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Examining Restricted And Repetitive Behavior In Children With Autism: A Descriptive Study, Dawn Deann Detweiler

Masters Theses

This exploratory study examined the specific topographies and corresponding demographic information of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, interests and activities of children with autism, and evaluated developmental differences between age groups. Previous literature has largely neglected this core feature of autism despite the need, and frequent call for such foundational data (Bodfish et al., 2000; Kennedy et al., 2000; Mercier et al., 2000; Turner, 1999). Participants included primary caregivers of 104 children who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for autism (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) and ranged in age from 3 to 7 years (M = 4. 7). The behaviors reported as occurring …

Reinforcement Schedules Modulate Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine And Cocaine, Daniel Kueh

Masters Theses

Drug discrimination is a model used to assess the subjective effects of different psychoactive drugs such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cocaine. However, results from MDMA discrimination studies across different laboratories have not been consistent. Possible confounds for this inconsistency may include the use of different reinforcement schedules such as the fixed-ratio 20 (FR20) and the variable interval 15 seconds (VI15 s) during discrimination training. Studies examining the effects of these two schedules on the discriminative stimulus properties of MDMA and cocaine have not been conducted. Thus, the present study compared the FR20 and the VI15 s schedules to determine their …

A Multicomponent Intervention System Using Human Performance Technology Concepts To Improve Performance In Small Service Businesses, Doug Lafleur

Masters Theses

A small business servicing dealerships in the chimney lining industry was responsible for training and resupplying contractors in a propriety chimney lining system. A process was developed for sharing and comparing the dealerships' financial reports and business processes. The process involved a small group of dealers attending regular 6- month meetings called Impact Groups. Dealers took turns hosting the meetings and having the attending dealers analyze their business. A detailed list of problems and solutions was provided to each host business.

Personal Narrative Views Of Mothers And Their Children: Setting Events For Mother-Child Interactions?, Meredith P. Schwartzman

Masters Theses

The personal narratives of mothers and children were examined for coherence and richness. Both were assessed for commonalities in narrative structure and possible links to mother’s responsiveness to child’s aversion behaviors. Narrative structure was empirically manipulated to assess changes on responsiveness and child negativity. A sample of thirty mother-child dyads were recruited for participation from normal populations and ten mother-dyads were recruited through the University of Tennessee Psychological Clinic. Measures include the Child Behavior Checklist 9CBCL; Achenback & Edelbrock, 1983), Personal Narrative (Castlebury & Wahler, 1997), and the Standardized Observation Codes-Revised (SOC-R, see Cerezo, 1988). Mother and child narratives were …

Dietary Exposure To Aroclor 1254 Impairs Radial Arm Maze Acquisition And Performance In Rats, Danielle M. Paris-Larson

Masters Theses

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is suspected to produce long lasting cognitive deficits in children and adults. This study assessed the effects of dietary exposure to a commercial mixture of PCBs on spatial learning and memory in Fisher 344 rats. Aroclor 1254 (0, 10, 50 ppm) was administered for 28 consecutive days in the daily diet. Seven days after the last dietary exposure, acquisition training began in an eight-arm radial maze. Following 28 days of acquisition training, "working" memory was assessed using a delayed win/shift procedure. Each delay (20 minutes, 2 hours, and 6 hours) was examined on three consecutive …

A Comparison Of The Shopping Preferences Of College Age Apparel Shoppers In Turkey And The United States, William C. Perrine

Masters Theses

This study compared the store attribute preferences of college-age apparel shoppers in Turkey with those of their United States counterparts. The American respondents were selected from a convenience sample of students from a Midwestern university. The Turkish respondents consisted of a convenience sample of undergraduate and graduate students from two urban universities. Ninety-six surveys were given in Turkey and 113 were given in the United States to currently enrolled female and male undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 17 and 51, yielding 204 usable surveys at a 97 percent response rate. Twenty-one shopping preferences were included in the …

Effect Of Gender, Socioeconomic Status And Family Structure On Depression In Adolescents In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lada Mujkic

Masters Theses

The relationship between self-reported depressive symptomatology among adolescents in Bosnia-Herzegovina, who experienced the chronic stress during four year war, and risk factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, and family structure were investigated in the current study. The present study tested the hypothesis that each one of above mentioned risk factors individually impact depressive mood. Also interactions between gender and socioeconomic status and gender and family structure were hypothesized. A nationally representative sample of high school teenagers was selected from two high schools in the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo (N=559, 263 boys and 296 girls, mean age 15.34). Data from questionnaire …

Psychometric Properties Of The Pswq-A In A Community Sample Of Older Adults, Julie A. Crittendon

Masters Theses

Among older adults, GAD is as prevalent as major depression (Blazer, George, & Hughes, 1991). As a result of scale development and norming that generally incorporates younger samples, psychometrically sound anxiety and worry instruments for older cohorts are limited. The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; Meyer, Miller, Metzger, & Brokovec, 1990) is one instrument that may be useful for assessing worry in older adults, although limitations of this scale recently were highlighted that resulted in the development of a revised version that more effectively might assess worry in older adults, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Abbreviated (PSWQ-A; Hopko et. al., 2003). …

The Assessment Of Psychopathic Traits And Risk-Taking Using Balloon Analog Risk Task (Bart), Melissa Kathryn Hunt

Masters Theses

Continuing a program of research assessing the utility of the Behavioral Analog Risk Task (BART, Lejuez et al, 2002) as a measure of risk taking, the BART was administered to a non-forensic sample of individuals high and low in self-reported psychopathy. Inter-relations of BART performance with measures of psychopathy and impulsivity were examined, with an emphasis on exploring the predictive validity of self-report measures on overt risk-taking behavior. Following completion of the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (SRP-II; Hare, 1991), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS; Barratt, 1985), and the Authority Problems subscale (Pd2) of the MMPI-2 (Harris & Lingoes, 1955), physiological data were …

The Effects Of On-The-Spot Observations In A Behavioral Safety Application, Sigurdur Oli Sigurdsson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a package intervention on critical safety behaviors and conditions in a food and drinking industry setting. The intervention involved training a sub sample of employees to conduct safety observations, providing all employees with safety information, and posting weekly graphic safety feedback on six safety-related variables based on employee observations. A multiple baseline design across departments was used to assess the effects of the interventions in two dining services kitchens on the campus of a midwestem university. Overall, the intervention implemented in this study had mixed effects on safety behavior, …

Nutrition Education For Persons With Disabilities, Jada A. Miller

Masters Theses

This study provides descriptive information about the dietary knowledge and intake of community-based young adults who have been diagnosed with a number of disabilities. A nutrition education curriculum was implemented for the Experimental group (N=9) and at a later date for the Delayed Intervention group (N=9). Results indicated that the three-week nutrition education curriculum produced moderate improvement in participants' nutritional knowledge and moderate improvement in nutritional value of foods chosen from a menu. However, the intervention proved to have a negligible effect on the nutritional value of foods consumed within this population of individuals.

Based on the results of this …

Superimposition And Withdrawal Of Tangible Consequences As A Treatment For Automatically Reinforced Problem Behaviors, Tina M. Sidener

Masters Theses

Tangible superimposition and withdrawal is a reductive procedure in which a new stimulus is delivered following behavior already maintained by a different controlling stimulus. The new stimulus is then removed in an attempt to reduce behavior. The current investigation sought to extend previous research on this procedure by evaluating its efficacy and durability as a treatment for stereotypy in three children diagnosed with autism. First, automatic reinforcement functions for stereotypic behaviors were identified via functional analyses. Next, for two participants, tangible items were delivered contingent upon stereotypy and then subsequently withdrawn. When the superimposition procedure proved ineffective, environmental enrichment was …

Organizational Correlates Of Negative Workplace Behavior: A Field Study, Graeme K. Mitchell

Masters Theses

This was a field study conducted in the entertainment industry in eastern Tennessee designed to investigate the relationship of perceived supervisor support and perceived pay equity with negative workplace behavior. Participants consisted of 171 employees of an entertainment company who completed a questionnaire with four scales, including one developed in this study. Results showed a significant, inverse correlation of perceived supervisor support and negative workplace behavior (r = -0.45, p< .01) and a significant correlation of pay inequity and negative workplace behavior (r = 0.33, p<.01) that demonstrated the negative consequences of perceived inequity or maltreatment. The correlations of perceived supervisor support and organization citizenship behavior (r = 0.48, p<.01), and pay equity and organization citizenship behavior (r = 0.23, p<.01) suggested that perceived pay equity or supervisor support led to behaviors that helped the organization. No relationship was found between the type of negative workplace behavior people engaged in and perceived pay equity, however, perceived supervisor support was inversely correlated with “withdrawal” (r = -0.31, p<.01). Perceived supervisor support had a very strong relationship with the LBDQ-XII factor “consideration”. Previous research has suggested people engage in negative workplace behaviors because they see inequities in their compensation or treatment at work, and this behavior was an attempt to restore equity. Future research should consider whether specific organizational factors predict discrete types of negative workplace behavior, what the impact of senior leader decision-making is on workplace behavior, whether one or many factors precipitate workplace behavior and whether organizational citizenship behavior and negative workplace behaviors are opposing or independent constructs.

Narcissistic Self-Enhancement And Willingness To Seek Feedback On Weaknesses, Jessica J. Dhom

Masters Theses

In the current study, I investigated the relationship between narcissism level and feedback-seeking behavior. Using a dimensional approach to personality classification, I considered narcissism to be a component of normal personality and measured this construct with the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. I also investigated the willingness of narcissistic individuals to view feedback regarding their weaknesses, as well as the relationships between narcissism and different cognitive reactions to favorable and unfavorable feedback. Results indicated that, when given the opportunity, narcissistic people seek favorable feedback that pertains to their strengths, while passing on opportunities to receive feedback regarding their weaknesses. They also react …

Current Preschool Screening Practices In Illinois And The Role Of The School Psychologist, Susan M. Kapper

Masters Theses

Current preschool screening practices in Illinois and the role of the school psychologist in these practices were investigated. A survey focusing on current screening practices and the role of the school psychologist in the development and implementation of screening programs was developed and sent to 200 randomly selected members of the Illinois School Psychologists Association (ISPA). Results indicate that some consistency in the procedures and administration of preschool screening do exist between programs within the state of Illinois. These consistencies include consensus on the purpose of preschool screening programs, personnel involved in the administration of these programs, assessment tools utilized …

The Individualized Education Plan: Parental Satisfaction And Involvement, Melissa Habing

Masters Theses

Little recent research has examined parents' involvement and satisfaction with their child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). For the current study, parents of children with special needs were surveyed. Out of 1,000 questionnaires mailed out by an agency that provides support to families who have a child with a disability, 348 parents completed and returned the survey. As a result of the parents' written responses, it was determined that 234 (67%) of the children they reported on were boys and 114 (33%) were girls. The age of the children whose parents completed the questionnaire ranged from two to twenty-two. All eligible …

The Effects Of Family Functioning And Parent Structure On The Prevalence And Intensity Of Childhood Fears, Rebecca Leis Pederson

Masters Theses

The current study was designed to examine the relation between family factors, such as family functioning and parent structure, and the prevalence and intensity of childhood fears. One hundred and sixteen children in grades 3-12 were surveyed using the Fear Survey Schedule-II. Of the 116 children surveyed, 75 had parents who returned the Self Report Family Inventory and demographic survey. Results indicated that younger, female participants reported fears of greater prevalence and intensity than male participants. Contrary to predictions, neither family functioning or any of its associated factors were found to be related to the prevalence and intensity of childhood …

Distinct Group Differences And Discriminant Validity Of The Adjustment Scales For Children And Adolescents: Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Versus Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Kim D. Miller

Masters Theses

The present study examined the distinct group differences and discriminant validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA). Participants included 36 children in Kindergarten through eleventh grade. Twenty-seven of the children met DISC-IV I DSM-IV (DSM-IV-TR, 2000) criteria for ADHD, and 9 met criteria for ODD. The participants were classified based on the results of the DISC-IV (Shaffer, Fisher, Lucas, Dulcan & Schwab-Stone, 2000) interview completed with the parent. The referring classroom teacher then completed the ASCA. Results of the present study did not support the distinct group differences and thus the discriminant validity of the ASCA. The …

Eating Disorder Tendencies And Pathogenic Weight Control Usage In High School Female Athletes, Natasha L. Mcdonald

Masters Theses

For many years, eating disorders have become more prevalent in American society. Researchers have recently identified a "new" at risk group, female athletes. The primary purpose of this study was to answer two questions: First, are tendencies toward eating disorders and the use of pathogenic weight control techniques different between female high school athletes and female high school nonathletes? Secondly, among high school female athletes, are tendencies toward eating disorders and the use of pathogenic weight control techniques different between performance sports and traditional sports? Each participant completed a survey packet to gather information on (1) demography including athletic participation, …

Improving Functional Assessment With Computer-Based Data Collection And Analysis Software, Rebecca May

Masters Theses

Many students exhibit behavior problems in the classroom that can negatively affect academic performance and social/emotional functioning if not identified and appropriately accommodated (Sugai, Lewis-Palmer, and Hagan, 1998; Scott, DeSimone, Fowler, and Webb, 2000). In order to combat the increasing number of students with behavior problems, an efficient means of assessing and treating problem behavior is warranted (Nelson and Johnson, 1996). Traditional observation methods are limited in the number of behaviors recordable and elaborateness of data analysis (Sharpe and Koperwas, 2001), and do not lend themselves to direct treatment development (Nelson, Roberts, Bullis, Albers, and Ohland, n.d.). Computer-based data collection …

The Relationship Between College Year And Depressive Symptoms For University Students, Erik Michael Levinson

Masters Theses

The goal of the present study was to examine how gender and grade level relate to depressive symptoms in a sample of university students. Based on previous research, it was expected that students in their first year of college would report more depressive symptoms than nonfreshmen, women would report more depression than men, and that female students in their first year of college would have the highest scores on a depression inventory. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Beck, 1979) was completed by 131 freshmen and 114 nonfreshmen at a Midwestern university. The final sample included 188 women and 57 men, …

Considering Instructional Time And Comprehension Rate When Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Reading Interventions In Classrooms, Kelly E. Thomason

Masters Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to replicate and extend research done by Daly et al. (1998), which focused on the functional analysis of academic problems. This research examined comprehension and amount of instructional time as dependent variables to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of reading interventions (repeated reading, contingent reinforcement for rapid reading, and listening passage preview). Results suggest that when evaluating increases in oral reading fluency (words read correct per minute), each participant obtained greatest gains using different combinations of interventions. However, when examining instructional time specifically, it becomes clear that the contingent reinforcement and listening passage preview …

Distinct Group Differences And Discriminant Validity Of The Adjustment Scales For Children And Adolescents: Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Versus Conduct Disorder, James Richard White

Masters Theses

The present study examined the distinct group differences and discriminant validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA; McDermott, Marston, & Stott, 1993). Participants included 37 children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Thirty children met DISC-IV/DSM-IV criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and 7 met DISC-IV/DSM-IV criteria for Conduct Disorder. Participants were classified based on the results of the DISC-IV parent interview administered by school psychology interns. The teacher completed the ASCA when the student was initially referred. Results of the present study provided further support for the discriminant validity of the ASCA. The results of the MANOVA …

Exploring Balanced Polymorphism Theory: Homosexuality, Personality, And Attractiveness, Rikki Singh

Masters Theses

An evolutionary theory known as balanced polymorphism (Hutchinson, 1959), which accounts for the prevalence of the deadly hereditary disease called sickle cell anemia, may prove to be a possible solution to the evolutionary paradox of homosexuality. The evolutionary advantage supported by the theory may account for the current and future prevalence of homosexuality. The theory works on the basis of a heterozygotic advantage, which is simply the advantage gained by a combination of two extreme genotypes. In this case, the heterozygotic advantage is the personality of a homosexual and the sexual orientation of a heterosexual. To test this theory, forty-eight …

Motivation For Studying Abroad, Wendy M. Buesing

Masters Theses

The motivational factors among students who have completed a study abroad program or who are currently studying abroad were investigated. Several variables were explored including gender, age, major and whether the student was an international student who has studied or is currently studying in the United States from another country or an American student who has studied or is currently studying in another country. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) American students are more likely motivated to study abroad by cultural motives such as sightseeing and gaining awareness about a different culture, and 2) International students are more likely motivated to …

Presenting Issues, Severity Of Problems And Treatment Outcomes Of Asian College Students, Earl Anthony Evangelista

Masters Theses

The current study attempts to add to the limited body of literature on Asian American and Asian international students in counseling. Presenting issues, severity of problems, treatment outcome, and gender interactions of Asian American and Asian international college students were examined and compared to non-Asian college students. Data for this study were obtained from an existing database from an East Coast university counseling center. The overall sample consisted of 209 males and 297 females, all of whom were seeking treatment for the first time at the counseling center. The primary groups of interest were Asian American students (n = …

An Examination Of Explanatory Models, Coping Methods, And Help-Seeking Methods Among Individuals With Social Phobia, Brooke Jasmine Dibello

Masters Theses

In this pilot study, explanatory models, coping methods, and help seeking behaviors among individuals with social phobia were explored using in-depth interviews. Participants were ten female college students with probable social phobia. Researchers created a coding manual to investigate the qualitative data by organizing it into categories. Coders were trained to utilize the coding manual, which explored several factors such as name for social anxiety, explanatory models, perceived level of severity, coping methods, and appraisals of coping methods. Contributions of this study are a semi-structured help-seeking interview, coding manual, and rich data. Although the results were inconclusive, this study provides …

Low Stress Algorithms For Children With Difficulty In Mathematics, Amanda B. Boyer

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research was to examine the effectiveness of low-stress algorithms with third and fourth grade students who struggle with mathematics. It is important to study mathematics interventions because math is a neglected area of research (Gersten & Chard, 1999). This research examined the effectiveness of low-stress addition and subtraction instruction for low-achieving students compared to a control group of students receiving traditional instruction in the regular classroom. Additionally, half of the students in the experimental group (low-stress) self-monitored the number of problems they correctly completed. Results indicate that low-stress addition did not result in an increased number …

Understanding The Variables Associated With Mathematics Achievement, Kelsie J. Buker

Masters Theses

Mathematics achievement scores on standardized test batteries are a major area of concern in public schools. This study examined the relationships among different variables that may affect mathematics achievement as measured by the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). Specifically, this study investigated the relationships among gender, mathematics fluency, mathematics accuracy, anxiety toward mathematics, and mathematics composite scores on the ITBS. In addition, the study assessed the effects of gender and anxiety on mathematics achievement as measured by accuracy, fluency, and ITBS math scores. One hundred fourth and sixth grade participants completed the Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Anxiety Scale to measure their …

The Role Of Mood As A Mediator In Trait-Congruent Cognitive Processing: Does Mood State Mediate The Relationship Between Personality Traits And Judgment?, Janice E. Harewood

Masters Theses

The relationship between affective traits and predictive judgment was investigated using a mediation framework approach to examine whether the current mood state of participants acted as a mediator between traits and judgment. This relationship was examined for anxious trait, anxious mood, and judgment for negative events and for subjective well-being, happy mood, and judgment for positive events. A written scenario and an imaginal procedure were used to create anxious, happy, or neutral moods in participants, and a fourth group received a simple cognitive task. Results showed that the mood inductions were invalid. Given that the correlations necessary to test for …