Digital Commons Network^™

Affect And Marital Adjustment In Women’S Rating Of Dyspareunic Pain, Marta Meana, Irv Binik, Sainir Khalife, Deborah Cohen

Psychology Faculty Research

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent to which depressive symptomatology, anxiety, and marital adjustment mediate pain ratings in women suffering from dyspareunia.

METHOD: Seventy-six women with dyspareunia were administered the depression and anxiety scales of Derogatis's Brief Symptom Inventory and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. They also underwent a manual-visual gynecological examination, an ultrasound, and a colposcopy in an attempt to identify potential evidence and type of organicity.

RESULTS: Depressive symptomatology, anxiety, and marital adjustment together accounted for a significant amount of the variance in pain ratings, although only anxiety and marital adjustment were independent predictors of pain ratings in the entire …

Unlv Magazine, Barbara Cloud

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: An Analysis Of The Boulevard Mall, Kenneth Mac Leod

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Many case studies have been published that report a decrease in crime as a result of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Although methodologies and results of some studies have been questioned, there is agreement that the designed environment can influence human behavior.

Data in this study were accumulated by the investigation of a local mall. Mall management and head of security reported a decrease in all types of crime after improving and adding security measures for customers and store employees. My hypothesis was the mall provided a high number of CPTED features which would result in a low number …

Use Of Leadership Practices By The Managers And Their Impact On The Job Satisfaction Of Employees In The Hotel Industry, Jasvir Singh

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the differences, if any, between leadership practices used by hotel managers and the perceptions of those leadership practices by employees relative to their job satisfaction. Differences in perception of leadership practices were measured using two identical instruments--one for managers, and the other for their employees. Employees' overall job satisfaction was measured using an additional instrument. Data were collected from 26 managers and 294 employees at five participating non-gaming hotel properties in Las Vegas, Nevada. Five research questions along with two hypotheses were tested. The finding of this study indicated that employees' …

Unlv College Of Education Multicultural & Diversity Newsletter, Steve Mccafferty, John Filler, Nancy P. Gallavan, Le Ann Putney, Kyle Higgins, Porter Troutman, Stanley Zehm, Cyndi Giorgis, Jack Starr, Sheila Gregory, Joyce Nelson-Leaf

College of Education Multicultural & Diversity Newsletter

The workshop sponsored by the College of Education Multicultural & Diversity Committee on Friday January 16, 1998 was attended by approximately 40 faculty members and students from the College of Education. Dr. Gary Howard from the REACH Center (Respecting Ethnic And Cultural Heritage) located in Seattle, Washington provided an excellent three-hour workshop that asked attendees to ponder various dimensions of multicultural and global education. Dr. Howard provided information designed to facilitate the development of positive leadership skills for the implementation of cultural awareness and valuing diversity strategies in the classes in which the attendees teach---whether that be at a university …

An Analysis Of The Causes And Consequences Of Urban Sprawl On The Las Vegas Valley, Robert R Schmidt

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Sprawl, as an urban form, has been vociferously attacked by some social scientists as an inefficient and ineffective form urban form which contributes (if not directly causes) to a variety of social ills, it has been embraced by other social scientists as a positive force in today's urban form. This paper examines the two major theoretical approaches to the causes and consequences of sprawl by conducting a case study of the impact of sprawl on the Las Vegas community. validity of the major arguments for and against sprawl will be evaluated in the context of the empirical evidence available today. …

Learning To Teach Literacy: A Beginning Kindergarten Teacher's Developing Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Marla H Mallette

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study focused on the learning to teach process of a beginning kindergarten teacher in the area of literacy through the investigation of her pedagogical content knowledge. Shulman (1986) described pedagogical content knowledge as "the ways of representing and formulating the subject that make it comprehensible to others" (p. 9). The purpose of the study was to explore how this teacher transformed her knowledge of literacy into pedagogy for the diverse students she taught. The participant in this study, Nancy Green, was a white female, aged, 43 with two children. Data were collected using multiple data sources including interviews, observations, …

Critical Multiculturalism In The Classroom: From Theory To Practice, Denise Michelle Dalaimo

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Since Paulo Freire's (1970) revolutionary work Pedagogy of the Oppressed, "radical" (critical/feminist/multicultural) educators have endeavored to change the face of education by altering traditional power relations and by including the work and experiences of previously under- or unrepresented groups. Research to date in the field of radical pedagogy has been largely focused on and performed in the small and intimate classroom. Many of the approaches and techniques proposed by radical educators---though effective in smaller classes---are difficult to implement in the larger, more impersonal classroom which is becoming more and more prevalent in contemporary higher education. This research has been largely …

Neighborhood Councils: A Family-Driven Approach To Community Change, Merlinda Raquel Gallegos

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Following times of social upheavals, especially when social tensions exist in ethnically diverse and lower class neighborhoods, the U.S. government has provided increased aid to the poor, and new community-based initiatives have emerged. This dissertation focuses on Nevada's neighborhood-based, community-driven, collaborative approach to providing services in low-income areas: Family Resource Centers. The purpose of this exploratory study is to develop strategies which will increase community participation in Nevada's Family Resource Centers' neighborhood councils; After two years of participant observation and the use of focus groups in four neighborhood councils, seven dimensions emerged concerning strategies to increase voluntary participation in neighborhood …

Nhetoric: Rhetorical Power In Cyberspace, David Paul Schulz

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Alpha group is a faction of the white supremacy movement that has established a virtual presence in cyberspace. Rhetorical strategies of agitation are practiced by the Alpha group on the World Wide Web in an effort to encourage visiting avatars to join the white supremacy movement. This study explores the rhetorical strategies of power and promulgation which Alpha uses in cyberspace. Analysis of Alpha's digital discourse provide an opportunity to understand and evaluate the unique potentials that information technologies such as the World Wide Web bring to the rhetorical environment.

Philosophical Foundations, Social Power And Social Work Practice, Timothy Duane Hamilton

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The contemporary philosophical landscape, which affects the fields of philosophical endeavor and the ways power is framed, is described. The covert manner these influences effect social work practice is made more visible through the use of ethically oriented decision making patterns; Ways that authority and discretion are used and abused, and abusive decision-making, are described making them easier to recognize and mitigate. Knowledge of current and potential ways that social power operates provides social workers tools in promoting the goals of empowerment and uncovering and enhancing clients' strengths; Finally, a public sphere within which a reflective social work practice could …

Beat Sociology: Ethnographic Journeys In Event Spaces, Jonathan R Wynn

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Beat Sociology: Ethnographic Journeys in Event Spaces proposes a new theory and methodology for Sociology to better investigate and describe the social experiences of individuals. I call this new set of theories and methodologies Beat Sociology--I have developed this project utilizing the work of Beat writers (Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs), as well as social theorists (particularly Walter Benjamin and C. Wright Mills). Drawing from critical theory, postmodernism and ethnography, I develop three central 'themes' that help facilitate my project: identity, space, and migrancy. Through auto-ethnography I explore three types of Las Vegas spaces: event spaces, casino spaces and Fremont Street. …

The Adventures Of Gi Jane: Women In The Military, Jennifer Amy Schneider

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Many women in the United States are living in a paradox. While changes in the American culture have led to significant improvements in women's lives, they still are frequently exposed to discriminatory policies and actions. This study examines the United States military, which is a specific institution that embodies this paradox. While the military offers women certain opportunities, such as a college education, travel and adventure, it is still steeped in male domination and gender discrimination. Using a review of secondary sources, this study explores the discourses relating to power, gender and sexuality in the military, which form the basis …

Pawns Of Fate: Chinese/Paiute Intercultural Marriages, 1860-1920, Walker River Reservation, Schurz, Nevada, Ruth Kretzler Billhimer

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis focuses on "intercultural" marriages between Chinese immigrant men and Northern Paiute women who lived on or around the Walker River Reservation between 1860 and 1920, the years in which census manuscript records have been made public. Because of federal, state, and local laws, Chinese men sometimes sought marriage partners among Native American women because these relationships were not banned by law. Based upon federal, state, and local archives, census data, and oral interviews of descendants of Northern Paiute and Chinese "marriages," some insight into the reasons for these marriages have been ascertained from the perspective of descendants presently …

The Symbionese Liberation Army Movement: An Historical, Theoretical, And Rhetorical Analysis, Crystal Joy Cox

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

To understand the social movement of the Symbionese Liberation Army, one must examine the history, theories, and rhetoric of the organization. The extremist foundation of the Symbionese Liberation Army is directly reflected in the organizations communiques, inner-group dynamics, and actions. Like most of the social movements before it, the Symbionese Liberation Army recognized the importance of media utilization. Without the media coverage the organization needed and desired, the Symbionese Liberation Army could not have gained the popularity and power it sustained throughout the duration of the organization's movement. This study will examine the movement of the Symbionese Liberation Army in …

The Ethics Of The Aids-Afflicted Physician: The Death Of Voluntary Compliance, William R Kerney

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This argument will examine the ethical issues, policies, and controversy surrounding the AIDS afflicted health care worker, especially the HIV positive Physician/Surgeon. The discussion encompasses evaluation of rights of the individual, natural and otherwise, with focus on the rights of confidentiality, privacy, and disability rights and related laws that pertain to afflicted individuals. The discussion will examine the ethical responsibilities of the HIV positive health care worker within the medical practice, along with issues of the patient rights of informed consent, institutional responsibility, and the policy positions of professional associations representing afflicted individuals. Protective legislation for victims of communicable disease …

The Impact Of Foreign Aid On Voting Inside The United Nations, Daniel Shayne Morey

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to determine if there is a connection between United States foreign aid donations and a recipient nation's voting patterns in the United Nations General Assembly. Tests in the past have not employed thorough methodologies to deal with the abundance of variables that influence a nation's voting behavior. The methodology created in this research focuses on three important conceptualizations. First, this work creates a new definition of foreign aid; specifically, the inclusion of military aid in a nation's aid package as well as loans and grants, despite their different characteristics. Second, this analysis considers only …

Propaganda Or Persuasion: The Communist Party And Its Campaign To Integrate Baseball, Martha Mcardell Shoemaker

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis discusses whether propaganda, persuasion or a mix of both was used in the American Communist Party's (CPUSA) campaign to integrate professional baseball. Representative articles published in the Daily and Sunday Worker sports sections from 1936 through 1947 were chosen for examination and analysis. Specifically, the use of "god," "devil," and "charismatic" terms are identified and discussed how the terms were used to educate, motivate, and activate members to participate. The use of "charismatic" terms is also examined in relationship to "Aesopian" language. The author concludes that a mix of propaganda and persuasion was used because intent of the …

Public Participation Program Development: An Analysis Of Public Participation In The Water Industry, Marcia Lynne Holmberg

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The field of public participation is a distinct, but yet unpolished facet within the public relations industry. While the purpose of and need for public participation are becoming increasingly clear, many remain unaware or unconvinced of its advantages. Likewise, even among those who endorse the necessity of public participation, its methods and strategies continue to be a mystery to most.

One industry, in particular, that has recognized and embraced the benefits of conducting public participation is the water utility industry. The purpose of this thesis is to 1) crystallize the understanding of why public participation is a necessary and advantageous …

Unlv Magazine, Barbara Cloud, Laurie Fruth

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Teenage Pregnancy: Correlates Of Sexual Behavior And Overview Of Prevention, Intervention, And Local Programs, Janice Rollins Monteiro

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

It is doubtful that any woman who has become pregnant and delivered a child did not experience some level of anxiety or frustration. It is also not likely that these women did not have anything else occurring simultaneously in their lives, such as work, social, and family commitments. Pregnancy and the expectancy of bringing a new life into the world inherently carry a certain amount of stress and uncertainty. Finding oneself in this situation has an incredible impact when a young woman has perhaps not even fully developed herself, and is faced with the challenge of raising a child.

Voices Of Three African American Female College Presidents: A Qualitative Study Of Their Journeys, Maria Teresa Alves Williams

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

There are many prevailing myths that have influenced society's perception of Black women. As a result, a tradition of negativity surrounds African American women in American society. It is these "negative perceptions and misinterpretation of African American women's behavior that found its way into colleges and universities" (Myers, 1991, p. 9). Unlike White women, and Black men, Black women in academe experience double jeopardy; race and gender biases (Gregory, 1995; Myers, 2002). Research on Black women has found that they are concentrated at the lowest academic ranks, non-tenured, paid less than their male and White female counterparts, and promoted at …

The Impact Of A Substance Abuse Prevention Program: An Evaluation, Julie Ann Hogan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study tests the theory of risk and protective factors. The risk and protective theory suggests that substance abuse prevention programs, in order to be effective, must decrease risk factors and increase protective factors for youth. Seventeen risk and protective factors are identified in the literature and are tested in this study; To determine the degree to which this theory applies to prevention programming, this study evaluates the effectiveness of a substance abuse prevention program entitled the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP). NYSP is a nationally sponsored summer youth and academic program that includes a prevention education component. Three hundred …

Crime And Its Relationship To The University Medical Center, Paul D Shapiro

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the relationship between crime and violence and the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. An investigation was conducted to determine how crime and violence affects the medical center from an economic, security, staff and organizational response perspective; Nursing staff and security officer interviews, supplemented with security department incident reports, suggest a perception problem exists. Nurses interviewed believe a major cost of crime and violence at the medical center is the perceived threat to their personal safety by gang members and patients under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Security officer interviews and data from incident reports suggest …

Defying The Odds: The Christian Coalition In The Life Cycle Of The Religious Right, Kathleen S Espin

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

According to the established theories on the life cycle of social movements, the Maintenance Stage of a movement is a critical time that marks a crossroads. One path leads to victory and the other to oblivion. The odds are strongly against victory for any social movement because the bureaucratic necessities for long-term maintenance of a movement siphon off spontaneity, excitement, and "esprit de corps." Few social movements are totally successful and many are absorbed or cooped by established institutions. This study examines how the Religious Right, under the leadership of the Christian Coalition, has defied the odds and has become …

Feminist Theory: Gender, Race And Recidivism, Amie M Shuck

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Feminists and women of color have criticized criminological theories for being developed by white middle-class men to explain white male delinquency, and thus, are limited in their understanding of crime and deviance within a gender or racial context. The purpose of this study is to use a series of logistic regression models to evaluate this assertion regarding criminological 'theories' of recidivism. The results indicate that there are substantive differences in statistically significant coefficients, models explanatory power, and percent improvement in models ability to correctly classify recidivists between gender, race and gender/race models. These findings suggest that further research should be …

The Relationship Between Media Exposure, Personal Experience And Education On The Public's Perceptions Of People With Disabilities: A Correlational Study, Melissa Lynn Reichley

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Relationship Between Media Exposure, Personal Experience and Education on the Public's Perceptions of Disabilities seeks to determine whether there is any correlation between people's opinions about people with disabilities (PWDs), and their media consumption, education, and experience or contact with PWDs. The author compares such perceptions between respondents with and without disabilities. While research suggests nondisabled people view people with disabilities to varying degrees of negativity depending on the level and type of disability and accompanying social stigma attached, this researcher questions whether frequency of media exposure is having a positive influence on media consumers' perceptions of PWDs (which …

The Credibility Of News Photography In The Digital Age, Mara Evonne Vernon

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Photographers have been manipulating photographs since photography's invention, but digital imaging technology presents photographers with unlimited possibilities. Digital imaging technology allows both simple and complex manipulations to be completed easily and quickly, unlike traditional techniques that are both difficult and time consuming. Additionally, detecting digital manipulation is virtually impossible, jeopardizing photography's referent to the original scene captured through the lens of a photographer's camera; A review of the literature demonstrated a need for research in relation to the media consumer because prior research focused on media practitioners and their tolerance or intolerance for digital manipulation practices. This thesis explores the …

An Ethnography Of Homeless Men In Las Vegas, Kurt B Borchard

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Most recent research on homeless men (1) uses quantitative methods, (2) frequently blames homeless men for being homeless, and (3) does not consider the different meanings different groups assign to homelessness. These studies cannot address (1) the usefulness of other methods in studying homelessness, (2) what other factors beyond personal problems may contribute to homelessness, and (3) how different groups in different locales view the condition; In this dissertation I use qualitative methods first to think about the popular meanings of male homelessness in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the late 1990s, and second, to consider the meanings that local homeless …

Visual Surveillance: Contemporary Sociological Issues, Christopher Taylor

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The topic of this dissertation is visual surveillance. The research addresses two aspects of surveillance in the social world. First, how surveillance cameras oversee people and activities in social space, and second, how the individuals and technology of surveillance are organized. The introduction describes the recent proliferation of surveillance. The literature review describes what I call the six sociological tenets of visual surveillance. The methodology describes the qualitative techniques used in this research, including the issues and problems encountered in studying secret organizations. The results of interviews and interactions are presented as an ethnographic narrative that describes: a history of …