Digital Commons Network^™

To Tip Or Not To Tip: An Analysis Into Prompted Tipping, Jared Dingman

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Giving tips (or gratuities) in restaurants in the United States has been and is currently a hotly debated and discussed topic. Concerns regarding proper compensation have been raised, but there is a need for empirical evidence to investigate and solve potential issues of compensation. This honors thesis aimed to answer two questions: Whether restaurant patrons tip more when prompted with tipping percentages, and whether those who have worked in the tipping industry tip more than those who have not. I administered a brief survey with tipping scenarios to gauge prompted and unprompted tipping behaviors. With these scenarios, demographic information was …

Mental Representations Of Surface- And Deep-Level Diversity, Alexandria S. Vandenberg

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Conservatives exhibit backlash to surface-level diversity initiatives (e.g., race-based initiatives), but view deep-level diversity (e.g., ideological diversity) positively. I examined whether conservative preferences for deep- (vs. surface-level) diversity reflects preferences for different forms of diversity, or preferences for forms of diversity that may advantage White people. In one pre-registered two wave study (Total N = 600) I examined liberals’ and conservatives’ perceptions and mental representations of surface- (vs. deep-level) diversity using a reverse correlation task. Images were then rated with respect to perceived race and stereotype-relevant attributes. As expected, participants perceived organizations that emphasized surface- vs. deep-level diversity to be …

The Applied Music Theory Ensemble: An Approach To Undergraduate Music Theory Education, Karissa Juhas

Senior Honors Theses

Music theory is currently taught in a classroom setting through lectures, worksheets, tests, and limited amounts of praxis, or applied learning through playing one’s instrument. However, musicians in these classes often struggle to comprehend concepts, maintain good grades, and view music theory in a positive light. This thesis proposes the teaching of music theory in an applied setting—specifically, an ensemble setting. In such a setting, praxis through immediate hands-on application of concepts to the student’s instrument would be just as prevalent a part of the curriculum as lectures, worksheets, and the like. Songs specifically crafted to impart both the theoretical …

The Consequences Of Homophobia: Analysis Of Discriminatory Medical And Legislative Policies And Their Influence On Health Disparities, Kaiden J. Fandel

Honors Thesis

Are there specific roots that influence the introduction and incorporation of discriminatory medical policies? What are the sources of such stigma, discrimination, and prejudice, in what forms does such discrimination take place, and what negative impacts does such hatred have on health outcomes, quality of care, and health disparities? Through a review of existing literature on this topic, intertwining the examination of the evolution of discriminatory policies and other explanatory literature in the United States, this thesis aims to answer the questions above, and explain the roots of such homophobic discrimination and its prevalence in the United States. Through the …

Teaching Concept Design Through Structured Practices And Portfolio Projects, Gavin Hadro

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

Concept designers serve various roles, but our primary objective is to give workable, inspiring ideas to a development or production team. The greatest difficulty is ensuring designs are visually compelling, intuitively functional, and intellectually stimulating, all at once. This thesis will evaluate what focused practices and strategies best prepare beginning designers to meet all three challenges. Performing industry-relevant tasks that train these skills will, in theory, enable those studying concept design to effectively learn singular skills before attempting to develop a portfolio that showcases an ability to combine them. Potential practices include compositional and storytelling exercises, 3D design studies, reflective …

A Hero In Tears: How The Female Gaze Elicits Male Emotional Vulnerability In Romance Novels, Eowyn Stewart

Honors College

This Honors Project Thesis seeks to explore the consistent popularity of romance novels written by women within a female readership. While these novels primarily function as escapism, they also simultaneously reinforce and subvert gender expectations through the physical and emotional performance of the masculine hero. This paper focuses specifically on how masculinity is viewed through a female heterosexual lens, and the female gaze. It will pay especial regard to male emotional vulnerability, and how the male protagonist performs or subverts concepts of masculinity, stays in or extrudes gender constructs, and shapes himself into the vision exerted on him by the …

Effects Of The Implementation Of Mastery Grading In An Introductory Biology Course, Darby Ice

Honors College

The purpose of this mixed methods, exploratory study is to investigate what happens when mastery grading is implemented for summative assessments in a majors introductory biology course. Summative assessments included an initial Learning Objective (LO) exam and the opportunity for students to earn a retake exam. First and second iterations of the LO exams covered the same material but did not have the same questions.

Components of this study included a qualitative analysis of students’ perceptions of the mastery grading structure as well as quantitative analyses to determine whether correlations exist between factors such as SAT/ACT scores and degree of …

Preparing Teachers To Differentiate Instruction: A Systematic Review, Betsy Ahearn

Theses and Dissertations

Differentiated Instruction is the term used to describe a variety of strategies for successfully addressing student diversity in the classroom. It relies on the attitudes of teachers who aim to maximize learning for all students and is based on the use of assessment data to respond to student readiness, interest, and learning profile. Although implementation has been found to have positive results in improving student performance many barriers have stood in the way of teachers utilizing these techniques. This systematic review of literature provides an extensive overview of information related to differentiated instruction guided by research questions. The methods utilized …

Physical Wellness Of The Collegiate Athlete, Richard Michael Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Wellness among athletes has been studied, but it is still unclear what dimensions make up wellness and where the clinician should focus their efforts. It is known that wellness is a multifaceted definition and has many dimensions. This dissertation will look at the dimension of physical wellness of an athlete pertaining to prevention, return to sport/rehabilitation, and enhancing performance. The purpose of the study is to understand how a clinician may have a direct effect on the physical wellness of the athlete through prevention, intervention or rehabilitation, and performance training. This paper will discuss three different sub-dimensions of physical wellness, …

Approach To Multi-Criteria Decision-Making In A Neutrosophic Picture Hyper-Soft Set Environment Using Generalized Neutrosophic Topsis, Manpreet Kaur, Akanksha Singh

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Given the complexity of today’s world, we might need to work with numbers requiring multi-attribute functions, such as those having positive, neutral, and negative membership and those having truth, indeterminacy, and falsity membership. Adding these numbers together to get a single real number is the most important factor. In situations like this, decision-makers have more difficult choices and are unable to apply the single attribute function of the soft set theory. To address this constraint, the hyper-soft set theory with multi-attribute functions is introduced. We combine the notion of neutrosophic hypersoft set with picture fuzzy hypersoft set to form a …

Evaluation Strategies Of Leadership Management In Healthcare Systems: An Integrated Type-Ii Neutrosophic Optimization Approach, Areej Hamoud Alharbi, Hayam M. Jabali, Preethi Rajan

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presented a decision-making methodology to evaluate leadership management strategies in healthcare systems. This study used the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology to deal with conflicting criteria in the decision-making process. The MCDM methodology is integrated with neutrosophic sets to deal with uncertainty and vague information in decision-making. The neutrosophic set has three memberships: truth, indeterminacy, and falsity. The type-2 neutrosophic set is a subset of the neutrosophic set with nine membership degrees. The neutrosophic set integrated with the COPRAS method to rank the alternatives. fourteen criteria and eleven alternatives are used to evaluate leadership management in healthcare systems. The …

Bibliography For "Explore The World: Journey Through Travel Books At The Leatherby Libraries", Isabella Piechota, Kalea Brown, Arianna Tillman

Library Displays and Bibliographies

A bibliography created to support a display about travel books at the Leatherby Libraries during May 2024 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University.

An Analysis Of Child Valence Bias Trajectories As A Result Of Parental Factors: A Longitudinal Perspective, Kaylee Brooke Donner

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Valence bias is an important part of how individuals perceive the world around them, and this is especially influential in terms of children’s development. This study used data from longitudinal data collection surveys consisting of 197 participants, ages 6-17, to investigate correlations between valence bias, puberty, parental conflict, emotion regulation, temperament, interpersonal regulation, trait anxiety, and personality. This research provides much sought-after knowledge in terms of how parental factors impact children’s development, specifically children's valence bias development. Previous research has shown that emotion regulation in parents, along with different parenting styles with equal levels of discipline and loving support largely …

Increasing Nursing Aide Knowledge On Benefits Of Light For Sundowning Syndrome, Grace Hilfiker, Julie Masters

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In this study, the knowledge of nursing aides on the benefits of light for sundowning syndrome was investigated. While dementia and sundowning syndrome is discussed during nursing aide training in the state of Nebraska, there is no discourse focused on how light plays beneficial role in lessening the symptoms of sundowning syndrome for those who are afflicted with dementia. This study asked what the current knowledge base surrounding dementia and sundowning syndrome is of nursing aides in the state of Nebraska. The aim was to justify adding a focus on concrete methods to use when caring for patients with dementia …

"Everyone Got To Eat My Tears": Racialized Emotions, Mentoring Practices, And The Political And Ethical Commitments Of Women Of Color Graduate Students In Stem, Machienvee V. Lammey

Sociology ETDs

In this project, I examine the emotional and lived experiences of women of color (WOC) graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and how they embody and negotiate racism, classism, and sexism in academia, particularly in White, men-dominated STEM spaces. I utilize critical race theory and intersectionality to shed light on how WOC draw upon their intersecting identities, marginalization, and sense of community to navigate and resist oppressive environments. Specifically, I highlight the ways they experience racialized emotions and leverage vulnerability to resist dominant academic norms and controlling images to preserve their holistic selves, engage in critical reflexivity …

Reconceptualizing Self-Directed Learning In The Era Of Generative Ai: An Exploratory Analysis Of Language Learning, Belle Li, Curtis J. Bonk, Chaoran Wang, Xiaojing Kou

Department of Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications

This exploratory analysis investigates the integration of ChatGPT in self-directed learning (SDL). Specifically, this study examines YouTube content creators’ language-learning experiences and the role of ChatGPT in their SDL, building upon Song and Hill's conceptual model of SDL in online contexts. Thematic analysis of interviews with 19 YouTubers and relevant video contents reveals distinct constructs of ChatGPT-integrated SDL, suggesting a reconceptualization and refinement of the SDL framework in the consideration of generative artificial intelligence (AI). This framework emphasizes critical aspects of utilizing ChatGPT as an SDL tool on two distinct levels: 1) the interactive relationships and interplay between learners’ personal …

Vol 4 May '24 Full Issue, Donna L. Williams

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

No abstract provided.

Pandemic Experiences Among Louisiana Adults: Demographic And Behavioral Correlates, Ariane L. Rung, Evrim Oral, Tyler Prusisz, Edward S. Peters

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected mental health outcomes. We designed a study to describe the pandemic impacts experienced by adults in Louisiana and examine the characteristics and behaviors associated with them. Methods: 1050 Louisiana residents were surveyed in 2020. A pandemic impact score about respondents’ life experiences was created from 23 items across multiple life domains. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to estimate adjusted associations between demographics, health behavior characteristics and changes, and the pandemic impact score. Results: Higher levels of pandemic impacts were associated with being married and having children under 18 years in the home. Changes …

Neurocorrelates Of Character Choice In A Videogame Task, Elijah Nieman

All NMU Master's Theses

An individual’s experience of autonomy or lack thereof has a significant effect on interest and motivation towards everyday activities. The present study looks to expand on basic research by examining the neurocorrelates of interest following supporting and thwarting of autonomy through character choice in a videogame task. Previous research has demonstrated an important role of digital avatars on perceived autonomy and interest, and early neurological results have shown that choice of visual frame affects reward processing of task outcomes. Together, autonomy supports seem to enhance engagement and interest in a situation. In the present work, participants were presented with five …

Perceived Barriers Of Early Mobilization In The Intensive Care Unit, Melissa Sonderman, Emily Miles, Joshua Ferge

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Purpose

Early mobilization of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients can improve patient outcomes but also includes barriers to implementation. Nebraska Medicine has continued to have ongoing quality improvement initiatives like the ABCDEF liberation bundles and early mobilization that have been attempted but have never fully come to fruition. This project surveys Nebraska Medicines ICUs staff to better understand attitudes, knowledge and behavior regarding early mobilization using a validated tool. The aim was to identify barriers, so the organization could better understand the needs of ICU staff for future implementations of early mobility and related assessment tools.

Materials and Methods

A …

Student-Centered Task Box Instruction, Mikayla Meece

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Engagement is vital to all learning situations and has, according to Parsons et al. (2018) been associated with an increase in student achievement. Morgan (2013) highlighted that students comprehend little and lose focus of classroom instruction when teachers fail to use differentiated instruction. Therefore, the researcher in this project utilized task box instruction to increase student engagement and on-task behavior in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classrooms. Task-box instruction can accommodate for different ability levels and interests, while also modeling initial learning and providing practice with developmentally appropriate skills and strategies (Morgan, 2013). Specifically, task boxes involve providing students with …

Understanding Practitioner’S Perceptions Of Speech And Language Therapy Services In The Juvenile Justice System, Julia Buendgen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to gain more understanding of how individuals who work with the juvenile justice population understand language disorders and the scope of speech and language therapy services. In addition, this study explored potential supports for individuals working in this setting. This study consisted of twenty participants working in the juvenile justice system who completed a survey tool that was designed by the researcher to describe the participant's perceptions of speech-language pathology, current procedures, reported challenges, and potential areas in need of support. Participant knowledge of the scope of speech-language pathology varied among participants. The highest …

Navigating Cross-Cultural Challenges: Strategies For Effective Management Of Diverse Teams Within The Organization., Dhanusha Devarajulunaidu

Business ETD Collections

This comprehensive research explores the intricacies of managing cross-cultural challenges within the organizational context of Primark. Leveraging a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, the study investigates effective strategies for navigating cultural differences and promoting collaboration in diverse teams.

The literature review delves into two prominent theories: Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory and Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Theory, providing valuable insights into cultural interactions and management practices. Building on these theories, the research examines real-world scenarios within Primark to understand the challenges faced by managers and employees in multicultural environments.

Through in-depth case studies, and surveys, the study uncovers key themes …

Pediatric Trauma-Informed Care And Implications For Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Quaneka Hoskin-Chase

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Occupational therapy practitioners are provided a wealth of knowledge through school and professional fieldwork experiences to understand and skillfully address the needs of children who have been exposed to trauma. Therapists are competently prepared to provide holistic and client-centered care that is dedicated to meaningful and volitional engagement (Lynch et al., 2021). However, many therapists still lack the confidence and awareness of their role related to trauma-informed care in the pediatric environment (Piller, 2022). Trauma compromises each domain of occupation (Lynch et al., 2021). As early intervention specialists, the lack of responsiveness to children’s trauma can have devastating and enduring …

Factors Shaping Charter School Leaders’ Student Recruitment Practices In Southern Nevada, John E. Aydogdu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Charter schools have witnessed significant growth in the United States, accompanied by increased diversity among student populations. However, Southern Nevada charter schools diverge from national trends, enrolling a less racially and socioeconomically diverse student population. This study examined factors that shape charter school leaders’ student recruitment practices in Southern Nevada. In addition to addressing the lack of literature coverage on Southern Nevada charter schools’ demographics, this study also introduced new research regarding the predicament of charter school demographics in Southern Nevada. Using a case study approach, data from 16 charter school leaders and staff members across four identified charter schools …

Cost Benefit Analysis Of Anesthesia Providers Within Gastroenterology Outpatient Practices, Jennifer Buffum Brown

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Anesthesia delivery in ambulatory and office-based settings has seen significant growth in the last 25 years. The advances in effective short-acting anesthetic drugs, combined with the rise in demand for minimally invasive surgery, allows for an increase in the number of surgical procedures to be achieved outside the hospital setting. Ambulatory anesthesia promotes patient health by reducing recovery times. It also contributes to sustainability by lowering costs otherwise associated with overnight hospital stays. Patient preferences for minimally invasive outpatient surgery, and faster recovery times have spurred an increased demand for business relationships between modern medical practices and anesthesia providers. Certified …

Understanding Stress And Coping Among Adults In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jocy-Anna Chevalier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, individuals in the United States (U.S.) and across the globe have experienced unprecedented levels of stress. The purpose of this study is to understand the stress experienced among adults in the U.S. and which coping processes affect their overall emotional well-being. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1987) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC), this study conducted a secondary data analysis (n=404) of adults across the U.S who completed an online survey examining their experiences with stress and coping. A Pearson correlation was utilized to explore the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Paired samples …

Using Student Voices To Inform Educational Reform: Exploring High School Educational Desires To Improve Curricular Decisions, Anna Colquitt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the education system, the integration of student perspectives into effective pedagogical strategies is gaining momentum. This dissertation delves into the concept of 'Student Voice' and its role in shaping educational frameworks. Recognizing the growing gap in soft skill proficiency among newly recruited employees, contrasted with the emphasis on hard skills within current educational standards, this study analyzes what those skill gaps are in the education and what skills students perceive are necessary to integrate into a high school education to better prepare students for life, the workforce, and higher education. Focused on recent high school graduates in Nevada, the …

“Sex Is Fun”: A Study Of Hook Up Behaviors And Experiences Of Post-College And Middle-Aged Adults, Joshua Corum

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research is a qualitative study of the hook up and casual sex behaviors and experiences of those in full adulthood, focusing on their motivations to hook up and the subsequent outcomes of those casual sex activities. Most of the existing scholarship on hooking up and casual sex primarily investigates the behaviors, attitudes, and experiences of college students within emerging adulthood. Little consideration is made for the ways in which adults negotiate hooking up and casual sex in other stages over the life course and after major life transitions. In this dissertation, I asked three questions: 1) How do adults …

Linking Scholarly Learning Activities And Professional Identity In Otd Students, Andrew Loc Ho

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Professional identity formation is a critical aspect of education, training, and becoming an occupational therapist in Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) programs. This capstone study explores the potential influences of learning activities related to research and scholarly writing professional identity development amongst OTD students using a cross-sectional descriptive design. This research study involved 32 OTD students across six cohorts participating in focus groups from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and Kansas University Medical Center (KUMC). Through convenience sampling and latent content analysis managed with ATLAS.ti, the study identified categories underpinned by the Kawa Model to describe the dynamic interplay …