California State University, Monterey Bay
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Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) on students in the Classroom Settings
Full text linkEffective classroom management is essential for fostering safe, inclusive, and productive learning environments. This senior capstone research project examines the role of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and positive reinforcement in shaping student behavior, particularly in early education and inclusive settings. Drawing from personal experience as a behavior technician and aspiring special educator, the study emphasizes the importance of data-driven, student-centered approaches to behavior support. It reviews core ABA principles and explores their practical implementation in classrooms, highlighting tools, such as the Class Dojo app that facilitates real-time feedback and student motivation. Aligned with the Liberal Studies Major Learning Outcomes at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), this senior capstone research project underscores the need to prepare liberal studies undergraduates with foundational behavior management strategies to support both neurodiverse and general education students. Ultimately, this senior capstone research project will advocate for greater integration of ABA-informed practices in schools to enhance student outcomes and teacher effectiveness
Care in a bag: Supporting Unhoused Individuals
No full textThis capstone project aimed to support H.E.R.S.’ outreach efforts by creating and distributing care packages containing essential hygiene supplies and snacks to improve the immediate well being of individuals living unsheltered. The project involved developing a donation list, securing contributions from community members, assembling care packages, and distributing them directly during outreach. The expected outcome was to increase comfort, dignity, and access to necessities while strengthening community engagement.
Project results indicate that the initiative successfully provided essential items to individuals experiencing homelessness and increased awareness among donors and volunteers. Although limited funding restricted the number of packages distributed, the project still achieved its core goal of providing immediate relief and establishing a model for ongoing donation efforts.
Recommendations include expanding donor partnerships, conducting ongoing needs assessments, increasing outreach staffing, and developing a sustained donation program to further support the county’s unhoused populatio
Father Engagement: Play is the Way
No full textThis capstone project focuses on enhancing father engagement in family and community life, emphasizing the critical role fathers play in their children\u27s learning and overall development. Implemented through Encompass Community Services, in alignment with Collaborative Health and Human Services, the project targets families with young children, particularly fathers who may face barriers to active involvement. The initiative aims to identify areas that need additional support, recognize existing strengths, and develop strategies that foster meaningful participation in their children\u27s lives. A central component of the project is the planning and execution of a father-focused community event. Responsibilities included organizing engaging activities, creating educational content, recruiting participants, developing promotional strategies, and managing event logistics. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, the project incorporated outcome measurements such as participant tracking, knowledge assessments, mentor interviews, and post-event surveys. The expected outcomes of this project included increased father participation, strengthened family relationships, enhanced childhood developmental support, and greater community awareness of the importance of father engagement. By fostering collaboration between fathers, families, and the community, this project seeks to create a supportive environment that promotes child well-being and family cohesion. The initiative underscores the values of holistic approaches in Collaborative Health and Human Services and highlights the impact of father involvement on childhood development and family stability
Survey For Woman Warriors
No full textThe Survey for Woman Warriors was created as a capstone internship project in collaboration with GI Josie. This local nonprofit organization serves women veterans (WVs), active-duty servicewomen, and their families. Women veterans represent an understudied population that experiences distinct mental health and wellness challenges. This survey aimed to gain a clearer understanding of the experiences and needs of WVs residents in Monterey County. The methodology involved designing and delivering a trauma-informed needs assessment, selected as a time- and cost-effective approach to collecting mixed-method data from participants. Results indicated that the project met its expected outcomes, highlighting a need for greater accessibility in women’s healthcare and improvements in addressing systemic gender bias. Recommendations for future organizational efforts include increasing advocacy initiatives, expanding community outreach, and collaborating with veterans’ service centers to improve access to resources
Oceanographic Drivers of Recruitment and Reproductive Potential of Gopher Rockfish (Sebastes carnatus) – Historical Variability and Future Projections Under Climate Change
No full textAnticipating climate-change impacts on fisheries requires understanding how marine species respond to future ocean conditions. The productivity and abundance of fish populations are largely shaped by the survival of early life stages, which are highly sensitive to ocean conditions. Variation in ocean conditions can influence early stages of fish species by influencing reproductive output of adults and/or larval health, survival, and retention. The goal of this study was to understand how oceanographic variables can impact reproduction and recruitment of a nearshore rockfish species, gopher rockfish (Sebastes carnatus), helping to forecast potential climate change impacts on the population. I assessed historical relationships between estimated gopher rockfish recruitment from the stock assessment model, and regional biogeochemical variables, physical drivers, and large-scale climate indices. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) was the most consistent and significant predictor of recruitment, particularly during the late gestation and early larval periods in March. Warmer, more stratified conditions during positive PDO phases were associated with elevated dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and temperature in nearshore waters, which in turn coincided with increased year-class strength. Results from the first chapter support the hypothesis that source water properties, particularly DO, pH, and temperature, are likely to influence adult fish health, thereby affecting total larval output and year-class strength. The second chapter of this thesis presents a laboratory study designed to examine the influence of low DO and pH on total larval production of gestating female gopher rockfish. A log-linear model incorporating maternal length and a combined stressor of pH and DO reveal that maternal body size scaled exponentially with fecundity and exposure to lower DO/pH conditions significantly reduced fecundity. When these results were extrapolated to the population level, the log deviation between the environmentally informed models, which incorporate the influence of pH and DO on fecundity, and length-only models accounted for 21–26% of the variation in historical recruitment deviations, highlighting the potential role of oceanographic conditions in shaping year-class strength via total larval output. When the same total larval output model is projected into the future, there is a 10-30% decline in population level total larval output by the end of the century. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating environmental drivers into fisheries models to better understand and predict population dynamics under changing ocean conditions
Enhancing End-of-Life Quality in Hospice Care
No full textThe increasing demand for hospice care in Monterey County is a clear indicator of the rapid growth in the need for end-of-life services driven by the aging population. The project was developed at the Department of Hospice of the Central Coast, which is under the Montage Health Foundation, a non-profit organization. The community served consists of elderly people receiving hospice and end-of-life care, as well as volunteers who provide administrative and indirect support. The Volunteer Handbook aims to create a comprehensive procedural manual for hospice volunteers to improve administrative efficiency and ensure the quality of care. Interviews were conducted with administrative staff and volunteers to identify the difficulties they face and determine the essential procedures to include. A volunteer procedural manual, as the final product, is intended to facilitate office tasks, enhance volunteer readiness, and ensure continuity during periods of staff shortages. The results indicate that tools like the manual are indispensable for maintaining consistent volunteer engagement at the hospice and for operations to run smoothly. It is suggested that the organization continue to support both the physical and digital copies of the manual as a living document, updated annually to reflect changes in procedures. This initiative contributes to enhancing volunteer integration and the overall quality of hospice care services
Building Healthy Smiles: A Bilingual Oral Health Workshop with the Monterey County Health Department
No full textUntreated dental decay remains high in Monterey County, particularly among low-income, Spanish-speaking families, due to provider shortages and persistent gaps in oral-health education. In partnership with the Monterey County Health Department’s Oral Health Program, which delivers prevention, education, and access initiatives countywide, this capstone project focuses on parents and caregivers of young children living in a diverse community with long-standing access barriers. The project’s purpose was to strengthen parents\u27 knowledge, confidence, and intentions to practice preventive oral-health behaviors at home. To achieve this, an interactive, bilingual (Spanish/English) workshop was designed and delivered on November 5, 2025, featuring demonstrations on proper brushing and flossing, guidance on diet and sugar reduction, the importance of routine dental visits, and navigation to local affordable dental resources. All attendees were invited to complete an immediate, anonymous questionnaire following the session. Preliminary responses indicated clear gains in self-reported knowledge and confidence, along with strong intentions to implement key prevention practices, including two-minute brushing, limiting sugary beverages, and scheduling regular preventive visits, effectively meeting the project’s short-term learning objectives
Gender Dynamics in Quadball: Making Space on the Pitch
No full textQuadball is a sport based on Quidditch, the fictional sport born from the book series, Harry Potter, minus the flying. The introduction of this paper provides an overview of the sport and why gender plays such a significant role in it. Twelve players were brought together for a study and were put into three focus groups to discuss and hear other player’s perspectives on gender dynamics within the sport. There was a non-binary, women’s and men’s group. Overall, it was found that players are working toward making the sport more gender inclusive, but the sport has not achieved full gender equality. Players considered biological differences and systemic misogyny in regards to how they affect game play and team dynamics. Quadball is fairly gender inclusive when comparing it to other sports, but there is still work to be done. Each group had a different perspective on how gender is treated within the sport, likely having a connection to how gender is treated in society as a whole. The sport has the potential to trailblaze equal gender standards within the sports world, but in order to get there, the individual teams need to take the initiative in being the driving force
Reaching For More Families: A Path To Better Engagement
No full textMany families in Santa Cruz County struggle with the high cost of childcare. Go Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization, offers subsidized child care services to low-income families. A survey was conducted with four employees from the Eligibility Department at the Santa Cruz County office to assess whether the agency’s outreach efforts could be improved. This department handles key functions like intake, case management, and family support. Half of the participants felt that Go Kids, Inc. could do more to engage with the community. The project shows that there are areas of improvement that Go Kids Inc., can work on with their employees to better enhance their community outreach coordination. A recommended step for the agency is to encourage their employees to attend community-based events where they can promote their subsidized child care services, and increase awareness within the community
Enhancing College Students’ Awareness of Effective Stress Management Strategies
Full text linkMany college students may not have learned effective stress management skills. Given that college students often face academic pressure, financial challenges, and social conflict, they may benefit from learning about practical ways of managing these stressors effectively. College students who do not use effective stress management skills may be at risk for physical and mental health problems and may struggle academically. When college students develop better stress management skills, they can experience lower levels of stress and anxiety and increased resilience. Therefore, I have created a one-day workshop for the women’s basketball team at Gavilan College in Gilroy, California