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The Protestant Ethic Effect: A Multiple Dependent Variable Analysis, Ronald Stephens

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

When an organism is allowed to choose "between working for food or receiving "free" food, what will its decision "be? For years such a question would have been addressed within the framework proposed by Clark Hull (1943): the organism would choose the alternative requiring the least amount of effort and eat the free food. However, several recent investigations have cast doubt on the generality of this lav: of least effort. Typically these studies have involved training organisms to respond for a reinforcer, defined as a stimulus that increases the probability of a response (Hilgard ?z Bower, 1966), and subsequently allowing …

An Investigation Of The Influence Of Stress On The Protestant Ethic Effect, April Schnur

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In the past decade researchers have demonstrated that organisms do not always perform according to Hull's "law of less work" (Hull, 1943). In certain situations, some Ss prefer to perform an operant (e.g., bar press) rather than freeload to receive reinforcement (e.g., food). Though it can be argued that this is not behavior typical of all Ss (Taylor, 1972), lack of generality is not the point. As Metze and Craig (1973) point out, data from deviant individual Ss may prove to be the most interesting.

There are two research objectives for the present study. First, an attempt was made to …

The Effects Of Developmental Groups On Personality Factors, Larry Sensing

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Because of the attempt by our culture to deal with isolation and alienation in contemporary life, the small group process has become a significant force in many parts of American society. It has been known under many names: encounter group, T-group, sensitivity group and developmental group. Since this phenomenon generally grew outside of the "establishment," those scholars and behavioral scientists who have in the past been charged with the evaluation of such practices only recently have begun to explore its effects. Perhaps because the group process was not first explored intensively in an academic setting, colleges have been among the …

An Examination Of Clinical Psychology Programs In The United States And Peru And Recommendations For Future Development Of Programs In Peru, Oscar Barreda

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Chapter I will be concerned with a definition and classification of psychology as a science, the process to be followed in order to obtain a degree in psychology or a professional title, some characteristics of a psychologist, and finally the place in which psychology as a profession stands from an ethical and legal position.

Chapter II will refer to psychological knowledge, standards and principles which defined psychotherapy practices. It will also be descriptive of some psychological services and delivery systems for such services.

From the great variety of programs and fields of study found in the United States today, according …

The Effects Of Monetary Incentives On Group Intelligence Test Performance Of Lower Class Children, Larry Gerbig

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Since the advent of the first intelligence test in 1905, the primary goal of the psychometric field has been to obtain the most reliable and valid evaluation of an individual's level of intellectual functioning. The major difficulty concerning this goal, however, has been how to motivate the individual to work at his optimum level of performance. Terman (1916) attempted to solve this motivation problem through the use of praise. "Exclamations like 'Fine!,' Splendid!,' etc. should be used lavishly. Almost any innocent deception is permissible which keeps the child interested, confident, and at his best level of effort Cio. 120." Terman …

Strength Of An Established Taste Aversion As A Function Of A Tap Or Distilled Water Adaptation Period, Frank Etscorn

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Studies in taste aversion learning are typically of the following designs An animal is made to consume a novel tasting substance (the conditioned stimulus) such as saccharin diluted in water. Following a specified length of time, the animal is then subjected to a gastrointestinal insult (the unconditioned stimulus) from such independent sources as X-ray overdose or poison injection. After the subject is allowed to recover from will made the ensuing illness, it can be observed that the animal avoid consuming the flavored substance if it available.

Verbal Reward & Punishment & Need For Approval In Schizophrenics, Chester Gay Jr.

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The current study was designed to further examine the effects of verbal reward and punishment on task performance of schizophrenics. The relationship of need for approval of schizophrenics (as measured by the M-C SDS) to performance and to reward and punishment was also examined. Verbal reward and punishment along with need for approval served as independent variables. Task performance was the dependent variable. The following major questions were asked:

1. Does verbal reward and punishment significantly influence performance of schizophrenics?
2. How is the personality construct, need for approval, related to performance of tasks by schizophrenics?
3. Is there a significant interaction between …

Job Attitude, Motivation, Personality Traits And Perceived Deficiencies In Need Fulfillment As A Function Of Job Level, Jeff Trullinger

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A study of 958 managers is reported which investigates, by questionnaire, differences in perceived deficiencies in need fulfillment at all levels of management in both large and small organizations. It further gives attention to the relative importance of 13 personality traits for success in their management position, and examines whether motivational commonality exists among various job conditions at all levels of management. Results indicate: (a) all levels of management tend to be similar in the relative ranks they give to the importance of needs regardless of size of organization, (b) self-actualization and autonomy needs seem to be most important by …

A Study Of The Differences In P Power And S Power In Three Populations: Inpatient Alcoholics, Non-Alcoholics And Alcoholics Anonymous Members, Bryan Carter

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Samples from three populations, Alcoholics Anonymous members, inpatient alcoholics and non-alcoholics, were compared for the level of manifestation of the need for socialized power and personalized power. The comparison of these groups on a Q sort technique developed for this study indicated that the sample of Alcoholics Anonymous members was significantly higher in the need for socialized power than either the sample of inpatient alcoholics or the sample of non-alcoholics. The level of socialized power concern of the inpatient alcoholic group did not differ significantly from that of the non-alcoholic group. The inpatient alcoholic group was found to be significantly …

The Risky Shift Among Friends And In Arbitrarily Formed Groups, Bryan Crow

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Michael Wallach and Nathan Kogan (1959) devised the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire (Appendix A) for scaling the propensity of individuals to take risks. The Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire (CDQ) requires the respondent to indicate the lowest probability of success he would accept before he would advise the central figure in each of 12 hypothetical decision situations to choose the riskier--but more attractive--of two options. Accepting slimmer chances of success (higher risks of failure) yields a iowei (riskier) seoi-e. The t>core on a given item can range from a risky low of one chance in ten to a conservative high--in most experiments--of …

The Role Of Extraversion & Intraversion On The Performance Of An Abstract Reasoning Task, Clarkie Farley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research compares the performance of a group of extraverts to a group of intraverts on a cognitive reasoning task. According to the theory of Hans J. Eysenck, one would expect that the intraverts would perform better than the extraverts on a task of massed reasoning. On the basis of scores on the Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Otis Lennon Mental Ability Test, a sample of 72 Ss were drawn from two undergraduate classes, Principles of Applied Learning and Human Development, at Western Kentucky University. Only Ss with extreme scores on the Extraversion scale E were selected, with each extravert …

Internal-External Control Of Reinforcement Versus Field Dependence-Field Independence, Robert Colclough

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Most authors have regarded the concepts of internal-external control and field dependence-field independence as two basically separate dimensions. However, in the area of personality, the two concepts may be related to a considerable degree. A review of the literature suggests that many of the same personality characteristics which can be attributed to internally controlled individuals are also common to field independent people. Also, those characteristics common to externally controlled people are found in field dependent individuals (Cardi, 1962; Franklin, 1963; Crowne & Liverant, 1963; Strickland, 1962; Getter, 1962; Gore, 1962; Elliot, 1961; Witkin, Lewis, Hertzman, Machover, Meissner, & Wapner, 1952*). …

Personality And Achievement Factors As Influences On Church Attendance Of College Students, Patricia Welch

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

College students, even of the same religious preference, attend church functions with varying degrees o£ frequency. What factors influence the rate of attendance among students? This study investigated the relationship between reported church attendance and personality and achievement variables in a group of college juniors and seniors in a state university in the South. It was hypothesized that there would be no significant differences between students who reported attendance at church functions either (a) 7 or more times per month (High Attenders), (b) 2 through b times per month (Attenders), or (c) 1 or 0 times per month (Low Attenders) …

The Assessment Of Attitudes Toward Psychology As An Effective Variable In Psychological Research, Joseph Galloway

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research investigated the reliability and validity of the Psychological Research Survey (PRS). Naive introductory psychology students who had not previously participated in psychological experimentation served as Ss for the reliability assessment. Split-half and test-retest coefficients indicated high reliability. Construct validity was estimated with the use of developmental and situational tests. The PRS was expected to discriminate a more positive attitude toward psychology and psychological research as students progressed from introductory to more advanced courses in psychology. A simple analysis of variance of Ss' PRS scores failed to indicate a significant re-ult. A situation was designed whereby Ss behavior indicated …

Relationship Of Subjects' Preexperiment Attitudes Toward Psychology And Experimenter Prestige, Sam Quick

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A study is reported which examines the effects of Ss attitudes toward psychological research as measured by the Psychology Research Survey (PRS) (high or low), apparent E prestige (high, medium, or low), and sex of 13 on ratings of success and failure given in Rosenthal's person-perception task. It was found that E prestige interacted with sex of S to significantly affect performance. Several of the pictures used in the person-perception task were also found to be consistently rated as depicting success or failure. Questions are raised concerning the psychometric soundness of both the PRS and the person-perception task. Implications for …

Contingent Video Consequences For Discrimination Performance Of Retarded Children, Linda Flatter

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Four Ss were selected from the population of residents of Cloverbottom Hospital and School to participate in the present study determining the effectiveness of video presentations as reinforcing consequences for discrimination learning. The task consisted of sorting stimulus discrimination cards on the basis of form and/or color. The S received either "snow" or self-video consequences via a television monitor. Both S-paced sorting and E-paced sorting were employed to determine the effect of each procedure. This study demonstrated that video consequences as well as sorting procedures influenced performance of these Ss. An individual S analysis revealed differential effects across Ss. Results …

The Function Of Prior Conditions Of Success Or Failure Upon Subsequent, Non-Related Tasks, William Martin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A sample of 32 Ss were drawn from the third through sixth grades and success or failure conditions were experimentally induced. The effects of these conditions were then determined on a subsequent, non-related task; the Block Design subtest of the WISC. Results indicated that these conditions do have a significant (p<.01) effect on the subsequent performance, although, this significance diminishes rapidly over a period of delay (24 hours). The study is limited in scope and in sample, but research implications are numerous and should include varied exposure to the success-failure conditions and the related effects of varied time-lapse intervals. Attention should be given to the differential effects of the two conditions and to the possibility that success-failure orientations may be significant factors in determining the quality of subsequent performance.

The Ministry: An Empirical Analysis Of Roles And Role Discord With Emphasis On Rural-Urban Differentials, Orville R. Cunningham

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Ministers occupy a status-position within a social system that carries a well-defined set of cultural expectations about their roles. The membership of the minister’s church, the community at large, and the minister himself formulate ideas and expectations about the function of his roles. Whenever the minister performs his roles in a manner that is contrary to the expectations of the membership of his church or the community the result is a role discord. Role discord also occurs when the minister performs his roles in a way that contradicts his own self-image of his roles. Therefore, this thesis will have as …

Physique And The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, Stuart Storey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Young people today are confronted with many problems in their everyday lives. It is difficult to tell how each individual overcomes these problems, but we do know that some problems are overcome more easily than others. This study was concerned with two problem levels, (a) those problems which were merely troublesome, and (b) those problems which were worrying. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physique, which was considered to be one of the major factors influencing attitude and behavior, and the type and number of problem and worry items which high school freshmen students experience. …

The Relationship Between The Intelligence & Emotional Stability Of Seventh & Eighth Grade Pupils, Thomas Boone

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A question nearly as old as the intelligence test itself led the author to make the investigation upon which this thesis is based. For years people in education and related fields have speculated as to whether the most intelligent children were the most stable emotionally or whether these brighter children tended more readily than the dull or average child to exhibit undesirable personality variations.

Practically everyone has, at some time in his life, used one or two isolated circumstances to prove the point that the more intelligent children were emotionally unstable or that the duller children were more unstable , …

Psychological Tests And College Success, George Helm

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine the predictive value of the psychological examination when applied to college grades, with the motive of establishing standards by which students may be guided in their selection of college work.