Digital Commons Network^™

Reflect To Connect, Sophia Rae Guzules

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

Engineering statics is an important course and a prerequisite for many subsequent courses for many engineering majors. It is often students’ first exposure to technical engineering sciences. Most statics concepts are addressed in ways disconnected from students’ prior experiences and interests. Utility Value Interventions (UVIs) have been employed in fields like biology and chemistry to help students connect concepts in class and their lives outside the classroom. However, UVI usage in engineering so far has been limited. In this Senior Project paper, I will describe the process that the team Critical Research in Engineering and Technology Education (CREATE) and I …

The Effect Of Locus Of Control And Autonomy On Motivation In The Workplace, Kelley K. Nekota

Social Sciences

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of locus of control and autonomy on motivation in the workplace. A sample size of 414 employed individuals was obtained; however, only 243 individuals completed the questionnaire in its entirety over the course of one week. The survey included Rotter’s thirteen question scale on locus of control, and a variety of questions relevant to autonomy and motivation in the workplace. Gender, age, ethnicity, organization size, and hierarchy within the workplace were controlled for. The data showed a significant correlation between locus of control and motivation, independent of autonomy. Autonomy, too, …

Psychosocial Motivators For Obstacle Course Racing: A Qualitative Case Study, Aracely Rodriguez

Master's Theses

This study explored the psychological and sociological motivations of adult female and male obstacle course racers. A qualitative case study approach was used to explore the views, experiences, and motivations of obstacle course racing (OCR) participants. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulation was used to interpret responses to the 297 online questionnaires. A content analysis approach was used to analyze the qualitative data gathered from three focus groups with a total of 20 obstacle course racers. Three theories formed the basis of the study: Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Achievement Goal Theory (AGT), and Social Leaning Theory (SLT). Overall, findings supported previous research …

Designing A Goal Journaling Application, Kevin Lufkin

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

Achieving a personal goal and making a positive change in one’s life can be a difficult and elusive task. Everyday people are creating and setting new goals for themselves, but more often than not these goals are never realized. Motivation, determination, and discipline are all key elements when it comes to accomplishing a goal, but if there is no clear idea as to how to connect the dots from where one is to where one wants to be these important qualities lose their effectiveness.

The applications that exist today largely fit in the realm of goal/task management and planners. This …

Recreation Displacement Of Bass Fishermen From Central Coast Lakes, Erin Gray

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

The purpose of this study was to assess the impacts of aquatic invasive species preventative measures on recreation displacement of bass fishermen from Central Coast lakes. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to participants at a local bass fishing tournament. Thirty-six respondents completed the questionnaire. The results indicated that boat inspection procedures do not necessarily cause bass fishermen to displace. This study found that fishermen are likely to avoid recreating at a Central Coast lake in fishing practice conditions rather than in tournament conditions, and are likely to avoid tournaments at their least favorite lake if boat inspection procedures take too …

Satisfaction And Importance Ratings Of Individuals Who Attended Oktapitfest At Tap It Brewing Co. In San Luis Obispo, California, Carrie Nasby

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Special events and festivals, within the past few decades, have become increasingly popular. Now, more than ever, there is a desire and need for new companies to emerge into the industry in order to offer special events and lifelong memories to attendees. On October 9, 2011, Tap It Brewing CO, in San Luis Obispo, California, launched their first annual OkTapItfest event. The purpose of this study was to assess attendee satisfaction and the opinion of importance of event characteristics of the OkTapItfest at Tap It Brewing CO. The data collected from this study indicated that the 31 subjects were dissatisfied …

Improving Flavor Of Slo: Volunteer Engagement, Motivation, And Goal Setting In Event Planning, Kendall Ann Young

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

The Development Of An Online Interactive Resource For Enhancing Motivation In Swimmers, Richard Judson Clark

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

The Development of an Online Interactive Resource for Enhancing Motivation in Swimmers

Richard Judson Clark

Research pertaining to motivation in athletics and the link that it has to continued participation in sport is widespread. Despite the resources available, adolescents continue to drop out of sports at alarming rates. The purpose of this project was to create an online tool and resource center to enhance motivation in swimmers that participate in a year-round swim program in San Luis Obispo, California. The development of the site http://athletenet.net was created based on research linked to the Self-Determination, Cognitive …

Faking Altruism: The True Nature Of Giving, Kristina L. Barker

Communication Studies

I want to see if students are capable of donating to charities. I have picked the American Red Cross to donate to and in support of helping the disaster in Japan. This is a huge effort publicly and students have seen the destruction on a daily basis. I want to see how much students are willing to donate and if different selling strategies make a difference on donations. I will be promoting sunglasses as a gift incentive for donations, with each pair raising $3.60 towards relief efforts. I will be selling the incentives in-group settings and to individual students on …

Assessment Of Readjusting To Life After Completing A Thru-Hike Of The Appalachian Trail, Benjamin Turley

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Hundreds of individuals hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail each year. Research on place attachment and culture shock served as a basis for this study. Ten phone interviews were conducted during winter of 2011 interviewing hikers from 2009 or 2010. Results indicated that thru-hikers have difficulty with communicating the experience, new routines/structure, meeting social expectations, and loss of community during readjustment. Character development, an increased sense of confidence, and change in personal care, were all life changes from the AT. Hikers miss being outside, the physical exertion, the community of the trail, and the simplicity of life. It …

Factors That Influence Cal Poly Students' Decision To Attend Sporting Events And Theatrical Performances, Meghan Hudson

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Research shows the main factors that influence student attendance to performances are social status, motivation, and perception of time, whereas the main factors for attending sport games are team identification and social networking. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence Cal Poly students’ decision in attending sporting games versus attending performances at the Performing Arts Center. The researcher collected data from 250 students in nine classrooms during Cal Poly’s Spring Quarter. This study found that students claim to more frequently attend games and have a higher interest in attending games than performances. Social networking was …

Central Coast Wrestling Clinics, Chase Pami

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Pre-Game Rhetoric: Pure Motivation Or Simply Show?, Sam Alan Hettinger

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Motivations For Camp Staff To Work At Camp, Jessica M. Cresci

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Camp staff are the heart of summer camps and can affect how the summer runs. The purpose of this study was to identify the motivations for staff to work at residential summer camps with special regard to any differences in motivations between staff who attended camp as a camper and staff who never attended camp as well as between international and national staff. This study used cluster sampling measuring 21 possible motivations. A link to an online survey was sent to eight camps as identified on the American Camp Association website. The top six motivations for staff to work at …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Female Surfers: Recreation Specialization, Motivations, And Perspectives, Tiyanya Anna Nourbakhsh

Master's Theses

This current study utilized recreation specialization and leisure motivation theory to explore the meanings, perspectives, and behaviors among female surfers. Despite numerous studies previously published regarding recreation specialization and leisure motivation related to activity participation, little research has been conducted on the activity of surfing from a female perspective. Data for this study were collected using in-depth, semi- structured interviews of nine women surfers from the California Central Coast. Content analyses of the data involved coding and identifying key themes, patterns, and categories. The dominant themes significant within recreation specialization included past participation (e.g., preceding activities to eventual participation and …