Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers' Perception Of School Climate As A Function Of Personality Traits, Mary Carmen Pacheco

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between teachers' perception of school climate and their personality traits. The instruments used to gather the data are the Revised Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire ( OCDQ-RE ) and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory ( NEO-FFI ). Both instruments were administered to 290 Hispanic, Mexican-American, elementary teachers during team or faculty meetings. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses are used in the present study. The mean, standard error of mean, variance, skewness, standard error of skewness, kurtosis, and standard error of kurtosis are reported. Box-and-whisker plots and stem-and-leaf displays are also reported. Correlation …

Job Satisfaction, Personality, Work Content And Motivation Of School Psychologists: Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors, Jodi Breci

Student Work

Projected demographic changes have heightened interest in the staffing of public schools. These demographic shifts concern another round of growth in the school age population and a shift in its composition toward racial and ethnic minorities. As the "baby boom echo" passes through its school years, demand for public school staff has grown tremendously in many areas of the country (U.S. Department of Education, 1999, Area Schools, 1999, Struggling Schools, 1999).

Preventing Driving Under The Influence Through Informal Interventions: An Examination Of The Decision Making Processes Common To Potential Dui Offenders, David John Williams

Doctoral Dissertations

One novel approach to the driving under the influence (DUI) problem is the informal DUI intervention. Informal DUI interventions are any attempts made to prevent an alcohol-impaired individual from driving. The research to date has concentrated on the factors leading individuals to intervene, informally, in a DUI situation. Comparatively little research has investigated the factors leading potential drunk drivers to comply with informal intervention requests.

An interactional arousal/cost-benefit model was used to predict self-reported informal DUI intervention compliance. According to the model, potential DUI offenders' decisions to comply with intervention requests would be influenced by background variables, context variables, intervention …

Behavioral Finance: Psychographics, Curt W. Becker

Student Work

This research is a review of psychographics and its impact on rejoinder. Experiments were conducted to ascertain the association between two stimuli and changes in habitual behavior. The foci of this review are to examine applicable, previous research and compare with results on the two stimuli. Statistically different responses to the stimuli were observed.

An Empirical Investigation Into The Personal Value Systems Of Accounting Managers Of Cpa Firms, Morsheda T. Hassan

Doctoral Dissertations

The objectives of this dissertation were to empirically examine (i) the primary value orientation of CPA firms' managers; (ii) the value profile of these managers; (iii) the relationship between the personal value systems of CPA firm's managers and their managerial decisions, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and managerial success; (iv) whether the personal value systems of CPA firms' differ by gender or age; (v) differences between the personal value systems of CPA firm's managers affiliated with the departments of auditing, taxation, consulting, information technology, general administration, or others, and (vi) differences between the personal value systems of CPA firms' managers and …

Teacher Perceptions Of The New York State Regents Requirements: A Pilot Study, Jennifer Lerner

Theses

This pilot study investigated teachers' perceptions of the effects of the New York State Regents requirements on teachers and students. An eight question Likert scale survey was administered to one hundred high school teachers in an upstate New York urban school district. Survey questions covered the impact of the new standards on teacher autonomy, in addition to student and teacher anxiety level. Teachers were asked about the fairness of the exams, the amount of time spent teaching to exams, and how they perceived the exams as impacting school drop-out rate. Results indicated that teachers believed that the new requirements had …

How Substance Abuse Affects Sibling Relationships: A Qualitative Study, Kellee Garney

Theses

The purpose of this research was to gain an understanding of the sibling relationship when one sibling abuses drugs and/or alcohol. It was hypothesized that a sibling relationship with a substance-abusing sibling would have lower levels of closeness and trust than non-substance abusing sibling relationships. Nineteen young adults aged 19-47 were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the sibling relationship. Nine participants had a sibling they perceived as abusing drugs or alcohol, 1 participant was a substance abuser with a non-abusing sibling, and 9 participants had a non-substance abusing sibling. The sample was not randomly selected with participants recruited from Rochester …

Depression And Self -Silencing In Lesbian And Heterosexual Women, Samantha Ann Kirk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Depression among lesbians is an underexplored area in the literature of the psychology of women and in depression research. A few investigators have hypothesized about the factors that place lesbians at risk for depression, and have explored those hypotheses experimentally. However, there is a large gap in the understanding of lesbians and depression. Dana Jack (1991) proposed a model of depression which holds that women who fail to represent their experiences to romantic partners are at increased risk for depression. One hundred and seventy participants were recruited to test this model (85 lesbians and 71 heterosexual women, as well as …

The Effects Of Life Space Crisis Intervention Training On Levels Of Teacher Stress And Time-Out Room Referrals, Michele Helfand

Theses

Student behavioral problems are often cited as factors contributing to school violence and teacher stress. School violence and teacher stress ultimately contribute to a deterioration in the quality of the educational system in our society. Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) is a strategy for using student problems as an opportunity to promote insight and behavior change. The intent of this study was to empirically examine the effects of a Life Space Crisis Intervention training. The outcome variables were teacher responses to a self report measure of stress (The Teacher Stress Inventory) and number and severity of time out room referrals. …

Effects Of Self-Monitoring On Hyperactivity In A Student Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Lillian Lee Pedroza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This single subject multiple baseline study tested an intervention using a self-monitoring procedure. The Subject was a nine-year-old Hispanic male identified as having Other Health Impairments and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and was taking psychostimulant medication. Using an A-B-A-B design, the Investigator and two observers collected time interval data of on-task behavior, during baseline phases. During intervention phases the Subject was involved in a self-monitoring procedure addressing on-task behaviors. Additional data were collected on a scoring sheet, whereby the Subject, the Investigator and the two additional Scorers, scored the student on five on-task behaviors. The intervention was effective. Results …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Behavior Patterns In A Captive Chimpanzee Population, Amy Augusta Tirone

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Data collected over an 11 year period were analyzed for behavioral constancy, reaction to environmental change, and the differential influence of environment and genetics in a group of captive chimpanzees using the framework of the Five Factor Model of Personality. Results suggested environment was a more influential factor in behavioral production, although expected reactions of specific individuals were not evidenced. Improvements upon this research include use of a more chimpanzee-specific personality model and more detailed data collection to support more precise conclusions regarding behavioral etiology.

A Test Of The Ideal Free Distribution In Panhandling Humans, Leann Louise Milinder

Doctoral Dissertations

The Ideal Free Distribution (Fretwell and Lucas, 1970), an optimization model from behavioral ecology, predicts that a group of animals will distribute themselves across habitats with unequal resources such that all animals have equal success rates. The six experiments of this dissertation demonstrated that humans conform to the IFD with about the same sensitivity as animals and respond similarly when assumptions of the model are violated. The present study also revealed that cooperation, and its effect on the functional size of the foraging unit, may be an important factor in understanding the distribution of social foragers.

Experiments 1 and 2 …

Individuals With Disabilities As Parents And Their Earliest Connections To Systems Of Support, Mary Clare Schuh

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to better understand the experiences of individuals with disabilities as parents, and the variables influencing the referral processes used by pre and postnatal care professionals to connect parents with disabilities to systems of family support. This process was examined through the experiences, beliefs, and attitudes of pre and postnatal care professionals as well as through the experiences and perspectives of parents with disabilities. Research objectives included both an increased understanding of the relationship between parents with disabilities and their earliest connections to systems of support and policy and practice recommendations for pre and postnatal …

Depressive Symptomatology Among Dominicans: Links To Acculturative And Economic Stressors, Skin Tone, And Perceived Discrimination, Teresita Camacho-Gonsalves

Doctoral Dissertations

Latinos have been identified as a population at high risk of developing mental health problems. However, studies on Latinos rarely address differences between subgroups. There are important social and cultural differences between subgroups that are likely to be reflected in differential expressions of depressive symptoms. The fast growing Dominican community in the United States is one subgroup of Latinos that has been understudied and underserved.

The objectives of this dissertation were to explore among Dominicans: (1) the direct and indirect effects of sociodemographic factors and skin tone on psychological distress; (2) the relationships between various stressors (economic, perceived discrimination, and …

The Effects Of Reader-Generated And Previously Existing Text Marking On Comprehension In Readers Of Different Skill Levels, Kenneth Edward Bell

Doctoral Dissertations

Previous research examining effects of previously existing and reader generated text marking has failed to demonstrate whether or not it is beneficial or detrimental to the reader. Furthermore, whether or not text marking has differential effects on readers of different skill has not been determined. The studies reported here attempted to clarify the questions that remain about the effects of text marking on comprehension, in readers of different skill levels, through analysis of marking in student textbooks as well as through the use of experimental methods.

Study 1 demonstrated that low-skill readers claim to highlight on more occasions when studying, …

Child Welfare Reformers, Academic Psychologists, And The Dependent Child In Progressive Era America, Phyllis Ann Wentworth

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores what was being done on behalf of dependent children during the Progressive Era, drawing connections between the reform movement and theories and figures from academic psychology. Chapter One is a detailed overview of the 1909 White House Conference on the Care of Dependent Children, with an emphasis on discussions that stress reformers' attitudes toward proper care of dependent children. Chapters Two, Three and Four take up individual themes that emanate from the Conference and correspond with current gaps in the historical literature. Chapter Two explores both the majority position opposing congregate asylums and the minority position supporting …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Group -Based Prevention Of Eating Concerns Using Self -Efficacy And Knowledge Enhancement, Lindsey Erin Laplant

Doctoral Dissertations

The project implemented and evaluated a prevention program for eating concerns with first year college women. Two prevention conditions were examined. One condition provided information about eating concerns, from definitions to biopsychosocial risks and consequences. The second condition built self-efficacy and skills in the participants along with presenting information. The evaluation component was unique compared to other evaluations in the eating concerns prevention literature. It used pre and post intervention assessments, a control group, and had a larger sample of participants compared to other similar published programs. Both quantitative and qualitative assessment techniques were used to evaluate participants' experience in …

Neediness And Connectedness: Mediators Of Outcome In Cognitive Therapy Or Pharmacotherapy For Depression?, Nicola Elizabeth. Fitzgerald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was threefold: examine the main effects of baseline DEQ Neediness and Connectedness (Rude & Burnham, 1995; Blatt et al., 1995) on outcome of treatment for unipolar depression; examine the mediating effects on outcome of change during treatment in Neediness and Connectedness; investigate whether these personality constructs (Neediness and Connectedness) correlate with specific clusters of depression symptoms. Archival data were used consisting of a sample of outpatients diagnosed with unipolar depression who received either Cognitive Therapy (CT) (n = 51) or Pharmacotherapy (PT) (n = 58). In the CT group, high baseline Neediness was associated with …

It Depends On The Situation: Monitoring, Blunting And Perceived Control., Ritu. Kaushal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When placed in a threatening situation, individuals may seek information about the source of their distress (monitor) and/or avoid such information (blunt) in order to cope with it. The choice of coping strategies adopted can be influenced by various situational characteristics. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among the constructs of monitoring, blunting, and one situational characteristic, namely perceived control. Two hundred and seventeen undergraduate students completed the Monitoring-Blunting Questionnaire (MBQ). They were presented with ten stressful scenarios and asked to indicate the extent to which they would seek information (monitor) and avoid information (blunt) …

Together Just Enough To Care: Examining Moral Orientation Use In Individuals And Couples., Cheryl Dawn. Aubie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated how individuals and romantic couples resolve moral dilemmas and served as an empirical test of Gilligan's (1982) view that men and women use different orientations when resolving moral dilemmas, based on considerations of justice and care, respectively. The role that gender orientation plays in moral orientation was also examined, as was the potential effect of varying the gender of the protagonist of the dilemmas. Participants responded to 4 fictitious dilemmas individually and 1 additional dilemma together with their partners, as a couple. Data was analysed using a 2 (gender of the participant) x 2 (gender of …

Families And Learning In Classified And Non-Classified First Graders, Howard Baigas

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Alienation And Race-Related Stress: A Comparison Of Clinical And Counseling Psychology Students Of African Descent, Kenya T. Humphries

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Eating Disturbances In Preadolescent Girls: Protective And Risk Factors., Susan Jane. Walsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although numerous eating disorder risk factors have been identified, protective factors have been underresearched (Shisslak & Crago, 2001). Moreover, despite calls by prevention researchers, our understanding of disordered eating during preadolescence is limited (Smolak & Levine, 2001). The objective of the present study was to identify potential protective and risk factors for eating disturbances in preadolescent girls. The sample consisted of 381 preadolescent girls in grades 4--6. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires assessing such constructs as disordered eating attitudes and behaviours, self-esteem, emotional autonomy, attributional style, coping strategies, perceived social pressures for thinness, parental care/overcontrol, and peer support. Potential …

Barriers To Adolescent Help-Seeking: Who's Not Seeking Help And Why?, Lindsay Jane. Stanhope

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the barriers to formal and informal help-seeking behaviour of adolescents. The sample was 451 students (176 male, 275 female) between the ages of 14- to 19-years from high schools in southwestern Ontario. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring: background information, stressful problems, perceived and utilized help-seeking resources, barriers to formal and informal help seeking, and internalizing problems. The types of stressful problems most often indicated were with respect to school, family, relationships, friends/peers, and illness/death. Females and older adolescents both reported greater seriousness, severity, and perceived need for help with stressful problems. Two-thirds of the sample sought help …

Family Expressiveness And Emotion Decoding In University Students., Sarah Jane. Kibblewhite

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The general purpose of this study was to further explore the relationship between family characteristics and emotion decoding ability in young adults. The study had three major aims: first, to determine the normative responses for a novel, emotion decoding task based on the Frog, Where Are You? picture book (Mayer, 1969); second, to examine the roles that family expressiveness and affect intensity play, in isolation and in interaction, in emotion decoding skill; and third, to examine correlates of the intensity ratings assigned to decoded emotions. A total of 180 university students (89 males and 91 females) completed the Family Expressiveness …

Forgiveness In Everyday Life: An Examination Of Gender Similarities And Differences., Becki Leigh. Cornock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine gender similarities/differences in forgiveness in everyday life. Participants (68 female, 60 male university students) read six different vignettes (academic, employment/nepotism, family, body image, romantic relationship, and destruction of personal property/car). Half of the participants took the role of the forgiver/victim first, while half took the role of the transgressor first and then they switched roles. While assuming the role of the forgiver/victim, participants rated their willingness to forgive the transgressor within one month (ST) and eventually (LT) on a scale ranging from 0 (not forgiven) to 100 (completely forgiven). Participants also …

Semantic Category Effect And Emotional Valence In Female University Students., Ruby Geraldine Brousseau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The semantic category effect is a phenomenon of semantic memory revealing a category dissociation of biological and nonbiological objects on picture naming and other tasks of semantic memory. In patients with Alzheimer's Disease, category dissociation typically reflects a nonbiological advantage in that these patients are more proficient at naming artifacts over biological stimuli. In contrast, younger, healthy individuals appear to show the opposite pattern of performance in that they are generally more adept at naming biological items. Several diverse theories have been posited to explicate the possible basis of this phenomenon. A new hypothesis presented in this study proposed that …

Memory Functioning In Children Born With Low Birth Weight: A Comparison With Normal Birth Weight Children Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder., Tammy L. Whitlock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Medical advances over the last two decades have lead to increased survival rates of children born with increasingly lower birth weights. Studies have revealed that the lower the birth weight of the child, the higher the possibility that he/she will develop some associated neurological and neuropsychological problems. Archival data for children used in this study were collected through a retrospective chart review at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. The purpose of this study was to examine possible deficits in different aspects of memory, (visual, verbal, and delayed recall) in children born with LBW and to compare these deficits with …

Conceptualizations Of Health And Illness: A Test Of The Theory Of Male Bias., Chantal Renee. Thorn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The theory of male bias states that for various social, political and historical reasons, men and male experiences are used as the standard for the culture (Bem, 1993). The present study tested the theory of male bias by examining the applicability of research from the 1970s which found that health care professionals did exhibit the use of sex bias in conceptualizing clinical functioning (Broverman, Broverman, Clarkson, Rosenkrantz & Vogel, 1970). In an effort to examine the effect of questionnaire methodology, the Sex-Role Stereotype Questionnaire (Broverman, et al., 1970) was presented in both the original forced choice as well as a …

Chinese Immigrant Youth In Vancouver, Canada: An Examination Of Acculturation, Adjustment, And Intergenerational Conflict (British Columbia)., Iris. Sharir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research with adolescent migrants suggests that they may be at greater risk of experiencing mental health difficulties and intergenerational conflict than their non-immigrant peers. However, few studies have focused on factors that are associated with the mental health status and family relationships of migrant youth. Using the acculturation framework proposed by Berry (1999), the present study examined the impact of acculturation strategy, demographic factors, and migration-related variables on the psychological adjustment and family relationships of 152 first generation Chinese immigrant youth. Twenty-eight second generation Chinese immigrant youth and 36 third and later generation Canadian youth served as comparisons. Participants completed …