Recreation Business Commons^™

Study Abroad As A Transformative Experience: Measuring Transformative Learning Phases And Outcomes, Garrett Anderson Stone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to verify Mezirow's (1978) Transformative Learning Theory as a model to explain how study abroad participation facilitates efforts to internationalize students in higher education. Specifically this study used block-entry, logistic and linear regression models to explore the relationship between transformative learning processes and study abroad outcomes. Data were collected from business students (N =107) at Brigham Young University using a retrospective pretest method. Findings indicated transformative learning was occurring in short term study abroad settings and transformative learning phases were related to increases in Intercultural Competence. These findings were consistent between year cohorts suggesting …

Financial Risk Management: A Case Study Of The 2010 Winter Olympic Games In Vancouver, Canada, Jillian R. Shoop

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Businesses take risks to progress a company forward, but management of that risk is essential for success. Companies can quickly identify early warning signs by creating an ever-evolving financial plan, which also strengthens the company’s vision, mission, goals, and objectives. The purpose of this study was to conduct a case study in financial risk management of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. The organization was evaluated based on an instrument created by the researcher to examine the Vancouver Organizing Committee’s financial risk management plan. The study showed that the Vancouver Organizing Committee created efficient management plans for potential risks and …

Competitive Marketing Strategy: A Best Practices Examination Of Convention Hotels In San Francisco, Jennifer Hardy

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

The expansion of convention hotels in metropolitan areas has been steadily increasing in recent years. This expansion causes competition between hotels in the same market. The purpose of this study was to examine the best practices for competitive marketing strategies used by convention hotels in San Francisco. The hotels studied were: Westin St. Francis, Fairmont Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, and Four Seasons. These organizations were analyzed based on several questions developed by the researcher. Data were collected from organizational websites and social media pages. The results demonstrate that the companies use many similar marketing practices. In order to market themselves more competitively, …

The Relationship Between The Family Leisure Involvement Of Families With A History Of Divorce And Families Without A History Of Divorce, Jennifer M. Harris, Ramon Zabriskie, Dr. Brian Hill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When President Hinckley introduced The Family: A Proclamation to the World, he explained why such emphasis on the importance of the family was needed: “The family is under attack. All across the world families are falling apart. The place to begin to improve society is in the home…We are trying to make the world better by making the family stronger” (Dew, 1997, p. 209). One researcher posed the question: “What is the state of the American family today and how well do these families function?” (Kugath, 1997, p. 1)). In the United States in 1998, 1,135,000 divorces were granted (World …

Family Cohesion And Adaptability In Relation To Family Life Cycle Stage, Alicia P. Dansie, Dr. Brian Hill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cohesion and adaptability varies amongst individual families as a result of many known factors including family leisure patterns, work ethic and commitments, and marital and family satisfaction (Orthner & Mancini, 1990) (Steinburg & Silverberg, 1987). Little is known however about the effect family life cycle stage may have on familial cohesion and adaptability. This research was completed to determine if families experience various levels of cohesion and adaptability as a direct result of family life cycle stage. Through this research information is discovered to add to the knowledge base involving family recreation and to answer the question: at what stage …

Lds Homemakers, Leisure, And Life-Satisfaction, Eliza E. Hertzler, Dr. Brian Hill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mother, a word that brings a surge of affection to every human heart and mind. Certainly everyone is grateful for their mother and all she did to raise them. This study was designed to determine if mothers are truly satisfied with what they are doing-being homemakers-and what factors affect that satisfaction. Does each mother consider staying home and raising her children an accomplishment, or a burden? Does free time play a role in these findings? Studies have shown that homemakers are more likely to suffer from depression than their husbands or other mothers in the workforce. 1 The researcher’s goal …

Peer Inclusion In Family Recreation, Lora Jean Bennion, Dr. Brian Hill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When the word ‘family’ is mentioned, it brings to mind a different picture to each and every person. What is a family? How do families stay together? How can strong bonds be built between parents and children? The family unit has been a subject of research for many years, but little research has been done in the field of Family Recreation and the effects it has on the family. The study of Family Recreation is important because it is often through this medium that family cohesiveness is developed and maintained.

Business Startup And Cause Marketing In The Running Apparel Industry, Zachary Barker

Senior Honors Theses

Entrepreneurship has been the backbone of the American economy since the penning of the Declaration of Independence. Small businesses help the United States prosper and help create jobs for the American people. As today’s business world is increasingly changing in a technological and global way, entrepreneurs must consider many environmental conditions in their small business planning. Business start-up is a long process backed by research and market testing that will maximize the opportunity for success. One way many business start-ups have become successful is through cause-related marketing programs that many people support. Additionally, a particular industry that has proven to …

How Can Consumer Preferences Be Leveraged For Targeted Upselling In Cable Tv Services?, Bing Tian Dai

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Internet TV has attracted a significant amount of attention from the conventional cable TV service providers, by providing customized TV programs at preferred time slots. The cable TV service providers are seeking to retain their customers by giving them a better experience: by understanding their customers’ preferences and upselling them the right products to cater to their interests. It is not easy to understand customer preferences though, since customers are not able to watch channels to which they have not subscribed. This makes it difficult to predict what they will like to watch, as a result. In this paper, I …

Five Rules Of Marketing Insights From The Superior Engine Story, Bruce C. Sherony, Irvin A. Zaenglein, Michael F. Strahan

Journal Articles

In the late 1890s, an exceptional product line of marine engines was developed in Marquette, Michigan. The authors trace the roots of these innovations and posit abstract marketing lessons from their insights. Five rules about marketing insights are suggested to play an important role in new product development. It is suggested that marketing people who practice these rules could improve their product and service innovativeness.

The Economic Impacts Of Annual Community Festivals: A Case Of The Sturgis Falls Celebration, 2013, Chelsea Mae Tolle

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examines spending patterns and economic impact of visitors to the community of Cedar Falls, Iowa for the annual Sturgis Falls Celebration. The following aspects of festival tourism development were addressed: (1) visitors’ travel motivations and satisfaction; (2) visitors’ spending patterns and (3) the economic impacts of Sturgis Falls Celebration visitors in Black Hawk and contiguous counties.

The data for the study was collected using a questionnaire based intercept survey that was distributed to the attendees at the Sturgis Falls Celebration during the festival in 2013. Of the residents and visitors in attendance at the festival, 539 people participated …

An Examination Of Branding Strategies For Selected Major League Baseball Organizations, Kaitlyn Defanti

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

The implementation of successful branding strategies is crucial for all sport organizations to enhance revenue, sponsorships, and brand loyalty. To facilitate successful practices, it is important that organizations are aware of the most common branding strategies as well as the strategies of their competitors. The purpose of this study was to examine the best practices of branding strategies for the five Major League Baseball franchises in the state of California. Data were collected from five selected Major League Baseball teams. The instrument utilized in this study was a checklist covering branding strategies with an additional section for notes. The results …

Canadian Family Leisure, Family Functioning, And Family Satisfaction: A Family Perspective, Shaun C. Nua

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to further examine the relationship between family leisure variables and the dependent variables of family functioning and satisfaction with family life among a broad, national sample of Canadian families using the Core and Balance framework. Specifically, this study examined how both family leisure involvement (core and balance) and family leisure satisfaction contributed to the explanation of variance in family functioning and satisfaction with family life. Because the data were nested in families, this study accounted for family-level variance by incorporating mixed modeling. The sample consisted of 943 families across Canada including one parent and …

Exploring The Tools Of Wilderness Therapy, Bridger Jensen, Dr. Keith Barney

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Studies indicate that wilderness therapy programs have remarkable success in promoting positive behavioral changes, particularly among adolescent populations. Such positive change can be found through measuring family relations, drugs and alcohol abuse, success in school work, and social/emotional behavior. After conducting an extensive literature review on wilderness therapy, it was not possible to identify what aspects of wilderness therapy are the most therapeutic and make these programs successful. The purpose of this study is to identify these elements and compile them into a solidified definition of wilderness therapy.

Motivational Interviewing Applications In Recreational Therapy, Caitlin Trotter, Dr. Neil Lundberg

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Motivational interviewing is a communication method that assists an individual’s internal motivation to make a change (Miller & Rollnick, 2002). Motivational interviewing has been incorporated in many health care fields and professions (Anstiss, 2009), but has not been fully embraced in the field of Recreational Therapy. The purpose of this project was to explore possible applications and benefits of motivational interviewing in the practice of recreational therapy.

Summary Of Research On Attachment Disorder In Romanian Orphanages, Kendra Driggs, Daniel Ferguson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Attachment is an enduring connection established between a child and caregiver in the first several years of life. During this sensitive period, attachment influences every component of the human condition, including, mind, body, emotions, relationship, and values. It has been observed that attachment is a physiological, emotional, cognitive and social phenomenon. Attachment is something that a child and caregiver create together. Attachment disorder results when children fail to develop normal, healthy, and secure attachments to loving, protective caregivers.

Surfing Injuries Requiring First Aid In New Zealand, 2007-2012, Kevin Moran, Jonathon Webber

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

In an island nation such as New Zealand with easy access to surf beaches, surfing activities are very popular and, while generally perceived as a healthy form of outdoor recreation, they do have attendant risks. This study reports on nondrowning, surfing-related incidents that required medical first aid on beaches during five summer seasons from 2007-2012. Retrospective descriptive analysis of data from lifeguard first aid reports found that 16% (n = 1,327) of injuries were the consequence of surfing activity. More males than females were treated for surfing injuries (68% male, 31% female). Lacerations (59%) and bruising (15%) accounted for most …

I Tie Flies In My Sleep: An Autoethnographic Examination Of Recreation And Reintegration For A Veteran With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Warren D. Price

Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic account details the author's ongoing struggle with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how leisure was integral to his journey toward recovery. By showing the mental and emotional struggles of life with the disorder, this paper offers an alternative viewpoint from the traditional scientific studies of PTSD which bury soldier's voices under layers of analysis. The purpose of this paper is to deepen and expand an understanding of both combat-related PTSD and the power of leisure in an individual's recovery from combat trauma

European Emerging Adults In The Context Of Free Time And Leisure, Eric K. Layland

Theses and Dissertations

Research on emerging adulthood has increased over the past decade, including further investigation of the five features of emerging adulthood: (a) exploring identity, (b) instability, (c) focus on self, (d) feeling in-between, and (e) possibilities (Arnett, 2004). Despite an increased focus on this age period (i.e., 18 -- 29 year olds), research has not addressed the context of free time and leisure. Trends among European emerging adults include increased delay of marriage, decreased childbirth, and general postponement of adult markers. Both the high cultural valuation of leisure and the apparent change in patterns of external markers (i.e., sustained low fertility …

The Contribution Of Family Leisure To Family Functioning And Family Satisfaction Among Urban Russian Families, Mikale N. Williamson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family leisure satisfaction to aspects of family functioning and satisfaction with family life among urban Russian families. Specifically, this study examined how both family leisure involvement (core and balance) and family leisure satisfaction contributed to the explanation of variance in family functioning and satisfaction with family life. The behavioral factor of family alcohol consumption was also included in the analysis. Furthermore, because the data were nested in families, and because most family leisure research has been limited to individual-level analyses, this study accounted for family-level …

Personality And Performance: An Examination Of Relationships Between Personality,Character Traits, And Performance Among Wilderness Field Guides, John David Bishoff

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between job performance of wilderness and adventure therapy (WAT) field guides and personality traits. Specifically, this study utilized the NEO-PI-R to assess personality and the Field Guide Performance Evaluation (FGPE) to assess job performance. Job performance was measured by managers, peers, and WAT participants. The sample consisted of 89 personality assessments, gathered from both the U.S. and Canada. Ordinary least squares regression analysis indicated there was a non-significant relationship between field guide job performance and personality. Findings provide implications for WAT practitioners seeking the most qualified field guides possible.

The Mediating Effects Of Autonomy, Competence, And Relatedness During Couple Leisure On The Relationship Between Total Couple Leisure Satisfaction And Marital Satisfaction, Miriam Puerta Amato

Theses and Dissertations

This study tested Self-Determination Theory as a possible explanatory framework to understand the relationship between total couple leisure satisfaction and marital satisfaction. The three psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness-fundamental components of Self-Determination Theory-were measured through the Fulfillment of Psychological Needs during Couple Leisure (FPNL) scale and were tested as mediators. The analysis of five structural equation models confirmed the relevance of the Self-Determination Theory in explaining the relationship between couple leisure satisfaction and marital satisfaction. Although autonomy and competence were significant mediators, relatedness consistently appeared as the strongest mediator suggesting that the fulfillment of this psychological need is …

Recreation Displacement Of Bass Fishermen From Central Coast Lakes, Erin Gray

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

The purpose of this study was to assess the impacts of aquatic invasive species preventative measures on recreation displacement of bass fishermen from Central Coast lakes. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to participants at a local bass fishing tournament. Thirty-six respondents completed the questionnaire. The results indicated that boat inspection procedures do not necessarily cause bass fishermen to displace. This study found that fishermen are likely to avoid recreating at a Central Coast lake in fishing practice conditions rather than in tournament conditions, and are likely to avoid tournaments at their least favorite lake if boat inspection procedures take too …

From Craft To Industry: The Boat Builders Of Holland, Geoffrey D. Reynolds

Faculty Publications

The article From Craft to Industry: The Boat Builders of Holland is an article concerning the history of ship and boat building in the Holland, Michigan area from 1836-2013.

Meaningful Learning Experiences: The Influence Of Group-Based Adventure Recreation On Behavioral Addiction Treatment, Robert Levon Henderson

Theses and Dissertations

Adventure recreation (AR) has been found to supplement addiction treatment and recovery in valuable ways. However, questions about the components and processes of AR and its influence on behavioral addiction specifically, e.g., gambling, video gaming, pornography, etc., still remain. Using the Meaningful Learning Experiences Model (an AR-based framework) and a quasi-experimental pre-post design, the present study examined AR's influence on three therapeutic principles (authenticity, social network support, and therapeutic engagement) that have been found to significantly influence addiction recovery. Seventy-five participants with sexually related addictions, namely pornography addicts, supplemented their 12-Steps recovery meetings with a Meaningful Learning Experience and scuba …

Too Much Puff, Not Enough Push? Surf Lifeguard Simulated Cpr Performance, Kevin Moran, Jonathon Webber

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purpose of this paper is to report on the technical competency of volunteer surf lifeguards to perform CPR on a manikin in light of their lifeguard experience, age, and gender. The CPR skills of surf lifeguards on patrol at the beginning of the 2010-11 summer season were tested on manikins by observation of CPR procedures and electronic recording of compression and ventilation skills. Almost all lifeguards (n=252) made the appropriate initial checks for responsiveness (98%). Compression skills were generally performed accurately with few technical errors (such as incomplete release). Most lifeguards (87%) over-ventilated the lungs (> 600ml) on each …

Assessing Tourist Experience Satisfaction With A Heritage Destination, Yuan Yao

Open Access Theses

The research is concerned with understanding the relationships among heritage motivation, travel experience, and overall satisfaction. It attempts to uncover how tourist motivation, destination attribute performance, and tourist emotional involvement interact and, at the same time, contribute toward a satisfying heritage tourism experience. The empirical research was conducted at the city of Nanjing, China, as a case of a heritage destination. People who were visiting Nanjing were randomly and voluntarily selected to participate in the self-administrated survey. A total of 282 valid questionnaires were collected with a response rate of about 55%. Factor analysis and mediation analysis were conducted by …

It's Hard To Adjust To A Florida Christmas When You're Sweating, Richard C. Crepeau

UCF Forum

I have tried. I really have. But to no avail.

Mega-Renters: Who Are They And How Do They Operate?, Stefan William Cosentino

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation investigates individuals who have acquired an extraordinary number of vacation ownership (timeshare) points or weeks and utilize their ownership for the purposes of generating income by renting their room reservations to the third parties. Individuals who operate in this context have been referred to as mega-renters on blogs such as the Timeshare Users Group website (Tug2.net), commonly referred to as Tug, which is an online forum where owners of timeshare share information about their ownership.

The timeshare or vacation ownership product is a leisure product that provides consumers luxury accommodations and or vacation experiences. Academic opinion based on …

Drinking Water Resource Directory, New England Environmental Finance Center

Sustainable Communities Capacity Building

This document is intended to help local and regional planning agencies, and their constituent water utilities, integrate drinking water infrastructure planning and investments into plans for sustainable development. Resources listed here provide guidance on making land use decisions that protect water resources, setting adequate and sustainable drinking water rates, controlling water loss, funding water infrastructure projects, and managing water utilities.

The directory was developed by the Environmental Finance Center Network through the Capacity Building for Sustainable Communities program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency. Through this program, EFCN is providing capacity …