Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

War And Fashion: Political Views And How Military Styles Influence Fashion, Lauren Topor

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Women’s outerwear evolves and recreates new fashions based on new materials and historical influences. Whenever the United States goes to war, military styles emerge. However, the outerwear category of women’s apparel has not been thoroughly researched in regard to military influences. Regardless of people’s opinion of war, the influences in the clothing are very apparent. As a result, this study examines outerwear styles during the past two World Wars and the two Gulf war styles.

Since the beginning of World War I, fashion has been influenced by military uniforms. America’s participation in the war affected the designs, fabrics, and colors …

A Study Of Antimicrobial Properties Of Fabric Treated With Silane And N-Halamine Complex, Sangeeta Yadav

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Dimethyl hydantoin (DMH) – Isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane adduct was prepared and applied onto the fabric using pad – dry – pad – dry – cure method. The treated fabric is then chlorinated using NaOCl (6% and 10%) to impart the antimicrobial properties. The treated fabric surface and the chlorine percentage present at the surface of the fabric are evaluated using SEM- EDX and peak of NCO was determined using FTIR analysis. The fabrics were tested for antimicrobial properties using ATCC 2695 gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and ATCC 8739 gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli. The treated samples provided very good …

Adolescent Adherence To Orthopedic Brace Wear: A Behavioral Assessment Of High Risk Factors, Teresa J. Lynch

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

An important challenge physicians encounter when treating adolescent patients with moderate scoliotic curves is that the adolescents may not wear the brace as prescribed or long enough for the brace to be effective. The present investigation used electronic monitoring and temperature probes to investigate whether the adolescents were wearing their brace during events identified using a modified Daily Reconstruction Method for six randomly selected days over a 14-day period. It was hypothesized that environmental, interpersonal, and intrapersonal variables during the events would be predictive of objective brace-wear across and within participants, and patterns of significant variables would differ from subjective …

Alcohol Use Among Restaurant Workers: An Examination Of The Impact Of Work-Related Stress And Workplace Culture, Gregory Christopher Rocheleau

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Despite reports indicating high levels of alcohol use in the restaurant industry, little research has examined alcohol use among restaurant workers in an in depth fashion. Through an examination of personal characteristics, workplace stress, and workplace culture, this study explores the prevalence of alcohol use in the restaurant industry. Twenty restaurant employees were interviewed, recruited via snowball sampling and flyers posted on various college campuses in southeast Michigan. High levels of alcohol use were found to be related to a combination of personal characteristics, workplace stress, and workplace culture. Results supported social learning theory, with heavy drinking being positively and …

An Exploration Of The Relationships Among Religious Orientation, Object Relations, And Positive Adjustment, Scott Robert Brown

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Many studies have found positive relationships between religion and mental health. This study explored the relationships between Religious Orientations, Positive Adjustment, and Object Relations. Intrinsics live by their religion, whereas Extrinsics use their religion for other ends (Allport & Ross, 1967), and Questers explore religion (Batson & Schoenrade, 1991a, 1991b). Positive Adjustment, a latent variable, consisted of Life Satisfaction (Pavot & Diener, 1993), Hope (Snyder, Harris, et al., 1991), Optimism (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994), and Flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975b, 1982). Object Relations refers to an individual’s interpersonal dynamics and attachment style (Rizzuto, 1979; Winnicott, 1971) and were posited to play …

The Neuropsychological Endophenotype Of Specific Language Impairments And Autism Spectrum Disorders: Category Or Continuum?, Heather M. Anson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The primary goal of this investigation was to illuminate variables of the specific language impairment (SLI) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) neuropsychological endophenotypes and to clarify the nature of overlap between SLI and ASD. Group differences in cognitive functioning, epidemiological factors including proband comorbidity and health problems, and familial data in 39 SLI children and 89 ASD children who presented for clinical evaluation at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit were examined by retrospective chart review.

Cognitive data revealed that ASD probands performed more poorly on tests of perceptual-motor functioning and had higher rates of pragmatic language deficits than SLI …

Modeling Eating Pathology: The Role Of Gender, Sociocultural, And Individual Factors, Lindsay T. King

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Eating pathology is an increasing problem in the United States and other Western countries. This study examined gender differences and specific known psychological correlates of eating pathology. Sociocultural variables, such as thin-ideal internalization, and individual factors, such as perfectionism and experiential avoidance, were also evaluated. A sample of 257 female and 165 male undergraduates (n = 423) completed a battery of surveys online. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to model the relationships among the variables. The results show that the best fitting model included perfectionism rather than thin-ideal internalization leading to body dissatisfaction. There is support for experiential …

The Impact Of Adolescent Social Anxiety On Adulthood Adjustment Among Sexually Abused Girls, Madeline Anne Rakow Ivanchenko

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant social problem that has gained increased recognition since the 1980s. The increased attention has led to a substantial body of research that documents both the high prevalence and pervasive effects of CSA. CSA is associated with a wide range of adulthood psychopathology, including major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, substance use, suicidal behavior, alterations in self-concept, and disruptions in interpersonal relatedness (Beichtman, Zucker, Hood, DaCosta & Cassavia, 1992; Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Cole & Putnam, 1992; Polusny & Follette, 1995; Russell, 1986; Wilson, 2006). Sexually abused children are also at a higher …

Evaluating The Psychometric Properties Of The Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale: Implications For The Distinction Of Covert And Overt Narcissism, Eamonn Patrick Arble

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Recent research has suggested that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) may have mistakenly focused on the overt qualities of the narcissistic personality disorder (e.g. demand for admiration) while neglecting the disorder’s more covert features (Russ, Shedler, Bradley, & Westen, 2008). An investigation into the psychometric properties of a measure of this more covert form of narcissism, Hendin and Cheek’s (1997) Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS), represents the focus of the present study. A total of 298 participants completed the measure, as well as measures assessing related constructs. The HSNS …

A Phonological Description Of Wichí: The Dialect Of Misión La Paz, Salta, Argentina, Megan Leigh Zdrojkowski Avram

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Wichí language, a member of the Matacoan language family, is spoken in parts of South America’s Chaco region. Specifically, Wichí is found in the Salta, Chaco, and Formosa provinces of Argentina, as well as in southeastern Bolivia. Wichí is an endangered language, with speakers numbering c. 25,000 (although estimates vary greatly). This study aims to contribute to the documentation of Wichí and to our understanding of human language in general by providing insight into the phonetics and phonology of the dialect of Wichí spoken in the remote village of Misión La Paz, Salta, Argentina. The data for this study …

An Evaluation Of States’ Delivery Of Substance Abuse Treatment, Catherine Anne Collins

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

As the economic, political, and technological landscape of America’s healthcare management system changes, states are forced to grapple with the progressively arduous task of administering substance abuse treatment programs. Using the Open Systems Model, this research examines external and internal environmental factors that influence goal displacement as it is hypothesized to occur in states’ treatment delivery systems. The findings suggest that a mix of environmental characteristics affect states’ levels of goal displacement but the factors that predict displacement in alcohol treatment are different than for the delivery of drug treatment. The internal and external environment factors that contribute to goal …

Food For Thought: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Binge Eating And Psychological Variables In A Diverse College-Student Population, Valentina Ivezaj

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Binge eating is associated with a host of adverse outcomes, but little is known about sex and racial differences among those who binge eat. The present study examined sex and racial group differences in binge eating within a college-student population. It was hypothesized that White women would endorse higher rates of binge eating than the other groups, and that predictors of binge eating would differ across groups. Participants completed a web-based survey assessing depression, anxiety, body image, weight history, physical activity, smoking, and body mass index. Findings highlight sex and racial differences in the predictors of binge eating, with depression …

Net Investment And Disaggregated Investment Demand Functions, Conan Gray Baldwin

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Few topics in the field of economics have been as extensively researched as private business fixed investment. This paper examines investment using regression analysis and descriptive statistics. This study focuses on investment in structures and investment, with these two broad categories ultimately being further disaggregated into eleven relatively narrow categories.

The approach to modeling investment taken in this paper differs from the approach typically seen in economic literature in three important ways: this paper models net, rather than gross, investment; this paper uses a broad general econometric model, rather than a narrow theoretical model like the majority of papers modeling …

First Generation College Students' Perception Of Parental Attitudes: An Exploratory Study, Orion Peter Mowbray

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Parental support among first generation college students is largely understudied. While some argue that many parents lack necessary information and knowledge to help their children succeed while in college, this work argues that parents of first generation college students contribute a large amount of emotional support towards their children while in college. There are several benefits of receiving a high degree of emotional support, one of which is constructing a potential buffer against identity threat that many first generation college students face while on campus. Through eleven case studies, this work examines the roles of parental support of first generation …

The Effect Of One-Session Exposure Treatment On Selective Processing And Explicit Memory Bias In Snake- And Spider-Fearful Participants, Karen L. Stanley-Kime

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Unlike the empirically supported phenomenon of anxiety-induced selective processing bias, research on congruent explicit memory bias is inconclusive; indeed, there is evidence for recall decrements of threat-relevant information. There is also a paucity of literature examining the effects of treatment on these cognitive biases. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exposure treatment on selective processing and explicit memory bias in snake- and spider-fearful participants by measuring implicit and explicit memory for central and peripheral environmental details. Recall for environmental details in a fearful group that received treatment was compared to a fearful group that …

The Great Divide: Exploring The Attitudes Of Sociology And Economics Faculty Toward Certain Aspects Of Economic Globalization, Kevin Trepus

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The socioeconomic ramifications analysts attribute to modern economic globalization are highly varied and represent a subject of great controversy. With regard to the nature of this controversy, many analysts allege a divide exists between sociologists’ and economists’ perspectives. Using survey methodology, I explored this alleged disciplinary divide on a small scale by investigating the attitudes of sociology and economics faculty about the socioeconomic consequences of certain aspects of economic globalization – capital control reduction within international financial markets, the proliferation of transnational corporations, the implementation of NAFTA, and the functioning of international trade and financial institutions. My survey data revealed …

Metaphoric Perspective Theory: Language To Action For The Self, Individuals, Communities, And Culture, Steven Adam Stuglin

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Metaphoric and tropic language have been a hallmark of human communication throughout the ages. From ancient examples and first attempts at scholarly understanding to postmodern lexicons of metaphor theory in two-dozen disciplines, the understanding of this lingual phenomenon has evolved and grown over arguably the entire length of human history. Communication scholars note the presence and prevalence of tropic language in practice and assert the power that it may have on how humans conceptualize the world around them.

Presented here is complete theory based in these long lines of lingual thought that asserts a direct and powerful relationship between language …

Post-September 11Th Representations Of Latin American Immigrants In Political Discourse: An Analysis Of Metaphor, Nick James Romerhausen

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study analyzes the types of metaphorical labels that the United States House of Representatives uses in post-September 11th resolutions to label and describe Latin American immigrants. The rhetorical philosophy of Kenneth Burke, Haig Bosmajian’s The Language of Oppression, and a study conducted in 1999 by Otto Santa Ana provide the framework for analyzing the power of the dominant and secondary metaphors found in these documents. Furthermore, this paper examines the connection between metaphorical labels and social and political attitudes toward Latin American immigration in contemporary discourse.

Predicting Condom Use From Adolescence To Emergent Adulthood: A Comprehensive Health Behavior Model, Leanna Fortunato

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The study utilized a comprehensive health behavior model to predict condom use longitudinally from adolescence into emergent adulthood. The comprehensive model was created by combining and extending widely used models of health behavior. Participant data for this secondary analysis were drawn from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The aims of the study were to document the prevalence of condom use, to investigate the relationship between the factors of the model and condom use, and to predict condom use from adolescence into emergent adulthood. Results revealed that condom use decreased with time. Gender and racial differences emerged. The correlational …

The Relative Contributions Of Preference And Functionality In Noncontingent Reinforcement Schedules, Tamara L. Pawich

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR), the response-independent delivery of reinforcers, has been demonstrated to be an effective response suppression method for a variety of problem behaviors displayed by children. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether preference for specific reinforcers to another context led to greater response suppression through an experimental comparison of NCR with a functional reinforcer versus preferred stimuli. Two preschool-aged children with autism and tantrums maintained by tangible reinforcement participated. Preference values were evaluated through paired-choice and competing stimulus assessments. Three preferred stimuli were selected for NCR-Preferred experimental conditions, based on varied levels of preference (i.e., …

The Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative: An Examination Of A Statewide Reentry Program, Michelle Lynn Corwin

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The concept of prisoner reentry has only recently sparked a significant interest in the field of criminology and criminal justice; however, it is blatantly apparent that attention to the subject is not only needed but necessary. Each day men and women are sentenced to serve terms in prison systems throughout the country. Simultaneously, each day men and women are released from prison to reintegrate back into society. With the rising incarceration rates and rising release rates, it became clear that the United States has a difficult dilemma. Thus, attention to concepts that help in addressing such dilemmas, like prisoner reentry, …

Impact Of Sexual Dysfunction On Quality Of Life Among Anxiety Disorder Patients, Courtney E. Fons

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Current research suggests that anxiety disorders may be associated with sexual dysfunction. This increased risk may carry important implications given the detrimental effect sexual dysfunction has been shown to have on quality of life in a variety of populations. However, no studies have examined the impact of sexual dysfunction on quality of life among anxiety disorder patients. Thus, in this study, participants were asked to complete questionnaires measuring quality of life, sexual functioning, and mental health. The data were used to compare quality of life between patients reporting sexual dysfunction and those reporting normal sexual functioning. Additionally, data were analyzed …

Approaches To Personality Disorder Diagnosis: Comparing The Cognitive Affective Processing And The Five Factor Models Of Personality, Cortney C. Rhadigan

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The Cognitive-Affective Processing Model (CAPS) suggests that personality is best understood as a collection of cross-situationally consistent traits that are expressed based upon features of the situation. This differs from the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality, in which personality is believed to be composed of five broad trait domains that are observed consistently across multiple situations. This study compares the diagnostic accuracy of 202 licensed members of the Michigan Psychological Association who assessed personality pathology using short vignettes written to represent situationally-specific expression of traits (CAPS) compared to vignettes written with FFM trait description and DSM-IV TR description. The …

The Impact Of Mothers’ Partner Relationship Quality And Maternal Parenting On School-Age Children’S Relationships With Peers, Erin Gallagher

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the longitudinal effects of the partner relationship quality on parenting behaviors and school-age children’s peer relationships. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) archival data were used to examine parenting behaviors as a mediator between the quality of the partner relationship and school-age children’s peer relationships. Maternal report was used to assess partner relationship quality when the child was 1 month old; an observed parent-child interaction task was used to measure maternal parenting behaviors when the child was 54 months old; and teacher and child report were used to assess children’s peer relationships during 5th …

Altruism And Perception Of A Common Humanity In The World Value Survey Waves 2 And 4: A Quantitative Analysis, Suzanne Hodge

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This paper seeks to understand the motivation of those who take time from their lives to help others. The research will look at altruistic attitudes and behaviors around the world and determine whether individuals exhibiting these behaviors believe in a common humanity. It will consider what the individual says he believes and how or if he chooses to act on those beliefs. The statistics used for the analysis of the World Values Survey Waves 2 and 4 in this paper are cross tabulations, factor analysis, including assigning factor scores to each observation, Pearson’s correlation, linear regression, and an independent samples …