lee villegas - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Uploads
Papers by lee villegas
The purpose of this thesis was to compare Ward\u27s method cluster and latent profile analysis in... more The purpose of this thesis was to compare Ward\u27s method cluster and latent profile analysis in their identification of subgroups of youth that are not yet smokers but may be in the near future. The variables used to identify these subgroups are measures indicative of behavior change known as the Pros of Smoking, Cons of Smoking, and Situational Temptations to Smoke. Both analyses were conducted within 5 random subsamples generated out of a larger pool (N=3493) of 6th grade children attending elementary school in the state of Rhode Island. Evidence for the existence of a 4-cluster solution of potential youth smokers was found with both methods despite variability in actual case assignment of subjects to subgroups within and across methods. The use of Ward\u27s method and latent profile analysis together allowed for the identification of additional cases at elevated risk for smoking acquisition
El cantón Jama, ubicado en la provincia de Manabí, ha sido por décadas un centro de operaciones p... more El cantón Jama, ubicado en la provincia de Manabí, ha sido por décadas un centro de operaciones para la producción acuícola, siendo esta actividad la que caracteriza a esta zona del país. En Jama al igual que muchas otras zonas acuícolas en el país, el Penaeus vannamei es la especie mayormente cultivada. Este sufrió los embates del virus de la Mancha Blanca durante los primeros años del siglo, pero la zona se ha recuperado. Sin embargo hay mucho que se puede mejorar para optimizar los procesos de producción, por lo cual se hace la propuesta técnica definida a fin de optimizar la rentabilidad de los productores mediante inversiones en sus infraestructuras y en sus protocolos de cultivos.
This dissertation examined predictors of change in college freshmen and sophomore cognitions of a... more This dissertation examined predictors of change in college freshmen and sophomore cognitions of alcohol expectancies through secondary analyses of data collected in a randomized brief motivational interview (BMI) intervention for at-risk college drinkers (N=1067). Positive and negative alcohol expectancies were assessed at 6 time points over a 2 year period. Information on the selected predictors, which include demographic, peer and family influence, alcohol use and problem, and other drug use variables, was collected at baseline. Change in alcohol expectancies over my Major Professor, Robert Laforge, Internal Committee Member, Gary Stoner, and External Committee Member, Stephen Kogut. Admittedly, I have made the process of proposing and defending this dissertation a very difficult one. During this process these members have proven to be patient, courteous, informative and, most importantly, responsive. There is a special level of admiration that have for my Major Professor, who never stopped believing in me (if he did he was kind enough to keep it to himself). Robert Laforge has been with me since the beginning of this degree seeking endeavor which started over 9 years ago. If it was not for him none of this would be possible. He took a chance on me when the Psychology Department questioned my fit within its Behavioral Science Doctoral Program. He grinded with me for hours on end while I was completing my Masters and Doctoral theses. He advocated for me when the Graduate School was going to dismiss me for failure to meet their timeline to degree. For all of this, Robert Laforge deserves a heartfelt thank you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS
The purpose of this thesis was to compare Ward\u27s method cluster and latent profile analysis in... more The purpose of this thesis was to compare Ward\u27s method cluster and latent profile analysis in their identification of subgroups of youth that are not yet smokers but may be in the near future. The variables used to identify these subgroups are measures indicative of behavior change known as the Pros of Smoking, Cons of Smoking, and Situational Temptations to Smoke. Both analyses were conducted within 5 random subsamples generated out of a larger pool (N=3493) of 6th grade children attending elementary school in the state of Rhode Island. Evidence for the existence of a 4-cluster solution of potential youth smokers was found with both methods despite variability in actual case assignment of subjects to subgroups within and across methods. The use of Ward\u27s method and latent profile analysis together allowed for the identification of additional cases at elevated risk for smoking acquisition
El cantón Jama, ubicado en la provincia de Manabí, ha sido por décadas un centro de operaciones p... more El cantón Jama, ubicado en la provincia de Manabí, ha sido por décadas un centro de operaciones para la producción acuícola, siendo esta actividad la que caracteriza a esta zona del país. En Jama al igual que muchas otras zonas acuícolas en el país, el Penaeus vannamei es la especie mayormente cultivada. Este sufrió los embates del virus de la Mancha Blanca durante los primeros años del siglo, pero la zona se ha recuperado. Sin embargo hay mucho que se puede mejorar para optimizar los procesos de producción, por lo cual se hace la propuesta técnica definida a fin de optimizar la rentabilidad de los productores mediante inversiones en sus infraestructuras y en sus protocolos de cultivos.
This dissertation examined predictors of change in college freshmen and sophomore cognitions of a... more This dissertation examined predictors of change in college freshmen and sophomore cognitions of alcohol expectancies through secondary analyses of data collected in a randomized brief motivational interview (BMI) intervention for at-risk college drinkers (N=1067). Positive and negative alcohol expectancies were assessed at 6 time points over a 2 year period. Information on the selected predictors, which include demographic, peer and family influence, alcohol use and problem, and other drug use variables, was collected at baseline. Change in alcohol expectancies over my Major Professor, Robert Laforge, Internal Committee Member, Gary Stoner, and External Committee Member, Stephen Kogut. Admittedly, I have made the process of proposing and defending this dissertation a very difficult one. During this process these members have proven to be patient, courteous, informative and, most importantly, responsive. There is a special level of admiration that have for my Major Professor, who never stopped believing in me (if he did he was kind enough to keep it to himself). Robert Laforge has been with me since the beginning of this degree seeking endeavor which started over 9 years ago. If it was not for him none of this would be possible. He took a chance on me when the Psychology Department questioned my fit within its Behavioral Science Doctoral Program. He grinded with me for hours on end while I was completing my Masters and Doctoral theses. He advocated for me when the Graduate School was going to dismiss me for failure to meet their timeline to degree. For all of this, Robert Laforge deserves a heartfelt thank you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS