Digital Commons Network^™

Performance Management And Performance: The Mediating Role Of Engagement, Mina Luong

Master's Theses

Organizations have been using performance management (PM) systems to improve performance and productivity. However, given the ineffectiveness of the PM systems currently in use, it has been suggested that PM systems be redesigned to make employee engagement a key determinant of performance. By adapting Gruman and Saks' (2011) engagement management model, this study examined the relationships among the factors that drive engagement, engagement, and performance. Specifically, engagement was examined as a hypothesized mediator of the relationship between the drivers of engagement (goal setting, job resources, and recognition, feedback, and fairness) and performance among employees in the healthcare industry. Results showed …

Mental Arithmetic Across Three Language Groups, Tianyu Luo

Master's Theses

Mental arithmetic performance was investigated among three language groups (English monolinguals, Chinese-English bilinguals, and Spanish-English bilinguals). Participants solved both small and large numerosity arithmetic problems in addition and multiplication and reported their solution strategies. All groups performed better in small problems than in large ones and better in addition than in multiplication, especially for a large size set. The results revealed all three groups performed equally well in solving problems correctly. Spanish-English bilinguals were equivalent to their English monolingual peers. However, Chinese-English bilinguals outperformed the other two groups in solution speed, especially when problems consisted of large numbers. No group …

An Exploratory Study On The Relationship Between Creativity, Religion, And Religiosity, Kim-Lien Thi Nguyen

Master's Theses

Religiosity and religion are often said to be negative influences on one's creativity level. Creativity and religiosity have been looked at as a single dimension, which is a simplistic view. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between creativity and religiosity using scales that measure each construct multidimensionally. Religiosity was measured by one's level of inclusion of transcendent reality and symbolic interpretation of religious content. Creativity was evaluated in terms of fluency, originality, elaboration, abstractness, and resistance to premature closure. It was predicted that participants who exhibit high inclusion of transcendence and literal interpretation of religious content …

The Effects Of Self-Monitoring On The Facebook User Experience, Pamela Eden Ong

Master's Theses

Self-monitoring, or the individual differences in the extent to which people observe, regulate, and control their public appearances, has been studied in a variety of face-to-face domains such as friendships, romantic relationships, and work and organizational settings. The purpose of this study was to assess whether high and low self-monitors construct their identities on an online social networking site, such as Facebook, in ways that are consistent with their self-monitoring preferences for the face-to-face world. Social networking sites allow individuals to have members of all of their social networks present in a common setting at any particular time. This may …

Program Directors' Perceptions Of Quality In Nata-Accredited Post-Professional Athletic Training Education Programs, Joshua Pendleton

Master's Theses

The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) is a member organization that oversees the health care profession of certified athletic trainers. A large body of research focused on the structure and content of curriculum for undergraduate programs has played a prominent role in the increase in their quantity and quality. Although attention has been called to graduate-level athletic-training education programs, there is currently a lack of research focused on NATA-accredited post-professional athletic training education programs (PPATEPs).

Using qualitative analysis, program directors' perceptions of quality in these NATA-accredited PPATEPs was assessed. In-depth phone interviews were conducted regarding topics such at the accreditation …

The Use Of Web 2.0 Technologies In Archives: Developing Exemplary Practice For Use By Archival Practitioners, Collin Thorman

Master's Theses

Web 2.0 technologies have fundamentally changed the way in which people interact and find information online. Archives are attempting to utilize Web 2.0 technologies to reach new users and promote their collections, but many have implemented these technologies without a full understanding of how to use them appropriately. Research has been conducted concerning libraries implementing Web 2.0 technologies, but much of the research involving archives has consisted of anecdotal evidence and is limited in scope. This research fills that gap by gathering data on the use of many different technologies by different kinds of archives around the globe.

Using surveys …

If Not Here, Then Where?: An Investigation Of Faith In The Public Speaking Classroom, Mary Anne Sunseri

Master's Theses

Scholarly research suggests that faith and spirituality are relevant topics of conversation in colleges, but some argue that the separation of church and state inhibits the inclusion of discussions of faith and spirituality in the classrooms of secular education institutions. Such a disconnect might communicate that a person's spirituality and system of values have no place in the academic classroom or in an ethical circumstance. The purpose of this research was to enter into discussion with the instructors of undergraduate public speaking classes to discern whether and how they navigate communication about faith in their classrooms. It is crucial for …

Mood Management And Video-Game Engagement: The Importance Of User-Experience And Gender In Assessing The Psychological Effects Of Video-Game Play, Crystine Serrone

Master's Theses

The overall purpose of this thesis was to investigate the psychological effects of video-game play. The two central goals were to (a) compare and contrast three classic media theories (Mood Management Theory, The Catharsis Hypothesis, and Excitation-Transfer Theory) as they apply to the effects of video-game play, and (b) investigate the importance of user-experience variables and gender in predicting psychological outcomes of play. In a two-group mixed experimental design, all participants underwent a frustration/stress mood-induction procedure before playing a violent or nonviolent video-game. Questionnaires were administered both pre- and post-play to assess affect, arousal, and dominance as well as the …

Motivating Employees Through Thick And Thin: The Relationship Between Hospital Employee Aspirations And Body Mass Index, Amanda Kay Wentz

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to bridge the gap in the existing literature regarding the relationship between motivation and aspirations of obese and overweight employees. Based on data collected from 103 hospital employees, obese and overweight employees placed significantly lower importance on intrinsic aspirations than did their healthier counterparts. In addition, healthy, overweight, and obese employees all placed equal importance on extrinsic aspirations. The results of the study indicate that using intrinsic aspirations and rewards to motivate overweight and obese employees in a disease prevention program may be less effective than using an extrinsic reward system.

How Smart Is Ceqa About Climate Change? An Evaluation Of Ceqa's Greenhouse Gas Analysis, Papia Kowshal

Master's Theses

Analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is an emerging practice, which, if done correctly, could contribute significantly towards meeting California's GHG emission reduction goals set under the Global Warming Solution Act of 2006. Whether CEQA analysis is adequate in assessing climate impacts of GHG emissions has yet to be determined.

In this research, I evaluated the quality of climate change analyses in the draft environmental impact reports (DEIRs) prepared for 14 mixed-use projects in California. Results of this research indicated that CEQA analysis did not adequately include the effects of population density around …

Rhetoric Of Social Change In Documentary Film Scores: An Analysis Of The Cove, Brianna Chanel Hackley

Master's Theses

Documentary films tell the untold stories and tragedies of the world as well as reflect the filmmakers' ideologies. In this way, they are socially conscious media: they give light to the struggles and problems that exist in society, often giving voice to people who might otherwise be silenced. Documentary films are also rhetorically persuasive in that they help to organize public perception. Documentary scores are part of films' persuasiveness and help audiences to make sense of the documentary footage.

Using a form of rhetorical analysis, this thesis aims to study documentary scores to understand how they mobilize audiences around a …

Lovers And Friends: Understanding Friends With Benefits Relationships And Those Involved, Lydia Kathleen Merriam-Pigg

Master's Theses

Friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs) are defined as sexual relationships between two individuals who are friends, though they are not emotionally intimate or committed to one another. Little FWBR research has explored who is most likely to become involved in FWBRs and how personality may affect their FWB experiences. With the present study, I examined two aspects of personality that have been strongly implicated in romantic relationship choices and experiences: self-monitoring behavior and attachment styles. Further, I examined relationship closeness in FWBRs and compared the findings to literature reports of other types of relationships.

Consistent with predictions, some experiences in …

Producing Short And Long Run Projections For The Ecological Footprint, David Gordon Moore

Master's Theses

The Ecological Footprint is a useful tool for public awareness of ecological pressures and for policymakers who aim to reduce them. In order to determine the potential effects of future actions and policies, it is necessary to construct scenarios of future global conditions, both in the short-term and long-term. This study develops two alternative methods for creating Ecological Footprint scenarios: first using asymmetric changes in simple economic output (GDP) to look at short-term projections; then using widely accepted scenarios from international agencies to develop long-term projections.

Changes in GDP were found to be causal in determining changes in the Ecological …

Visual Search On A Mobile Device While Walking, Ji Jung Lim

Master's Theses

Previous studies have examined the effects of walking and user interface elements on mobile task performance, using physical target selection tasks. The current study investigated the effect of walking and user interface elements on visual search on a mobile device, isolating the effects on perceptual and cognitive processes. The effects of object size, contrast, and target location on mobile devices while walking and standing were examined. A serial visual search using "T" and "L" shapes on a mobile device, which controlled for physical target selection involvement was conducted. The results showed that walking, bigger object size, and the target position …

Documenting The Delta: Lessons Learned From Film, Charies Lee Parker

Master's Theses

California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, "the Delta," is one of the state's most important natural resources. Beginning in the mid 1800s and continuing to the present day, anthropogenic activities radically altered, and continue to affect, this ecosystem. Wetland reclamation and water projects transformed the Delta landscape from a tidal wetland into an artificially homogenous freshwater system. As a result, the health of the Delta ecosystem is in jeopardy. Experts agree that current management practices of the Delta are unsustainable; however, experts cannot agree on a viable solution.

An educational documentary film, "California Kings: Sold Down the River," was used as the …

Luminescence Studies Of Europium (Iii) - D-Glucosamine Complexes In Water, Triny Trinh Pham

Master's Theses

LUMINESCENCE STUDIES OF EUROPIUM(III) - D-GLUCOSAMINE

COMPLEXES IN WATER

by Triny Trinh Pham

Lanthanide complexation interactions measured by luminescence have become

interesting topic in recent years. Europium is a rare earth metal and the Eu(III) ion is a hard acid; when Eu(III) and a monosaccharide ligand are present, a complex may be formed. The goal is to determine the equilibrium constant KEuL between the europium ion and a D-glucosamine ligand. At 25oC and pH ~ 7.40, a physiologically important pH, adding D-glucosamine enhanced the luminescence of 0.0025 M Eu(III). As the concentration of ligand increased, the emission intensity was also …

The Role Of Language In Shaping The International Cultural Tourism Experience Of Student-Travelers, Avina Ramnani

Master's Theses

This qualitative, exploratory study sought insight into how language affects the cultural tourism experience in the international tourism context. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews of 13 student-travelers, who traveled with the San Jose State University's study-abroad programs. The analysis of the data was carried out within a socio-linguistic context using grounded theory methods. Findings indicated that travel motivations and the perception of significance of the language spoken at a destination were intimately connected. Further, the desire on the part of the student-travelers to experience the local culture affected the desire for interaction with the host population, which was in …

Effects Of A Virtually Abroad Program On Students' Cross-Cultural Competence, Emalynn Lucie Robinson

Master's Theses

A program-long, longitudinal, self-report study was conducted to assess the benefits and effects of student engagement in a five-week virtual team project, called the Virtually Abroad Program (VAP). The VAP required two or three students from each country to work together as a team on a course project. Students completed questionnaires at the start (Time 1) and end (Time 2) of the project. Study variables included culture-general knowledge, culture-specific knowledge, openness to new cultural experiences, and overall program evaluation. From Time 1 to Time 2, both types of knowledge increased significantly for the U.S. sample but not for the sample …

Low-Tech, Eye-Movement-Accessible Aac And Typical Adults, Sarah Marie Swift

Master's Theses

Low-tech, eye-gaze-accessible augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) options are important for individuals with motor impairments which result in limited voluntary movement, including many diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Available devices include EyeLink, partner-assisted scanning (PAS), and E-tran. The purpose of this study was to examine the rates of use for these devices, the user preferences related to them, and changes in rates and preferences over time. In another ongoing study component, Roman, Quach, Coggiola, and Moore (2010) investigated these devices with pairs of participants that included persons with ALS (PALS) and their communication partners. In this component, seven pairs …

Emission From O2 Gas In The Kleinman-Low Region Of The Great Nebula In Orion, Michael Denney Turner

Master's Theses

We calculated line intensities of ground-state emission from atomic ([O I]) and molecular (O₂) oxygen under various conditions of temperature (10–10⁴ K) and density (10–10⁴ cm^-3) in photodissociation regions (PDR) of molecular gas clouds, with UV flux intensity (G₀) of 10⁵. Using a magnetohydrodynamic shock model to produce profile data in a range of pre-shock velocities (5 ≤ v_s ≤ 20 km s^-1) and a range of pre-shock H and H₂ gas densities (10³–10⁵ cm^-3), we calculated line intensities for both …

Outrageous Pamphleteers: A History Of The Communication Company, 1966-1967, Evan Edwin Carlson

Master's Theses

The thesis examines the history of the Communication Company, a grassroots radical street press utilizing mimeograph technology and operating for and within the psychedelic hippie counterculture of San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District from 1967-1968. The symbiotic relationship between the Communication Company and the Diggers, a street theater and anarchist collective that became a group of de facto social workers of the Haight, is discussed, demonstrating how the Communication Company fulfilled a critical role as the Diggers' outreach and information ministry. The products of the Com/co press were also examined within the context of the American radical pamphlet tradition. By exploring the …

Thermal Modeling Of Nanosat, Dai Dinh

Master's Theses

Miniaturization of electronic components enabled small scale satellite projects, such as the CubeSat, to be used for scientific research in space. Recently a team of undergraduate and graduate students at San Jose State University (SJSU) had the opportunity to collaborate on designing and building a miniature size CubeSat with the dimensions of 10x10x10 cm3. Although the integration of compact electronics allowed sophisticated scientific experiments and missions to be carried out in space, the thermal control options for such small spacecraft were limited. For example, due to the CubeSat's small size there was no room for dedicated a radiator or insulation …

Effectiveness Of A San Francisco Bay Area Community Education Program On Reducing Home Energy Use, Ellen M. Wilkinson

Master's Theses

In order to promote the adoption of home energy reduction practices and mitigate the climate impact of the collective greenhouse gas emissions generated by consumers, it is critical to identify an effective educational approach. A community-based educational intervention model that employs norms, information, commitment, feedback, and face-to-face communication strategies was examined for its ability to motivate changes in everyday energy-use behavior in two communities compared to a control group. A follow up study was also conducted to evaluate whether behaviors adopted as a result of the intervention were long lasting, and whether the community-focused features of the intervention were motivating …

Feral Cat Management: Perceptions And Preferences (A Case Study), Rachel Lm Wilken

Master's Theses

Feral cat management is a highly debated topic. Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) programs have become increasingly popular as an alternative to eradication. Public preference about how to manage feral cats has been explored by previous authors, but no consensus has been reached. Public policy and best management practices depend in part upon public opinion on this topic. Wording of a feral cat management preference in surveys can play a role in respondent opinion. For this thesis, the researcher examined public opinion about feral cat control by surveying 298 Stanford University faculty and staff members using two different communication approaches. …

Visualizing Landslide Hazards: Methods For Empowering Communities In Guatemala Through Hazard Mapping, Patrick Burchfiel

Master's Theses

Landslides occur at a high frequency throughout the mountainous regions of Guatemala, posing an elevated risk to communities and their infrastructure. A crucial component of the analysis of landslide hazards incorporates the creation of landslide hazard or susceptibility maps. This paper's research objective had two distinct components. The first was to identify practical and effective cartographic visualization methods to deliver map-based hazard information at the community level in Guatemala. Mapping methods were evaluated for their potential effectiveness in visually communicating landslide risks to the isolated rural communities of Lake Atitlan and the town of Santiago Atitlan. The research illustrated the …

Differences And Similarities Between Female Managers And Female Entrepreneurs, Maria Cespedes

Master's Theses

Although the number of female entrepreneurs has recently increased, there is little research that has compared female managers and female entrepreneurs in their work experiences and conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the potential differences and similarities between women in management versus women in entrepreneurship regarding challenges, motivators for entry, adaptations, gender roles, and self-monitoring. Data collected from 87 women in management and entrepreneurship showed that female managers faced gender biases more than did entrepreneurs and had to choose between their professional and their personal goals when deciding to have children. Motivators for entry into entrepreneurship …

Godless Americans: How Non-Religious Persons Are Labeled As Deviant In A Religious Society, Damian M. Bramlett

Master's Theses

This research examined Atheism, Agnosticism, and secularism as forms of deviance within American society. The focus was on Atheists, because research suggests they are stigmatized and more commonly constructed as deviant in comparison to Agnostics and/or secularists. It should come as no surprise that, given the ideological dominance of monotheistic religious narratives such as Evangelical Christianity, Atheists are labeled and stigmatized in the same manner as other nonnormative groups in the United States. Today, Atheists and others who publicly reject religious "faith" are constructed in dominant media and political discourse as morally flawed and often politically illegitimate. Thirty self-identified non-religious …

Factors Influencing Athletic Training Students' Selection Of Graduate Programs, Sonja E. Askew

Master's Theses

There is no published research known to the author on factors that influence athletic training student enrollment in the graduate programs. An investigation was conducted to determine the factors influencing students' selection of graduate programs and their relationship to gender, age, and ethnicity.

Modeling Wildfire Hazard In The Western Hindu Kush-Himalayas, David Bylow

Master's Theses

Wildfire regimes are a leading driver of global environmental change affecting diverse ecosystems across the planet. The objectives of this study was to model regional wildfire potential and identify environmental, topological, and sociological factors that contribute to the ignition of regional wildfire events in the Western Hindu Kush-Himalayas. The environmental, topological, and sociological factors were used to model regional wildfire potential through multi-criteria evaluation using a method of weighted linear combination. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and geographic information systems (GIS) data were integrated to identify regional wildfire factors. Point pattern and inferential statistical analysis were used to analyze regional …

(Re)Defining < Marriage >: An Autohistoria Of An Ideograph, Robert Gutierrez

Master's Theses

This study explores as an ideograph in the law and everyday life through an analysis of private and public texts and embodied acts. The purpose of this study was to engage intersectionally as a power structure with wide-ranging influence over society to locate resistance. Utilizing rhetorical methods, this work examined archives and repertoires through an autohistoria of a queer Chicano male before the passage of Proposition 8, the California Constitutional Amendment that banned for LGBTQ couples. By exploring through metaphors and performative writing, this study constructs in the tradition of the shaman to present new possibilities for and queer theory.