Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Fear And Anxiety In Patients At The Time Of An Exacerbation Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Qualitative Study, D Halpin, M Hyland, S Blake, C Seamark, M Pinnuck, D Ward, B Whalley, C Greaves, A Hawkins, D Seamark

School of Psychology

Objectives To determine the importance of fear and anxiety at the time of an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. To assess the influence of carers and health professionals on this fear and anxiety. Design A qualitative study to elicit the views of patients and their carers during a hospital admission for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Setting Interviews were conducted in a District General Hospital. Participants Twenty patients were interviewed shortly after admission to hospital with an exacerbation. Main outcome measures Key themes were identified using cross-sectional thematic analysis of transcripts where commonalities and differences were identified. Results …

Between Minds And Bodies: Some Insights About Creativity From Dance Improvisation, K Łucznik

School of Psychology

Observing dance improvisation provides a unique opportunity to understand how people collaborate together while creating. It is an opportunity to consider how new ideas appear, not simply from the internal processes of a single creator but rather from the interactions between the minds, bodies and the environment acting on and between a group of improvising dancers. Improvisational scores served in this study as a laboratory into group creativity. Using a video-stimulated recall method, which asks dancers to reflect upon their own processes just after completing the score, I explored the interdependency between meta-cognitive strategies such as imagery and sense awareness, …

Paul Leduc: The Politics Of Mexican Cinema In The 1970s, Joe Hogan

Cinesthesia

It thus makes sense that critics tend to present strong arguments about the political agendas of Mexican filmmakers from the 1970s. Among the most popular in the subject is Paul Leduc, whose work has been cast as exemplary of the political ethos of the day. However, it is my position that, upon close examination, Leduc’s films seem not always to present a straightforward political message, much less one that would clearly bolster the aims of the Echeverria administration. For that reason, I will examine two of Leduc’s films, Reed: México Insurgente and Frida: naturaleza viva (1983), to reveal how they …

Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Teams : Insights And Experiences Of Chaplain Interns And Social Work Interns., Ann Hayes Ronald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2030, the population of those 65 years and older is projected to be 72 million, which will represent 20% of adults in the United States. This large group will have affected many aspects of our society, including families and healthcare providers. Decisions about medical care, caregiving, financial concerns, and new circumstances in living arrangements will be made. Perhaps no aspect of life will be as important as how one spends the end-of-life. Importantly, the care that individuals receive is likely an important aspect of this end-of-life experience. Interdisciplinary palliative care teams provide effective and comprehensive end-of-life care for patients …

The Relationship Between Pre-Service Teachers’ Basic Technology Competence, Technology Self-Efficacy And Perceptions Of Adopting Educational Applications On Ipads For Classroom Use, Rebecca Ann Martindale

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

iPads and tablets are the latest technological tools that schools are adopting for classroom use. Yet, according to the Teacher’s Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009 Report, 25-50% of the teacher population surveyed report rarely or never using basic classroom technologies (LCD projectors, whiteboards, document cameras and computers) for teaching (Gray, Thomas, & Lewis, 2010). A modified Perceived Characteristics of Innovating (PCI) instrument originally developed by Moore & Benbasat (1991) was used to determine intention to integrate educational applications on iPads for classroom use. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine whether technology competence or technology self-efficacy …

Community-Based Rehabilitation Supports For Social Inclusion And Work Participation Of Young Adults With Visual Impairment In Kenya: A Case Study, Philomena Jepkemboi Tanui

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Young adults with a visual impairment (VI) experience less interaction with the community that impacts the way they relate to the world as they transition to the larger society where they face significant barriers of adjustment, exclusion, and work participation. Young adults with VI contend with cultural stigma, inequality, poor self-esteem caused by marginalization, a low quality of life (QOL), and lack of Social support systems that exist beyond the home. The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of young adults with VI in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Kisumu Counties of Kenya concerning the barriers to community inclusion and …

Role Of Recent And Remote Context Exposures On Incubation Of Fear Memories, Peter Zambetti

Psychology

Studying learning and memory through the methods of Pavlovian fear conditioning has been a topic of behavioral neuroscience research for decades. Anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder can be modeled in rodents through fear conditioning. This study took on a different approach to study the learning and recall of a fear memory by using a within subjects group. This group was tested at both a recent and remote interval. The recent timepoint was three days after conditioning and the remote timepoint was thirty-one days after conditioning. The timepoints are used to observe the effect the passage of time has …

Expanding The Dialogue: The Need For Fat Studies In Critical Intercultural Communication, Hannah R. Long

Research Papers

In this paper, I argue that critical intercultural communication, as a discipline, can benefit from an inclusion of fat studies within its literature and analysis. Reciprocally, fat studies can also benefit from this relationship and the questions that would be raised for both fat studies and critical intercultural communication by such a juxtaposition of the areas of study. In particular, I employ my experiences as a fat, U.S. American woman to situate my own embodied knowledge as a way of understanding, in concert with literature reviews of fat studies and identity research within critical intercultural communication. I also utilize muted …

Patient-Driven Vs. Evidence-Centric Decision Models In The Treatment Of Hemophilia, Christopher C. Lamb

Student Scholarship

Physicians treating hemophilia face difficult decisions related to complex bleeding disorders. To understand how physicians in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) make critical, life-saving decisions, a qualitative study was performed involving a series of interviews with treatment experts from each country. A total of twenty-four (24) physicians from the US and the UK were asked about their experiences treating hemophilia and how they made certain decisions. American physicians tend to be patient-centric; they are more influenced by a patient's specific preferences and unique, individual conditions. British physicians are more evidence-centric where they approach the patient based …

When Disobedience Delivers Success: Factors Influencing Subsidiary Top Manager's Compliance With Multinationals Head Office's Instructions, Arron M. Fraser

Student Scholarship

This study examines the factors influencing subsidiary top manager’s compliance with their head office’s instructions. Our grounded theory qualitative study is based on twenty four (24) interviews with subsidiary top managers from various industries. Shared meaning and the lack of shared meaning explained incidences of compliance and non- compliance respectively. Surprisingly the lack of shared meaning in many instances resulted in better business outcomes for the subsidiary. Shared meaning resulted when there was meaningful consultation, a positive personal relationship and trust between subsidiary top managers and head office personnel. On the other hand, a lack of shared meaning existed when …

The Interactive Effect Of Core Self-Evaluations And Perceived Organizational Support In Predicting Work Engagement, Martin Andres Araya

Master's Theses

Given that work engagement has been shown to be related to positive individual and organizational outcomes, researchers have examined factors that predict work engagement. Personal resources and job resources are two factors that previous research has found to predict work engagement. The purpose of this study was to examine core self-evaluations (personal resource) and their interaction with perceived organizational support (job resource) on predicting working engagement. A total of 155 participants in a variety of job industries participated in an online survey. The study examined the direct effect of core self-evaluations in predicting work engagement as well as the interaction …

Quantifying Variability In Oculomotor And Manual Choice Response Times, Angelica Godinez

Master's Theses

Response times (RTs) of various motor systems have traditionally been used to characterize aspects of human performance (e.g., fatigue, disease states). However, the properties and sensitivity of different motor systems to detect changes in neural states across multiple timescales remain an open question. In this thesis, we attempt to characterize the difference in sensitivity of the pursuit, saccadic, and manual systems to detect changes in stimulus strength. In Experiment 1, we used a modified Yes-No task to test the effects of contrast (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 100%) on three pursuit, saccadic, and manual RT’s for three observers. In Experiment …

The Relationship Between Organizational Justice And Various Dimensions Of Pay Satisfaction, Xinyi Li

Master's Theses

Pay satisfaction has been linked to important organizational outcomes such as work performance and turnover intentions. One way to predict employees’ pay satisfaction is through organizational justice. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of organizational justice perceptions in predicting various pay satisfaction dimensions. A sample of 107 employees participated in an online survey. Consistent with the hypotheses, results showed that pay-related distributive justice perceptions were a stronger predictor of pay level satisfaction than pay-related procedural justice perceptions, and that benefits-related procedural justice perceptions were a stronger predictor of benefits determination satisfaction and benefits administration satisfaction than …

Sex Role Type As A Predictor Of Gender Stereotype Use In The Evaluation Of Others: Does Being Atypical Preclude Sex Typing Of Others?, Jennifer L. Miller

Master's Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to see if sex role adherence could be used to predict gender stereotype use when viewing children. This was tested using a conceptual replication of an influential gender label study by Condry and Condry in which participants viewed a video of a baby crying in response to a startling event. Contrary to the Condry findings, this study found that participant perception of why a baby was crying was not consistent with the gender label given (consistent, being angry for the boy label and fearful for the girl label). Participant ratings did not vary significantly …

Ritual And Religion In The Ohlone Cultural Area Of Central California, Doug Jones

Master's Theses

This thesis is an analysis of aspects of ritual and religion based upon reports from archaeological sites throughout the historical territory of the Native American peoples grouped by ethnographers under the term Ohlone, as well as other relevant sources of ethnographic, historical, and biographical information. Through research and review of recorded site documentation, as well as consultation with local archaeologists, three sites which clearly and extensively represent aspects of Ohlone religious life were identified and described in detail. This included type sites for mortuary practices, rock art, and cosmology/archaeoastronomy. The compilation and analysis of this material generated important information regarding …

Burnout Versus Personality: Predicting Volunteer Retention, Conor Thomas Tuohy

Master's Theses

Employee turnover is an important issue for any organization, but it is of critical importance for volunteer organizations. Research shows that a strong predictor of volunteer turnover is a volunteer’s intention to remain in that organization. This study measured volunteers’ intention to remain and compared the known predictor of burnout to the potential predictor of personality (through personality traits) in order to find a better predictor of a volunteer’s intention to remain in an organization. Using survey data obtained from 65 participants from a single volunteer organization, this study showed that burnout and personality traits failed to predict a volunteer’s …

Emotional Intelligence And Employee Engagement: A Quantitative Study To Explore The Relationship Between The Emotional Intelligence Of Frontline Managers And Supervisors And The Degree Of Employee Engagement Of Their Direct Reports In A Tertiary Care Health Care Setting, Derrick Suehs

Education Doctoral

The health care industry is moving from a volume-based, fee-for-service financial reimbursement system to a value-based purchasing model. These changes have caused substantial challenges in the delivery of care. Hospital leaders must conduct business differently to lower cost, improve safety outcomes, and be more efficient and effective. Numerous studies show engaged employees improve operational performance. Past studies point to leaders with high emotional intelligence who are effective at engaging employees. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a statistically significant correlation between frontline managers and supervisors’ emotional intelligence and the degree of engagement of their direct …

Ways Of Knowing, Learning, And Being: Exploration Of The Educational Culture, Learning Experiences, And The Persistence Of Male Students In Associate Degree Nursing Programs In New York State, Loretta G. Quigley

Education Doctoral

Currently, studies show that men are underrepresented in the nursing profession. The Health Resources and Services Administration (2013) found that although men comprise 49% of the population, only 9% of the nursing workforce is male. Additionally, there are predictions of an impending nursing shortage, related in part to an ageing nursing workforce and health care reform. Increasing the number of men could be a possible solution to the shortage. This may be accomplished by retaining male students in nursing education, although studies have identified many factors that impact negatively on their retention. The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and …

“Sometimes The Jocks Are The Nerds…If That Makes Sense”: Boys’ Practice Of Intra-Gender Policing In A High School Where Staff Suggest Inclusivity, Kelly Clark

Education Doctoral

Orthodox masculinity is defined by compulsory heterosexuality, homophobia, and anti-femininity. The literature suggests there is intense peer pressure for boys to conform to orthodox masculinity during adolescence. Boy’s use of intra-gender policing behaviors—joking, teasing, bullying and violence—is meant to force or reinforce strict orthodox masculine performance. Intra-gender policing often leads to shame and humiliation for many boys. Inclusive masculinity theory (Anderson 2009) suggests however, that boys’ culture is changing. The literature documents the existence of inclusive school-based peer cultures where boys are not homophobic, embrace the feminine, and eschew violence. Using inclusive masculinity as the theoretical framework, this study posed …

Elementary School Principals’ Experiences Working With Autism Spectrum Disorder Students In An Urban Setting: A Grounded Theory Study, Kimberly M. Harris

Education Doctoral

With an increase in students being classified as on the Autism Spectrum, the responsibilities of principals have also increased. The rise in the number of students having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has presented behavioral and academic challenges for public school principals. Research has demonstrated that principals, who focus on instructional issues, who are knowledgeable about special education laws and ASD, can produce enhanced student outcomes. Using a grounded theory design, the present study examined how principals develop their knowledge of students with autism. Study participants were 11 elementary principals who directly supervised ASD classrooms. Data was gathered using individual …

A Longitudinal Examination Of The Effects Of Acculturation And Mental Health Problems On Immigrant Father Involvement: A Cross-Cultural Study, Keitaro Yoshida

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined how acculturation, mental health problems, and parenting stress are associated with two dimensions of father involvement longitudinally for Latino and Chinese immigrant fathers using a nationally representative sample of young children and their resident fathers from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B). After controlling for a variety of individual and demographic characteristics and previous levels of father involvement, results from multiple group structural equation modeling revealed that immigrant fathers' English proficiency is negatively associated with care-taking involvement at 2 years, but positively associated with care-taking involvement at 4 years. Interestingly, mothers' English proficiency is also …

Evaluation Of Breastfeeding Curricula In Didactic Programs In Dietetics And Dietetic Internships Across The United States, Maria Diane Swiss

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Breastfeeding is known to have many benefits for both mothers and infants. With the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, health professionals have increased their attention on breastfeeding competency. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate breastfeeding curricula that are currently being covered in didactic programs in dietetics (DPDs) and dietetic internships (DIs) across the United States. Methods: Two-part surveys were sent to all directors of DPDs and DIs (n=475) with instructions to forward the second portion of the survey to instructors of classes that taught about breastfeeding. Qualtrics software was used for data …

Authoritative Coaching: Building Youth Through Athletics, Christian S. Brinton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the existence and extent of the relationship of coaching styles and adolescent athletes in terms of Self Determination Theory (SDT). Specifically, this study adapted Baumrind’s parenting styles of authoritative, authoritarian, and permissiveness to coaching styles and examined the relationship between each coaching style and the tenets of SDT, namely competence, autonomy, and relatedness. This study also examined the effect of the number of years an athlete participated in a chosen sport, the number of years played on a specific team, and the number of years played for a particular coach. The sample …

Effects Of Picture Activity Schedules On Tasks Completed, Michael Eric Morrisett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Self-determination is the freedom to make choices that impact an individual’s life. Many people would agree that self-determination leads to an enhanced quality of life, and choice making is considered a central element in self-determination. Most learn choice making through a gradual release of responsibility by caregivers throughout their childhood and adolescence. Many times, this is not the case for students with autism. Completed research examining choice making and people with autism has shown promising results; however, one of the primary traits of autism, the need for structured routines, often does not lend itself to evaluating choice making. Activity schedules …

What Is Hip? David Garibaldi: His Musical Life, His Influences, And His Contributions, Jeremy Tait Meronuck

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This document presents the chronological development, evolution and activity of David Garibaldi, drummer with the Oakland, California-based band Tower of Power. Garibaldi created his signature drumming voice by continuous study, dedication to the instrument, and incorporating many influences into his performance. His work is known worldwide and is influential to many who play drum set. This document surveys information from past publications; interviews with band members; colleagues, and; David Garibaldi. Each section is divided into periods of time from early development to the present day. Chapters include detailed information on events and influences that led him into music as a …

Forecasting The School-To-Prison Pipeline: A Generative Case Study Of Early Literacy Experiences Of Black Male Youth, Tarryn E. Mcghie

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined the early literacy experiences of Black male youth who have dropped out of school and become court involved. Specifically, it examined how these youth’s home, family and school literacy-related experiences have led them into what is known as the School-to-Prison Pipeline (STPP). These experiences included their ability to glean meaning and understand literacy processes, particularly in reading and through oral language, more specifically in their interactions with school faculty and staff.

This study employed a four-pronged conceptual framework, built at the intersection of Critical Race Theory, Adolescent Development, Critical Literacy, and the STPP, in considering the existing …

Factor Analysis Of The Sport Interference Checklist With Collegiate Athletes, Travis Albert Loughran

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There are a variety of cognitive and behavioral factors that have been indicated to have a negative impact on sport performance. College student-athletes may be at particular risk to evidence problems that interfere with optimal sport performance due to high physical, social, and emotional demands. To fully understand what factors influence student-athlete sport performance, appropriate, psychometrically validated assessment measures are needed. The Sport Interference Checklist (SIC) is an assessment tool that was developed to assess sport performance in both training and competitive situations for student-athletes. The SIC includes two scales, the Problems in Sport Training Scale (PSTS) and the Problems …

Adapting And Piloting An Evidence-~Based Hiv/Aids And Teen Pregnancy Prevention Intervention For Native American Teens, Murlynn Crystal Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Native American youth are at disproportionate risk for HIV infection. Native Americans represent about 1.7% of the U.S. population, yet they rank fifth in HIV/AIDS diagnosis nationwide (U.S. Census, 2012; CDCd 2013). Native Americans with HIV/AIDS are more likely to be younger than non-Native Americans with the disease. There are limited evidence-based HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy prevention interventions that have been developed, adapted, and/or evaluated for Native American teens. The purpose of this study was to adapt an existing evidence-based HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy prevention intervention into a culturally responsive intervention curriculum for Native teens. Methods: There were three …

A Comparison Of Beliefs And Attitudes About Body Image, Eating And Weight Between Incarcerated And Non-~Incarcerated Females, Anne R. Lindsay

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Abstract

Incarceration and substance abuse are two of the largest public health issues in America. While the U.S. makes up only 5% of the world’s population, it accounts for 25% of its prisoners. Incarceration affects more than 2.2 million individuals who will eventually return to their families and communities with ongoing family, social and health issues. Women in prison are a particularly vulnerable and underserved population, generally of low education and socio-economic status and although they account for a small percent of the prison population, many are mothers of young children who are likely to become incarcerated themselves. Substance abuse …

Multicultural Education In Action: A Multiple Case Study Of Black Elementary Aged Children's Identity Development And Engagement With Civil Rights Literature, Rebekah E. Piper

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the United States education system a large achievement gap between African American and Latino students compared to White American students exists. Various studies have documented the gap, but there has not been much success in closing it. Recognizing that the educational system is growing more, not less, diverse, including due to the rise in enrollments of students of color and the decrease of the same by white students based on birthrates and immigration trends, the success of this increasingly diverse student population is even more important to the success of the nation. Preparing teachers to integrate multicultural content and …