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Articles 1 - 30 of 56
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Development Of Sense Of Agency, Shaun D. Duggins
The Development Of Sense Of Agency, Shaun D. Duggins
Psychology Theses
Agency, a behavioral and psychological concept, is an individual’s sense of what they can do and what they think they can do. It is imperative to understand how a sense of agency in youths can be fostered and transformed into constructive action. This study builds on previous research to better identify predictors of agency, focusing on social and political involvement and opportunity structure. Additionally, it analyzes and proposes the use of a new measure of agency, the Community Leadership (CL) scale. Eighty-five teens (ages 13 to 18) were administered surveys. Involvement was found to be significantly related to agency. It …
Hiv In South African Youth: Relations With Parenting Quality And Executive Functioning, Christina H. Salama
Hiv In South African Youth: Relations With Parenting Quality And Executive Functioning, Christina H. Salama
Psychology Theses
Black South Africans account for a majority of HIV cases in South Africa, highlighting the need for greater understanding of risks specific to this group. Within the HIV prevention and risk literature, little information exists regarding the familial and neuropsychological contributions to HIV risk in youth. The current study addressed this gap. In a group of black South African parent-child dyads, the researchers investigated the independent and interactive contributions of parenting quality and executive functioning in the prediction of HIV risk. Child report of relationship quality was negatively associated with risky sexual attitudes and externalizing behaviors. Parent report of parental …
The Influence Of Language Preference On Bilingual Children's Expressive And Receptive Vocabulary And Reading Ability, Cortney M. Fritz
The Influence Of Language Preference On Bilingual Children's Expressive And Receptive Vocabulary And Reading Ability, Cortney M. Fritz
Psychology Theses
Given the increase of Spanish- and English-speaking bilingual students in US schools, identifying the predictors of reading in this group of students is of significant importance to developing appropriate screening measures and intervention strategies. Thus, the current study evaluated the pattern of language preference in an elementary school bilingual (Spanish-English) population and its relationship with expressive and receptive vocabulary, and broad reading ability in English and Spanish. Participants were 58 Latino students ranging in age from 7 years, 5 months to 11 years, 1 month (M = 8.98, SD = .98) with 48% born in the United States. Results …
The Investigation Of Prosocial Behavior In A Tool Task By Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Apella), Audrey E. Parrish
The Investigation Of Prosocial Behavior In A Tool Task By Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Apella), Audrey E. Parrish
Psychology Theses
Humans are exceptional in their willingness to and frequency with which they help one another. However, nonhuman primates also exhibit prosocial behavior. Recently, a number of laboratory studies examining prosociality among primates have yielded conflicting results. These contradictory findings may be due to a reliance on human interaction, tokens, or interactions in the direct context of food, a highly valued resource for animals. The current study examined prosocial behavior among capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) in a tool task designed to address these issues by examining whether capuchins would transfer a necessary tool to a partner in different payoff …
The Early Parent-Child Relationship And Aggression: The Mediating Role Of Language, Christopher R. Harper
The Early Parent-Child Relationship And Aggression: The Mediating Role Of Language, Christopher R. Harper
Psychology Theses
Multiple theories suggest that the early parent-child relationship plays an important role in development. Past research has shown linkages between parenting style and aggression as well as between language and aggression. Emerging evidence suggests that attachment security is an important predictor of language development. It was hypothesized that there would be an effect of parent-child relationship quality at 36 months on aggression at school entry via language ability at 54 months. To test this hypothesis, path analysis in M-Plus was used. Data for this study were collected as a part of the NICHD, Study of Early Child Care and Youth …
The Relation Between Homework Compliance And Treatment Outcome For Individuals With Social Phobia, Shannan M. Edwards
The Relation Between Homework Compliance And Treatment Outcome For Individuals With Social Phobia, Shannan M. Edwards
Psychology Theses
Homework compliance has been identified as a robust predictor of treatment outcome for depression and, to a lesser extent, anxiety disorders, including social phobia. The current study tested the following hypotheses: (1) homework compliance is positively related to ratings of global improvement, (2) homework compliance is negatively related to symptom reduction, (3) the relation between homework compliance and treatment outcome varies according to the nature of the homework exercise, and (4) expectancy is positively related to early homework compliance, in a clinical sample of individuals with social phobia. Results provided limited support for the relation between compliance and ratings of …
Relationships Among Processing Speed, Attention, And Biochemical Features In Children Identified With Mitochondrial Disease, Jihye S. Chang
Relationships Among Processing Speed, Attention, And Biochemical Features In Children Identified With Mitochondrial Disease, Jihye S. Chang
Psychology Theses
Mitochondrial Diseases (MD) are disorders of function in cellular oxidative phosphorylation caused by diverse nuclear DNA and mtDNA mutations and seen in 1/5,000 births. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships across medical indices, biochemical measures, and neurobehavioral functioning in children with MD. Findings from Western Blot, Native Gels, High Resolution Respirometry, and the Nijmegen diagnostic criteria were assessed in relation to children’s processing speed and attention, based on the prediction that impaired functioning of proteins, complexes, and cellular respiration, that are critical in ATP production, will impact neurodevelopment and related neuropsychological processes in children with MD. Twenty-five …
Evaluating Changes In Attentional Biases Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Social Phobia, Martha R. Calamaras
Evaluating Changes In Attentional Biases Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Social Phobia, Martha R. Calamaras
Psychology Theses
The purpose of the current study was to evaluate changes in attentional biases following CBT for Social Phobia. It was found that 1.) consistent with previous investigations, the overall sample displayed vigilance toward threatening facial stimuli prior to receiving treatment, and 2.) participants’ pattern of responding to threatening facial stimuli changed following treat-ment, but only when the sample was divided into those who were vigilant and those who were avoidant prior to treatment. Findings provide support for the presence of two distinct sub-groups with differing attentional styles, one with a tendency for vigilance toward social threats, and a second with …
The Double Deficit Hypothesis In A College-Level Sample: Sex Differences, Comorbid Adhd, And Academic/Neuropsychological Profiles, Susan K. Stern
The Double Deficit Hypothesis In A College-Level Sample: Sex Differences, Comorbid Adhd, And Academic/Neuropsychological Profiles, Susan K. Stern
Psychology Theses
The Double Deficit Hypothesis posits that four mutually exclusive subgroups can be identified in a reading disabled (RD) sample. These subgroups are predicted to differ on reading measures, and further evidence suggests they may differ on other academic achievement (AA) and neuropsychological (NP) measures, as well as sex ratios and rate of ADHD diagnosis. Two hundred twenty six college-level adults identified as RD were evaluated, and subgroup comparisons were analyzed. Significant subgroup differences were observed in each domain. No subgroup differences were observed for sex or ADHD diagnosis. Findings suggest that patterns of linguistic ability affect the profiles of reading, …
Differences In Parental Expectations And Interactions Of African American Mothers With A History Of Substance Dependence, Ayana N. Perkins
Differences In Parental Expectations And Interactions Of African American Mothers With A History Of Substance Dependence, Ayana N. Perkins
Psychology Theses
Substance dependency can affect a mother‘s health and her ability to parent. A cross sectional study was implemented to better understand resources of African American mothers in recovery from substance dependence. A convenience sample of 38 African American mothers at two drug treatment centers in Atlanta, Georgia completed the Michigan Screening Profile of Parents (Helfer, Hoffmeister, & Schneider, 1978). Results indicated that women who perceived that their emotional needs were being met were less likely to use maladaptive coping skills. Mothers who used less maladaptive coping skills were less likely to report negative interactions with their children. Results have implications …
Environmental Worldview And Faith In Science As Moderators Of The Relationship Between Beliefs About And Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy, Adam D. Carton
Environmental Worldview And Faith In Science As Moderators Of The Relationship Between Beliefs About And Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy, Adam D. Carton
Psychology Theses
Global climate change (GCC) may be the most pressing social and environmental issue of our time. The use of fossil fuels tops the list of human behaviors that contribute to GCC. Several ‘alternative’ energy sources are now being considered in an effort to mitigate GCC, including—controversially—nuclear energy. Examined here were environmental worldview and faith in science as moderators of the relationship between beliefs about and attitudes toward nuclear energy (ATNE). Participants were 272 college students who completed an on-line survey. Predictor variables were beliefs about whether nuclear energy contributes to GCC (GCC-beliefs) and to energy independence (EI-beliefs). Results indicated that …
The Reduction Of Anti-Gay Bias Through Interpersonal Contact: The Moderating Roles Of Hiv Stigma And Motivation To Respond Without Prejudice., Lisa Ann Elliott
The Reduction Of Anti-Gay Bias Through Interpersonal Contact: The Moderating Roles Of Hiv Stigma And Motivation To Respond Without Prejudice., Lisa Ann Elliott
Psychology Theses
The intergroup contact effect is well-documented in the research literature (for a meta-analysis see Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). Although researchers have identified a few moderators of the contact effect, the constraints under which the contact effect is optimally effective are not well understood. The current research explored two individual difference measures related to anti-gay attitudes, AIDS stigma and motivation to respond without prejudice (internal and external motivation), as potential moderators of the contact effect on heterosexual men’s attitudes towards gay men. Results indicated that increased external motivation and AIDS stigma hinder the benefits of contact for anti-gay attitudes. Implications of …
Investigating The Role Of Emotion Perception In The Adaptive Functioning Of Individuals On The Autism Spectrum, Margaret B. Hudepohl
Investigating The Role Of Emotion Perception In The Adaptive Functioning Of Individuals On The Autism Spectrum, Margaret B. Hudepohl
Psychology Theses
Cognitive functioning has historically been used to predict adaptive outcomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorders; however, research shows that it does not adequately predict these outcomes. Therefore, the current study explored the role of emotion perception in the adaptive functioning of individuals with ASDs. Emotion perception was assessed using the DANVA-2, which has audio and static face stimuli, and the DAVE, dynamic, audio-visual emotion movies. Adaptive functioning was assessed using the Vineland-II Socialization, Communication, and Daily Living domains. Results indicated that individuals with ASDs demonstrated significant impairments in both adaptive functioning and emotion perception compared to typical individuals. Findings …
Exploring The Relationship Between Racial Factors And Critical Social Analysis Among A Group Of African American Youth, Brandeis H. Green
Exploring The Relationship Between Racial Factors And Critical Social Analysis Among A Group Of African American Youth, Brandeis H. Green
Psychology Theses
The aim of this study was to investigate the contributions of racial identity and racial socialization beyond peer and parental influence, to the development of critical social analysis in African American youth. Young people perceive injustice and inequality in their world in varying ways. The recognition of societal inequalities, or the development of critical social analysis may be a contributing factor to activism for youth. Factors such as sense of agency, parental and peer influence and intellectual curiosity have previously been explored as contributors to activism for African American youth (Watts, 1999). Study results indicated support for the link between …
An Examination Of The Influence Of Stress And Coping On Psychosocial Functioning In Caregivers Of Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Josie S. Welkom
An Examination Of The Influence Of Stress And Coping On Psychosocial Functioning In Caregivers Of Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Josie S. Welkom
Psychology Theses
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 out of every 600 African-American newborns (NHLBI, 2006). Research suggests that caregivers of children with SCD are at risk for maladjustment. The purpose of this current study was to build upon previous research regarding stress and coping of parents of children with SCD. Additionally, novel information regarding the effects of racial identity was explored. Participants included 103 caregivers (M = 41.1 years old, SD = 8.04 years) of children with SCD. Parents completed a demographic form, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18, Pediatric Inventory for Parents, Coping Health Inventory for …
2008 U.S. Presidential Election: Persuasive Youtube Interactions About War, Health Care, And The Economy, Lindsey Zimmerman
2008 U.S. Presidential Election: Persuasive Youtube Interactions About War, Health Care, And The Economy, Lindsey Zimmerman
Psychology Theses
Persuasive appeals posted to United States presidential candidates’ YouTube videos were coded using a grounded theory mixed-methods design. 37,562 comments about education, energy, Iraq, health care, the economy, and the presidential debates were randomly collected by date and time for three studies using coding analysis: pilot, presidential primaries, and the presidential election. Seven argument types were identified and theoretically refined according to dual process models of persuasion: reason-based, candidate-based, emotion-based, endorsements, enthusiasmheuristic, other-interest and self-interest. Theoretical comparisons and hypothesis testing of argument types were conducted by issue and election event. Consistent with impression involvement, reason-based appeals were more frequent during …
Gaze Fixation During The Perception Of Visual And Auditory Affective Cues, Susan M. Mcmanus
Gaze Fixation During The Perception Of Visual And Auditory Affective Cues, Susan M. Mcmanus
Psychology Theses
The accurate integration of audio-visual emotion cues is critical for social interactions and requires efficient processing of facial cues. Gaze behavior of typically developing young adults was measured via eye-tracking during the perception of dynamic audio-visual emotion (DAVE) stimuli. Participants were able to identify basic emotions (angry, fearful, happy, neutral) and determine the congruence of facial expression and prosody. Perception of incongruent videos resulted in increased reaction times and emotion identification consistent with the facial expression. Participants consistently demonstrated a featural processing approach across all tasks, with a significant preference for the eyes. Evidence of hemispheric lateralization was indicated by …
Evaluation Of A Body Pillow To Aid Pediatric Spinal Fusion Recovery, Naomi Eve Joffe
Evaluation Of A Body Pillow To Aid Pediatric Spinal Fusion Recovery, Naomi Eve Joffe
Psychology Theses
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct structural spinal damage or abnormalities. Recovery is painful and consists of a minimum 3-day hospital stay. Specific body positioning is necessary for healing but is difficult to maintain due to physical discomfort. The purpose of this study was to use a single-subject multiple baseline design to compare the current practice of using standard hospital pillows to a body-sized pillow for increasing comfort and decreasing pain in pediatric patients recovering from spinal fusion surgery. Four adolescents who had recently undergone spinal fusion surgery served as participants. Outcome measures included self- and nurse-report, …
Impact Of Training On Parent Knowledge And Behavior, Donald J. Bearden
Impact Of Training On Parent Knowledge And Behavior, Donald J. Bearden
Psychology Theses
Immunizations are an essential part of children’s healthcare; however, the associated distress can have short- and long-term negative ramifications for children. Parents’ procedural behavior is one of the strongest predictors of children’s distress. The current study evaluated whether an interactive computer training program influenced parents’ knowledge of the impact that their behavior has on their children or their actual procedural behavior during children’s immunizations. 90 parents and their 4- to 6-year-old children receiving immunizations participated. Overall, findings suggest that using a computerized training module to enhance parent knowledge and behavior is helpful but requires improvements in some areas to optimize …
A Developmental Approach To Sibling Relationships: Disaggregating The Components Of Sibling Relationship Quality Over Time For Siblings Of Individuals With Intellectual Disability, Shana Strickland Richardson
A Developmental Approach To Sibling Relationships: Disaggregating The Components Of Sibling Relationship Quality Over Time For Siblings Of Individuals With Intellectual Disability, Shana Strickland Richardson
Psychology Theses
Siblings can serve as significant companions and caregivers for individuals with ID throughout the lifespan. Yet, the developmental course of sibling relationships for siblings of individuals with ID has not been well addressed in the current literature. Thus, the current study examined change over time in four dimensions of relationship quality (power, intimacy, conflict, and rivalry) as well as how the constellation variables of sex, birth order, and age differences affected the development of relationship quality. Sibling relationships were found to have a stable power structure, with the nondisabled sibling reporting higher levels of power in the relationship. Developmental trajectories …
Normative Violence? The Impact Of Gender-Neutral Language On Self-Reported Rates Of Sexual Violence Victimization And Perpetration, Elizabeth Ruth Anthony
Normative Violence? The Impact Of Gender-Neutral Language On Self-Reported Rates Of Sexual Violence Victimization And Perpetration, Elizabeth Ruth Anthony
Psychology Theses
The effect of gender-neutral language in a survey designed to measure unwanted sexual experiences was examined. Methodological issues pertaining to survey design and significant variability in prevalence estimates of sexual violence demonstrate that further refinement of self-report instruments is necessary. As a variety of macrolevel forces influence individual behavior, the current study contends that coercive tactics used to obtain sex in mixed-gender interactions are normalized by the traditional heterosex script and conveyed through gender-specific language. Reference to respondents’ sexual partners in gender-neutral, as opposed to gender-specific terms, was hypothesized to result in more disclosure of sexually coercive victimization and perpetration …
Fidelity-Outcomes Relationships In The Expect Respect Program, Angela Devi Mooss
Fidelity-Outcomes Relationships In The Expect Respect Program, Angela Devi Mooss
Psychology Theses
The effects of program fidelity, gender, socioeconomic status, and school level were tested on various outcomes of a dating violence prevention program, Expect Respect. Fidelity data was collected from program facilitators, and individual posttest scores were gathered for individuals nested within each programmatic site. Multiple HLM models indicated that main effects for fidelity were present for the knowledge gained outcome scale, such that higher program fidelity led to higher posttest scores for participants. No other site level predictors affected outcomes or the fidelity-outcome relationship. Results from this study point towards the importance of implementing program fidelity when cognitive gains are …
The Association Between Social Context And Phase Of Recovery Among Drug Court Clients: A Gender Comparison, Jennifer Lee Zorland
The Association Between Social Context And Phase Of Recovery Among Drug Court Clients: A Gender Comparison, Jennifer Lee Zorland
Psychology Theses
The association between drug court clients’ pro-drug and pro-recovery social context at multiple ecological levels, and phase of recovery was assessed, and gender comparisons were evaluated. Drug courts provide alternatives to incarceration for substance abusing offenders, providing treatment within clients’ social environments. The findings indicated that social context is associated with recovery, and that this relation differs by gender. Specifically, increased favorable attitudes toward drug use among social referents were associated with men being in an earlier phase of recovery and women being in a later phase of recovery. Furthermore, perceived encouragement to use drugs was associated with being in …
The Role Of Gabaergic Transmission In Mediation Of Striatal Local Field Potentials (Lfps), Andrew R. Seiscio
The Role Of Gabaergic Transmission In Mediation Of Striatal Local Field Potentials (Lfps), Andrew R. Seiscio
Psychology Theses
In the present study, electrophysiological and behavioral effects of compromised Gama-Aminobutyric Acid (GABAergic) transmission were investigated in adult Rhesus macaque monkeys (N=2). GABAergic transmission was perturbed in the putamen by administration of a GABAa receptor antagonist, gabazine (10 and 500 μM), via a microdialysis-local field potential (MD-LFP) probe. Resultant changes in striatal local field potentials (LFPs) were measured as an assay of synchrony. Gabazine perfusion evoked discrete large amplitude spikes in LFPs in all subjects, and the frequency and shape of individual spikes were concentration-dependent. Pre-treatment with the GABAa receptor agonist, muscimol (100 μM) blocked the gabazine-induced events, confirming a …
Relationships Between Religion And Prejudice: Implicit And Explicit Measures., Horace Ted Denney
Relationships Between Religion And Prejudice: Implicit And Explicit Measures., Horace Ted Denney
Psychology Theses
This study examined the relationship among implicit and explicit measures of prejudice (against African-Americans, homosexuals, and Muslims), Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA), Religious Fundamentalism (RF), and Christian Orthodoxy (CO). The implicit measure of prejudice was Facial EMG, which is the measurement of the activity of key facial muscles when participants were exposed to pictures of members of the minority groups, as well as to pictures of the corresponding group. The explicit measure of prejudice was the Social Distance Scale, which measures how willing people are to have someone in a variety of close relationships. The primary hypothesis was that one’s score on …
Effects Of A High Fructose Diet On Physiology And Cognition In Male Sprague-Dawley Rats, Amy Patricia Ross
Effects Of A High Fructose Diet On Physiology And Cognition In Male Sprague-Dawley Rats, Amy Patricia Ross
Psychology Theses
Fructose consumption has increased exponentially during the past four decades. The physiological effects of a high fructose diet include obesity and insulin resistance. In animal models, the effects of a high fructose diet on fat distribution are inconclusive in that some studies find increases in body mass and lipids while others find no effect. Recent findings indicate that a high fructose diet causes hippocampal insulin resistance in hamsters, raising the possibility that the diet causes impairments in cognition. The following experiments tested the hypotheses that a high fructose diet alters fat distribution rather than total body mass and impairs hippocampal-dependent …
Estimating The Capacity Of Visual Short-Term Memory: A Transcranial Doppler Sonography Study, Natasha Ann Barrett
Estimating The Capacity Of Visual Short-Term Memory: A Transcranial Doppler Sonography Study, Natasha Ann Barrett
Psychology Theses
Estimates of the capacity of visuospatial short-term memory (VSTM) have ranged from less than 1 item to 4 +/- 1 items. The purpose of the present study was to find the capacity of VSTM by looking at the contribution of the other working memory systems (phonological loop and central executive) and determine the factor that limits VSTM capacity (either number of objects or object complexity). In this study, the psychophysiological measure of cerebral blood flow velocity also was incorporated to determine whether changes in cerebral blood flow velocity were indicative of VSTM performance and capacity. Both performance measures and cerebral …
Memory For "What", "Where", And "When" Information By Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta) And Adult Humans, Megan L. Hoffman
Memory For "What", "Where", And "When" Information By Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta) And Adult Humans, Megan L. Hoffman
Psychology Theses
The purpose for the present study was to examine working memory for what, where, and when information in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and adult humans using a computerized task. In Experiment 1, monkeys and humans completed three delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) tasks: 1) identity DMTS, 2) spatial DMTS, and 3) temporal DMTS. In Experiments 2, the identity and spatial tasks were combined so that monkeys had to report both what and where information about an event. In Experiment 3, the identity, spatial, and temporal tasks were combined in order to examine what-where-when memory integration. In Experiment 4, monkeys and humans were …
Organizational Characteristics And Adolescent Political Development: Exploring The Experience Of Youth Activists In Youth Development Organizations, Michael N. Armstrong
Organizational Characteristics And Adolescent Political Development: Exploring The Experience Of Youth Activists In Youth Development Organizations, Michael N. Armstrong
Psychology Theses
Interest in youth civic engagement continues to increase and a small but growing group of organizations are seeking to get young people involved in political activism. At the same time, researchers are giving more attention to the features of adolescent settings and how they relate to the overall development of young people. What remains to be absent is a contextual understanding of how the characteristics of adolescent settings contribute specifically to political development. The purpose of this study is to identify organizational level characteristics of youth organizations that promote the political development of adolescents. Semi-structured interviews and grounded theory analysis …
Asian American Perceived Racism: Acculturation, Racial Identity, Social Context, And Sociopolitical Awareness As Predictors Of Asian American Perceived Racism, Jae Hyun (Julia) Lee
Asian American Perceived Racism: Acculturation, Racial Identity, Social Context, And Sociopolitical Awareness As Predictors Of Asian American Perceived Racism, Jae Hyun (Julia) Lee
Psychology Theses
Asian Americans are believed to be immune to social barriers and challenges, because of their successes in the U.S. society. This belief, also known as the model minority myth, has caused Americans including Asian Americans themselves to believe that they are not faced with social challenges such as racism. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship among acculturation, racial identity, social context and sociopolitical awareness. Series of multiple regressions were conducted to examine the predictive model. The findings suggested three plausible models of perceived racism among Asian Americans. First two models suggested that racism should be distinguished …