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Influence Of Communication And Rituals On Military Members’ And Spouses’ Growth Post- Deployment, Bryanna Zawodniak Apr 2012

Influence Of Communication And Rituals On Military Members’ And Spouses’ Growth Post- Deployment, Bryanna Zawodniak

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Extending Job Embeddedness Theory To The Family Domain: Development Of A Construct And Measure For Family Embeddedness And Integration Through A Work-Family Balance Perspective, Tatiana H. Toumbeva Jan 2012

Extending Job Embeddedness Theory To The Family Domain: Development Of A Construct And Measure For Family Embeddedness And Integration Through A Work-Family Balance Perspective, Tatiana H. Toumbeva

LSU Master's Theses

The goal of this study was to extend theory and research on job embeddedness by conceptualizing a parallel phenomenon that also exists in the family domain, referred to here as family embeddedness. Work-family balance perspective was utilized to argue that job and family embeddedness facilitate successful role functioning by guiding the resource allocation process in both the work and family domains. There were two parts to this study. In Phase 1, a measure was developed and a nomological network was established for family embeddedness. In Phase 2, a model was tested to understand the process through which two types of …


An Examination Of The Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Functioning, And Social Skills In Children, Kimberly Tureck Jan 2012

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Functioning, And Social Skills In Children, Kimberly Tureck

LSU Master's Theses

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are the focus of a vast amount of research due to their recent rise in prevalence. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of research looking at how ASD and IQ scores impact social skills. The present study aimed to extend the literature in this area by evaluating how ASD and IQ scores are related to ratings on a measure of appropriate and inappropriate social skills. Two groups of individuals participated: children without ASD and children with ASD. Two dependent measures of social skills (adaptive/appropriate social skills and hostile/inappropriately assertive social skills) were obtained using the Matson Evaluation …


Using Behavior Screening Data To Predict Scores On Statewide Assessments, Jeffrey Steven Chenier Jan 2012

Using Behavior Screening Data To Predict Scores On Statewide Assessments, Jeffrey Steven Chenier

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Federal and state initiatives (No Child Left Behind, 2001) require schools and districts to set high standards for student growth and achievement. Currently, student growth and progress are measured in Louisiana via statewide achievement tests. In 4th and 8th grades these assessments are considered to be ‘high-stakes’, as promotion and retention decisions are made based on how well students perform on these assessments. Making day-to-day decisions based on one assessment per year is not best practice (Jenkins, Deno, & Markin, 1979); therefore, screening instruments known as curriculum based measures (CBMs) were devised and tailored for school-based implementation. CBMs of academic …


Food Cravings And Food Cue Responding Across The Menstrual Cycle, Megan Apperson Mcvay Jan 2012

Food Cravings And Food Cue Responding Across The Menstrual Cycle, Megan Apperson Mcvay

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Food cravings have been linked to obesity and eating disorders. Women report craving food more than men, and women experience greater rates of obesity and eating disorders. Retrospective and quasi-prospective studies have suggested that food cravings may be more common during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, these studies have been limited by the use of poorly defined menstrual cycle phases, disregard for individual differences in menstrual cycle length, and absence of validated measures of cravings. The current study examined the effects of menstrual cycle phase on 1) cravings in response to a high fat/high sugar chocolate candy …


Examination Of The Reliability And Validity Of A New Observation Measure For Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Autism Spectrum Disorder Observation For Children, Daniene Neal Jan 2012

Examination Of The Reliability And Validity Of A New Observation Measure For Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Autism Spectrum Disorder Observation For Children, Daniene Neal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

With increasing attention being drawn to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), specifically with regard to early and accurate diagnosis and treatment, researchers and clinicians alike have placed emphasis on finding assessment tools that can aid in this goal. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of a new observation measure for ASD, the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Observation for Children (ASD-OC). The ASD-OC was found to have good to excellent interrater reliability, and excellent internal consistency (ƒÑ = .96). As a result of these initial reliability analyses, nine items were removed from the scale. The resulting 45 item ASD-OC …


Evaluating The Differential Effects Of Parental Involvement On Check In/Check Out In Children With Externalizing Behavior Problems, Aaron Jason Fischer Jan 2012

Evaluating The Differential Effects Of Parental Involvement On Check In/Check Out In Children With Externalizing Behavior Problems, Aaron Jason Fischer

LSU Master's Theses

School-based interventions are typically implemented based on a Response to Intervention model, i.e., a 3-tiered support system. Tier 1 provides universal support for all students; Tier 2 targets children who are at risk for developing problems; Tier 3 focuses on remediation for children with severe problems. The interventions in Tier 2 are important because they provide an opportunity to access children before their problems become critically dysfunctional. Check in/Check out (CICO) is a Tier 2 intervention that has been evaluated for children with externalizing behavior problems. In the current CICO literature, parent involvement during CICO integrates school and home life, …


Parental Involvement In Improving Academic Success For Students With Adhd: A Comparison Of Daily Behavior Report Cards And Homework Self-Monitoring, Stephanie M. Grant Jan 2012

Parental Involvement In Improving Academic Success For Students With Adhd: A Comparison Of Daily Behavior Report Cards And Homework Self-Monitoring, Stephanie M. Grant

LSU Master's Theses

The current study examined the confined, combined and collateral effects of a daily report card (DRC) and a homework self-monitoring intervention (HSM). Four 4th or 5th grade students with ADHD, who often had problems staying on task and completing classwork and homework accurately were randomly assigned to one of two conditions in a multiple baseline design. Initially each student received either a DRC or HSM and was then given whichever intervention they had not yet received in addition. As expected, both the DRC and HSM improved the initially targeted behavior as found in previous research; the DRC improved on task …


Examination Of The Relationship Between Specific Classes Of Social Skill Behaviors And Academic Competence On The Social Skills Improvement System Rating-Scales, Michael James Vance Jan 2012

Examination Of The Relationship Between Specific Classes Of Social Skill Behaviors And Academic Competence On The Social Skills Improvement System Rating-Scales, Michael James Vance

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

An individual’s social competencies and interpersonal relationships have been repeatedly linked to a number of behaviors not typically directly associated with social skills including depression (Hokanson & Rupert, 1991) and aggressive behavior (McColloch & Gilbert, 1991). In addition to these more social behaviors, social skills have also been shown to be predictive of both risk and protective factors related to academic functioning (Newcomb, Bukowski, & Pattee, 1993; Parker & Asher, 1987). The current study aims to add to the literature by examining the relationship between teacher, parent, and self-ratings of specific classes of social skill behaviors and teacher ratings of …


The Effect Of Video Self-Monitoring On Teaching Aba Paraprofessionals, Kristen Nicole Abbondante Jan 2012

The Effect Of Video Self-Monitoring On Teaching Aba Paraprofessionals, Kristen Nicole Abbondante

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the effects of psychoeducation method (video vs. manual) on the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of participants regarding the education of children with autism within a group design. There was not a significant difference between the two groups on the participants’ thoughts, attitudes, or knowledge. Study Two examined the effect of video self-monitoring on teaching paraprofessionals to implement discrete trial instruction with children with autism. A single-subject multiple baseline design across four participants was utilized. The participants were taught to use discrete trial instruction (DTI) using a video self-monitoring procedure. Results showed that performance feedback was necessary for …


The Role Of Atypical Semantic Activation In Schizotypy: Implications For Odd Speech And Creativity, Kyle S. Minor Jan 2012

The Role Of Atypical Semantic Activation In Schizotypy: Implications For Odd Speech And Creativity, Kyle S. Minor

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Individuals with schizophrenia tend to demonstrate patterns of atypical semantic activation, which are characterized by increased activation of weakly associated words within the semantic network. Although atypical semantic activation is associated with formal thought disorder, tangential speech, and poor long-term functioning in schizophrenia, very little is known about this variable in individuals with schizotypy, or the 10% of the population who demonstrate personality traits presumed to reflect genetic liability to schizophrenia. In this project, we employed highly sensitive laboratory procedures to test whether individuals with schizotypy (n = 45) display increased atypical semantic activation compared to a non-schizotypy group (n …


How Core Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Predict Engagement In Specific Topographies Of Challenging Behavior, Sara Mahan Jan 2012

How Core Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Predict Engagement In Specific Topographies Of Challenging Behavior, Sara Mahan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Challenging behavior, such as aggression, destructive behavior, and self-injurious behavior (SIB), are common among people of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Numerous researchers have found that greater severity of ASD or a diagnosis of ASD is significantly correlated with greater levels of challenging behavior. However, there is dearth of information on how core symptoms of ASD (i.e., socialization deficits, communication deficits, stereotypies) predict the engagement of specific topographies of challenging behavior above and beyond other variables, such as developmental functioning. The purpose of this study is to extend the current literature base through examining how core symptoms of …


Measurement Of Pain, Pain Disability, And Pain Beliefs Of Morbidly Obese Adults, Brooke Louise Barbera Jan 2012

Measurement Of Pain, Pain Disability, And Pain Beliefs Of Morbidly Obese Adults, Brooke Louise Barbera

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Both obesity and pain are pervasive public health problems, contributing to significant disability in the United States and worldwide. Studies have demonstrated a positive association between obesity and pain, with increasing BMI related to increasing levels of pain intensity; however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The present study assessed the presence of pain, pain-related disability, and pain beliefs in a morbidly obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2) sample participating in a medically-supervised, nonsurgical weight loss intervention. After controlling for demographic variables and depression, pain was reported in 36.7% of the sample (N = 390). Results indicated that greater …


Development And Validation Of The Adolescent Thought Control Questionnaire (Tcq-A), Reanna (Sara) Elise Whiting Jan 2012

Development And Validation Of The Adolescent Thought Control Questionnaire (Tcq-A), Reanna (Sara) Elise Whiting

LSU Master's Theses

Despite receiving widespread attention in the adult literature, virtually no information about the effects of thought suppression currently exists using a developmental psychopathology perspective in adolescents. The current study describes the development and preliminary validation of The Adolescent Thought Control Questionnaire, a self-report measure of thought suppression strategy use among adolescents. A principal factor analysis revealed an identical factor structure to the adult Thought Control Questionnaire (Wells & Davies, 1994) and included subscales measuring Distraction, Reappraisal, Social, Worry, and Punishment strategies. Adequate evidence of internal and test-retest reliability was obtained. The TCQ-A evidenced strong validity when tested for relations to …


Intra-Individual Variability In Adult Adhd: An Exploration Of The Viability Of Distinct Purely Inattentive Condition, Daniel Proto Jan 2012

Intra-Individual Variability In Adult Adhd: An Exploration Of The Viability Of Distinct Purely Inattentive Condition, Daniel Proto

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Researchers have suggested that intraindividual variability (IIV), or variation in cognitive testing performance within an individual across a measure or group of measures, may be an endophenotypic marker of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, not all studies have consistently demonstrated significant differences in IIV between individuals with and without ADHD. One potential explanation for this ambiguity is experimental group heterogeneity owing to Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT). Individuals with SCT exhibit behavioral characteristics dissimilar from individuals with ADHD; rather than being impulsive, hyperactive, and aggressive, they tend to be shy, day-dreamy, and cognitively slow. Researchers have hypothesized that the presence of SCT …


Hierarchical Linear Modeling Versus Visual Analysis Of Single Subject Design Data, Elizabeth Godbold Nelson Jan 2012

Hierarchical Linear Modeling Versus Visual Analysis Of Single Subject Design Data, Elizabeth Godbold Nelson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Visual analysis is the “gold standard” for single-subject design data because of a presumed low Type I error rate and consistency across raters. However, research has found it less accurate and reliable than typically assumed. Many statistics have been proposed as aids for visual analysis, but most suffer from limitations either due to methods of investigation or problems inherent to the statistics themselves. Several researchers have proposed the use of Hierarchical Linear Modeling to analyze single-subject data because it can withstand violations of assumptions often present in single-subject data that other statistics cannot. In addition, HLM is similar to the …


Comparing Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using The Current Dsm-Iv-Tr Diagnostic Criteria And The Proposed Dsm-V Diagnostic Criteria, Julie A. Worley Jan 2012

Comparing Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using The Current Dsm-Iv-Tr Diagnostic Criteria And The Proposed Dsm-V Diagnostic Criteria, Julie A. Worley

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Children diagnosed with Autistic Disorder (AD), Asperger’s Disorder (AS), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) share overlapping diagnostic criteria. As a result, there has been an enduring debate regarding the appropriateness of the current categorical classification system used to diagnose this group of disorders, commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Ongoing research examining the boundaries of the disorders comprising the spectrum have yielded inconsistent findings in symptom differences; therefore, the American Psychiatric Association has proposed revisions for the upcoming version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (i.e., DSM-5). Revisions include dropping all subcategories …


A Comparison Of Response-Contingent And Noncontingent Pairing In The Conditioning Of A Reinforcer, Sarah Joanne Miller Jan 2012

A Comparison Of Response-Contingent And Noncontingent Pairing In The Conditioning Of A Reinforcer, Sarah Joanne Miller

LSU Master's Theses

Two pairing procedures were compared in the conditioning of a secondary reinforcer. Pairings of a neutral stimulus and primary reinforcer were delivered either contingent upon a participant response or noncontingently (i.e., independent of a participant response). Maintenance of responding when responses resulted in the neutral stimulus alone was compared before and throughout pairing using progressive-ratio probes. Results yielded undifferentiated responding between the contingently-paired and noncontingently-paired stimuli and a stimulus never paired with reinforcement, indicating that no conditioning effect occurred. Potential factors in producing this lack of differentiation are discussed, including differences in methodology between this study and past studies.


Teaching Phoneme Segmentation And Blending: A Comparison Of Two Methods, Michael John Schafer Jan 2012

Teaching Phoneme Segmentation And Blending: A Comparison Of Two Methods, Michael John Schafer

LSU Master's Theses

Phonemic segmenting and blending is seen as one of the most critical skills necessary for the development of good reading skills in beginning readers. Research has shown that teaching phonemic skills results in improved reading for both trained (familiar) and untrained words when compared to teaching word-recognition reading strategies. Within the field of phonemic awareness teaching, results have been mixed as to the most effective methods of teaching phonemic skills, but it is generally agreed that explicit instruction in both segmenting and blending is better than instruction focusing on onset/rime or rhyming methods. The purpose of the current study is …


Comparing Extinction And Noncontingent Reinforcement Under Challenging Conditions: The Discriminative Effects Of Reinforcement Delivery, Jessica Pearl Alvarez Jan 2012

Comparing Extinction And Noncontingent Reinforcement Under Challenging Conditions: The Discriminative Effects Of Reinforcement Delivery, Jessica Pearl Alvarez

LSU Master's Theses

Extinction (EXT) and noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) procedures are commonly used to reduce problem behavior maintained by operant reinforcement. Both procedures reduce behavior by eliminating the contingency between that behavior and reinforcement; however, EXT procedures may leave the discriminative effects of the reinforcer intact. The discriminative effects of reinforcement following EXT compared to NCR were investigated using an arbitrary response within three participants. Results indicate that following EXT, re-emergent responding is not more likely to occur in the presence of reinforcement compared to control trials. Moreover, re-emergent responding was overall unlikely to occur following EXT and NCR procedures.


The Occurrence And Effectiveness Of Deinstitutionalization Of The Mentally Ill In The Pre-Antipsychotic Era, Joni Maria Lee Pow Jan 2012

The Occurrence And Effectiveness Of Deinstitutionalization Of The Mentally Ill In The Pre-Antipsychotic Era, Joni Maria Lee Pow

LSU Master's Theses

Deinstitutionalization, as it occurred after the introduction of antipsychotics in 1954 has received much attention. However, little has been done to examine the occurrence and nature of deinstitutionalization before 1954. This study uses US census data on discharge and readmission rates of US mental hospitals from 1935 to 1964 to examine deinstitutionalization during both periods. Data are analyzed using an interrupted time-series model. The model was used to test for statistical significance of trends before and after the advent of antipsychotics, and to test for an effect of antipsychotics on deinstitutionalization. Discharge rates significantly increased in the period before antipsychotics, …


School-Wide Screening Of Student Involvement In Relational Aggression, Emily F. Patty Jan 2012

School-Wide Screening Of Student Involvement In Relational Aggression, Emily F. Patty

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of the current project is to develop a universal screening instrument to detect the presence of relational aggression within schools. This research is important because relational aggression is a covert behavior that teachers cannot readily observe, and in order to inform treatment and develop interventions, assessment has to be possible. A screener should be quick, easy to administer, and accurate at finding kids at-risk for engaging in relationally aggressive behaviors or being victimized by these behaviors. To ensure adequate sensitivity and specificity of the screening instrument, both logistic regression and t-ROC curve analysis were employed. Furthermore, the screeners …


Putting Family Back In Work-Family Conflict: The Moderating Effect Of Family Life Stage On The Work-Family Interface, Rachel C. Trout Jan 2012

Putting Family Back In Work-Family Conflict: The Moderating Effect Of Family Life Stage On The Work-Family Interface, Rachel C. Trout

LSU Master's Theses

In the present study, various gaps in the work-family literature were addressed by investigating the moderating influence of family life stage on work-family specific support from organizations, supervisors, and coworkers as it relates to work-family conflict. Family life stage was also proposed to moderate the relationships between work-family conflict and work-related outcomes (i.e., turnover intentions and work engagement). Additionally, work-family research has often been criticized for its propensity to sample across occupations in a single study, resulting in a need to study work-family conflict in specific careers. For this reason, elementary school teachers were the focus of this study, as …


Examining Reliability And Validity Of The Roadsign Perception Test, Justin Hull Ory Jan 2012

Examining Reliability And Validity Of The Roadsign Perception Test, Justin Hull Ory

LSU Master's Theses

The Road Sign Perception Test (RSPT) is a newly developed assessment procedure related to driver advisement, and its psychometric properties have not yet been examined systematically. The present study examined the construct validity and the reliability of RSPT measurements. Cronbach’s α and test-retest reliability statistics were completed, as were correlations reflecting on the test’s construct validity. Results indicated that the RSPT possesses marginal test-retest reliability, adequate internal consistency for duration of stimulus presentation and for specific stimuli, but low for number of signs presented. RSPT performance was significantly correlated with convergent variables measuring aspects of attention, working memory, and spatial …


The Moderating Effects Of Perceived Intentionality: Exploring The Relationships Between Ideas Of Reference, Paranoia, And Social Anxiety In Schizotypy, Sean Cameron Morrison Jan 2012

The Moderating Effects Of Perceived Intentionality: Exploring The Relationships Between Ideas Of Reference, Paranoia, And Social Anxiety In Schizotypy, Sean Cameron Morrison

LSU Master's Theses

Ideas of reference (IOR), paranoia, and social anxiety are three common symptoms of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, which appear to be conceptually related. However, the precise nature of these relationships is unclear. A new measure that assesses perceived intentionality (PI), a social-cognitive bias for perceiving the actions of others during unpleasant social situations as being directed at oneself in an intentionally malicious manner, has provided preliminary evidence for a link between PI and paranoia. The primary aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of PI on the relationships between IOR and paranoia, and between IOR and social anxiety amongst …


Predictors Of Resiliency In Women Affected By Hurricane Katrina, Valerie L. Walls Jan 2012

Predictors Of Resiliency In Women Affected By Hurricane Katrina, Valerie L. Walls

LSU Master's Theses

While the physical devastation of Hurricane Katrina was immediately obvious, the psychological effects of the storm are still being investigated and the positive effects of trauma, although few, have yet to be adequately explored. Although most individuals will experience a trauma during their lifetime, only a small minority experience negative psychological consequences (Breslau, 2002). Resiliency is a quickly developing area in the literature; however, few studies have investigated predictors of resilience and positive outcomes in adults exposed to natural disasters. The purpose of this study was to explore individual factors and predictors of resilience in women exposed to Hurricane Katrina. …


Evaluation Of The Check In/Check Out (Cico) Intervention For Students With Internalizing Behavior Problems, Katherine K. Hunter Jan 2012

Evaluation Of The Check In/Check Out (Cico) Intervention For Students With Internalizing Behavior Problems, Katherine K. Hunter

LSU Master's Theses

Internalizing behaviors are directed inward at the child and are often overlooked in classrooms compared to outwardly-directed externalizing behaviors. When internalizing behaviors are identified, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBIs) are the go-to targeted interventions. However, CBIs are time-consuming and require considerable training to implement. An efficient and time-effective targeted intervention for internalizing behaviors is needed. Check In/Check Out (CICO) has been shown to be an effective targeted intervention for children with externalizing behavior problems. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate CICO as a targeted intervention for kids with internalizing behavior problems. Four elementary school students with internalizing behavior …


Predictors Of Positive Adjustment In Children Exposed To The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill And Hurricane Katrina, Jamarri Raimon Aikins Jan 2012

Predictors Of Positive Adjustment In Children Exposed To The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill And Hurricane Katrina, Jamarri Raimon Aikins

LSU Master's Theses

Although numerous studies have focused on the harmful effects of natural disasters, few have examined the positive adjustment that is demonstrated by some individuals post-disaster. Even fewer studies have investigated this resiliency in children. The current study aims to address this limitation by evaluating variables related to children’s resiliency post-disaster. Specifically, the study was designed to identify and compare predictors of positive adjustment in youth who were exposed to either Hurricane Katrina or the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. It was hypothesized that children who use more adaptive coping strategies and have higher levels of social support will show greater amounts …


The Moderating Effect Of Autism Symptomology On The Relationship Of Cognitive And Adaptive Functioning With Anxiety Symptoms In Infants And Toddlers, Robert D. Rieske Jan 2012

The Moderating Effect Of Autism Symptomology On The Relationship Of Cognitive And Adaptive Functioning With Anxiety Symptoms In Infants And Toddlers, Robert D. Rieske

LSU Master's Theses

Anxiety disorders have been shown to have a high prevalence rate in the general population and the prevalence in those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is even higher. The detection, diagnosis, and implementation of an early intervention program for these disorders are crucial to the developmental outcome for such individuals. Researchers have shown how cognitive and adaptive functioning are related and affect anxiety symptoms in children as well as the high comorbidity with ASD. The aim of this study was to confirm those relationships, using scores from the BISCUIT-Part 2 (anxiety symptomology) and the BDI-II (Cognitive and Adaptive Developmental Quotient), …


The Truth About Lying: The Memorial Effects Of Deliberately Producing Misinformation, Kathleen M. Vieira Jan 2012

The Truth About Lying: The Memorial Effects Of Deliberately Producing Misinformation, Kathleen M. Vieira

LSU Master's Theses

There are different ways of lying and these lies may have different impacts on memory. In this study, participants studied pictures of objects, and later lied and told the truth about these and other objects by describing them or by denying they had seen them. Forty-eight hours later, participants were tested on their source memory. Results revealed that participants had good memory for having falsely described a never-seen object, but poor memory for having falsely denied seeing a studied object. These results suggest that telling certain types of lies may make a person more likely to forget having lied at …