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Socioeconomic Status, Mastery, And Goal-Striving Stress Among Rural Youth, Michael S. Staunton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Although a growing body of research documents the links between goal-striving stress and emotional disorder, less research examines the psychosocial antecedents of goal-striving stress. Drawing on longitudinal survey data from a panel study of rural youth, this thesis examines the effects of socioeconomic status and mastery on educational goal-striving stress, occupational goal-striving stress, and combined goal-striving stress. Results indicate that each measure of goal-striving stress is not equally well predicted by socioeconomic status and mastery. Notably, the effects of socioeconomic status on occupational goal-striving stress and combined goal-striving stress are conditioned by mastery, while neither socioeconomic status nor mastery is …

A Comparison Of Standard And Ventless American Lobster Trap Dynamics, Abigail S. Clark

Master's Theses and Capstones

The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is the most valuable marine resource in New England and, as with any fishery, effective management depends on accurate stock assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of standard and ventless traps, focusing on determining which trap provides a better index of lobster abundance. While ventless traps caught approximately five times as many lobsters as standard traps, the size of captured lobsters did not differ significantly between trap types. Ventless traps saturated after 16 - 24 hours, but standard traps did not saturate at all. Despite saturating at all densities, ventless …

Activity Rhythms Expressed By Juvenile American Horseshoe Crabs, Limulus Polyphemus, Elizabeth Anne Dubofsky

Master's Theses and Capstones

The goals of this study were to determine if juvenile horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, express daily or tidal patterns of activity and how light and tidal cycles influence these patterns. When exposed to a light:dark cycle (n=24), 63% of juveniles exhibit daily patterns of locomotion and 25% of juveniles express circatidal patterns. When subsequently exposed to constant darkness, 17% express circadian rhythms of activity, 25% express a combination of circadian and circatidal patterns, and 46% express circatidal patterns of activity. When exposed to tidal cycles (n=42), 55% of juveniles express tidal patterns of activity, while the remainder exhibit either a …

A Mentor Training Module Designed To Build Resiliency For Homeless Emerging Adults, Courtney J. Edwards

Master's Theses and Capstones

Homelessness in emerging adulthood is a problem that potentially creates a lifetime of extreme poverty and limits the ability to thrive in adulthood. The literature demonstrates a need for programs specific to the homeless emerging adult population. A mentoring program is beneficial because the relationship between the mentor and mentee can offset developmental and psychosocial shortfalls that impede the individual's transition to adulthood. The homeless emerging adult needs a sense of belonging and positive role models. The theories of Maslow and Bandura therefore become the foundation of the mentoring training manual. The Walk with Me mentoring program manual and training …

Net Resiliency: A Study Of Risk And Protective Factors In Single And Two-Parent Familes, Chad E. Depasquale

Master's Theses and Capstones

The main goal of this study was to discover how family makeup affects net resiliency scores of children. This quantitative study uses Two-Tailed t-tests, and Pearson correlation to uncover any relationships between net resiliency and living in a single or two-parent household. A sample of 91 children ranging from eleven to eighteen years old was utilized for the study's data collection. Their net resiliency scores, risk factors, protective factors, and family makeup were analyzed to discover any potential relationships between them. The analysis of these factors showed children living in single-parent families have: lower net resiliency scores, fewer protective factors, …

Individual Differences In Updating Information During Reading, Kristina L. Steiner

Master's Theses and Capstones

Causal information has been shown to help readers update outdated information (Rapp and Kendeou, 2007, 2009). Outdating occurs when integrating new information produces a conflict with encoded information that was encountered earlier in the text. There are also a number of individual differences among readers that influence how successful they will be at encoding, integrating, and outdating information including their reading skill, working memory capacity, and domain knowledge. This thesis examines how these individual differences impact how readers utilize causal information during updating. Across three experiments, participants were indexed as less-skilled or skilled readers using the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test. Experiments …

Belief Revision In The Context Of Reading Comprehension, Erinn K. Walsh

Master's Theses and Capstones

The goal of the present experiments was to explore the underlying cognitive processes that support individual belief revision. In three experiments the amount of relevant information pertaining to a misconception was systematically manipulated to assess the impact of text refuting a misconception and text explaining the correct information. Experiment I assessed the impact of the refutation. Experiment II assessed the joint impact of the refutation and the explanation. Finally, Experiment III assessed the impact of the explanation. Experiment I demonstrated that providing a refutation section that explicitly negated the misconception was sufficient to eliminate disruption when reading a sentence that …

Investigating Pheromone Variability In A Terrestrial Woodland Salamander, Adam James Chowinard

Master's Theses and Capstones

The communication system of Plethodontid salamanders relies heavily upon chemical signaling. Pheromone molecules convey a tremendous amount of information to conspecifics, and facilitate a wide variety of the essential social functions of these animals. Much of the information contained within the pheromone mixture is variable from one individual to the next, such as the ability to recognize specific individuals, the size of the sender, and the relative "quality' of the signal. In order for variable information to be conveyed through chemical signals, the corresponding variability must be contained within the pheromone mixture itself. This variability may exist as a gradient …

The Impact Of Sensory Stimuli On The Stress Response Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Noelle Schreiber

Master's Theses and Capstones

This is a multiple subject research study looking at children with ASD (N=8) and a control group (N=6). We looked at cortisol samples along with behavioral observations on a sensory probe and short sensory profile scores to determine differences among the groups. All children showed a change in cortisol over the course of the day however, there was no difference seen in patterns by group. There was a high likelihood based on statistical analysis that children with ASD respond negatively to at least five out of the eight sensory probe items. Short sensory profile scores also showed that there was …

Evaluating The Impact Of Outdoor Orientation On Incoming Students' Perceptions Of Social Norms About Alcohol Use On Campus, Benjamin George Oliver

Master's Theses and Capstones

Alcohol issues are a concern of colleges and universities (National Institutes of Health, 2008). This study assessed the effects of an outdoor orientation program on the alcohol use and perceptions of program participants. Specifically, 30 outdoor orientation leaders participated in a three-hour training based on the social norms approach (Berkowitz, 2005). A repeated-measures, quasi-experimental design was used to collect data on incoming students' own use and approval of alcohol, and their perceptions of other students' use and approval. Results indicated that untrained leaders were "carriers of the misperception" of permissive alcohol use (Perkins, 1997) negatively effecting incoming students perceptions. Trained …

The Effects Of Intuition And Introversion On The Ability To Create Iconic Mental Images In Adult Populations, Bonnie A. Barlow

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study investigates whether intuition and introversion can predict imagery ability, utilizing the Keirsey Temperament Sorter-II and the Sheehan's Shortened Form of the Betts Questionnaire on Mental Imagery. Interventions using imagery are commonly used across theoretical orientations. These interventions are particularly powerful, but not effective with those who have low imaging ability. Predicting imaging ability allows counselors to prescribe interventions more effectively. ANOVA was performed on the data to determine if individuals identified as introverted and intuitive have a better ability to imagine than those who are identified as Extroverted and Sensing. Knowing this predictive quality, a counselor can be …

Socially Prescribed Perfectionism And Limerence In Interpersonal Relationships, Robin M. Banker

Master's Theses and Capstones

Socially prescribed perfectionism, in which one perceives that others have unrealistic expectations for them, appears to have a strong correlation to maladaptive characteristics and interpersonal problems. Another concept with maladaptive features and relational difficulties is an unhealthy form of obsessional love, known as limerence. Limerence is defined as an involuntary cognitive and emotional state of intense romantic desire for another individual. The aim of this thesis is to examine the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and limerence. It is hypothesized that an association exists between socially prescribed perfectionism and limerence, specifically in intimate relationships. A theoretical comparison supported the hypothesis, …

Psychiatric Status, Self Control And Violence: Application Of The General Theory Of Crime, Feodor A. Gostjev

Master's Theses and Capstones

Previous studies have suggested that psychiatric patients are more likely to be violent then the individuals in the general population. This thesis uses data collected in MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study to compare violent behaviors perpetrated by psychiatric patients in 10 weeks after their release from a psychiatric hospital and by subjects living in a similar community setting. Furthermore, Gottfredson and Hirschis's (1990) self control theory is applied to examine etiological causes of violence. The outcomes suggest that psychiatric patients were more likely to be violent during the study period than the community control subjects. The difference in violence rates …

Grief, Grieving And Death, E Elaine Andrews-Ahearn

Master's Theses and Capstones

Grief is a journey one can only take alone. There is no rehearsal for it, no primer courses, it cannot be measured or timed. No one can do it with you, or for you. There is never an end, completion, finish line. There is not one prescribed way to do it, nor is there a tidy process. Grief is messy. Most importantly, grief is something that no one ever escapes. It surrounds us all the time, it is layered in our lives, permeates the atmosphere. It is ubiquitous. There are many types and degrees of grief; there are deep pockets …

Self-Injury Behavior In Adolescents: An Education And Prevention Model, Leslie Desrosiers

Master's Theses and Capstones

Many research studies have been focused on self-injury pertaining to adolescents in an in-patient community. There has been little research conducted on adolescents in normative populations that are engaging in self-injurious behavior which is on the rise. The importance of educating an entire community concerning self-injurious behavior is vital in order to help prevent this growing trend. Educators in our schools are not fully prepared to deal with self-injurers and how to help them through intervention and treatment. The need for a developed curriculum in the schools to educate the students, faculty, and staff is crucial in addressing the increasing …

Correctional Group Treatment For Victims Of Sexual Assault, Todd Derbyshire

Master's Theses and Capstones

There is a lack of research regarding therapeutic treatment for inmates who suffer from suicidal ideation after being sexually victimized. This paper reviews the existing research on sexual assault in prisons and the various impacts an event can lead to including suicidal ideation. A model is proposed in using reality therapy to introduce a new perspective in treatment for inmates that suffer suicidal ideation from being sexually victimized.

Many psychological theories are suggested when working with the sexually victimized population. The uniqueness of the correctional population emphasizes the strengths of reality therapy. In reality therapy the individual is limited only …

Impact Of Media Exposure, Ethnicity And Body Mass Index On The Body Image Of College Women, Shannon Wong

Master's Theses and Capstones

The current thesis project sought to analyze the following three problems: (1) the relationship between media exposure and body image, (2) the relationship between body image and media exposure to determine if there are racial group differences, and (3) the relationship between body image, Body Mass Index and media exposure.

Eighty-one females participated in this study, recruited from two large public northeastern universities. The results of the study show a significant negative correlation between media exposure and measures of body image. There were no significant differences found between Caucasian and non-Caucasian women for media exposure. Based on the results, magazines …

A Qualitative Study Of Coping With Unemployment, Mark Baddeley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Unemployment is among the largest stressors of adult life. There are many factors that help determine how people cope with unemployment, and several models have been developed to provide schema for understanding the coping strategies people use. In this qualitative study, in-depth individual interviews yield rich detail of how men who have been highly successful in their careers cope with unemployment. The participants offer unique perspectives on their common experience. The concept of self-determinism provides a useful framework for understanding the coping behavior of the participants and for the absence of reported distress.

The Lived Experience Of Adolescents With Dyslexia, Josefine M. Garcia

Master's Theses and Capstones

In this study, interviews with 8 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 were performed to explore how young people with dyslexia experienced school in terms of well-being, educational performance and challenges, self-esteem, peer relations, the roles of teachers and parents, and views on support. The elementary years of school seemed to be the most difficult for interviewees. While peer interactions were often seen as a crucial part of school, all students reported that they had experienced or feared ridicule from peers. Academic and personal self-esteem seemed low for all participants, and while many students saw their problems as …

The Influence Of Personal Navigation Devices On Drivers' Visual Attention On The Road Ahead And Driving Performance, Nemanja Memarovic

Master's Theses and Capstones

Nowadays, personal navigation devices (PNDs) that provide GPS-based directions are widespread in vehicles. These devices typically display the real-time location of the vehicle on a map and play spoken prompts when drivers need to turn. While such devices are less distracting than paper directions, their graphical display may distract users from their primary task of driving. This thesis investigates the influence of two PNDs on driving performance and visual attention. In the experiments conducted with a high fidelity driving simulator, we found that drivers using a navigation system with a graphical display indeed spent less time looking at the road …

A Survey Of School Counselor Attitudes Regarding Animal-Assisted Interventions, Sara Morrow

Master's Theses and Capstones

Though animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been used in many institutional settings, there is little evidence of AAI use in public schools. This study examined attitudes of school counselors regarding the incorporation of AAI into their practice.

The Pet Attitude Scale Modified (PAS-M) was used to measure attitudes towards animals and was incorporated into an online survey containing items addressing knowledge, interest, and perception of benefits and challenges associated with AAI. A sample of 220 public school counselors completed the online survey. Most considered themselves knowledgeable about AAI (73%), approximately half were interested in using AAI (56%), "reducing stress and anxiety" …

Effect Of Cholinergic Deafferentation Of Prefrontal Cortex On Working Memory For Familiar And Novel Odors, Emily Carter

Master's Theses and Capstones

The role of acetylcholine in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in working memory was investigated in aged rats. Subjects with cholinergic lesions of the prelimbic portion of the mPFC (pACh-lx) or a sham lesion of the same region were trained on an odor delayed non-match to sample paradigm. The effects of prefrontal cholinergic depletion and aging were assessed in task variations that manipulated mnemonic demand and stimulus novelty.

pACh-lx animals were impaired relative to sham-lx animals at memory for familiar stimuli over delays. This global impairment was not dependent on the length of the delay, suggesting that aged pACh-lx animals …

Masculine Gender Roles And Therapy: A Conceptual Workshop, Sara Lindsey Gray

Master's Theses and Capstones

Traditional gender stereotypes, no matter how inaccurate they may be, still greatly affect how we view ourselves as men and women in our society. While all these stereotypes are constricting male stereotypes present some of the most limiting expectations for individuals. Within the realm of counseling and psychotherapy, these stereotypes conflict with such ideals as self exploration and emotional awareness and expression.

This paper reviews past and recent research and theories on the development and reiteration of male stereotypes as well as how these expectations play a role in therapeutic techniques. A conceptual workshop model is also presented as an …

Chronic Pain As The Result Of Traumatic Injury: A Group Counseling Model For Survivors, Corianne S. Woodard

Master's Theses and Capstones

Millions of Americans live with chronic pain as the result of traumatic injury. These individuals face countless challenges as they attempt to cope with daily pain and grieve the many losses caused by their injuries. The physical and emotional stresses associated with chronic pain and traumatic injury place these survivors at significant psychological risk and contribute to the perpetuation of their chronic pain. Group counseling with a grief model emphasis is a cost effective way to meet the specific needs of survivors living with chronic pain. These needs include: the establishment of a social support system, an opportunity to grieve …

Centeredness: A Qualitative Study On The Mind-Body Connection, Tara Rousselle

Master's Theses and Capstones

Centeredness is the concept of living in a constant state of awareness of the physical, psychological and spiritual selves. Through this awareness, a person has the ability for greater connection to their self, health and the world around them, thus leading to the ability to seek optimal health.

The purpose of this study is to explore this concept and its experience from the perspective of those who claim to be experts on such a topic.

The Social Construction Of Disability And The Modern-Day Healer, Jennifer Anne Vanderminden

Master's Theses and Capstones

Ramon Cuevas is a physical therapist and the founder of Cuevas Medek therapy (CME), a physical therapy for children with severe physical impairments. Since creating CME he has taught and practiced throughout the world. Families bring their children to see Ramon in his Chile office and elsewhere around the world to see him for therapy. I have conducted in-depth interviews with parents and Ramon, more than five weeks of participant-observation, and analyzed various online materials related to CME. I found that the community that is formed around these families and Ramon provides an excellent example of how disability is constructed …

"I Remember When I Learned That": Gender Differences In The Use Of Episodic Memory, Rhyannon H. Bemis

Master's Theses and Capstones

The experiments in this thesis were designed to investigate age and gender differences in the use of episodic memory. In experiment 1, children, ages 4 to 9 years, answered general knowledge questions and were asked how they knew the answer to these questions. Results indicated that there were some difference in the proportion of episodes girls reported. Girls' episodes also contained more details. Experiment 2 investigated source monitoring as a potential mechanism for children's use of an episodic recall style using a "drawer-task" with narratives as one of the source types. There were no gender differences, but there were age …

Temporal Dynamics Of The Venetian Blind Effect, Joshua Jay Dobias

Master's Theses and Capstones

When square wave gratings are viewed binocularly with lower luminance or contrast in one eye, the individual bars of the grating appear to rotate around a vertical axis. Studies of motion-and-depth using geometric disparities have shown that perceived depth vanishes at frequencies near 5 Hz. By changing contrast disparity over time, this study measured the frequency at which both the perception of motion-and-depth and the perception of depth are no longer visible. For experienced observers, the perception of motion-and-depth decreased at 1 Hz (Experiment 1) and the perception of depth decreased at 1.4 Hz (Experiments 1 and 3); both of …

Court Appointed Forensic Interviewers Of Non-Victim Child Witnesses: Weighing The Needs Of Reliability, Child Protection, And Litigant's Rights, Joseph J. Taylor

Master's Theses and Capstones

A child can be caused great harm by multiple interviews and the trauma associated with testifying in court. A child's statements may be inaccurate due to suggestive interview methods and trauma. Despite these facts children find themselves involved in the court system every day. The testimony of children cannot be ignored just as their testimony cannot be given too much weight without infringing the rights of litigants. More specialized procedures can be developed to give children's testimony its proper weight while ensuring reliability, child protection, and litigant's rights. A specialized procedure such as a Court Appointed Forensic Interviewer of non-victim …

Correlating Health Locus Of Control And Risk For Postpartum Depression, Alyssa Jane Abraham

Master's Theses and Capstones

The potential risk factors and the symptoms of postpartum depression have been identified in the healthcare literature. Literature shows that there is a relationship between perceived self-efficacy and risk for postpartum depression. The identification of health locus of control and self-efficacy in new mothers will allow nurses to create individualized patient care interventions for women at risk of developing postpartum depression, thus potentially improving outcomes. This study sought to determine if a correlation exists between risk for depression, as identified by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and health locus of control, as identified by the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control …