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2008

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Prehistoric Settlement And Land Use: A Predictive Model Of The Shivwits Plateau, Northwest Arizona, Glendee Ane Osborne Jan 2008

Prehistoric Settlement And Land Use: A Predictive Model Of The Shivwits Plateau, Northwest Arizona, Glendee Ane Osborne

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this research is to develop, test, and utilize a Geographic Information Systems based predictive model of prehistoric site location and settlement for the Shivwits Plateau in northwestern Arizona to better understand settlement patterns and land use across the region from the Archaic to Protohistoric period. The GIS data are used to determine site location probability for specific temporal phases of Virgin Anasazi cultural activity. The database includes previously recorded sites, vegetation, elevation, aspect, slope, and water resources which are integrated to establish probable patterns of land use and settlement; My thesis examines two research questions. First, is …

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Comparison Of Various Methods Of Measuring Body Composition To Underwater Weighing In Adult Men And Women, Mariana Krasteva Pencheva Jan 2008

Comparison Of Various Methods Of Measuring Body Composition To Underwater Weighing In Adult Men And Women, Mariana Krasteva Pencheva

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Nine different methods of measuring body composition were compared to underwater weighing in average Caucasian adult men and women, to determine which method correlated highest with UWW. Fifty participants were tested on underwater weighing, air displacement plethysmoghraphy, Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis, ultrasound, near infrared reactance, and skinfolds---sum of 7, 4, and 3 sites; All correlations for both genders were high at the .05 level. For men the highest correlation was between UWW and the sum of 4 skinfolds at .971 and the lowest between UWW and BIA of .748. For women the highest correlation was between UWW …

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Formula For Success: How Las Vegas Became The Entertainment Capital Of The World, Scott M Pruett Jan 2008

Formula For Success: How Las Vegas Became The Entertainment Capital Of The World, Scott M Pruett

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This paper will espouse the theory that Las Vegas was able to evolve into the entertainment capital of the world by establishing itself as an island of controlled social deviance. That is to say that the city became an area of regulatory exception---one with distinct legal differences in a limited geographical area---and allowed a degree of social deviance by permitting behaviors that would be illegal in nearly any other American city. My research will show that when such an environment enables its visitors to experience extended periods of pleasurable sensory stimulation, whether the inducement be physical, psychological, or chemical, this …

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Evaluation Of Graffiti Countermeasures On Highways, Anil Kumar Puli Jan 2008

Evaluation Of Graffiti Countermeasures On Highways, Anil Kumar Puli

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Graffiti is an ever-growing problem that taints the environment. It costs over {dollar}12 billion per year to remove graffiti in the United States. Highway structures are accessible to the public at all hours of the day. So, there is much likelihood that these structures would be tagged. Bridges, sound walls, retaining walls and traffic signs are the major highway structures maintained by state DOT that are affected by graffiti. The present research is to evaluate the graffiti countermeasures for the highway structures in Nevada. In the evaluation process, an inventory data of graffiti cases on the major highway structures in …

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This History Of Small Things, Paul Sacksteder Jan 2008

This History Of Small Things, Paul Sacksteder

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The poems in this thesis seek to explore the notion of uncertainty in terms of its value as both an intellectual and political position. Uncertainty is echoed both in subject matter and form. It serves not as a tool of conservatism, but as an opportunity towards empathy and expansion in a narrowing world; Ecology also plays a prominent role in both the poetry as well as the development of uncertainty and sustainability. The poems seek to broaden conceptions of ecology by drawing often disparate objects and concepts in proximity. These poems then exist in the anxiety of trying to understand …

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The Experience Of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Phenomenological Study, Deborah Sampson Jan 2008

The Experience Of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Phenomenological Study, Deborah Sampson

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

By 1997, the number of children living in the home of a grandparent had risen to 3.9 million or 5.5 percent. The 2000 Census reports an estimated 5.9 million children live in a household maintained by a grandparent (US Census Bureau, 2000). While there are many benefits to having grandparents raise grandchildren, there are also considerable challenges, impacting the family structure, dynamics, and roles. Further, these children typically matriculate from backgrounds where they were removed from their parents out of their control. They may feel alone, act out, or become withdrawn, resulting in being at-risk for a host of other …

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A Description Of Physical Activity Opportunities At Child Care Centers In Southern Nevada, Holly A Schneider Jan 2008

A Description Of Physical Activity Opportunities At Child Care Centers In Southern Nevada, Holly A Schneider

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The increasing incidence of childhood obesity in preschool children places them at risk for related chronic health issues. Physical activity contributes to better health, and understanding physical activity opportunities for preschool children may help address the obesity epidemic. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity opportunities of 3-5 year old children in Southern Nevada. Surveys were distributed to child care centers (n=84) to determine the amount of time accumulated in structured versus unstructured play, outdoor versus indoor play, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and what equipment and facilities were available to children. Descriptive statistics …

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A Novel Rgbw Pixel For Led Displays, Neveen Shlayan Jan 2008

A Novel Rgbw Pixel For Led Displays, Neveen Shlayan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In this work, a novel pixel configuration RGBW, consisting of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) LEDs, is employed and investigated for color generation. Energy consumption and various hues of new pixels are compared to standard pixels consisting of RGB LEDs. Human perception experiments are conducted in order to study the perceptual difference between the two architectures when the same colors are generated using RGBW vs. RGB. Power measurements for an 8x8 pixel LED display has demonstrated up to 49% power savings for gray scale, over 30% power savings for low saturated colors, and up to 12% …

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Experimental Investigation Of Shock Mitigation Of Electronic Boards Within Projectile, Deepak Sankar Somasundaram Jan 2008

Experimental Investigation Of Shock Mitigation Of Electronic Boards Within Projectile, Deepak Sankar Somasundaram

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Electronic components inside a projectile are subjected to high acceleration during launch. Failure of these components, affects the performance of the projectile. The objective of the research is to better understand how shocks are transmitted to electronic boards and to investigate ways to mitigate these shocks. A projectile model is created to mimic an actual projectile. As projectiles are usually composed of threaded components, the effect of the tightening preload torque on accelerations and frequencies of components on boards is discussed. Experimental results show that increasing the tightening preload torque can ensure that projectile behaves as a single body, which …

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Framework For Simulation Of Fault Tolerant Heterogeneous Multiprocessor System-On-Chip, Bisrat Tafesse Jan 2008

Framework For Simulation Of Fault Tolerant Heterogeneous Multiprocessor System-On-Chip, Bisrat Tafesse

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Due to the ever growing requirement in high performance data computation, current Uniprocessor systems fall short of hand to meet critical real-time performance demands in (i) high throughput (ii) faster processing time (iii) low power consumption (iv) design cost and time-to-market factors and more importantly (v) fault tolerant processing. Shifting the design trend to MPSOCs is a work-around to meet these challenges. However, developing efficient fault tolerant task scheduling and mapping techniques requires optimized algorithms that consider the various scenarios in Multiprocessor environments. Several works have been done in the past few years which proposed simulation based frameworks for scheduling …

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"Lost" As An Example Of The Orphic Mysteries: A Thematic Analysis, Rachael Wax Jan 2008

"Lost" As An Example Of The Orphic Mysteries: A Thematic Analysis, Rachael Wax

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Lost is a popular television show currently aired on the ABC network. The Orphic mysteries are an intricate component to the religion of Greek Mythology. This thematic analysis will work to investigate if Lost can be interpreted as a modern application of the Orphic mysteries. It will develop a theoretical perspective of Lost based upon the Orphic mysteries by reviewing literature that will uncover possible contemporary adaptations or metaphorical connections between each artifact. In-depth research will be performed on the units of analysis: Lost's individual characters, their relationships to one another, and their similarity to the characters of the Orphic …

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Three-Dimensional Numerical Study Of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Design, Jianfei Wu Jan 2008

Three-Dimensional Numerical Study Of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Design, Jianfei Wu

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is dependent of a set of complex physical and chemical processes occurring simultaneously. Bipolar plates are important components of PEM fuel cells because they are the first stage of the flow distribution system. A non-uniform flow distribution across the active reaction area within PEM fuel cells will probably lead to an unbalanced use of the precious catalyst, and a lower overall efficiency of the device than expected. A three-dimensional numerical model has been developed to evaluate the PEM fuel cell including the current collectors, flow channels, gas diffusion layers, and membrane. This …

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Selective Disruption Of Hte Blood-Brain Barrier By Photochemical Internalization, Michelle Jie Zhang Jan 2008

Selective Disruption Of Hte Blood-Brain Barrier By Photochemical Internalization, Michelle Jie Zhang

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Failure to eradicate infiltrating glioma cells using conventional treatment regimens results in tumor recurrence and is responsible for the dismal prognosis of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This is due to the fact that migrating glioma cells are protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) which prevents the delivery of most anti-cancer agents. The overall objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of photochemical internalization (PCI) to selectively disrupt the BBB in rats. This will permit access of anti-cancer drugs to effectively target infiltrating tumor cells, and potentially improve the treatment effectiveness for malignant gliomas; PCI treatment, coupling the …

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Nitrate Ion Effects On Uranium Chemistry In The Tributylphosphate-Dodecane System, Amber Dawn Wright Jan 2008

Nitrate Ion Effects On Uranium Chemistry In The Tributylphosphate-Dodecane System, Amber Dawn Wright

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Understanding the role of nitrate in the speciation of actinides is important in order to determine the necessary data for extraction modeling of the UREX process. The focus of this project is on the fundamental chemistry of uranium (U) in the tributyl phosphate (TBP) extraction system, with emphasis on the effect of nitrate on actinyl speciation. Speciation calculations can be performed if stability and solubility constants for the chemical species formed under the examined conditions are known. The stability constant of the uranyl-TBP complex was evaluated under a variety of conditions. The variables were nitric acid, uranyl, total nitrate concentration, …

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Reactions Of Iodine And Iodate With Sphagnum Peat: An Examination Of Kinetics And Ph Dependence, Ginger Marie Kimble Jan 2008

Reactions Of Iodine And Iodate With Sphagnum Peat: An Examination Of Kinetics And Ph Dependence, Ginger Marie Kimble

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Storage of spent nuclear waste is an environmental and industrial concern that must be addressed. Iodine-129, a by-product of nuclear waste reprocessing, has a strong environmental presence with a half live of 15.7 million years. Radioactive iodine is currently immobilized by carbon-containing materials and silver impregnated materials. In this research, sphagnum peat was examined as a material to sequester iodine. Several analytical methods were used to determine the ability of sphagnum peat to sequester iodine. The kinetics of the reaction between sphagnum peat and iodine were also examined; Solid phase microextraction was used to determine the peat's ability to retain …

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A Study Of California Community College Student Retention And Persistence With Extended Opportunity Programs And Services (Eop&S), Leonard Marvin Crawford Jan 2008

A Study Of California Community College Student Retention And Persistence With Extended Opportunity Programs And Services (Eop&S), Leonard Marvin Crawford

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This research analyzed a select number of Extended Opportunities Programs and Services (EOP&S) within the California Community College system. Student perceptions and self reported attitudes were obtained through survey techniques from a select number of EOP&S programs based upon persistence trends of students from a recent four-year period. More specifically, these student trends were analyzed at three different levels of persistence, i.e., highest, median, and lowest. The respective groupings were surveyed to determine qualitative elements of EOP&S program services students associate with their persistence; The findings basically indicate that the consistent qualitative elements of programs services that EOP&S students associate …

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Techniques For Document Image Processing In Compressed Domain, Shulan Deng Jan 2008

Techniques For Document Image Processing In Compressed Domain, Shulan Deng

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The main objective for image compression is usually considered the minimization of storage space. However, as the need to frequently access images increases, it is becoming more important for people to process the compressed representation directly. In this work, the techniques that can be applied directly and efficiently to digital information encoded by a given compression algorithm are investigated. Lossless compression schemes and information processing algorithms for binary document images and text data are two closely related areas bridged together by the fast processing of coded data. The compressed domains, which have been addressed in this work, i.e., the ITU …

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Intra -Institutional Collaborations: Academic And Continuing Education Departments On Campus, Amy Lynn Hyams Jan 2008

Intra -Institutional Collaborations: Academic And Continuing Education Departments On Campus, Amy Lynn Hyams

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status and nature of intra-institutional collaborations between continuing education and academic departments at four-year, degree-granting institutions of higher education, and to identify factors that support or inhibit intra-institutional collaborations. A survey instrument was designed and distributed to 355 representatives of four-year, degree-granting institutions of the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected. One hundred surveys were returned for a return rate of approximately 30%. Overall, the respondents described a relatively positive collaborative relationship with the academic departments on their respective campuses. The respondents recognized the benefits to …

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The Determinants And Effects Of Slot Servicescape Satisfaction In A Las Vegas Casino, Anthony Frederick Lucas Jan 2008

The Determinants And Effects Of Slot Servicescape Satisfaction In A Las Vegas Casino, Anthony Frederick Lucas

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Scales representing ambient conditions, ability to navigate the slot floor, cleanliness, interior decor and seating comfort all produce a significant effect on slot servicescape satisfaction. Scales representing slot servicescape satisfaction and gaming value produce significant effects on overall satisfaction with the slot experience. Collinearity conditions prevented the measurement of staff friendliness and service promptness on overall satisfaction. Both servicescape satisfaction and overall satisfaction produce significant effects on behavioral intention variables related to loyalty and desire to remain in the casino environment. Simultaneous multiple regression analysis was used to test all one-tailed hypotheses at the .10 alpha level (n = 195); …

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The Relationship Between Gestational Pcb Exposure, Thyroid Hormones And Adhd, Vicki M Tripoli Jan 2008

The Relationship Between Gestational Pcb Exposure, Thyroid Hormones And Adhd, Vicki M Tripoli

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

PCB exposure has been associated with a reduction in circulating thyroid hormones via several different mechanisms. While thyroid hormones can influence many physiological endpoints in adults, precise concentrations during critical periods of gestation are crucial to normal development. Maternal consumption of PCB contaminated fish has been associated with developmental problems in animals and humans. Alterations of thyroid hormones is postulated to be one possible source of the developmental latencies associated with PCB exposure. Thus, this study investigated the influence of maternal thyroxine supplements in rodents exposed to a low dose of commercial PCBs; Pregnant Long-Evans rats were exposed to one …

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The Relationship Between Organizational Climate And Job Satisfaction Of Selected Urban Middle School Teachers In The Clark County School District, Ouida Mildred Brown Jan 2008

The Relationship Between Organizational Climate And Job Satisfaction Of Selected Urban Middle School Teachers In The Clark County School District, Ouida Mildred Brown

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between organizational climate and job satisfaction in the Clark County School District (Las Vegas, Nevada); The data were collected from teachers randomly selected from urban middle schools in this district. There were 19 schools involved in the study, with 15 teachers selected from each school to respond to two instruments. The Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire---Revised Secondary (OCDQ-RS) and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) were sent to 285 teachers, of which 197 were returned (70%). Demographic data were also collected from each of the respondents; There was a significant relationship found …

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Funding Sources Implementing Technology Standards In Rural Schools, Johnathan David Hawk Jan 2008

Funding Sources Implementing Technology Standards In Rural Schools, Johnathan David Hawk

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Reaching National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) in rural schools is a daunting task for any superintendent. Rural school superintendents' commonly deal with underfunded budgets to meet demands of adding computers, educational software, and other innovative technology resources. Data for this study were collected from 309 self-defined rural school superintendents. Superintendents were selected to participate because of their ability to oversee a large portion of their school districts' financial planning and spenDing Data were analyzed regarding the impact that E-rate and other technology funding sources had on the implementation and progress towards reaching NETS; Measuring the impact of different funding sources …

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On Breaking Ground: Second Language Literacy And Language Learning Through Sociocultural Practices, Ana Christina Iddings Jan 2008

On Breaking Ground: Second Language Literacy And Language Learning Through Sociocultural Practices, Ana Christina Iddings

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study was concerned with (a) how second language children actually learn as a result of their social interactions; (b) the learning trajectory of second language students from apprentice to full participation in communities of practice; and (c) how this learning influences, and is reciprocally influenced by, the social, cultural, and historical context as learners become members of community practice. These questions were investigated under the lens of sociocultural theory, which emphasizes leaning in relationship with others and with materials over time within the social context; This was a qualitative study involving genetic methodology (Vygostky, 1981) which aims to understand, …

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Critical Introductions To Pioneering Works Of Social Realism From The Early Abbey Theatre, John C Kerrigan Jan 2008

Critical Introductions To Pioneering Works Of Social Realism From The Early Abbey Theatre, John C Kerrigan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents a critical study of five dramatic works first performed at Dublin's Abbey Theatre in the early twentieth century. The plays considered here have often been called masterpieces by critics, yet they have received little serious scholarly attention and today are forgotten relics of the Abbey's past. Nonetheless, these plays---Padraic Colum's Thomas Muskerry (1910), St. John Ervine's John Ferguson (1915), T. C. Murray's Autumn Fire (1924), Lennox Robinson's The Big House (1926), and Teresa Deevy's Katie Roche (1936)---formed a backbone for the fledgling national theater. They were successful because they attracted and engaged their audiences, but furthermore they …

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Perception Of Charter School Principals On The Provisions Of Charter School Legislation, Brenda Kay Larsen-Mitchell Jan 2008

Perception Of Charter School Principals On The Provisions Of Charter School Legislation, Brenda Kay Larsen-Mitchell

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the perceptions of charter school principals regarding ten provisions relevant to charter school legislation. In addition, this study determined if differences existed between the opinion of experts and the perception of charter school principals regarding the strengths and weaknesses related to ten provisions of charter school legislation. This study assessed the perceptions of practitioners, charter school principals, regarding charter school legislation. Experts within the charter school movement ranked and critiqued various provisions of charter school legislation from their frame of reference as policy analysts. However, charter school principals confront the ramifications of charter school legislation on a …

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Minimization Of Residual Stresses In The Closure -Weld Region Of The Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters Using Induction Annealing Process, Zekai Ceylan Jan 2008

Minimization Of Residual Stresses In The Closure -Weld Region Of The Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters Using Induction Annealing Process, Zekai Ceylan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents a study of the spent nuclear fuel canisters for maximizing the compressive stress depth through the closure-weld region wall thickness. Induction coil heating technique can be used to relieve the residual stresses from the closure weld and induce a state of compression through the wall thickness. This technique involves localized heating of the material by the surrounding coils. The material is then cooled to the room temperature by quenching; A three-dimensional finite element model was developed for the canister using the sequential method. This method consisted of a sequential thermal-stress analysis where nodal temperatures from the thermal …

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Analysis Of The Application Of First Amendment Jurisprudence To University Student Fees *Policies, Christine Chairsell Jan 2008

Analysis Of The Application Of First Amendment Jurisprudence To University Student Fees *Policies, Christine Chairsell

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The allocable student activity fee represents a fee imposed by the university administration and is paid at the time that tuition is paid. The administration or the elected student government body representatives disperse these collected fees to groups that have made application for funding and have passed the review process. Sometimes students object to their mandatory activities fees being diverted to certain groups because they are either political or advocate opinions with which the students disagree. Thus, the controversy becomes a free speech challenge; The purpose of this study was to provide a historical case study about the legal controversies …

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Worksite Schools: A Study Of Cooperation Between Public Education And Private Business, D. Janell Dietz Jan 2008

Worksite Schools: A Study Of Cooperation Between Public Education And Private Business, D. Janell Dietz

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The development of business/educational partnerships in the United States has accelerated in the last few years, fueled in large part by industry concerns over a projected scarcity of future workers who are effectively equipped for the demands of a workforce in an evolving technological environment. This has been accompanied by rising concern over parental choice in the matter of what schools their children will attend; Lankard (1995) has opined that in the new economy where school and work are intertwined, it is increasingly apparent that a dual approach to public school reform has appeal, and such partnerships will continue to …

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Cooperative Extension And The Practical Education Needs Of Clark County Citizens, Sonya S Greene Jan 2008

Cooperative Extension And The Practical Education Needs Of Clark County Citizens, Sonya S Greene

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

As part of the Cooperative Extension System, the charge of local Extension offices is to identify priority issues and develop programming which serves the practical education needs of the community. This has been especially challenging in Clark County, Nevada, where population growth and demographics have changed significantly in recent years; The primary purpose of this investigation was to seek and discover the community concerns and the practical education expectations of a random sampling of Clark County residents. Further, public responses were compared to those of Extension faculty and staff, who were questioned regarding the same topics. Finally, the practical education …

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The Role Of Reading Specialists: A Descriptive Study, Dorothy L Kulesza Jan 2008

The Role Of Reading Specialists: A Descriptive Study, Dorothy L Kulesza

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore and document the role of reading specialists. Four elements of educational theory and practice formed the framework: children's reading difficulties, instructional models used to correct reading difficulties, site-based management, and symbolic interactionism. The overall design for this research was a mixed method study. Survey research was used to collect quantitative data; interviews and observations were used to collect qualitative data; Following the processing of survey data, it was displayed in graphs and tables. Qualitative data was analyzed through recursive rounds of considering and interpreting transcripts and field notes; global themes were identified …

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