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Too Big To Fail: Economic Voting And The 2008 Election, Aman Batheja
Too Big To Fail: Economic Voting And The 2008 Election, Aman Batheja
Economics Theses
The onset of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression just months before the 2008 presidential election is thought to have played a significant role in voting behavior. Yet the extent to which voters followed traditional economic voting patterns in choosing between Barack Obama and John McCain is less clear. Using exit poll data merged with state-level aggregate economic data, we search for evidence that negative shifts in economic status made voters more likely to support Obama. After controlling for various demographic, partisan, and geographic variables, we find that voters who believed that the economy was the top issue …
Gender Differences In Emotional Labor, Cara L. Fay
Gender Differences In Emotional Labor, Cara L. Fay
Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the differences in emotional labor efforts between men and women. Emotional labor refers to the incongruity between experienced emotions and displayed emotions. This "faking" or "acting" that takes place during emotional labor has been found to be correlated with negative work-related outcomes such as job satisfaction, burnout, turnover intentions, and decreased work performance. These outcomes can cost organizations millions of dollars in terms of lost revenue, innovation, and employee-related expenses. Likewise, these outcomes can cost individuals greatly in terms of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The study sought to experimentally examine how emotional labor differs by gender. …
Testing The Effects Of Civility And Rationality During Political Contact, Jason R. Popan
Testing The Effects Of Civility And Rationality During Political Contact, Jason R. Popan
Psychology Dissertations
This research project investigated the effects of civility and rationality of contact between self-identified liberals and conservatives on several outcome measures: participants' evaluations of the political ingroup and outgroup; political attitude certainty; perceived amount of difference between political group members (liberal and conservative); and political identification strength. A 2 (civility: high, low) X 2 (rationality: high, low) experimental design was used in both studies. In Study 1, participants encountered fictitious Internet discussion board posts, with manipulated levels of civility and rationality. Findings from Study 1 did not confirm expectations that exposure to civil and rational civil discourse would lead to …
Examining The Impact Of Opioid Withdrawal On Pain Processing: The Influence Of Social Isolation Stress, Megan Lynne Uhelski
Examining The Impact Of Opioid Withdrawal On Pain Processing: The Influence Of Social Isolation Stress, Megan Lynne Uhelski
Psychology Dissertations
The use of opioids as a traditional treatment for acute and chronic pain has been severely hindered by the addictive nature of these substances and the pain relief they provide. Clinical reports suggest that opioid addicts are hypersensitive to pain during abstinence, and this effect may persist for months afterward. Examinations of nociceptive processing during opioid withdrawal in rodents have produced mixed results, with little evidence of decreased thresholds or latencies to noxious stimuli. To date, no studies have explicitly evaluated pain affect during the withdrawal period. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was evaluate both sensory and affective …
Not Just A Playground Issue: Bullying Among Older Adults, Madeline Rex-Lear
Not Just A Playground Issue: Bullying Among Older Adults, Madeline Rex-Lear
Psychology Dissertations
This dissertation examined associations between peer bullying and physical and psychological health problems for a community dwelling population of older adults (> 60 years). Participants' age ranged from 60-99 years (M = 74, SD = 8.27). Frequency and severity of physical health problems were measured while controlling for retrospective reports of past health problems and past victimization. Approximately 24% of older adults reported being bullied by their peers. Current victimization predicted physical health problems and somatic complaints, but the magnitude of the effect was stronger for men than it was for women. Current victimization also predicted both internalizing and externalizing …
Religious Orientation And Responses To Anxiety: The Mediating Role Of Trust, Jennifer Rae Jones
Religious Orientation And Responses To Anxiety: The Mediating Role Of Trust, Jennifer Rae Jones
Psychology Dissertations
This research experimentally manipulated death anxiety and examined its effects on social, spiritual, and self-support. Individual level of religiosity was examined as a moderating variable. Various forms of trust were examined as potential mediators of the relationship between death anxiety and sources of support. The participants' ages ranged from 17-48 (M = 22.13 SD = 6.30), including 141 females and 39 males. A marginally significant interaction (p = .09) was found between experimental condition and participant level of religiosity in predicting general support by God, such that intrinsic religiosity predicted general support by God most strongly in the anxiety condition, …
Evaluation Of A Randomized Clinical Trial Of A Psychoeducational Intervention On Long-Term Quality Of Life, Negative Affect, Progression And Survival In Head And Neck Cancer Patients, Lara Anne Trevino
Psychology Dissertations
The relationship between psychological and physiological factors that impact health is an important consideration for daily life, illness prevention, treatment, and recovery in cancer patients. Psychological functioning may impact overall immune functioning, which may affect efficacy of cancer treatment and disease outcomes. Unfortunately, how psychological variables and quality of life during treatment may impact progression or survival has not been systematically studied. There is a growing body of research suggesting that psychological factors are important predictors of quality of life among cancer survivors. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a randomized clinical trial of …
Sex, Drugs, And Work: The Associations Of Personality Characteristics, Risky Sex, Substance Use, And Work Behavior In Young Adult Restaurant Workers, Robyn D. Petree
Sex, Drugs, And Work: The Associations Of Personality Characteristics, Risky Sex, Substance Use, And Work Behavior In Young Adult Restaurant Workers, Robyn D. Petree
Psychology Dissertations
Personality characteristics among young adult (18 - 29 years old) restaurant workers were examined in relation to substance use, risky sexual behavior, and several work outcomes. High sensation seekers and emerging adults were associated with more alcohol and drug use, lower levels of work engagement, and higher levels of intent to quit. Sensation seeking was also related to shorter job tenure. Emerging adulthood was also related to more days absent from work, more sexual partners, and having more unprotected sex. These findings are particularly important for the restaurant industry, one of the largest employers of young adults who are often …
Examining The Role Of Need For Closure In Psychological Distress Following Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer, Ifeoluwa Togun
Examining The Role Of Need For Closure In Psychological Distress Following Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer, Ifeoluwa Togun
Psychology Dissertations
The present study investigated the relationship between Need for Closure (NFC) and psychological distress after receiving the results of genetic tests for breast cancer. One hundred and eight women recruited from the Cancer Genetics Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Magee-Women's Hospital participated in the study. The women were assessed four times in all, once before receiving their test results (baseline) and three times after at one week, 3 months and 6 months. The results suggested that the testing situation itself does not lead to distress. Distress following genetic test results is related to an individual's attitude …
What About Blog? Problematic Internet Use And Personality In Bloggers, Kathryn Hyde Rollings
What About Blog? Problematic Internet Use And Personality In Bloggers, Kathryn Hyde Rollings
Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of the current study was to compare bloggers' personalities to the personalities of non-bloggers, and to determine whether it is possible to identify individuals who are more likely to use the Internet in a problematic way. A sample of bloggers (N = 231) and non-bloggers (N = 248) completed a series of online surveys including the Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Online Cognition Survey (OCS), and a questionnaire about general Internet use. I found that bloggers scored significantly higher on the Big Five Trait Openness to Experience than did non-bloggers. Bloggers also reported higher scores of the Distraction …
An Experimental Test Of Extended Contact Hypothesis: Its Boundary Conditions And Psychological Processes, Patricia A. Lyons
An Experimental Test Of Extended Contact Hypothesis: Its Boundary Conditions And Psychological Processes, Patricia A. Lyons
Psychology Dissertations
The extended contact hypothesis states that contact with an ingroup member, who has an outgroup friend, facilitates favorable outgroup attitudes (Wright, Aron, McLaughlin-Volpe, & Ropp, 1997). An experimental manipulation examined the hypothesis' assumption that ingroup identity salience facilitates extended contact effectiveness, the effect of national ingroup identity strength as a moderator of extended contact, and the hypothesized mediators of extended contact in the context of U.S. citizens' evaluations toward Arab immigrants in the United States, compared to Latino and European immigrants. Ninety, White females (Mean age = 21.33) were randomly assigned to conditions of extended contact with an ingroup partner …
Verbal Behavior Of Mice And Men: Preference For Multiple Schedules Of Reinforcement As An Indicator Of The Evolution Of Verbal Behavior, Adrianne Eileen Lewis
Verbal Behavior Of Mice And Men: Preference For Multiple Schedules Of Reinforcement As An Indicator Of The Evolution Of Verbal Behavior, Adrianne Eileen Lewis
Psychology Theses
The evolution of verbal behavior in humans is believed to have appeared in the form of a complex operant behavior. According to behaviorists, the development verbal behavior which is exclusive to Homo sapiens could have been the result of an increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli in the form of another person. Previous animal research by Roark and Kopp (2008) found that sensitivity to environmental stimuli (as indicated by a preference to respond to a multiple schedule of reinforcement) and a preference to respond to additional cues could be a precursor to the evolution of verbal behavior in Sprague Dawley rats. …
Competition Between Dorsal Root Reflex And Sympathetic Activity On Neurogenic Inflammation, Ailing Li
Competition Between Dorsal Root Reflex And Sympathetic Activity On Neurogenic Inflammation, Ailing Li
Psychology Theses
Neurogenic inflammation is caused by the inflammatory substances released from the peripheral terminals of afferent fibers. Vasodilation is one of the cardinal signs of neurogenic inflammation. It is thought that neurogenic inflammation is closely related with dorsal root reflex (DRR). DRRs are the antidromic action potentials that can be elicited by noxious stimuli and promote the release of inflammatory substances from the nerve terminals to facilitate neurogenic inflammation, like increase of the vasodilation. Some studies have proved that DRR can propagate bilaterally after being induced unilaterally. However, in our previous studies, we didn't observe significant increase of contralateral blood perfusion, …
Finally, My Thesis On Academic Procrastination, Justin Mccloskey
Finally, My Thesis On Academic Procrastination, Justin Mccloskey
Psychology Theses
References to procrastination have been dated back to as long as 3,000 years ago. However, research on procrastination is ironically enormously behind the curve in active research on its antecedents and effects. Academic procrastination is a unique outlet of procrastinatory tendencies and is the object of much less scientific research. Academic procrastination occurs when students needlessly delay completing projects, activities or assignments and has been linked to lower academic grades, poorer well-being, and more stress. Studies have found procrastination to be a vital predictor of success in college and the development of a scale upon which to measure it could …
Effect Of Number Of Ideas And Folders On Idea Generation In Groups, Lauren E. Arditti
Effect Of Number Of Ideas And Folders On Idea Generation In Groups, Lauren E. Arditti
Psychology Theses
Electronic brainstorming is a method developed to take advantage of the positive effects of collective ideation, such as cognitive stimulation, while decreasing production blocking and social loafing. Research indicates that as group size increases so does the total number of ideas generated. Yet, as groups get larger, brainstormers may succumb to cognitive overload and no longer benefit from the cognitive stimulation of other group members. To counter this potential source of production loss, the use of folders has been developed. Folders are a means of collecting ideas and distributing them among group members in smaller more manageable sets. However, studies …
Embeddedness Versus Isolation In Dissonance-Induced Attitude Change, Rebecca L. Robinson
Embeddedness Versus Isolation In Dissonance-Induced Attitude Change, Rebecca L. Robinson
Psychology Theses
The argument is made that embedded and isolated attitudes differ in the magnitude and effects of cognitive dissonance in an induced-compliance paradigm. Individuals who engaged in counterattitudinal advocacy with an embedded attitude experienced increased negative affect but decreased attitude change compared to those who engaged in counterattitudinal advocacy with an isolated attitude. Traditional choice condition effects were also found to be different when the attitude was embedded versus isolated, with the embedded attitude characterized by a reversal of the expected effects typically seen with isolated attitudes. It is argued that induced-compliance dissonance studies have historically been restricted to one-sided isolated …
The Effect Of Morphine On Dopamine Neuron Activation In Males And Cycling Females, Micah Eimerbrink
The Effect Of Morphine On Dopamine Neuron Activation In Males And Cycling Females, Micah Eimerbrink
Psychology Theses
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of estrogen on the electrophysiological response of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons to morphine (10 mg/kg; IP) in experimentally naïve adult male and intact adult female cycling Sprague-Dawley rats. Five groups were studied: males, proestrus females, estrus females, metestrus females, and diestrus females. Continuous 40 minute recordings were collected for each animal (5 minutes baseline, 5 minutes after a saline (0.9% NaCl) injection, and 30 minutes after morphing injection (10 mg/kg)). Results showed significant increases in VTA DA activity in the Metestrus and Male groups, no significant differences …
The Role Of Abstraction For Creative Idea Generation, Ajeeta Deuja
The Role Of Abstraction For Creative Idea Generation, Ajeeta Deuja
Psychology Theses
The present study examined the role of categories during a brainstorming task. Participants were asked to generate abstract categories before they brainstormed either in groups or individually in Study 1. It was expected that generating categories would be beneficial before ideation. However, it was found that category generation harmed the group ideation process. It was also found that they were not clustering as much to their ideas, which might have led to a decrease in productivity. Study 2 aimed to examine whether groups would benefit by brainstorming sequentially because of high clustering. It was found that sequential brainstorming helped increase …
Conditioned Place Preference In The Male Wistar-Kyoto Rat, Torry Scott Dennis
Conditioned Place Preference In The Male Wistar-Kyoto Rat, Torry Scott Dennis
Psychology Theses
The current set of experiments examined the role of trait anxiety, using the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat, on cocaine- and morphine-induced conditioned place preference. Both four and six pairings of 10mg/kg cocaine during conditioning yielded no significant preference at acquisition, yet a preference at reinstatement was observed after a protracted period of abstinence. The three pairings of 10mg/kg morphine yielded no significant preference for either of the outer choice chambers at any time point, however an increasing preference for the neutral chamber in which no injection was given was observed as extinction continued. Taken together, the data collected from these experiments …
An Animal Model Of Conditioned Placebo Analgesia, Christopher T. Mcnabb
An Animal Model Of Conditioned Placebo Analgesia, Christopher T. Mcnabb
Psychology Theses
Research on placebo analgesia (PA) has called for the further elucidation of underlying neural mechanisms. Animal models allow for experimental manipulations that are not possible or feasible in human research such as brain lesions. Therefore, an animal model would be ideally suited to expand upon human PA literature; however, there is currently no animal model of PA. This study used a classical conditioning paradigm in an effort to induce an analgesic response to placebo treatment in rats. Thirty eight female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an L5 spinal nerve ligation (L5 SNL) to induce a chronic neuropathic pain condition. Animals were conditioned …
Creating And Studying "Instant Enemies" And Instant Allies" In Same-Sex Dyadic Interactions, Anna E. Park
Creating And Studying "Instant Enemies" And Instant Allies" In Same-Sex Dyadic Interactions, Anna E. Park
Psychology Theses
The present study was designed to investigate the “instant enemy” and “instant ally” phenomena. Forty-three pairs of unacquainted college students interacted in same-sex and same-race pairs for 10 minutes. In the enemy condition, the dyads consisted of one participant who was liberal and one participant who was conservative. In the ally condition, both participants were either liberal or both participants were conservative. It was expected that dyads consisting of political opposites would behave like “instant enemies,” whereas dyads consisting of participants with similar political attitudes would behave more like “instant allies.” This general prediction was expected to be reflected in …
Modeling Work Retention In Chronic Disabling Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders: The Role Of Pre-Treatment And Post-Treatment Risk Factors, Emily Brede
Psychology Theses
Chronic pain has become an increasing problem, with serious social and economic consequences. One important socioeconomic outcome in the treatment of chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders (CDOMD) is work retention (WR), which reflects the patient's ability to both obtain and maintain employment following treatment. A consecutive CDOMD patient sample received complete physical and psychosocial evaluations at admission to and discharge from a functional restoration program, and WR was evaluated one year later. It was hypothesized that the effect of economic and psychosocial factors at admission on WR would be mediated by those same factors at discharge . A structural equation …
Measurement Invariance Of The Sf-12 Across Ethnic Groups Among Women In Postpartum, Tamer Farouk Desouky
Measurement Invariance Of The Sf-12 Across Ethnic Groups Among Women In Postpartum, Tamer Farouk Desouky
Psychology Theses
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine differential item functioning (DIF) as a plausible cause of subgroup variation in the short-form health survey (SF-12). Methods: Cross sectional secondary data analysis of postpartum women (n = 655) who participated in a prospective cohort longitudinal design was conducted. Hypotheses predicted that subgroups would exhibit DIF among items measuring physical health as assessed by the SF-12. If DIF is found then other postpartum related variables, such as social support and parity, will explain DIF through mediation analysis. A Multiple Indicator Multiple Cause (MIMIC) model was used to examine DIF among these …
Does Teacher Bullying Predict Poorer Adjustment Outcomes In Students?, Erika Venzor
Does Teacher Bullying Predict Poorer Adjustment Outcomes In Students?, Erika Venzor
Psychology Theses
The current thesis sought to examine whether (1) teacher bullying affects students' health, academic motivation and performance, (2) there are ethnic differences in teacher bullying, (3) teacher and peer bullying are different constructs, and (4) academic motivation and self-efficacy (Study 2) mediate the relationship between teacher bullying and academic performance. For Study 1, 346 college students participated in an online study. Those students who were bullied by both peers and teachers had the worst adjustment outcomes. Teacher bullying predicted lower academic motivation and poorer performance even after controlling for peer bullying. There were ethnic differences on peer relational victimization, teacher …
Generations: The Dividing Line Between Preferences For Leadership Styles, Alysia Annette Bransford
Generations: The Dividing Line Between Preferences For Leadership Styles, Alysia Annette Bransford
Psychology Theses
This research examined what effects the characteristics of the Millennial generation had on the preferences for leadership style by investigating which qualities in leaders were more highly valued within this generational cohort. The Millennial generations' (i.e., individuals born between 1980 and 2000) potential preferences towards four leadership styles (i.e., charismatic, ideological, pragmatic, and servant) versus that of non-Millennials (i.e., individuals born before 1980) were investigated. In addition, this study investigated how Millennials' locus of control affects their leader preference. Two 2 x 3 Mixed ANCOVAs were run to assess leadership preferences between the two generational groups. Multiple regressions were run …
Asynchronous Idea Generation, Runa Korde
Asynchronous Idea Generation, Runa Korde
Psychology Theses
The studies examined the role of providing review sessions during a brainstorming task. Participants were asked to generate ideas either as pair or individually. It was expected that participants who were provided time to review their own as well as their partners' ideas would generate more ideas than those who were not provided a separate review session. Additionally, it was expected that when the review session was provided, participants who generated ideas alone would perform better than those who generated ideas as a pair. Results of Study 1 supported these hypotheses. Study 2 was conducted to understand the factors that …
The Effects Of Personal Trauma History And Working With Clients With Similar Trauma On Well-Being Among Mental Health Counselors, Joel Chaverri
The Effects Of Personal Trauma History And Working With Clients With Similar Trauma On Well-Being Among Mental Health Counselors, Joel Chaverri
Social Work Theses
Several studies have researched burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, and shared trauma of practicing mental health professionals. Yet few have focused directly on the impact of personal trauma history on well-being. This study was an online exploratory design investigating the relationships among counselor personal trauma history, well-being, and the effects of seeing clients with similar trauma. Personal trauma history was determined through a demographical survey, and well-being analyzed using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL). The study examined several demographic variables to determine whether a model exits to predict counselor well-being. While the …
Client Compliance: Can Community Mental Health Outcomes Be Predicted?, Seth Parrott
Client Compliance: Can Community Mental Health Outcomes Be Predicted?, Seth Parrott
Social Work Theses
The purpose of this thesis project was to gain predictive insight into client behaviors that may affect treatment outcomes. This thesis uses data originally collected for a dissemination trial of Cognitive Behavioral therapy being introduced into Texas' community mental health system. Clients that attend scheduled therapy sessions and complete assigned homework to a higher degree are demonstrating better compliance with their treatment. It was hypothesized that those behaviors while factoring in symptom severity and amount of therapy would predict final treatment outcomes as measured by a decrease in symptoms. Multiple regression analysis of 85 participants all diagnosed with Major Depression …
Risk Behavior, Personal Assets And Social Support In The Lesbian And Gay Adult Populations: How These Contribute To Suicidality?, Elizabeth Sabre
Risk Behavior, Personal Assets And Social Support In The Lesbian And Gay Adult Populations: How These Contribute To Suicidality?, Elizabeth Sabre
Social Work Theses
The purpose of this exploratory study is threefold 1) to assess whether risk factors for suicide among LG individuals older than age 18 are the same as those among heterosexual individuals; 2) to assess whether suicidality decreases for the LG population; and 3) to identify what factors are associated with this decrease if there is one. Are the risk behaviors that are correlated with suicide risk among heterosexuals comparably correlated among LG individuals? What is the relationship between developmental assets and suicide risk among LG? The research was done online, through social networking sites. The findings were that the main …
Contracting Institutions And Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence From The U.S. Mulitnationals, Gregory Phelan
Contracting Institutions And Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence From The U.S. Mulitnationals, Gregory Phelan
Economics Theses
Development Economics studies have highlighted the importance of both property rights and contracting institutions for attracting foreign direct investment. However, to the best of our knowledge, none of the previous studies has examined the separate FDI impacts of these institutions. Using country level data, this thesis examines the effects that both contracting and property rights institutions have on United States multinationals' foreign direct investment decisions. We control for potential endogeneity by using indigenous population density and country latitude, along with a British legal origin dummy variable as instruments for property rights and contracting institutions, respectively. We find strong evidence that …