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2005

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An Empirical Examination Of The Presence Of Minority Coaches In Minor League Baseball, Braden E Holcomb Jan 2005

An Empirical Examination Of The Presence Of Minority Coaches In Minor League Baseball, Braden E Holcomb

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Three research questions concerning race and the coaching staff were addressed. The first question was to determine the ratio between the race of coaches (White, Black, or Latino) and the race of the players (White, Black, or Latino). The second question was to determine if a disproportionate amount of minorities would be found at any of the three coaching positions (Manager, Hitting Coach, and Pitching Coach). The final question was to determine the coaches defensive position during their playing career, whether it was a central or peripheral position, and their current coaching position (Manager or Hitting Coach) All pitching coaches …


The Determinants Of Price Tolerance In The Casino Hotel Industry, Jangwon Cho Jan 2005

The Determinants Of Price Tolerance In The Casino Hotel Industry, Jangwon Cho

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

As a hotel industry gets competitive to a greater extent these days, attracting and retaining more guests become significant issues for the management. Guests tend to perceive intangible service on the basis of an offered price so implementing successful pricing strategy is important for managers to attract guests. Providing a loyalty program is believed to have a positive effect on retaining guests. This study investigates factors which are expected to influence price tolerance of hotel guests and compares price tolerance between two different guest groups: guests who are members of a casino loyalty program and guests who are not members; …


An Examination Of The Efficacy Of Problem Solving Skills Training For Adolescent Substance Abuse: Results Of A Pilot Study, Jennifer Dawn Karmely Jan 2005

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, …


Understanding Psychopathy And Violence: The Role Of Motivation, Jacqueline Patricia Camp Jan 2005

Understanding Psychopathy And Violence: The Role Of Motivation, Jacqueline Patricia Camp

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Psychopathy has become of considerable interest to the legal system because of its reliable association with violence. Although psychopathy is largely defined by the PCL-R, this measure has been heavily criticized (1) for inclusion of specific counts of antisocial behavior and, (2) for identifying a heterogeneous group of individuals who differ systematically in their basic personality dimensions. These criticisms have led to several questions regarding the nature of the relation between core psychopathy and violence. The present study sought to clarify the nature of the relationship between psychopathy and violence by (a) examining the unique relationship between core psychopathy and …


Training Professionals' Impressions And Opinions About Their Role In Hospitality, Valentini Kalargyrou Jan 2005

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 …


Gothic Analogues In Kay Boyle's Death Of A Man: Modernist Perspective And Political Reality, Cara A Minardi Jan 2005

Gothic Analogues In Kay Boyle's Death Of A Man: Modernist Perspective And Political Reality, Cara A Minardi

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In order to flesh out obscured meanings of Death of a Man, one must understand the political and social milieu between 1917-1936 in America and Europe. Incorporating a new historicist approach, this paper considers the social and political warnings contained in Boyle's Death of a Man. That American critics rejected Boyle's novel is evidence of American biases toward Europe during a period of American isolationism. The novel itself confronts European attitudes that in many cases were the result of The Treaty of Versailles and that led to World War II. Viewing Boyle's novel as a piece of Gothic writing overlaid …


Policy Analysis: Evaluating Theories Of The Hermeneutic Critique, Cecilea Mun Jan 2005

Policy Analysis: Evaluating Theories Of The Hermeneutic Critique, Cecilea Mun

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis evaluates three theories representing the three perspectives identified by Goktug Morcol as perspectives of the hermeneutic critique in policy analysis, while explicating the revolutionary process that the science is currently undergoing. The evaluation is focused around the question as to whether the three theories are viable alternatives to positivist theories. First, a brief history of policy analysis is presented, highlighting the conditions that contributed to the rise of the general positivist paradigm as the ideal in policy analysis. This is followed by a summary and criticisms of the general positivist paradigm. Next, summaries of Dvora Yanow's interpretive theory, …


Music As A Rhetorical Form: The Use Of Audio In "America's Most Wanted", Josette Nicole Perrone Jan 2005

Music As A Rhetorical Form: The Use Of Audio In "America's Most Wanted", Josette Nicole Perrone

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In the roughly fifty years since television programming began, the medium has gone from being a mere novelty to a major cultural force. Television is pervasive and widespread---nearly every home in America has one. It is hard to deny that because of its presence in our culture that some of its messages get through. My project is centered on the extent to which those messages affect the lives of its viewers; The purpose of the project is to examine music as a rhetorical form by analyzing a ten-minute segment of "America's Most Wanted" (AMW) on the Washington D.C. sniper case …


"You've Got Mail": Email Use In Post-Dissolutional Relationships, Michelle P Mosbacher Jan 2005

"You've Got Mail": Email Use In Post-Dissolutional Relationships, Michelle P Mosbacher

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study is an examination of the conscious motives involved with using email communication over face-to-face communication in post-dissolutional communication between former romantic partners. This project also answered specific questions regarding the nature of post-dissolutional communication. Data collected from 173 undergraduate students revealed that the ability to plan messages within an email is a conscious motive of using email communication that is not perceived in face-to-face communication, whereas the ability to save-face and avoid topics are not. Additionally, emoticons are sparingly used in post-dissolutional email communication, yet those participants who reported to use emoticons are also concerned with saving face. …


Peer Relations Among Female Delinquents: A Study Of Racial/Ethnic Differences And Violence, Jenna Rachael Silverman Jan 2005

Peer Relations Among Female Delinquents: A Study Of Racial/Ethnic Differences And Violence, Jenna Rachael Silverman

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Recent increases in violence rates among female juveniles, especially African Americans and Hispanics, have necessitated an investigation of contributors to violence. The present study examines differential aspects of peer relationships as predictors of violence among female juvenile offenders, taking racial/ethnic differences into account. Questionnaires assessing for peer relationship variables (i.e., attachment, perceptions of delinquency, involvement in peer pressure, and association with delinquent peers) and delinquent and violent behavior were administered to 136 female juvenile offenders. The results showed that high levels of peer association and extrinsic rewards from peer relationships best predicted violence among female juvenile offenders. Among Caucasians, African …


A Tough One Out There, Patryke Kim Thomas Jan 2005

A Tough One Out There, Patryke Kim Thomas

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This fictional work explores the manner the story's protagonist, Cam Madden, evolves after he decides to become a police officer. The story follows the progression from testing, being hired, completing a police academy, working the street, and promoting to detective. Circumstances during this progression shape the protagonist's persona until he changes from innocent to cynic, which affects all aspects of his life---love, work, and play. Cam's evolution is the primary backdrop, but there is another that places the elements of story, scene, and character within a historical and contemporary context and those elements against the procedure and methodology of the …


Hellfire And Damnation Through Crime Or Bliss Through Faith: A Look At Faith-Based Corrections, Gregory Paul Warren Wuthrich Jan 2005

Hellfire And Damnation Through Crime Or Bliss Through Faith: A Look At Faith-Based Corrections, Gregory Paul Warren Wuthrich

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The latest movement in trying to combat the U.S. crime problem is through "faith-based" corrections. These programs are in the infancy stages and minimal data are present at this time to illustrate true effectiveness of such programs. This study is a theoretical evaluation of such programs and incorporates a framework from Gary LaFree (1988). Results indicate that "faith-based" programs tend to be one dimensional and in order for them to work properly they must be set up in conjunction with other institutional changes. Often other theories can incorporate the dimension of religion, yet religion alone, such as through "faith-based" programs, …


Embodied Language Performance: Mediational Affordances Of Dramatic Activity For Second Language Learning, John Richard Haught Jan 2005

Embodied Language Performance: Mediational Affordances Of Dramatic Activity For Second Language Learning, John Richard Haught

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the unique mediational affordances a drama based approach to second language learning provides. From the perspective of Sociocultural theory, the nature of learning is greatly determined by the mediational means employed and this study revealed the importance of modeling and imitation and multiple perspective taking that arose from the recursive process of rehearsal to be instrumental in the students' understanding and growing mastery of English. This recursion process occurs within instructional conversations which serve to level the relations of power between teacher and learner, resulting in a more authentic learning environment. In short, drama introduces alterity …


Identifying The Characteristics Of And Quality Indicators For Associate Degree Culinary Arts Programs: A Survey Of Educators And Industry, Jean Louise Hertzman Jan 2005

Identifying The Characteristics Of And Quality Indicators For Associate Degree Culinary Arts Programs: A Survey Of Educators And Industry, Jean Louise Hertzman

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Since 1981, the number of associate degree culinary arts programs in the United States increased from four to 261. Little academic literature exists about these programs and their diversity makes clear comparisons of culinary programs difficult. This study addresses the research question: What are the common characteristics of associate degree culinary arts programs and to what extent can each of these characteristics be used as indicators for evaluating the quality of the programs?;The researcher performed content analysis of 232 associate degree culinary arts program requirements worksheets to determine the typical curriculum. She analyzed information from guidebooks and websites to develop …


The Influence Of Self-Efficacy And Working Memory Capacity On Problem Solving Efficiency, Bobby H Hoffman Jan 2005

The Influence Of Self-Efficacy And Working Memory Capacity On Problem Solving Efficiency, Bobby H Hoffman

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The study investigated the influence of self-efficacy beliefs, working memory capacity and problem complexity on problem solving performance, response time, and problem solving efficiency. Previous research investigated these factors from an absolute performance perspective, but not from the perspective of efficiency, defined as the ratio of problem-solving accuracy over time; Students completed an operational span working memory task, rated their self-efficacy for solving multiplication problems without the use of paper or calculation aids, and then solved computer-based cognitive multiplication problems, under conditions of varying complexity. Two competing hypotheses were proposed, which state that the efficiency of problem solving is either …


Brief Therapy For Traumatized Children, Lisa Marie Linning Jan 2005

Brief Therapy For Traumatized Children, Lisa Marie Linning

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Traumatic child maltreatment can negatively impact every developmental domain of a child, when left untreated. Thus, child psychologists have recognized a critical need for treatment and prevention strategies to circumvent the negative trajectories that can develop after traumatic events. Brief Therapy for Traumatized Children (BTTC) was developed to treat traumatized youth in shelter care. Treatment components included psychoeducation, building effective coping strategies, boundary setting, anxiety management skills, challenging cognitive distortions, development of trauma narrative and journaling. One hundred-forty-seven participants from a children's shelter in Las Vegas, NV, aged 12--17 years, were voluntarily recruited and assessed for trauma symptoms. Data from …


Cognitive Heterogeneity In Murderers, Erin Warnick Jan 2005

Cognitive Heterogeneity In Murderers, Erin Warnick

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

It has long been recognized that damage to one or more brain regions can produce antisocial and aggressive behavior. Unfortunately, however, attempts to develop a replicable neurocognitive profile that characterize serious forms of criminality have been relatively unsuccessful. Evidence of cognitive heterogeneity in violent offender populations may indicate different biobehavioral subtypes underling this complex multidetermined behavior. These subtypes may interact with other clinical and environmental vulnerabilities. In the current study, cluster analytic techniques were applied to a sample of 55 homicide offenders. Using select Halstead-Reitan and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) variables four distinct cognitive clusters were derived and externally …


Estimating The Effects Of September 11 On Las Vegas Strip Gaming Volume, David Eisendrath Jan 2005

Estimating The Effects Of September 11 On Las Vegas Strip Gaming Volume, David Eisendrath

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This paper examines the decrease in gross gaming volume, specifically slot machine coin-in, on the Las Vegas Strip resulting from the events of September 11, 2001. An intervention analysis based on a seasonal ARIMA model was developed from Nevada Gaming Control Board slot machine coin-in data analyzed from January 1990 to November 2004. The findings revealed that the Strip experienced an abrupt decline in gaming volume lasting five months. Although a quick recovery ensued, residual effects lasted approximately two years. In spite of the uniqueness of the events of September 11, this study should help managers in their response to …


Applications Of Sensors For In-Home Elder Support, Kofi Baffour Asare Cobbinah Jan 2005

Applications Of Sensors For In-Home Elder Support, Kofi Baffour Asare Cobbinah

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The number of retirees in the US is continuously increasing in proportion to the total population as the baby-boomers in the United States age. As these retirees age they are in need on continuous medical treatment and care which impacts the percent of the national budget placed on healthcare. As healthcare issues with the retirees they are often moved by their family members to assisted living facilities or to nursing homes. This movement is costly to both the family members and to the government agencies paying for or subsidizing their care. The proposal brought forth in this thesis is to …


The Dynamics Of Nonviolence In The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, Michael Doc Howard Jan 2005

The Dynamics Of Nonviolence In The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, Michael Doc Howard

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Palestinian/Israeli conflict is one of the most challenging political puzzles of the modern era. Although this is a bold assertion, the influence of this one conflict on the politics of the Middle Eastern region and on the politics of the new millennium is overwhelming. Hence, figuring out how to solve the puzzle, or more realistically, contributing to movements towards a resolution is paramount. This thesis seeks to assist in the scholarship dedicated to achieving this end. It does so from a unique perspective; The thesis contends through a normative argument that a shift in Palestinian strategy, from violence to …


Identifying Low-Carb Dieter's Characteristics And Their Diet Practices During Business Travels, So Jung Lee Jan 2005

Identifying Low-Carb Dieter's Characteristics And Their Diet Practices During Business Travels, So Jung Lee

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The low carbohydrate diet phenomenon has recently evolved to such an extent that there is now extensive consumer demand for carbohydrate conscious dining options. The power of the recent movement is impacting all facets of the hospitality industry including restaurants, hotels, airlines and conventions. The purpose of this study is to identify business travelers' low carbohydrate diet practices and to understand their experiences with low-carbohydrate menus during business trips; This research identified low-carb dieters' characteristics and their diet practices during business trips. Results indicated that, compared to other dieters, low-carb dieters are older, more likely to be overweight or obese, …


Development Of An Instrument Designed To Measure Student Perception Of School Connectedness, Nicole Jennifer Smith Jan 2005

Development Of An Instrument Designed To Measure Student Perception Of School Connectedness, Nicole Jennifer Smith

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to design and validate an instrument to measure student perception of school connectedness. The intended use for this instrument was to evaluate school-based health interventions such as "Planned Approach to Healthier Schools" (PATHS; Lounsbery, Gast, & Smith, 2005), and to potentially examine other important correlates of student perception of school connectedness, such as attendance in school, referral rates, as well as school drop out and graduation. The development of the instrument included a series of steps which comprised (a) identification of a purpose, (b) specification of an underlying theory, (c) item development, (d) content …


Sociability And "Survivor", Shelley Elizabeth Wilkerson Jan 2005

Sociability And "Survivor", Shelley Elizabeth Wilkerson

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Reality television, and the program Survivor in particular, have quickly become a powerful social force in Europe and America. The author explored the possibility that Survivor audience members use and obtain gratifications from the program that increases, or enhances, their sociability. Uses and Gratifications Media Theory was used to determine why reality programs in general are watched; Results indicated that some viewers may use the program Survivor as a social tool, but these viewers were not necessarily non-social to begin with. Results also indicated that the reasons why viewers choose to watch reality programming are surprisingly similar across the genre.


Effects Of Attentional Focus On Kinematics And Muscle Activation Patterns As A Function Of Expertise, Tiffany L Zachry Jan 2005

Effects Of Attentional Focus On Kinematics And Muscle Activation Patterns As A Function Of Expertise, Tiffany L Zachry

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

It has been demonstrated that for motor tasks, an external focus of attention can yield better results than an internal focus of attention. To be more specific, focusing on the effect of the movements seems to be more beneficial to performance and learning than focusing on the movements themselves (for a review, see Wulf & Prinz, 2001). To explain this phenomenon, Wulf, McNevin, and Shea (2001) proposed that an internal focus of attention is less effective because concentrating on the movements interferes with the motor system's attempt to naturally self-organize, the "constrained-action hypothesis." The purpose of this study was to …


Exploration Of Caregiver Satisfaction In Child Maltreatment, Alisha Marie Carpenter Jan 2005

Exploration Of Caregiver Satisfaction In Child Maltreatment, Alisha Marie Carpenter

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The importance of, and need for, a psychometrically validated instrument measuring caregiver satisfaction is delineated. More specifically, the need to assess caregiver satisfaction in a specific caregiver-child relationship within child maltreatment populations is addressed. The current study demonstrates the psychometric properties of the Caregiver Satisfaction with Maltreated Child Scale (CSMCS) within a child maltreating population. The role of caregiver-child relationship satisfaction within child maltreatment is also explored and the need to examine caregiver satisfaction with a child maltreatment population is supported. Caregiver satisfaction, as measured by the CSMCS, along with other variables evidenced to contribute to maltreatment (e.g., depression and …


Criminogenic Needs And Treatment Considerations For Inmates With Dual Diagnoses, Jennee Evans Dickens Jan 2005

Criminogenic Needs And Treatment Considerations For Inmates With Dual Diagnoses, Jennee Evans Dickens

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Individuals with both a mental illness and substance use disorder (i.e., dual diagnoses) are over represented and underserved in state prisons. Without treatment, inmates with dual diagnoses (DD) are at an increased risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including re-incarceration. Unfortunately, few prison-based treatment programs are designed to meet the special needs of these inmates, and none are empirically supported. Various researchers have stressed the importance of incorporating criminogenic needs into treatment programs to reduce recidivism. The criminogenic needs of inmates with DD have gone largely unstudied. Utilizing a bottom-up approach, the present study offered a first look at …


Enhancing Collaborative Argumentation In An Online Environment, Jennifer Dawn Golanics Jan 2005

Enhancing Collaborative Argumentation In An Online Environment, Jennifer Dawn Golanics

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Studies indicate that collaborative argumentation can aid students' understanding and improve their problem-solving skills. This study used the online environment WebCT to explore the improvement of argumentation through goal instruction. In previous studies of collaborative argumentation using WebCT, small groups of students discussed controversial questions. Some groups were given a general goal to persuade, but others were given an elaborated goal to generate reasons and evidence. The effect that the elaborated goal had compared to the general goal was analyzed. This study replicated those previous studies, with some alterations. The goal was to evaluate two interventions designed to increase argument …


An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Net-Migration To Clark County, Scott Charles Mitchell Jan 2005

An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Net-Migration To Clark County, Scott Charles Mitchell

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Clark County has experienced rapid population growth during the 1990s. The reasons for this rapid growth are a combination of proximity to other population centers, economics, quality of life, and demographic factors. Using OLS and GLS regression methods on pooled time-series county-level data between the years 1990 and 1997, several factors proved to be significantly correlated with the net-migration to Clark County. The most important factors affecting net-migration to Clark County are climate and demographics.


Positioning Analysis Of Second-Tier Convention Destinations As Perceived By Association Meeting Planners In The United States Of America, Min Sun Park Jan 2005

Positioning Analysis Of Second-Tier Convention Destinations As Perceived By Association Meeting Planners In The United States Of America, Min Sun Park

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This research examines and compares the association meeting planners' perceptions (cognitive, affective, and overall) and behavioral intentions of four selected second-tier convention destinations: Indianapolis, Nashville, Charlotte, and San Jose. The study measures both quantitative (structured) and qualitative (unstructured) perceptions to uncover perceived strengths and weaknesses of each convention city; This study can confirm that there are significant differences in the perceptions and the behavioral intentions for the four convention destinations. The findings of the study will be beneficial to both second-tier cities and association meeting planners. The second-tier cities will better understand planners' site selection criteria and perceptions, which will …


Test Preparation Strategies And Test Taking Strategies Use In Chinese High School Students, Yun Peng Jan 2005

Test Preparation Strategies And Test Taking Strategies Use In Chinese High School Students, Yun Peng

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the use of test-preparation and test-taking strategies of 429 tenth graders from a key high school in Guangzhou, China. Differences in strategy uses among low-, medium-, and high-achieving groups were determined in two subject-matter areas (Chinese language and mathematics); Instruments used for data collection were the Test Preparation Strategies Questionnaire (TPSQ) and Test Taking Strategies Questionnaire (TTSQ), which examined students' strategy use in cognitive/metacognitive, motivational/emotional, environmental management areas; Results indicated that Chinese tenth graders memorized contents more often than other strategies while preparing for tests. Students planned their course of action for test preparation and selected study …