Browsing by Subject "benefits"
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Item A multi-dimensional scale for repositioning public park and recreation services(Texas A&M University, 2004-09-30) Kaczynski, Andrew ThomasThe goal of this study was to develop an instrument to assist public park and recreation agencies in successfully repositioning their offerings in order to garner increased allocations of tax dollars. To achieve this, an agency must be perceived as providing public benefits, those that accrue to all members of its constituency. The scale sought to identify the importance of various community issues and perceptions of the agency's performance in contributing to those issues. A valid and reliable 36-item instrument was developed that encompasses nine distinct dimensions: Preventing Youth Crime, Environmental Stewardship, Enhancing Real Estate Values, Attracting and Retaining Businesses, Attracting and Retaining Retirees, Improving Community Health, Stimulating Urban Rejuvenation, Attracting Tourists, and Addressing the Needs of People who are Underemployed. These dimensions represent community issues that a park and recreation agency can contribute towards, and can therefore use as a basis for its repositioning efforts. Using a screening process by expert judges, a pretest sample of undergraduate students, and a sample of municipal residents, each of the importance and performance dimensions in the scale was judged to possess content validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and split-half reliability. A shortened version of the instrument was also demonstrated to possess internal consistency and construct validity. In a practical application, the scale proved useful in identifying repositioning options for the park and recreation department, both in isolation and relative to a public agency'competitor'. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are offered.Item Adult Female English Language Learners: Investment, Identity and Benefits(2013-07-31) Wharton, AnnaELLs are a growing community in the United States and their learning needs are significantly different from younger learners, collegiate ELLs or Adult Basic Education students. Additionally, adult female ELLs have their own needs and motives for investing in the English language. This study explores the self-recounted experiences of three adult female English language learners? (ELLs) motivation for investing in English language learning, their identities and the benefits gained in a nonacademic learning setting in Texas. Data for this study was gathered using a background questionnaire, individual interview, group interview and in-class observation using an instrument that looks for visible markers of investment. First, each participant?s investment and identity are analyzed with regard to how the two intersect and influence each other throughout the language learning experience. Second, investment and benefits are examined and presented to demonstrate before and after pictures of the participants? experiences learning English, asking, ?Have the learners gained what they sought to gain?? and ?Is it worth it?? Findings substantiate prior research on the influence that investment and identity have on each other in language learning, while also clearly demonstrating the explicit relationship between investment and benefits. The study concludes with an understanding that adult educators must recognize the individuality of each adult learner and her circumstances.Item Benefits and constraints associated with the use of an urban park reproted by the elderly in Hong Kong(Texas A&M University, 2006-04-12) Hung, KamThe purpose of this study was to identify benefits and constraints associated with the use of urban parks by a sample of elderly in Hong Kong. Before studying these topics, self-perception of aging of the elderly in Hong Kong was explored. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 individuals inside and 12 outside the Tsuen Wan Jockey Club Tak Wah Park. Purposive sampling was used to select the sample. The interviews were semi-structured, based on an interview guide of open-ended questions. Results of the study suggested that although there are some differences in explanations of aging among different countries, some aging models and theories which have been developed in western countries can be employed to interpret the aging phenomenon in Hong Kong. Several constraints and health-related social and psychological benefits of attending a park were reported by the sample. Heterogeneity of leisure constraints among different age cohorts of the elderly was found in the study. Although similarities were found between the benefits reported in this study and those reported in western countries, the magnitude of benefits received from visiting parks may be different because of the different characteristics of elderly in different countries.Item Legal issues in human resources for the small company in Texas(2009-08) Montpool, Andrew Peter; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Newburger, Manuel H.This report is intended to provide a quick reference on employment law for small businesses in Texas. Many of the key regulations governing hiring, pre-employment testing, pay, benefits, leave, discrimination and harassment, and termination are summarized so employers are aware of what they must do to comply with the various laws. Recent cases are included to help employers understand how some of these laws are being interpreted in court, and to highlight the importance of understanding when the various laws apply to a company or a specific situation. Finally, recommended best practices are also provided to help managers protect the company in case of legal action, or ideally to avoid it altogether.Item Session J3A | Learn the history, math, and benefits of juggling (as well as how to juggle!)(Texas Digital Library, 2022-05-25) Clark, PhilipCome learn how to juggle! Juggling is good for the mind and body. Bring 3 similar-sized objects you can safely drop (and won’t damage other things.) The best option is medium sized bean bags– but tennis balls, limes, a plastic bag of dried beans securely tied, or anything else you can find will work. We’ll look at the history, math, and benefits of juggling. Take a break and learn how to juggle and do a few tricks!Item The physical and emotional benefits of companion animals(Texas A&M University, 2006-10-30) Tietjen, Holli MarieElderly people are at high risk for conditions associated with inactivity, and lack of motivation is an important factor contributing to this inactivity. It is believed that a dog can provide the necessary motivation to get a senior citizen up and moving because it needs attention as well as someone to feed it and take it for walks. The objective of this five-week prospective cohort study was to determine if registered therapy dogs made available for informal visits to a cohort of retirement community elderly would motivate the subjects to increase their activity levels by comparing the number of steps taken in the presence of the exposure (opportunity to visit with dog) versus steps taken when unexposed (no opportunity to visit with dog). A secondary objective was to measure possible improvements in mental and physical health scores over the course of the study. The steps were measured each week with a pedometer and the happiness and depression scores were obtained through a questionnaire given at the beginning and at the end of the study. Twenty subjects agreed to participate, and there was an increasing trend in the number of steps over calendar weeks, but not an increase with exposure level (number of dog-visits). Happiness (p = .53) and depression (p = .083) scores did not significantly change during the study. Increased step counts each week may have been associated with other motivating factors such as competition among residents and individual desire to achieve higher counts each week.Item The relationship of time perspective to time allocation, recreation experience preferences, and wellness(Texas A&M University, 2006-10-30) Shores, Kindal AlayneTime perspective, as measured with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), has been empirically linked to many behaviors including health behaviors, time spent with family and friends, and career decisions. This dissertation research builds on investigations of time perspective by testing hypotheses about the relationship between each of Zimbardo??????s five time perspectives with residual time allocation, recreation experience preferences, and health and life satisfaction. Using a short questionnaire and time diary data, the relationship between how individuals frame time in the present, past, or future and how they allocate their discretionary time is described. Findings provide the foundation for continued study of the relationship of time perspective and recreation. Next, the relationship between an individual??????s time perspective and the benefits they seek from recreation are identified. Using results from a selfadministered mail questionnaire, hypotheses about the benefits sought by adults with different time perspectives are tested. Finally, results from the mail questionnaire are again used to test hypotheses about the relationship between time perspective, physical health, psychological health and life satisfaction. Findings provide information about the impact of different time perspectives on individual wellness and happiness. Moreover, results provide a tool for targeting adults in need of leisure education. In summary, this study provides a starting point for the use of time perspective in leisure research. Much replication, extension and application research will be required to extend findings from current results using student and general population samples. The dissertation is organized in four sections. An introductory section presents the theoretical orientation for research. The second, third, and fourth sections explicate the relationship of Zimbardo??????s five time perspectives with residual time allocation, benefits sought from recreation, and health and life satisfaction.