions and …

Perceived Impact Of Paramilitary Training On Police Recruit Performance, Lauren Carol Nobles

Master's Theses

The topic of paramilitary policing within a police academy has been an exceedingly controversial topic within the Henrico County Division of Police. This study was completed to answer this research question: What is the perceived impact of paramilitary training on police recruit performance?

The controversy lies between a paramilitary structure of police recruit training and the current style of academy provided by Henrico County Division of Police. This study sought the opinions of police officers assigned to Uniform Patrol. The author wanted to reveal the style of police recruit training desired by current police officers to the Chief of Police …

Putting On The Armor Of The Lord : The Role Of Virginia Methodists During The Civil War, Margaret Diane Turman Kidd

Master's Theses

This thesis covers the involvement and influence of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in Virginia during the Civil War. Because the Methodists were the largest religious denomination in the South at the onset of the war, the Church was in a position to offer support and to shape the opinions of the Confederate people. Using sermons, religious tracts, newspapers, and letters, this study demonstrates that the majority of the Church supported the Confederacy and its aims. It begins with a brief overview of Methodism in the United States and the Schism of 1844 and then explores the interaction of the …

Universal Disaster Impact Scale, Brian James Evans

Master's Theses

When disasters occur affecting multiple communities differently, can a determination be made as to which community is in need of financial or humanitarian aid the most? This study proposes a universal disaster impact scale that will allow the impacts of a large variety of disasters, including natural and human systems failures, to be measured against one another. The Universal Disaster Impact Scale includes both quantitative and qualitative disaster impact measurements combined with an economic factor for the affected country in an equation which provides a numeric rating for the disaster. The rating is used to measure the level of need …

An Exploration Of Effective Recruitment Sources For Norfolk Fire-Rescue, Beth Bruner

Master's Theses

Public Safety applicants have declined nationwide over the last several years, including those individuals applying to Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR). Declining applicants can be attributed to change in generational births, effects of 9/11, and change from the 18 year old high school graduate to a midtwenty year old college student. An applicant pool decrease requires more effective recruitment efforts. This study examines the NFR 2006 hiring process from written exam through applicants' hiring. A nonrandomized survey design examined 245 surveys of all exam applicants. Measured constructs included recruitment sources and demographic data and were analyzed specifically with regard to those who …

An Unlikely Alliance : The Generals Who Won The American Revolution, Patrick Michael Elgin

Master's Theses

Seventy-seven men were asked to serve as Generals during the Revolutionary War by the Continental Congress. These men came from such disparate backgrounds that it may seem surprising that they could unite in such a dangerous venture as a rebellion against Great Britain. This thesis explores the military history of the Revolutionary War through the framework of these seventy-seven men by providing biographical sketches of each and drawing from these sketches to create a list of factors which affected their service in the war. Specifically, the thesis focuses on where these men came from, how they earned a livelihood, and …

Assessing What Are The Optimum Years Of Experience For Highly Effective Recruit Mentors In The Chesapeake Fire Department, George Michael Best

Master's Theses

The Chesapeake Fire Department will experience an unprecedented rate of retirements that will include a large number of senior firefighters and officers. The exodus of personnel will result in the loss of valuable experience. As a result Chesapeake Fire Department started a mentor program in 1999 between senior firefighters, and recruit firefighters. Recruit firefighters have been assigned a senior firefighter mentor for the duration of their 18-month probation period that occurs after graduation from the recruit academy. There has been no evaluation to determine optimum number of years experience required for a highly effective recruit mentor. The question was operationalized …

The Evolution Of Law Enforcement : The Generational Differences Of The New Police Officer And How To Attract Them To Your Agency, Mark Anthony Banks

Master's Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to enhance the knowledge of the generational differences in the law enforcement profession. With this knowledge, it is hopeful that, agencies will change their current recruiting strategies and gear them towards today's new generation of law enforcement officer. The overall goal of this study was enlighten Henrico County and Chesterfield county administrators of concerns facing employee recruiting within law enforcement so proactive efforts can be taken to curb ineffective and outdated recruiting strategies and methods.

Do Leadership Development Programs Work For Strategic Law Enforcement Executives?, Brent Burnette

Master's Theses

There is a proliferation of leadership development programs for members of the law enforcement community. This study examined whether various leadership development programs met the needs of strategic law enforcement executives. One hundred law enforcement leaders were asked to complete and return a multi-facet survey on which they ranked their perceptions of the leadership development programs attended using a Likert rating scale. Additionally, the participants were asked to rate responses regarding post-undergraduate education in leadership. Sixteen of the one hundred participated. Participants indicated an overall satisfaction with the individual programs and indicated that each program met their individual leadership needs. …

Creating A Motivational Attendance Policy For The Henrico Division Of Fire, Cheryl A. Burns

Master's Theses

This study examines sick leave abuse within the Henrico County Division of Fire. The purpose of the study was to examine factors that might contribute to a willingness to abuse sick leave. In addition, the study reviews the literature regarding various aspects of sick leave abuse to include cost, motivational theory, and incentive programs. The research consisted of a survey administered to the Division of Fire personnel who work 24-hour shifts. The survey posed questions concerning general attitudes, awareness, and perceptions surrounding the topic of sick leave abuse. The resulting data provided some evidence that sick leave abuse was linked …

A Study Of On-Site Employee Health Care Clinics And Their Possible Return On Investment, Dale William Carter Jr.

Master's Theses

Health care costs have accelerated at alarming rates for the last decade, outpacing wage growth and inflation according to The Kaiser Family Foundation... These costs have an impact on everyone. Since 2000, premiums have grown by 73 percent, yet wages have only grown by 15 percent (The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005)... One alternative being evaluated by organizations is the on-site employee health clinic or OSHEC. The in-house doctor is not a new concept; however, the new approach is more comprehensive, delivering a myriad of services to employees beyond treatment of workplace injuries. The OSHEC has emerged as a more holistic …

An Anecdotal Examination Of Wellness Programs, Sean M. Greenway

Master's Theses

This research investigates the question whether or not Wellness Programs are available to police officers throughout Virginia. Research has shown these programs to be beneficial in reducing the health risks associated with police work. Police departments may also see a decrease in sick leave and work related injuries. In order to address the research question, a questionnaire was distributed to 150 police departments throughout Virginia. A total of 57.7 percent of the departments reported the availability of a voluntary Wellness Program. Based on a lack of data, the findings suggest that the departments are not evaluating the effectiveness of their …

A Case Study Of The Marital And Familial Relationships Of Fire-Rescue Personnel As They Relate To Marriage Survivability, Carolyn Morgan Henderson

Master's Theses

Marriage is considered the traditional and moral standard for all relationships. There are other relationship types that exist in the life of fire-rescue personnel, but this study explores only marital relationships. Marriage demands are many and not everyone is equipped to handle them. Marriage requires devoted energy and continuous negotiation and compromise. Firefighters and paramedics are subjected to rigorous training to obtain the skill for their respective jobs. Their training equips them for rescuing the sick, injured, and extinguishing fires. However, there is not a protocol or training manual for marriage. This study examines the probable cause and effect that …

Competencies Of The Law Enforcement Special Operator : Implications For Law Enforcement Organizations And Police Special Operations, Geoffrey C. Greene

Master's Theses

The law enforcement special operations environment is changing. Officers are faced with challenges that are increasing in complexity as weapons availability and acts of terrorism force the tactical community to respond with better training and tactics. The purpose of this study is to identify a competency model needed to successfully perform as a law enforcement special operator over the next 5-10 years. In addition, the study identifies the core competencies that formulate the Law Enforcement Special Operator Competency Model. Implications for how police organizations can use the research for professional development are also discussed. This study utilizes three distinct phases …

Leadership Model For Fire Battalion Chief In The 21st Century, Douglas Alan Jessup

Master's Theses

This research investigation seeks to identify a leadership model for Fire Battalion Chief comprised of a set of theoretical dimensions of leadership that are required of a Fire Department Battalion Chief to successfully lead their personnel over the next 10 years. This paper also examines the roots of corporatism at national and local levels and demonstrates how the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) had significant levels of influence on policy making in the United States of America. However, at a local level longstanding corporatist partnerships between unions such as FMU and local associations like CACFOA began to break down as a …

Establishing Exit Interview Best Practices, Russell Granderson

Master's Theses

The looming retirement of the baby boom generation will increase recruiting cost and intensify the war for talent. Recent studies have shown that employee retention will be the primary business concern over the next five to ten years. The transformation of a perfunctory exit interview into a powerful recruiting and retention tool could supply a strategic advantage over competitors. Exit interviews provide an opportunity for organizations to glean valuable insight within their ranks. Prior research investigating the validity of the exit interview has shown that departing employees are uncomfortable and reluctant of revealing candid feedback during in-house interviews. The methodology …

Norfolk Fire Rescue Officers' Attitudes And Perceptions Towards Cell Phones And Email, Ronald A. Mann Jr.

Master's Theses

This study investigated Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR) officers' attitudes and perception toward cell phones/email. What are the attitudes of NFR towards email/cell phones? What negative aspects of email/cell phones are affecting NFR? Do the negative aspects of information technologies increase with rank? Do the officers of NFR feel that classes aimed at "technological stress or information overload," would be beneficial to the department? NFR officers responded to a forced-choice survey about negative impact of cell phones/email focusing on use patterns, perceptions of negative impact, and attitudes towards cell phones/email. NFR officers are very supportive of email/cell phones, despite the negative affects …

The Next Generation Of Emergency Management : Proposal For A New Model Of Emergency Operations Center For A Growing Regional Emergency Management System, John D. Eggleston

Master's Theses

The emergency operations center organizational model used by the Charlottesville/Albemarle/University of Virginia (CAUVA) Emergency Management Agency is organized around the various departments that staff the center. The EOC model has been used to coordinate small scale natural disasters and training exercises, but has never been used to coordinate a significant actual event. After-action reports of previous events and exercises have highlighted several functional deficiencies and have led some local and state officials to doubt the model's ability to coordinate a significant event... The research process involved a literature and extant document review which discovered that there were four recognized EOC …

Stressors On The Detectives Of The Prince William County Police Department, William P. Mackay

Master's Theses

Law enforcement is a highly stressful occupation, with law enforcement officials facing critical incidents such as violent crime scenes and potential loss of life. These incidents, however, are not a daily occurrence. The most common daily stressors associated with law enforcement originate from the law enforcement organization itself, the daily interactions with coworkers, the usage or misusage of the assigned equipment, and the individual's perception of the work environment. This study collected survey data to analyze the prevalence and effects of the daily stressors perceived by the detectives of the Prince William County Police Department. This study identified three areas …

The Effect Of Technology In The Workplace : An Investigation Of The Impact Of Technology On The Personal And Work Life Of Mid Level Managers Of The Fairfax County Police Department, Paul G. Mitchell

Master's Theses

This study addressed the effects of technology on our work and personal lives. Focusing on communication tools the investigation sought to determine what issues are created by this constant ability to communicate. A survey was conducted of mid-level managers within the Fairfax County Police Department to determine the effects technology had on their work and personal lives. In addition to the survey, interviews and observations where used. The results revealed that technology doesn't have a negative affect on those surveyed. The majority of data collected shows a positive response toward communication devices. Technology allows for speed and ease of task …

Police Perceptions : External Influences Affecting Work Satisfaction, Ryan Wayne Morgan

Master's Theses

There are many individuals that apply for police officer positions. Some of those hired find the job challenging and rewarding, others leave unexpectedly. The newly hired that separate from the organization early in their career can have a negative impact on the police department. It is believed many of newly hired officers that leave unexpectedly may have not had an accurate perception of what the job entailed from the beginning. To gauge where police applicants from their perceptions of police work, newly hired police officers in Fairfax County were surveyed. The study was designed to take into account common perceptions …

Perceptions Of Performance And Behavior Of College Educated Police Officers, Paul Edmund Nagosky

Master's Theses

Good police applicants are becoming scarcer and many agencies have lowered their hiring standard to fill academy classes. In this labor pool environment is it worth having a college education requirement? Is the performance of college educated officers superior to that of non-college educated officers?

An opinion survey was issued to officers and sergeants of the Chesterfield County Police Department regarding how they felt toward college education and its effect, if any on several aspects of police performance.

In some aspects of performance or behavior, such as sensitivity to minorities, authoritarianism, and use of force, there were slight tendencies for …

Is Alternative Transport A Viable Option For Norfolk Fire-Rescue?, Nicholas Edward Nelson

Master's Theses

Emergency medical providers transport 911 patients who do not warrant emergency room (ER) transport via ambulance. This study's purpose was to determine if prehospital care providers, using established protocols, could identify patients accurately to be seen by a physician but require ambulance transportation. Fourteen agencies have initiated emergency medical service (EMS refusal). Alternative transport options would free paramedics to respond to life threatening emergencies, while allowing low acuity patients ER access. Ninety-three study patients were enrolled and transported to emergency departments (ED) via taxi. EMS determined eleven patients met enrollment criteria though refused participation in the study. Nine taxi transported …

Competencies Of High-Performing Correctional Officers Of Jails And Prisons : Developing Tomorrow's Officers, Douglas Woodfin Murphey Ii

Master's Theses

Correctional facilities continue to be built to hold an ever-growing inmate population that must be managed by competent correctional officers. This study utilized three subject-matter expert groups to create and validate the core competencies required to be a high-performing correctional officer. The first group of eight high-performing correctional officers from the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office created the initial list of competencies. The second group of eight expert correctional consultants rated the competency list. The third group of sixteen senior correctional administrators from outstanding sheriffs offices and correctional facilities in the United States also rated the competencies. The core competencies were …

A Study Of The Best Spanish Training Practices For Police Officers, Nicole Marie Otero

Master's Theses

Within the last ten years, the Hispanic population in the United States has grown immensely. This presents a communication problem between the Hispanic communities and the police departments who protect and serve them. This also creates a serious liability issue for police departments. Currently, law enforcement is struggling to adequately train police officers how to speak Spanish. This research examines ways for Chesterfield and Henrico County Police Departments to develop the Spanish-speaking skills of their current police officers. This research further provides details of possible costs to provide adequate Spanish-speaking training to the police officers in both counties. The data …

The Impact Of Positive Reinforcement And Noncash Rewards: A Study Of How Its Implementation Can Affect An Employee's Level Of Motivation And Performance, Michael Benjamin Young

Master's Theses

The most powerful forms of motivation cost little or nothing at all. Though nominally effortless, the proper rewarding of excellent performers has become sorely underutilized. As a result, employees are feeling less appreciated and becoming more unmotivated. A review of the literature found three reverberating observations: it is a fallacy that money motivates; recognition, such as positive reinforcement and praise motivate; and tangible, low-cost, noncash rewards can motivate. The anecdotal data in this current research tends to support the salient findings provided by scholarly researchers. Additionally, this current research aims to illuminate the pressing need to make a more concentrated …