Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Wheelchair Selection: Social Perspectives And Their Potential Impact On The Disabled, Lisa Boswell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the physical and social factors associated with wheelchair selection. The study was carried out to test the viewpoint that social factors have a greater impact than physical factors on which type of wheelchair (power or manual) patients choose. A questionnaire was administered in the summer of 2004 to 200 members of a veteran's organization in the Northcentral Region of the United States. The sample consisted of 52 respondents. The results of this study suggest that a high correlation exists between the level of injury the respondents have and their wheelchair selection, but …

The Alive Center (A Local Information & Volunteer Exchange): An Evaluation Of The Year 2003-2004, Joel Kaunisto

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Volunteerism plays an important role in modern American society with benefits accruing to the community and individuals who volunteer. This thesis evaluated the first year of operation of the ALIVE Center (A Local Information and Volunteer Exchange) by addressing four objectives of the program with data obtained from the ALIVE Center. To meet its first objective, the ALIVE Center maintains a current database of local human service organizations. The second objective, to establish a resource center and provide referrals and information to 1,000 people, was achieved. The third objective of maintaining a website was also met. Matching over 200 volunteers …

Tourism And Rural Identity In The Waasland, Belgium, Joel Stuart Thomas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The northern portion of Belgium, a region known as Flanders, is one of the most densely settled, industrialized areas in the world. Existing in small, isolated tracts, are "green spaces" mainly devoted to agricultural output.

The Flemish way of life and environment has become increasingly "urbanized." Tourism commissions operating in the countryside have drawn on Flemish heritage and identity, as well as the rural landscape to act as marketing tools. In terms of perception and the notion of a distinctly Flemish rural "space'" how are tourist flow patterns influenced? Does the process of perception result in an exclusive urban to …

Evaluating Spatial Variability Of Precipitation In Kentucky With Exploratory Data Analysis, Daniel Taylor

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Spatial variability of precipitation is examined over the state of Kentucky and surrounding areas. The study focuses on the analysis of monthly precipitation totals from the period of 1961-2000. The purpose of the study is to develop a set of indices to represent the spatial variability of the study area for a given month. Various exploratory data analysis methods such as variography, kriging, and cluster analysis were used. The study attempts to quantify the second order (local) effects of the spatial variation of precipitation as a means to provide insight into the prediction of precipitation randomness. This task can be …

Job Applicant Faking Of Overt Integrity Tests: Fact Or Fantasy?, Caitlin Stewart

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Integrity tests are among the least utilized pre-employment selection instruments due, at least in part, to concern regarding the ease at which applicants can successfully fake their responses. The current study attempted to assess the extent to which actual job applicants fake overt integrity tests. We assigned one group of applicants to an honest condition and one group to a standard response condition. Applicants in the honest condition received a set of instructions that were modified to illustrate the importance of responding as honestly as possible when completing the questionnaire, whereas the standard response condition received a set of instructions …

Aging And The Effects Of Prior Expectancies In Contingency Judgment, Laura Strain

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examined how prior expectancies affect young and older adults' contingency judgments. Participants completed contingency problems representing all combinations of expectancy (positive, negative, unrelated, and unknown) and contingency (positive, negative, and zero). I originally predicted that the largest age differences would emerge when both the expectancy and the contingency were strong and incongruent, regardless of the nature of the expectancy. However, age differences in the effect of expectancy were strongest when the expectancy was positive and the contingency was Incongruent, and older adults' judgments were more biased by this expectancy. Likewise, I predicted that there would be no age …

The Effects Of Music Preference And Exercise Intensity On Exercise Enjoyment And Perceived Exertion, Allison Dyrlund

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In spite of the well-known physical and psychological benefits of exercise roughly 50% of people who start an exercise program will have dropped out within six months. Therefore, it is important to examine the determinants of exercise adherence. Past research has shown that enjoyment is an essential factor in exercise adherence. Additionally, music has been shown to influence exercise enjoyment. The music and enjoyment literature has generally included most preferred and no music conditions, yet no one has considered a least preferred music condition. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of music preference and exercise …

Exploration Of The Relationship Between Moral Judgment Development And Crystallized Intelligence, Kristy Jones

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Recent studies have reported different findings about how moral judgment as defined by the Defining Issues Test (DIT; Rest, Narvaez, Bebeau, & Thoma, 1999) relates to verbal intellectual ability. For example, Sanders, Lubinski, and Benbow (1995) argued that DIT scores are reducible to indices that represent verbal intellectual ability. Thoma and his colleagues (Derryberry, Thoma, Narvaez, & Rest, 2000; Thoma, Derryberry, & Narvaez, 2003; Thoma, Narvaez, Rest, & Derryberry, 1999) found support that DIT scores and indices of verbal intellectual ability are separate sources of information. In considering this relationship, these previous studies have most often referred to grade point …

The Effects Of Age And Task Timing Characteristics On Contingency Judgment, Marci C. Sammons

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Detecting contingency relationships between causal events allows us to adapt to and control these events. However, research has shown age-related impairments in this ability. The goal of this study was to examine how reduced processing speed in older adults affects contingency learning. Manipulating the time during which to generate the response, to test the limited time mechanism of processing speed, had little effect on contingency judgments. Varying the temporal contiguity of events, to test the simultaneity mechanism of processing speed, affected young adults’ contingency judgments. Older adults’ judgments were less accurate overall, and young adults’ judgments were similarly less accurate …

The Effect Of Experience Upon The Visual And Haptic Discrimination Of 3-D Object Shape, Anna Clayton

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Both our sense of touch and our sense of vision allow us to perceive common object properties such as size, shape, and texture. The extent of this functional overlap has been studied in relation to infant perception (Bushnell & Weinberger, 1987; Gibson & Walker, 1984; Streri, 1987; Streri & Gentaz, 2003), overlap in brain regions (Amedi, Malach, Hendler, Peled, & Zohary, 2001; Deibert, Kraut, Kermen, & Hart, 1999; James, Humphrey, Gati, Menon, & Goodale, 2002), and adult perception (Gibson, 1962, 1963, 1966; Klatzky, Lederman, & Reed, 1987; Lakatos & Marks, 1999; Norman, Norman, Clayton, Lianekhammy, & Zielke, 2004). The current …

The Effects Of Self-Monitoring And Religious Self-Discrepancies On Negative Affect, John Parker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

According to Higgins's (1987) self-discrepancy theory, an individual's selfesteem is based upon fulfilling one's self-expectations or the expectations of significant others (e.g., spouse or parent). Failure to live up to these expectations results in greater levels of depression, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. Previous research has also found that those low in Snyder and Gangestad's (1986) self-monitoring construct are more influenced by their own expectations, while those high in self-monitoring are more influenced by others' expectations. It was predicted that Christians who are low in self-monitoring will have greater levels of depression and anxiety and lower self-esteem if they fail to …

Cognitive Ability Testing And Selection: A Review Of Court Decisions Since 1991, Leslie Pedigo

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cognitive ability testing is utilized by many organizations in the selection process. Historically, cognitive ability testing has resulted in group differences in scores, particularly between Caucasians and African-Americans. Such group differences can result in adverse impact. This impact can lead to legal ramifications for the organization utilizing the cognitive ability test. The present study examined ten factors to determine their relationship to the findings of the courts in cases involving cognitive ability tests. The factors examined were gender of the plaintiff, reason for the lawsuit, workplace setting, group or individual plaintiffs, standardadized versus unstandardized tests, validation of the tests, development …

Understanding Perceptions Of Accessibility And Mobility Through Structuration Theory, Mark Graham

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Structuration theory in geography states that social systems are reproduced through the relationships between systems, structures, actors and their perceptions. Therefore, understanding the modes through which social systems are reproduced will allow for a clearer understanding of the nature of society. However, much of the relevant social theory has not been empirically tested. Thus, by empirically examining general perceptual differences between different built environments, on a macro and a micro level, it is hoped that the links between perceptions, social structures, and the built environment can be more fully understood. A better understanding of these links will, in turn, allow …

The Effects Of Rejected Job Offers On The Costs And Benefits Associated With The Use Of Banding Strategies For Employee Selection, Joshua Daniel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Among the available selection strategies (e.g., top down selection), sliding bands with minority preference selection was shown to be the most effective at striking a balance between reducing adverse impact with minimal test utility loss. Unfortunately, all previous research into selection strategy effectiveness failed to model job acceptance rates, a variable shown to decrease overall test utility (Murphy, 1986). In this study we compared the utility and adverse impact ratios obtained from strict top down and sliding bands with minority preference selection strategies in which we varied selection ratios, job acceptance rates, and sample sizes. Across all conditions, utility and …

Accident And Injury Prevention: The Effects Of Job Factors And Employee Behaviors, Suzaane Dobbs

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Virtually all organizations are concerned about employee safety and the prevention of workplace accidents, but maybe unaware that most accidents are the cause of unsafe employee behaviors. In this study, one company in particular wanted to know where, when, how, and why accidents were occurring in its plant. Accidents of the past three years were content analyzed. The results show that 87.4% of the accidents were due to unsafe behaviors. The highest absolute frequency of accidents occurs in the die cast area, while the highest relative rate of accidents occurs in the furnace room. The type of accident that occurs …

Roadside Memorial Practices: An Examination Of Landscapes Of Commemoration In Warren County, Kentucky, Michael Briggs

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Roadside memorials commemorating the death of automobile crash victims are scattered throughout the Kentucky landscape. This persistent cultural practice contains symbolic elements oftentimes indicative of religious connotations. Because there is a constitutional separation of church and government in the United States, these memorials can prelude controversy if located on state-maintained rights-of-way. This study examines Warren County, Kentucky, and analyzes the spatial distribution of these memorials on the landscape and the cultural implications to society because of their ties to death and dying. Scientific research in various fields of psychology, sociology, folk studies, geoscience, and religious studies was analyzed, including religious …

Using Social Stories To Teach Social And Behavioral Skills To Preschool Children With Autism, Melissa Jean Herrin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

There is limited research support for the use of Social Stories with elementary and secondary-aged students. However, there is even less research support for the effectiveness of Social Stories with preschool-aged children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Social Stories with three preschool-aged children diagnosed with autism. Using a multiple baseline design across subjects, Social Stories were implemented in the home setting. The children’s parents were responsible for daily implementation of the Social Story, as well as recording data daily. Direct observations were conducted once a week during the identified times the target behavior occurred. …

Interpersonal Dynamics Of Volunteers For A Simulated Prison Study, General Psychological Study, And A Helping-Behavior Study, Thomas Carnahan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) is one of the most studied and celebrated studies within social psychology. The results have long been attributed to the power of the situation and the roles that were given to the participants. The present study was based on research concerning how personality variables influence interest in volunteerism. The research hypotheses center around the belief that individuals who volunteer for a study on prison life (similar to the advertisement for the SPE) would differ on personality variables (Machiavellianism, narcissism, social dominance, authoritarianism, aggression, empathy, and altruism) from individuals who volunteer for a generic psychological study …

Minimizing The Time Of Day Effect Through The Use Of Background Music, Amanda Wade

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The time of day effect has been said to be involved with optimal arousal levels during an individual's preferred time of day. In the present study, invigorating background music was used to increase the arousal level of older adults in the afternoon in order to minimize the time of day effect that can be seen in test performance. The results indicated that invigorating background music had no significant effect on scores of a memory recognition task for older or younger adults. However, younger adults performed better than older adults in all testing combinations, older adults had significantly more false alarms …

A Spatial Analysis Of The Impact Of Development On Wetland Habitat In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Jenna Medlin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In response to growing concerns over wetland habitat loss and the associated impact on water resources, federal and state legislation has been enacted to protect vulnerable wetland habitats from the impacts of humans. In order to examine the efficacy of current coastal resource policy and its implementation, a study was conducted in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a coastal city of the Atlantic, focusing on the quantification of wetland habitat change over time within a specific area of interest. The study incorporated an assessment of the effects of escalating population pressures and subsequent urban development on local wetland habitats due to …

The Effect Of Gender, Jury Instructions, Victim Intoxication, And Perpetrator Intoxication On Individual And Jury Perceptions Of Sexual Harassment, Kathleen Nickel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The current study investigated the impact of gender, jury instructions, victim intoxication status, and perpetrator intoxication status on perceptions of sexual harassment of participants role-playing individual jurors and juries. Gender, victim intoxication status, and perpetrator intoxication status affected the sexual harassment perceptions. The well established gender effect was replicated as the current study found female jurors were more likely to perceive sexual harassment than were male jurors. Individuals were less likely to find sexual harassment when they were told the victim was intoxicated than when no information was presented. When the perpetrator was intoxicated, sexual harassment was less likely to …

The Influence Of Situational Organization, Age Gender, And Peer Group Interaction On The Emergence Of The Early Social Self, Phillip Williams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of preschool learning environments on the frequency of prosocial behaviors. The analyses were conducted according to gender, age, and whether the activity was child-chosen or teacher-imposed. The behaviors for analysis included responding prosocially to verbal massages from other children, engaging in cooperative play, attending to cries and pleas of others, and commenting on behavior of others when potentially dangerous. The data were gathered through nonparticipant observations, teacher interviews, and a behavior checklist. Nonparametric statistical analyses were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that older girls were more likely …

The Relationship Between Stress, Satisfaction, And Emotional Intelligence In College Students, Jessica Largen

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The relationship between stress and satisfaction has been well documented. However, little is known about the possible mediating effect that emotional intelligence may have on that relationship. This study addressed the role emotional intelligence plays between stress and satisfaction. By collecting measures of stress, life satisfaction, satisfaction with school, and emotional intelligence, this researcher examined the question "Does emotional intelligence serve as a moderator in the relationship between satisfaction and stress?" Results indicated that, after removing the effects of stress, emotional intelligence and satisfaction demonstrated a positive significant relationship. Emotional intelligence was related to the Big Five factors of Conscientiousness, …

Development Of A Multidimensional Scale To Measure Attitudes Toward Workers With A Disability, John Kegley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Existing measures of attitudes toward individuals with a disability have been shown to suffer from several shortcomings in their application in organizational settings. Indirect measurement has been beyond the scope of most organizations due to the complex and expensive implementation of these methods. Direct measures have been shown to be susceptible to threats to internal validity, such as reactivity and socially desirable responding. Further, existing direct measures have focused on unidimensional aspects of attitudes toward individuals with disabilities. Research, however, has demonstrated that attitudes are multidimensional in nature. There is a need for a multidimensional scale to tap those underlying …

Relationships Between Personality And Individual Perceptions Of Social Cohesion, James Garrett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research explored personality correlates of social cohesion. Groups of two were given a task to perform that required cooperation between the two team members. This task exposed each team member to the other's personality. Upon completion of the task, the individual perceptions of social cohesion were assessed by each individual. We hypothesized that extraversion, emotional stability, and agreeableness of one team member will correlate positively with the other team member's perception of social cohesion. These hypotheses were not supported. However an exploratory analysis showed that an individual's level of extraversion and conscientiousness were positively correlated to that same individual's …

Concurrent Validity Study Of The Clinical Assessment Of Depression With The Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, Brooke Wootton Tinsley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

It is critical for the depressive symptoms of adolescents to be recognized, evaluated, and treated. Depression can increase the risk for illness and interpersonal difficulties in the future and affect almost every aspect of an individual’s life. Self-report measures are often utilized to assess depression, and when these measures are able to effectively detect depression, diagnosis and treatment are expedited. In order to validate the usefulness and psychometric properties of a new self-report measure, existing measures are often used as one criterion by which to judge them. The present study explored concurrent and discriminant validity of a new self-report depression …

Making The Scene: An Investigation Of The Rock And Roll Scenes Of Nashville, Tennessee, And Athens, Georgia, Kevin Jones Murphy

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Making the Scene: An Investigation of the Rock and Roll Scenes of Nashville, Tennessee, and Athens, Georgia, takes a look at the ways in which both the identities of a music scene and the individuals taking part in that scene are created and maintained. Issues of identity are addressed by examining the roles performed by various members of the scene (musicians, soundmen, club owners, etc . . .), by focusing on the influence of landscape, and looking at the ways a scene’s members identify with the cultural region that surrounds their particular scene (in this case both scenes are located …

Concurrent Validity Study Of The Clinical Assessment Of Depression With The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition, Shanna Leigh Bowers

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Depression in adolescents if unrecognized, can interfere with every aspect of the individual’s life, increasing the risk for illness and interpersonal difficulties in the future. Therefore, it is imperative that significant levels of depressive symptoms be recognized, assessed, and treated. The usefulness and psychometric properties of new measures of depression are determined, in part, through comparison with existing measures. The current study investigated the concurrent validity of the Clinical Assessment of Depression (CAD; Bracken & Howell, 2004) with the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) for an adolescent population. The sample for this investigation consisted of …

The Use Of Social Stories To Teach Social And Behavioral Skills To Preschool Children With Moderate To Severe Autism, Michelle Lynne Antle

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Previous research has indicated success using Social Stories with preschoolers with mild levels of autism. The purpose of this study was to determine if Social Stories implemented in the home setting would be effective with preschool children diagnosed with moderate to severe autism. Social Stories were implemented with 3 male preschool-aged participants. Two were classified as in the moderate range and one was in the severe range of autism. A variety of socially inappropriate behaviors were addressed including inappropriate dinnertime behaviors, transitioning to bedtime, and inappropriate touching. Data revealed no significant change in target behaviors (dinnertime behaviors and transitioning to …

A Study Of Verbal Immediacy In Army Simulator Maintenance Training, Robin Leigh Fulkerson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A STUDY OF VERBAL IMMEDIACY IN ARMY SIMULATOR MAINTENANCE TRAINING Robin Leigh Fulkerson August 2004 48 pages Directed by: Sally Hastings, Judith Hoover, and George Musambira Department of Communication Western Kentucky University Rapid development of computer technology has encouraged the use of computers in education; however, understanding the impact this technology has on classroom communication is just beginning. At present, no studies explore the impact computer systems (e.g., virtual reality simulation) have on verbal immediacy. This study examines the influence simulator training has on verbal immediacy and quality of instruction between students and instructors in Army maintenance training. Thirty-nine Army …