Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Adolescents’ Student Engagement As A Moderator Of The Association Between Bullying Role Behaviors And Internalizing Problems, Morgan Eldridge

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

School professionals are charged not only with advancing students’ knowledge, but also with developing their social and emotional skills; however, adolescence is a period in which many risk factors are present within a student’s environment and a critical goal for school reform is to identify features of the school environment that can be altered to improve student outcomes. The current study investigated associations between bullying participant role behaviors, broad internalizing problems, and student engagement in school. Adolescents (N = 429) completed the following self-report scales: Bullying Participant Behavior Questionnaire (BPBQ; Demaray & Summers, 2008), Student Engagement in School Questionnaire (SESQ; …

Sources Of Social Support And Their Relation To Stress And Engagement Among College Students, Jonathan D. Emmons

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Previous research has explored the impact of stress on students’ well-being, including academic outcomes such as grades and student engagement. Research has also noted the positive and protective impact of social support from family, friends, classmates, teachers, etc., on academic outcomes. The current study sought to extend the existing base of literature by exploring the relation between stress, social support, and engagement among college students. In the current sample, stress was found to be a significant, positive predictor of social engagement with peers. Regression results also revealed significant and positive associations between social support from family and academic engagement. Additionally, …

Burning With Potential: Understanding The Relationship Between Biochar And Agriculture Of The Northern Glaciated Plains Ecoregion, Kaitlyn Abrahamson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Achieving global sustainable agriculture is one of the most incredible challenges of this century, yet many continue to try to solve this problem through the development of precision technologies. Biotechnologies, such as biochar, can perform like a precision technology while protecting agricultural land from soil erosion and fertility loss. The Northern Glaciated Plains ecoregion of the United States is little researched in the benefits from the use of biochar through improved soil nutrient capture and water retention, crop health improvements, and yield increases. The study plot has four sections of corn stover biochar and eight sections of control sections. This …

Equipping With Excellence: Evaluating Effectiveness Of Staff Training On Counselors' Experience At Summer Camp, Avery Lee Hand

Senior Honors Theses

This research study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of staff training on the competency of counselors at summer camp. The study addresses the question, "How does the counselor training program provided by a camp affect the experience and effectiveness of the counselor throughout the summer?" The participant population includes 8 college age (18-22) camp counselors employed by Cru Kids Camp for summer 2019 as part of its elementary (K-5th) program. Through qualitative interview research, analyzed by thematic network coding, the researcher identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the particular training program. The goal of this study is to provide professional …

Help-Seeking Stigma And Attitudes In College Students And Parents, Samantha Sperling

Senior Honors Theses

Help-seeking stigma is a hindrance to obtaining treatment for mental illness and is related to people’s attitudes toward seeking help. Therefore, learning about the various types of stigma and gaining predictive knowledge of the constructs has value. Self-stigma and perceived stigma of others, as well as the attitudes people hold towards seeking help, were compared in college students and their parents. A sample of college students at a private Christian university and their parents were surveyed using the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH) scale, the Perception of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Help (PSOSH) scale, and a short form of …

Communication Patterns Between Physicians And Physician Assistants, Joey Valentini

Senior Honors Theses

Communication is imperative to the success of any team-based organization. In healthcare, it is common for patient outcomes to be affected by variables including but not limited to the quality of extraprofessional communication. Physicians and physician assistants are two meaningful and valued members of the medical care team, and the need for collaboration amongst each other is irrefutable. Physicians are the trusted leaders of any medical team, having completed the most amount of schooling and training. Physician assistants are versatile, economically advantageous, and skill-proficient mid-level practitioners that are required by law to be supervised by a collaborating physician. The working …

“Borikén Libre”: Spaces Of Resistance In Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Relationships Between Dress And Gender In A Context Of Cultural Change, Alyssa Dana Adomaitis, Diana Saiki, Kim K. P. Johnson

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Open-Mindedness Is An Achievement: Prototyping A New Threshold Concept For Information Literacy, Mark N. Lenker Iii

Library Faculty Presentations

Open-mindedness is an achievement, not a trait that one has by default. It requires careful attention to the best available evidence and argument on a question. It finds its fullest expression in the context of a loving pursuit of truth.

Librarians And Administrators On Academic Library Impact Research: Characteristics And Perspectives, James Cheng, Starr Hoffman Phd

Library Faculty Research

This study surveyed librarians, researchers, administrators, and others engaged in research on the impact of academic libraries on student success. This study, sponsored by an ACRL Impact Grant, specifically sought to expand the ACRL Academic Library Impact report, which defined strategic directions for library impact research, largely defined from the perspective of high-level administrators. This study addressed this limitation by surveying and interviewing professional librarians who are directly conducting library impact research, asking about their research experience, their attitudes about impact research, and their response to the ACRL report. Notable findings include differences in attitudes between librarians and library administrators …

Integrating Student Assistants Into Digital Repository Workflows: Challenges And Best Practices, Christina M. Miskey, Kelsey Lupo Mazmanyan, Cory K. Lampert, Andrea Wirth

Library Faculty Research

The Scholarly Communication Initiatives and Digital Collections departments within the University of Nevada, Las Vegas adapted staff workflows to become student-centered, where workers create digital content for the University Libraries’ digital repositories. Each department has a diverse set of needs; Scholarly Communication Initiatives hires students to help with the creation of metadata records, review open access options for sharing each work, and upload items into the institutional repository. Digital Collections relies on students to scan, create metadata, and upload images online that reflect physical holdings in Special Collections and Archives. Utilizing student workers also provides more time for full-time staff …

Assessing Generational Preferences In Characteristics Of An Admired Leader Among Career Library Professionals, Amy Tureen, Susie Skarl

Library Faculty Research

This study utilizes Posner and Kouzes’ Characteristics of an Admired Leader (CAL) instrument to determine if there are generational preferences in characteristics of an admired leader among career library professionals. Data was gathered from nearly 800 respondents, coded into generational cohorts, and assessed from commonalities across generational lines. Additional assessment of the data sought trends across generational cohorts within the context of employment status, library type, library subfield, and generational identity. The authors concluded that while there is little generational difference in the characteristics of an admired leader, there are commonalities across the profession at large and suggest that library …

Banned Books Buffet, Amanda Melilli, Rosan Mitola

Library Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Unlv Special Collections And Archives 2019 Archival Processing Metrics Survey Dataset, Cyndi Shein, Sarah R. Jones, Tammi Kim, Karla Irwin

Library Faculty Datasets

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Libraries Special Collections and Archives is studying how archival processing metrics (including the hours of labor required to process each linear/cubic foot) are gathered and used by our colleagues. UNLV Special Collections and Archives conducted a survey with the objective to gather informal opinions and realities about processing metrics in an effort to understand the broader use of such metrics, to learn what data points are most essential, and to understand why more archival programs are not collecting and assessing processing metrics. The survey utilized the web-based tool Google Forms to gather responses …

Gamers Who Gamble: Examining The Relationship Between Esports Spectatorship And Event Wagering, Brett Abarbanel, Joseph Macey, Juho Hamari, Rolando R. Corley Melton

International Gaming Institute Faculty Research

During recent years, while electronic sports (esports) has increasingly become a positive mainstream cultural phenomenon, it also may have several socio-economic implications, such as the growth of esports betting. Much like betting in sport, betting on esports has become a prominent form of gambling. However, there is still a paucity of knowledge on the demographic characteristics of this gambling cohort, particularly in regard to its relationship to video game play and spectatorship. In the present study, past-year video gamers (N = 1368) completed an online survey. Survey questions inquired about their esports event spectating, video game play, and esports betting …

Leveraging Data To Reduce Gun Violence: The Cincinnati Experience, Matthew G. Hammer, Tamara D. Herold

Criminal Justice Faculty Research

The year 2020 has amplified demands for more equitable policing, more efficient government, and greater transparency. As police leaders around the world attempt to maintain order and safety during a period of large-scale civil unrest, they must also address criticisms that existing law enforcement practices include biased interventions and reinforce systemic racism. Many law enforcement agencies are also responding to increasing numbers of serious crimes that disproportionately affect society’s most vulnerable communities, while simultaneously facing calls to “defund the police” fueled by accusations that challenge the legitimacy of their policing tactics. The strategies used by agencies to manage protests and …

Crime Place Networks In Las Vegas: A New Violence Reduction Strategy, Tamara D. Herold

Criminal Justice Faculty Research

In 2017, the Las Vegas, Nevada, Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) adopted a series of interventions designed to reduce gang and gun violence across Las Vegas. In partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police/University of Cincinnati (IACP/UC) Center for Police Research and Policy and with evaluation funding provided by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the LVMPD implemented three violence reduction strategies: (1) focused deterrence (offender notification session); (2) hot spot patrols; and (3) place network investigations (PNI), also known as place-based investigations of violent offender territories (PIVOT), which is the focus here.

Exchange Rate And Cost Of Credit Fluctuations In Ghana Before And After Inflation Targeting Framework, Patrick Glavee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fluctuations in exchange rate and cost of credit affect most economies in the world. The problem arises with the uncertainty it generates and the challenges it poses to the economy. The volatility of the exchange rate has been studied extensively in the extant literature, but the problem continues to persist. This paper therefore investigates whether inflation targeting framework influences the exchange rate and cost of credit in Ghana using data from February 2001 to March 2019. Using vector autoregressive model and vector error correction model, the study reveals that the exchange rate situation improves in both the short and long …

Biophysical And Socioeconomic Impacts Of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration In Burkina Faso, Basnewende Brice Fulgence Zoungrana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human actions such as overgrazing, the development of cities at the expense of forests, high intensity and poor agricultural management, and so forth, reduce the resources available for future generations. Because Earth has limited resources, it is important to judiciously use and manage natural resources. Human actions towards nature are the focus of my research in Africa. Increased demands for grazing, agriculture, and ecosystem services led some farmers in developing countries to use unsustainable practices, which may lead to low incomes and poor food nutrition for households. Farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) may be a solution to these issues. FMNR …

What Epidemic? Rural, Suburban, And Urban Community Members' Perceptions Of Opioid Use In The Current Epidemic, Carly A. Besler

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The opioid epidemic in the United States does not discriminate. With previous research showing the rise of the opioid epidemic and how it is impacting all communities, there is a lack of research addressing perceptions towards the opioid epidemic on a national level and in local communities. Thus, my proposed thesis asks, what are the perceptions rural, suburban, and urban community members have towards opioid use within their community? More specifically, does institutional anomie on the national level, and social disorganization on the community level, influence perceptions of opioid use. Administered through a survey, via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, I will …

Hippocampal Cholinergic Function And Exploratory Behavior Throughout Development In A Genetic Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Ashley Andrea Blackwell

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions of people worldwide. Specific genetic mutations increase Alzheimer’s disease-related neuropathology and cognitive impairments. Deficits are observed in spatial orientation throughout the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, including wandering behavior or becoming lost in a familiar environment. Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type patients also exhibit disruptions in radial optic flow, which underlies self-movement cue processing. Currently, no treatments exist for Alzheimer’s disease. Genetic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease have been developed to investigate the disease onset and progression and, further, to evaluate potential therapies and behavioral assessments. As …

Thought-Action Fusion: Comparative Relationship With Symptoms Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder And Eating Disorders, Samuel Cares

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

There are many similarities between the presentations of individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and individuals with eating pathology. These include similar obsessive thoughts, repetitive actions, and shared personality characteristics, such as perfectionism. However, similarities may extend beyond that of DSM-based symptomatology to include an important cognitive process called thought-action fusion (TAF). Thought-action fusion is a construct derived from the OCD literature wherein individuals feel that there may be a connection between their thoughts and real-world outcomes. There has been considerable research illustrating the impact TAF has on individuals with OCD, both in terms of development and maintenance of obsessions and …

Moving Quickly: One Student’S Reflections On The Value Of Secondary Accelerated Learning Programs, Rachel Marie West

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this interpretive biography was to understand how college graduates perceive their experiences in secondary (high school) accelerated learning programs and the impact of that participation on their continued education. This inquiry was guided by the overarching question: What are college graduates’ perceptions and understandings of their experiences in secondary accelerated programs? Using a postmodern philosophy to review the empirical materials, this interpretive biography focused on the lived experience of a college graduate who participated in an accelerated secondary program and focuses on her reflections after graduating from a four-year university. The study finds that generally, secondary accelerated …

Exercise Training As Adjunct Therapy For Substance Use Disorder, Emily Lynn Roessel

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Exercise training for clients at out-patient drug rehabilitation centers likely helps with coping skills. However, a better examination of the mechanisms producing changes may help identify effective interventions. PURPOSE: To test the effect of a vigorous exercise prescription on drug abstinence in voluntary rehabilitation patients. METHODS: 25 surveyed participants in a male drug treatment program underwent a 12-week minimum training program. The program included moderate-rigorous exercise and psychotherapy. Three days per week all subjects participated in EP for 90 minutes. Subjects also participated in ABIT 3 days per week where each session lasted 2 hours. Subjects also participated in ESM …

The Role Of Food And Culinary Customs In The Homing Process For Syrian Migrants In California, Sally Baho

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This interdisciplinary thesis explores the foodways of six Syrian migrant families, both immigrants and refugees, in California and the role that culinary customs play in their homing process. The homing process is the dynamic way in which people create home according to their life circumstances: food, eating, and culinary customs after migration in this case. Home is not only the place where people live, but also, where they come from and how they feel comfortable; home is both a physical space and an abstract concept. Home, and the various definitions of home, are mapped out in this project because understanding …

Insurance Status And Obesity As Predictors Of Cost In Trauma Care, Emily Homer

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Insurance is a vital factor in the billed cost to the patient, but to what degree does insurance explain the amount a patient is left to pay? Also, does obesity further influence patient’s billed cost? This thesis assesses the type of thoracic trauma patient, insurance status, and their billed cost. Database variables were analyzed in IBM SPSS 25. Table 1 characteristics were evaluated based on demographics and systematic hospital factors. Linear regressions used Private0_Government1 and BMI Obese n_y_ as independent variables while Total Patient Cost was the dependent variable. Private0_Government1 insurance explained .03% of Total Patient Charges. Private0_Government1 and BMI …

Listener Responses Can Influence The Presentation Of Restricted Interest Topics To Individuals With Asd, Sadaf Fakharzadeh

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The behavior of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can influence caregiver responses that lead to countertherapeutic outcomes. However, there are few experimental evaluations of variables that can cause potentially undesirable interactions between those with ASD and their caregivers. Specifically, little is known about the effects of listener interest on the restricted topics presented by caregivers. We evaluated the influence of listener responses exhibited by a confederate acting as a person with ASD on the topics presented by three undergraduate students who were interested in working with individuals diagnosed with ASD. Each session consisted of a 5-min conversation, during …

Innovation Within Regulations: Gaining Insight On Cultivating Employee-Led Innovation In California Public-Sector Organizations, Rebecca N. Franklin

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The inquiry concerned gaining insights into environmental elements needed within California public-sector organizations to increase employees’ willingness to share innovative ideas. Although research exists regarding the need for service innovation and employees as fruitful sources of innovative ideas, there have been limited studies concerning public-sector organizations and the best method to solicit employee ideas. The data collection for this qualitative research study consisted of a series of interviews with front-line, non-supervisory civil servants. The results provide insights and information on how public-sector organizations may foster a culture that promotes and encourages employee-led innovation. The themes that emerged were (a) transparency …

Using Community Cultural Wealth Narratives Of Low-Income High School Students In A Rural Northern California Community, Rene Rodriguez Malamed

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the experiences of white, low-income high school students completing their senior year in a rural community and earning their diplomas. The purpose of the study was to examine participants’ stories during high school using a community cultural wealth framework and narrative methodological approach. Results showed that students utilized capitals such as social, moral, familial and resistant in their small communities. Multiple capitals interacted and influenced each other as rural youth draw on these for support.

How Much Do You Care About Education? Exploring Fluctuations Of Public Interest In Education Issues Among Top National Priorities In The U.S., Dana Nehoran

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

It is well known that a strong education system produces citizens who are more engaged in civil and social duties, with obvious benefits to society and the individuals. Policymakers who have the power to help improve the education system frequently rely on the news or the polls to better understand the issues involved, but these tools are often unable to answer customized questions on the public view with a large enough coverage.

Monitoring the American public interest in education over the years is not new. In fact, a number of national polling agencies have tracked education as part of their …