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Using Behavior Skills Training To Teach Effective Conversation Skills To Individuals With Disabilities, Allison L. Schmidt Dec 2016

Using Behavior Skills Training To Teach Effective Conversation Skills To Individuals With Disabilities, Allison L. Schmidt

MSU Graduate Theses

A behavioral skills training (BST) package consisting of instructions, modeling an appropriate conversation, participant rehearsal, and constructive feedback, was used to teach appropriate conversation skills to three adults with developmental disabilities. A task analysis was used to define the steps of having a conversation. These steps included greetings, initiations, initiating a topic, responding, and maintaining a topic as the target skills. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used; an A-B-C format was embedded within the design for participants 1 and 2. Participant 3 was assessed using an A-B format. In situ was measured across three settings: each participant's …


A Qualitative Study On The Meaning Of Having A Child For Mothers Who Were Abused In Their Childhood, Maki Shigematsu Dec 2016

A Qualitative Study On The Meaning Of Having A Child For Mothers Who Were Abused In Their Childhood, Maki Shigematsu

MSU Graduate Theses

The purpose of this research is to understand what having a child means for mothers who experienced child abuse, how their children affected the motherhood positively, and how the mothers tried to overcome their child abuse experiences. Three mothers were found as participants for the study. The data were collected by qualitative, open-ended interviews. Each of the mothers had one interview that lasted around 1-1.5 hours. The mothers' lived-experiences are portrayed with analysis and in-depth interpretation. The study shows how child abuse experiences impacted the participants' lives and parenting, how the participants made progress in their experiences growing up, and …


The Development And Validation Of Personality-Based Implicit Measures For Predicting Character Failure, David Doedli Willis Dec 2016

The Development And Validation Of Personality-Based Implicit Measures For Predicting Character Failure, David Doedli Willis

MSU Graduate Theses

Previous research in personality-based Implicit Association Tests (IATs) found little predictive power and obtained limited psychometric properties. This study was designed to improve the psychometric properties of personality-based Implicit Association Tests designed to assess attributes related to integrity and character. The predictive validity of the IATs for behavior related to character failure (e.g. dishonesty and rule violations) was also investigated. The personality-based IATs target attitudes and behavior related to what is referred to as the dark side of personality (i.e. traits related to Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism). To obtain criterion behavior related to these traits a temptation manipulation provided subjects …


Selecting For Commitment: Intentional And Habitual Predictors, Carl Witten Dec 2016

Selecting For Commitment: Intentional And Habitual Predictors, Carl Witten

MSU Graduate Theses

This study examines long term strategic thinking (LTST) as a predictor of organizational commitment and turnover intentions, and attempts to distinguish it from the personality factor conscientiousness. Although LTST is related to conscientiousness, its use as a selection device relies on enhanced prediction above conscientiousness alone. Results of a survey study show that different facets of organizational commitment are to some extent differentially predicted by these two constructs.


Ethicality Of Advisor Motives In Academic Advising: Faculty, Staff, And Student Perspectives, Xiafei Xue Dec 2016

Ethicality Of Advisor Motives In Academic Advising: Faculty, Staff, And Student Perspectives, Xiafei Xue

MSU Graduate Theses

Advising is an important aspect in academic settings. While the literature has emphasized better academic advising, including the personal qualities of good advisors, there has been little emphasis on ethical issues and ethical concerns related to advisors' roles or positions. The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) provides a set of core values to guide ethical behavior. The current study examined (in an experimental design) faculty, staff, and student perspectives regarding advisors' more ethical, neutral, or less ethical behaviors. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between faculty and staff. All groups could differentiate between ethical and unethical extremes, but …


Does Person And Process Praise Influence Success Of Transferring Knowledge?, Leah Mae Wilson Dec 2016

Does Person And Process Praise Influence Success Of Transferring Knowledge?, Leah Mae Wilson

MSU Graduate Theses

The effects of person, process, and neutral praise were examined to assess differences in the types of praise used to frame participant motivation and subsequent transfer success. A sample of undergraduate psychology students (N = 66) were tested using the Tower of Hanoi puzzle to assess transfer success based on the number of trials and average time per trials necessary to solve the transfer task. Participants also reported levels of existing achievement goal orientations and task-specific intrinsic motivation. Exploratory analyses indicated that the number of trials, average time per trial across conditions, as well intrinsic motivation did not differ by …


The Relationship Between Lead In Groundwater And Elementary School Students' Academic Performance In Missouri, Lynnette Xiangling Li Dec 2016

The Relationship Between Lead In Groundwater And Elementary School Students' Academic Performance In Missouri, Lynnette Xiangling Li

MSU Graduate Theses

Lead exposure can come from various sources, e.g., lead mines, industrial areas, and lead based paint. Missouri has more than 4,128 lead mines. Lead is a neurotoxin. The objectives of the study were to investigate i) the spatial relationship between lead mines and lead distribution in groundwater, ii) the statistical impact of lead in groundwater on students' Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores, and iii) the geographic variations of lead's impact on students' MAP scores. Geographic Information Science spatial analysis tools were used to analyze the concentration of lead in groundwater within school districts in Missouri. Regression analysis was utilized to …


Multiple Effects Of A Brief Mindfulness Training, Stephanie Aholt Dec 2016

Multiple Effects Of A Brief Mindfulness Training, Stephanie Aholt

MSU Graduate Theses

Mindfulness-based interventions have been related to emotional regulation, reduced stress, and increased psychological flexibility. The current investigation extended previous findings by examining the short-term effects of a brief mindfulness training in undergraduate psychology students. The non-concurrent multiple baseline design evaluated heart rate and cortisol changes in response to a brief mindfulness-based intervention. The results found for some individuals, participation in the mindfulness intervention helped regulate their emotions and heart rate, as evidenced by the decrease in heart rate and cortisol and increase in psychological flexibility by changes in Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-2 and Perceived Stress Scale-14 scores. Findings suggest more …


Concurrent Biological, Electromagnetic Pulse, And Cyber Attacks - A Challenge To The Interagency Response, Patricia Rohrbeck Dec 2016

Concurrent Biological, Electromagnetic Pulse, And Cyber Attacks - A Challenge To The Interagency Response, Patricia Rohrbeck

MSU Graduate Theses

The U.S. including its military depends on an electrical grid and electricity-based critical infrastructure. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and cyber attack can disable not just a significant portion of the electrical grid and critical infrastructure, but also the networkcentric military response to such an attack. There is a large range of actors that might attempt EMP attacks against the U.S.. Health surveillance systems are network-centric, and if mass destruction is the goal of an adversary, launching a biological attack concurrently with EMP and cyber attacks may achieve this goal. Current agency response plans focus on one WMD attack at a …


Frozen Conflicts, De Facto States, And Enduring Interests In The Russian Near Abroad, Brittany A. Pohl Dec 2016

Frozen Conflicts, De Facto States, And Enduring Interests In The Russian Near Abroad, Brittany A. Pohl

MSU Graduate Theses

The dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in the establishment of fifteen sovereign nations and a number of separatist states concentrated in the greater Black Sea region. The latter, so-called de facto states, are the result of frozen conflicts that emerged as Moscow's grip over its territory weakened in the waning years of the USSR and dormant ethno-religious tensions erupted into internecine conflict. Separatists, ultimately with help from Moscow, were able to enshrine victories on the battlefield through ceasefires with metropolitan states that have held for over two decades. However, the issues surrounding these pseudo-states remain unsettled, and attempts at …


The Use Of Behavior Skills Training To Teach Paraprofessionals Discrete Trial Teaching, Ali Jo-Celeste Headley Dec 2016

The Use Of Behavior Skills Training To Teach Paraprofessionals Discrete Trial Teaching, Ali Jo-Celeste Headley

MSU Graduate Theses

Behavioral skills training (BST) was used to teach discrete trial teaching (DTT) to three paraprofessionals. Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) has been used successfully with students with autism to individualize and simplify classroom instruction. DTT is an evidence-based training procedure used with elementary aged children to promote the development of communication/language, adaptive behavior, cognitive/academic skills, social and play skills, and for reducing interfering behaviors. Behavioral skills training is a training package that includes instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. A multiple baseline design across participants was used to assess the treatment effects. The paraprofessionals in this study increased their implementation of DTT …


“Frames” And Bias: How A Lack Of Context In Middle East News Coverage Can Impact U.S. Foreign Policy, Jennifer Lois Moore Dec 2016

“Frames” And Bias: How A Lack Of Context In Middle East News Coverage Can Impact U.S. Foreign Policy, Jennifer Lois Moore

MSU Graduate Theses

This thesis is a critical examination into how American mainstream news media outlets often neglect to incorporate religious, cultural and historical context into their coverage of the Middle East. I show through my research and analysis that the news coverage of the Middle East, even at the highest echelons of American journalism, is often lacking in sophistication in terms of cultural and religious context, sometimes to the point of affecting its fairness and accuracy. The danger of this is that it has the power to grossly simplify and reduce to an “us versus them” frame an entire contingent of the …


Development And Vailidation Of Implicit Association Tests For Organizational Citizenship Behavior Motives, Tonielle Myriah Fiscus Jul 2016

Development And Vailidation Of Implicit Association Tests For Organizational Citizenship Behavior Motives, Tonielle Myriah Fiscus

MSU Graduate Theses

Organizations have long held an interest in organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB), as they provide a link between employee satisfaction and productivity. Only recently have researchers begun to investigate the reasons why employees perform OCB. Explicit (self-report) measures of OCB motives are susceptible to contamination from impression management and self-knowledge artifacts, making the results of such measures potentially inaccurate. Four Implicit Association Tests (IATs) were developed to assess the OCB motives that Borman and Penner (2001) describe. Because the IAT procedure uses reaction times on classification tasks, the procedure is resistant to the contamination that impression management and inaccurate self-knowledge can …


Exploration Of Factors In Established Scales Regarding Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders, Amy Elizabeth Bauman Jul 2016

Exploration Of Factors In Established Scales Regarding Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders, Amy Elizabeth Bauman

MSU Graduate Theses

Attitudes toward sex offenders are generally negative, and many of us come into contact with these individuals within our communities and perhaps our occupations. Some of these opinions, however, are fueled by stereotypes whether accurate or erroneous. These opinions likely affect interactions with these individuals and punitive policies, which may impact the rehabilitation process of sex offenders. Measuring attitudes may offer insight into specific beliefs regarding this population and perhaps support the conveyance of accurate information surrounding sex offenders and their rehabilitation process. There are few existing measures utilized for measuring attitudes toward sex offenders, and those in use vary …


Personality Factors, Ideology, And Sensitivity To Change, Jahnavi Rose Delmonico Jul 2016

Personality Factors, Ideology, And Sensitivity To Change, Jahnavi Rose Delmonico

MSU Graduate Theses

This study examined the potential for a predictive relationship between political conservatism and change detection. Research on the visual system has revealed a general tendency to overlook changes in a stationary scene when two versions are displayed alternately with a masking slide, known as the flicker paradigm. We examined whether political conservatism and various related measures predicted whether and how quickly changes were detected during a flicker paradigm task. Measures of interest were conservatism as measured by the Social and Economic Conservatism scale, openness as measured by the short form of the Big Five Inventory, authoritarianism as measured by the …


Methods Of Measuring Visual Scanning Of Upright And Inverted Ecological Images, Benjamin Lee Graves Jul 2016

Methods Of Measuring Visual Scanning Of Upright And Inverted Ecological Images, Benjamin Lee Graves

MSU Graduate Theses

Facial recognition has been long held as a special perceptual process at which humans excel, and is primarily a function of perceptual experience. However, there are experimental manipulations that impede this perceptual process and make it more difficult for humans to recognize the face (i.e. only presenting half a face or inverting the face). In the case of inversion, it is though that the inverted face interrupts a person's ability to process the face holistically and forces a change to featural processing. The purpose of this experiment was to examine if inversion of ecologically valid images would also impact recognition …


A Psychometric Exploration Of Visuo-Constructive Ability And Processing Speed, Kayla Marie Lejeune Jul 2016

A Psychometric Exploration Of Visuo-Constructive Ability And Processing Speed, Kayla Marie Lejeune

MSU Graduate Theses

This study was conducted in order to explore the relationship between visuo-motor integration and processing speed; specifically, whether the WISC-V Coding B subtest is a better measure of visuo-motor ability. Visuo-motor ability and processing speed were assessed in a small, clinical sample (N = 13) of children and adolescents (ages 8-16 years). Results of correlation analyses indicated no significant relationship between visuo-constructive ability and processing speed, as measured by the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) and the Coding subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- Fifth Edition (WISC-V). Results of one correlational analysis revealed that the …


Message Framing And Source Factors: Peers' Impact On Exercise Intentions, Samantha Grace Lynn Hunter Jul 2016

Message Framing And Source Factors: Peers' Impact On Exercise Intentions, Samantha Grace Lynn Hunter

MSU Graduate Theses

The present study examined reported exercise intentions, confidence ratings, and exercise behaviors by manipulating the health status of the message source (lifetime healthy, reformed unhealthy) and message frame (gain, loss). Participants read background information pertaining to the health experience of the message source. Participants then read a physical activity health pamphlet that was attributed to the message source. The health pamphlet provided four arguments that were presented in either a gain or loss frame depending on experimental condition. The results revealed that there was a strong positive relationship between exercise intentions and actual exercise behavior reported during the follow up …


Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems: The Case For International Prohibition, Kenneth Brandon Turner Jul 2016

Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems: The Case For International Prohibition, Kenneth Brandon Turner

MSU Graduate Theses

In October of 2001, an American unmanned aerial vehicle was credited with the first 'kill' by a drone strike, setting off an enduring debate on the role of unmanned systems in warfare. Over a decade later, the number and capability of unmanned systems have grown and are rapidly expanding in use worldwide, the proliferation of weaponized ‘drones' now extending to non-state actors as well as nation-states. This thesis examines the current and future state of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) and the argument that the development and deployment of LAWS should be subject to an international prohibition until the facets …


Roommate Conflcit: An Actions Approach To Conflict Through Text-Messaging, Shaley Moore May 2016

Roommate Conflcit: An Actions Approach To Conflict Through Text-Messaging, Shaley Moore

MSU Graduate Theses

Research demonstrates that roommate conflict can lead to lasting physical, mental, and behavioral problems including anxiety, depression, or academic burnout (Dusselier, Dunn, Wang, Shalley, & Whalen, 2005). This research explores roommate conflict through Dillard's (1990) Goals-Plans-Action (GPA) model, specifically examining conflict mangement through text messages. Additionally, this research examines the goals, tactic plans, and action behaviors roommates use in conflict. Understanding how roommates manage conflict through text-messaging provides insight into the role that computer mediated communication (CMC) plays in interpersonal conflict and how roommates achieve personal goals through CMC. Qualitative data were collected through eight one-on-one interviews guided by participant …


Constructing The Political Identity Of Generation Next: A Focus Group Study, Ryan Graham May 2016

Constructing The Political Identity Of Generation Next: A Focus Group Study, Ryan Graham

MSU Graduate Theses

In the midst of an election season, research in the areas of politics and democratic engagement become increasingly important. Framed by concepts from social constructionism, this study used focus group interviews to better understand salient political values and citizenship norms among America's youth. Through personal experience and reflection, participants in this qualitative study were able to produce meaningful data from which one may draw general conclusions. The three major themes appeared as 1) socialization & development, 2) lack of faith, and 3) expanded notions of citizenship and engagement. Ultimately, results from this study suggested that America's youth have constructed a …


Family Group Conference Experiences From The Perspective Of Volunteer Facilitators, Rebecca Ann Saunders May 2016

Family Group Conference Experiences From The Perspective Of Volunteer Facilitators, Rebecca Ann Saunders

MSU Graduate Theses

This study examined the experiences of volunteer Family Group Conference (FGC) facilitators for the purpose of understanding how they experience and manage their role in the FGC process. By focusing on the benefits and challenges of volunteer FGC facilitators, this research adds a new perspective to the limited literature on FGC facilitators. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 volunteer Family Group Conference facilitators in order to create a deeper understanding of these volunteers' experiences. The Ecosystems Perspective and Uncertainty Reduction Theory created a framework for understanding the complex role of the FGC facilitator and allowed for a more detailed …


An Exploration Of The Prevalence Of Advocacy Efforts And The Role Of The School Counselor In Lgbt Student Advocacy, Lacey Beatrice Berry May 2016

An Exploration Of The Prevalence Of Advocacy Efforts And The Role Of The School Counselor In Lgbt Student Advocacy, Lacey Beatrice Berry

MSU Graduate Theses

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students are at a higher risk than their heterosexual and cisgender peers for harassment, depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, and engagement in risky behaviors. In an attempt to combat the marginalization of LGBT students in schools, advocacy organizations and research have provided evidence of the value of an LGBT-inclusive organization or club, LGBT-inclusive harassment and discrimination policies, and LGBT-inclusive curricula, access to resources, and staff trainings. A gap in the literature indicates the need for examining the school counselor's role in advocating for LGBT students, as well as the barriers that may be preventing …


Challenges Of Implementing Defense Policies To Deter Hostile Actors In Space And Cyberspace, Stephan Dwayne Bjerring Powers May 2016

Challenges Of Implementing Defense Policies To Deter Hostile Actors In Space And Cyberspace, Stephan Dwayne Bjerring Powers

MSU Graduate Theses

Space and cyber operations have changed national security for both nations and non-state actors worldwide. The low barriers to entry have allowed less sophisticated nations and actors to have an impact on the U.S. and near-peer nations. The lack of attribution and the ability to obfuscate the source of the space or cyber weapon will make the case for wartime retaliation difficult. The highly proactive antisatellite weapons test conducted by China in 2007 and the alleged employment of Stuxnet against Iran's nuclear program by the United States and Israel illustrates the potentially destabilizing effects to high priority national programs. If …


The Relevance Of Militant Islamist Ideology In Crafting Countering Violent Extremism Policy In The U.S., Leena Almeda Carmenates May 2016

The Relevance Of Militant Islamist Ideology In Crafting Countering Violent Extremism Policy In The U.S., Leena Almeda Carmenates

MSU Graduate Theses

Militant Islamist ideology and the level of attention and reaction it merits from the United States government has been the point of much contention and debate within both the academic and policy communities. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the relevance of militant Islamist ideology in crafting and implementing the emerging United States policy of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). Militant Islamist ideology provides its adherents with a strong sense of identity, motivation towards a seemingly worthy cause, and an all-encompassing and simplistic worldview. This ultimately points to the importance of engaging with the Muslim community, careful and tactful …


Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (Act) And Physical Therapy Adherence, Jennifer Ashley Battles May 2016

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (Act) And Physical Therapy Adherence, Jennifer Ashley Battles

MSU Graduate Theses

Adherence to physical therapy rehabilitation is one of the most common issues physical therapists face with patients. Methods to improve physical therapy adherence have only been mildly successful, and many modalities fail to address psychological components that affect compliance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third wave behavior analytic therapy that has recently been utilized to influence health behavior change through emphasizing mindfulness, values, and psychological. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of a brief ACT intervention on physical therapy adherence, including compliance with prescribed home exercises and attendance at sessions. Participants (n = 4) with a range of …


Effect Of Empathy Intervention On Perceptions And Beliefs About Individuals Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asia Rose Hulse May 2016

Effect Of Empathy Intervention On Perceptions And Beliefs About Individuals Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asia Rose Hulse

MSU Graduate Theses

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience stigma through acts of discrimination, bullying, and feelings of isolation and loneliness. Additional concerns of bearing the diagnosis include being treated differently by peers and an overall sense of feeling different than others. However, inclusive behavior and positive attitudes toward individuals with ASD can be facilitated through contact and interventions. This study sought to understand the impact of an empathic training video compared to an educational training video on college students' beliefs and knowledge about peers with this disorder. Results were significant for participants receiving the empathic training for higher scores …


A Situational Application Of Myth To A New Conservative Narrative: The Rhetoric Of Thad Cochran, Nickolas James Nickols May 2016

A Situational Application Of Myth To A New Conservative Narrative: The Rhetoric Of Thad Cochran, Nickolas James Nickols

MSU Graduate Theses

In 2014, Republican Senator Thad Cochran became "the fifth-longest serving senator in the nation's history" (Ward, 2014, para. 5). Yet, Cochran lost to an upstart conservative in the first round of Mississippi's Republican primary and, in response, wielded the power of myth to realign his state's conservative trajectory. In light of this event, the following analysis positioned a rhetorical reading of Cochran's campaign materials thru the lens of myth, revealing three strategic elements that allowed the senator to coalesce an unlikely base. Particularly highlighted are Cochran's transcendence of party labels and ideology, his attempt to position himself as the hero …


The Identity Of Leave-Taking: A Multi-Methodological Qualitative Sensemaking Explanation, Janice Nadine Hersey May 2016

The Identity Of Leave-Taking: A Multi-Methodological Qualitative Sensemaking Explanation, Janice Nadine Hersey

MSU Graduate Theses

Many church organizations require women to adhere to a strict code of conduct and dress that affects every area of their lives. While some women choose to create a narrative that validates these guidelines, others choose to leave the church. The purpose of this study is to explicate how women who have left the United Pentecostal Church (UPC), a legalistic splinter group of Pentecostalism, make sense of that decision, redefine their language, and construct new identities in and through the leave-taking process. Current research on women in gendered faith-based organizations focuses on feminist theory and folklore, often ignoring the voices …


Beyond The Three-Category Model: An Exploration Of Sexual Orientation In Women Aged 18 And Older, Julie C. Wrocklage May 2016

Beyond The Three-Category Model: An Exploration Of Sexual Orientation In Women Aged 18 And Older, Julie C. Wrocklage

MSU Graduate Theses

This qualitative study increases our understanding of sexual orientation in women aged 18 and older whose experiences do not fit within the three-category (heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual) model of sexual orientation. Through in-depth interviewing, this study explored the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of five women who described their sexual orientation as 'unlabeled', 'mostly heterosexual', and/or reported experiencing sexual fluidity. The results suggest that gender is not always the determining factor in an individual's experience of attraction and that the three-category model is an oversimplification of the complexity inherent in sexual orientation. The lived experience of the women in this study calls …