Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Community College Leadership At The Intersection Of Strategic Planning And Resource Management, Roxy Traxler

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to determine the competencies that college leaders need to possess in the intersection of finance and strategic planning. For this purpose, I am using resource management as a construct to define the competencies. This is important because one area rarely mentioned in the research is how the budgeting process, policies and practices that guide financial decisions are used to support student success and the strategic plan. There is literature related to the need for financial or fiscal leadership skills but not about what those skills are and how they are used to accomplish strategic goals to improve …

Experimentally Examining Status And Initial Trust, Valerie Kristen Barron

Theses and Dissertations

Trust is a fundamental component of our social relationships. Whether we are interacting with our strong social ties, like family and friends, or complete strangers, there is a degree of trust that we must place in the other person. Because trust is essential to our continued interactions it is important that we learn how this trust forms as well as how it is influenced by various social factors. This paper utilizes an experimental approach to examining the relationship between status and initial trust. Using a two condition experiment with 182 participants, this study found that the presence of a single …

Exploring The Dimensional Structure Of A Measure Of Supervision Competence And Its Prediction Of Trainee Development, Jacqueline Davis

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Clinical supervision is one of the most important components of a health service psychologist’s training. Supervisors ensure the integrity of the supervisee’s services to protect the public and act as gatekeepers to the profession. Despite the importance of this professional practice, supervision training and evaluation received minimal attention until the early 2000s. There is little high-quality research on what makes supervision effective, in part due to few measures assessing supervision competence. A culture shift to competency-based training and education in health service psychology both allows for and requires improved evaluation of supervision. The current study aimed to (a) elucidate the …

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence: Effective Risk Management With Male Perpetrators, Simrat K. Tung

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This research aimed to identify the competencies required of intimate partner violence (IPV) specialists to effectively manage risk posed by male perpetrators of violence. Two methods were utilized– a scoping review of existing literature, and semi-structured interviews with 19 experts in the field. Researchers analyzed 140 documents and the transcribed interviews, extracting and compiling excerpts relating to competencies for assessing and managing risk and safety. Reflexive thematic analysis and methodological data triangulation were used to identify and compare competencies derived from literature and practice-based knowledge. Triangulation revealed overlap for themes of knowledge about IPV, promoting safety, assessing risk, collaborating with …

Perceived Social Worker Competency For Addressing Loss Among Children, Adriana Lopez Cota, Catalina Herrera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social workers provide services in an array of settings which greatly include providing supportive services and resources to children and families. Studies have shown that although social workers are generally trained for comprehensive services, grief and loss have been seemingly left out of social work education and training, leaving many social workers incompetent to address clients presenting with grief/loss (Boss, 2006, Griese et al., 2017, Murty et al., 2015). Unfortunately, this leads to inadequate social work services for many children presenting with grief/loss (Lenhardt, 1997). This study will take a quantitative approach to gather information on the perceived competence of …

Measuring Competency In Social Work: Lgbtqia Populations, Desirae Nicole Aguirre, Samantha Raquel Stephens

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The study conducted interviews to measure the level of competency social workers have assisting members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, and asexual community (LGBTQIA+) using a qualitative exploratory research design. Data was collected from nine social workers from the United States of America. Key findings indicated the participants generally did not feel competent to work with this community, particularly transgender persons. Training at work, through school, or learned on their own about serving LGBTQIA+ clients were generally limited in scope. Lastly, findings on what the participants thought the specialized needs of the transgender population were …

Identifying Intersectional Complex Practice Behaviours In Ipv Services For Marginalized Women, Amrit Kaur Gill

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study aims to identify the level of alignment between competent GBV work as identified in literature and by current service providers. Identifying areas of alignment and difference allows for developing theory-based practice informed by literature and highlights potentially unexplored areas of research. The study does this through thematic coding of interviews with GBV service providers across Canada, and coding of practice-based behaviour items constructed from current literature. Interview analysis revealed eleven themes of behaviour which were compared with ten themes developed from the coding of 140 literature documents. Triangulation from interviews and literature found that, of the eleven themes …

Affirmative Counseling With Lgbqqia Individuals: A Training And Resource Manual For Mental Health Counselors, Tena Prestidge

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This article is a review of literature related to issues associated with working with LGBQQIA clients. Although not an exhaustive review, the literature provides evidence of the need for additional training to improve the confidence and competence of counselors working with this population. Further, information is provided on what makes a counselor competent to work with LGBQQIA clients and evidence-based practices that have been shown to be effective in working with them. Following this review, a training and education manual is presented to help fill the need of additional training related to working with this population.

Rehabilitation Counselor Competency When Working With Sci And Physical Disabilities, Denise M. Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to address the gap in knowledge of the perceived competency of rehabilitation counselors when working with patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and/or a physical disability. The factors that influence the mental health needs of person with SCI and the understanding of how rehabilitation counselors view their competency levels with supporting this population were explored. Selection criteria included licensed or certified rehabilitation counselors actively providing care for persons with SCI and/or a physical disability applying a theoretical framework. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used to address the central research question …

Counseling Psychologists' Experiences Addressing Sexual Health Of Clients: A Sex-Positive Perspective, Jennifer Watjen

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the lived experiences of counseling psychologists in assisting their clients with sexual health needs. Special attention was given to their understanding and feelings of competency in using a sex-positive framework to assist clients with their sexual health. The study used a phenomenological data analysis method to qualitatively study 5 semi-structured interviews of licensed counseling psychologists. Interview questions addressed counseling psychologists’ experiences in assisting clients with their sexual health and focused on the following areas: (a) counseling psychology values, (b) professional experiences with sexual health, (c) graduate training experiences in sexual health, and (d) value influences related to …

Dementia And Competency In United States Courtrooms: A Case Law Review, Dana Miller

Student Theses

The number of older adults in the United States is rising, as is the incidence of dementia. Older adults are coming into contact with the criminal justice system at greater rates than previously encountered. As such, individuals with dementia are likely appearing in courts at an unprecedented rate. While many civil competencies commonly related to older adults are well researched, competency in the criminal legal system has not received the same level of recognition in this population. This is particularly concerning given the growing awareness of the relevance of dementia in some criminal competencies (e.g., Madison v. Alabama, 2019). Of …

Social Workers' Perspectives On Chronic Pain And Mental Health, Ashley Danielle Patterson, Cynthia Christine Sanchez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored social workers’ perceived level of competency in addressing chronic pain and mental health. Chronic pain is a prevalent issue and individuals with chronic pain are more likely to experience a mental health concern (Dahlhamer et al., 2016; Gureje et al., 2008). The research design of this study was a quantitative cross-sectional survey distributed through social networks such as Facebook and Reddit. There were a total of 278 respondents, however, 79 were omitted due to not fully completing the survey leaving 199 respondents. The results indicate social workers have a moderate level of competency when working with this …

Examining Racial Bias Within The Items Of The Macarthur Competence Assessment Tool – Criminal Adjudication, Isolde Hughes

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The United States is the world’s leader when it comes to incarceration rates, and racial disparities are significant within this system (World Prison Brief, 2020). The most significant factor proposed as influencing this disparity is the ongoing racial bias within and outside of the legal system. Throughout the legal process, there are several instances where the defendant’s race may come into play when it comes to competency to stand trial evaluations. The first instance is during the referral process, and the second instance is during the competency evaluation itself. Several instruments have been developed to capture an individual’s understanding of …

Examining The Effect Of Substance Use Training On Registered Nurses’ Competency And Self-Efficacy, Myrtle Harrison Greene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance abuse and addiction among nurses remains a problem and can have lasting and sometimes fatal effects on patients. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study is to examine the effect of substance use training on RNs’ post training competency about substance use impairment and level of self-efficacy to deal with impaired colleagues. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (SET) which originated from Bandura’s social cognitive theory provided the theoretical foundation. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 118 registered nurses using the Perceived Competency with Impaired Nurses survey, the Methods for Dealing with Nurse Impairment Questionnaire (MDNIQ) and a demographic questionnaire. …

Addressing The Skills Gap Of Geospatial Professionals In The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Shannon Marie Doyle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of geospatial organizations are ill-prepared to manage rapid technological change critical to environmental and economic development due to an outdated list of technical competencies. However, there is a lack of consensus in the geospatial industry concerning the desired technical competencies of organizations and a gap in the literature regarding future trends when defining additional geospatial technical competencies. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative modified Delphi study was to determine how a nationwide panel of experts in the geospatial industry viewed the desirability and practicability of forward-looking technical competencies of geospatial professionals. The research questions for this study were grounded …

The Importance Of Mindfulness And Self-Compassion In Clinical Training: Outcomes Related To Self-Assessed Competency And Self-Efficacy In Psychologists-In-Training, Chelsea Latorre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The release of the APA (2011) Revised Competency Benchmarks used for evaluation of doctoral-level psychology trainees calls for literature to examine competencies in this population with use of appropriate instrumentation. The recent publication and validation of the Professional Competencies Scale-Revised (Taylor, 2015) allows for researchers to explore factors associated with trainee competencies as it relates to the benchmark system. Previous literature suggests a strong relationship between counselor self-efficacy and professional competency (e.g., Constantine, 2002), suggesting that interventions that can foster these constructs may lead to enhanced counseling performance. This study examined the predictive value of mindfulness and self-compassion for self-assessed …

Social Work Students' View On The Integration Of Religion In Social Work, Araceli Delgado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study focused on social work students’ views on the integration of religion in social work. This study allowed students to gain knowledge and insight on the importance of discussing religion with clients. The study examined social worker students’ experiences during their involvement in the social work program which looked into how prepared they were in situations where religion was necessary to discuss with clients and other outcomes.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten participants who discussed their experiences in internships during their involvement within the social work program. Participants were in different years in the BASW and MSW program …

Connecting Etc And Arc: The Beginnings Of An Integrative Framework For Working With Children With Relational Trauma, A Literature Review, Melissa Taylor

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Relational trauma is an impactful experience, affecting a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Children with relational trauma experiences are particularly vulnerable due to being in a stage of active development. Relational trauma can have a lasting impact on a child’s psychosocial, cognitive, and neurological development. This literature review explores the current research concerning children who have experienced relational trauma, the developmental impact of relational trauma, the treatment needs of this population, and a current, evidence-based treatment option for this population—the Attachment, Self-Regulation, Competency (ARC) framework. On the basis of this research, this literature review will outline how expressive arts …

The Psychometric Properties Of The School Counseling Internship Competency Scale, Melanie Ann Burgess

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Counselor education programs aim to adequately train competent pre-service counselors to fulfill a myriad of roles and responsibilities associated with their specialty area. In accordance with professional organizations, gatekeeping is an ethical responsibility of counselor educators and supervisors to protect the welfare of clients and the health of the counseling profession through ongoing evaluation of pre-service counselors. Presently, no standardized evaluation tool exists to assess school counseling interns comprehensively, attending to school counseling competencies, dispositions, roles, and responsibilities. The purpose of the study is to attend to the gap in literature through the creation and validation of The School Counseling …

An Instructional Designer Competency Framework For Complex Learning Designs, David Alan Schubert

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Learning design competency frameworks published by professional organizations, exist for typical instructional design efforts. However, a review of literature revealed a lack of frameworks available for the creation of complex learning designs (CLDs). The goal of this research was to develop a competency framework for the creation of CLDs. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in the four phases of the design and development research approach In phase one, a survey based on the Educational Technology Multimedia Competency Survey (ETMCS) was sent to instructional designers who self-reported as having experience creating CLDs. The purpose of phase one was to identify …

Psychotherapy Dropout And Socioeconomic Status: A Qualitative Analysis Of College Students, Emily Sophia Lavine

Scripps Senior Theses

This qualitative research study explores the correlation between socioeconomic status and factors of psychotherapy dropout among college students who have prematurely terminated therapy while attending college. Twelve female-identifying college students were interviewed in a semi-structured design. It was predicted that socioeconomic status moderates the impact of financial and logistical barriers to access, mental health stigma, and perceived lack of socioeconomic status competency among practitioners on the decision to leave therapy prematurely, such that these factors have an amplified effect for students coming from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds. Findings indicate that logistical barriers to access are experienced across the socioeconomic spectrum, …

The Psychology Surrounding Legal Standards Of Competency And Representation For Children In U.S. Immigration Court, Natasha Reyes

CMC Senior Theses

In recent years, immigration detentions have spiked. Further, the Zero Tolerance Policy enacted by President Trump has separated thousands of children from their families. Because many children are without their parents, and immigration court is civil in nature, thousands of children are placed in deportation hearings without representation each year. Child psychological research is at odds with the current deportation practices as psychological research deems children unable to understand the complexities of the court system or the impacts of deportation proceedings. A minimum competency to stand trial must be enacted to protect young children’s due process rights, regardless of citizenship. …

The Self-Percieved Grief Competency Of Masters Level Therapists, Emily Rae Devries

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Bereavement is an experience that most people will encounter multiple times across their lifetime. Some people who experience grief are going to seek support in this process from a therapist. The NASW Code of Ethics suggests that social workers only practice in fields in which they are competent. This study will look at the self-perceived grief competency of master’s level therapists. Demographic data and a survey designed to measure the competency of a master’s level therapist was utilized to collect data to measure the self-perceived grief competency. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way between groups ANOVA, and correlation …

Master Of Social Work Student Competency In Spanish Skills And The Support They Receive, Giselle Sanchez, Shizatiz Gioconda Guerrero

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

With the growth of the Latino population in the United States on the rise and the limited number of bilingual Spanish social workers, it is critical to explore the Master of Social Work student’s self-perceived competency in Spanish skills and the support they receive. These are the emerging professionals that will be interacting and providing services for Latinos in our communities. Exploring and understanding the challenges students encounter, their self-perceived competency, and how students can be supported, will be beneficial not only to them but also to Latino clients seeking services in Spanish. Providing appropriate services in Spanish may alleviate …

Professional Development Needs Of Utah State University Extension Professionals, Callahan K. Ward

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many Utah State University (USU) Extension personnel are nearing retirement age. The purpose of this study was to identify professional development needs of Extension professionals and assess USU Extension by evaluating competencies essential to be a successful Extension professional. USU Extension can conduct more beneficial professional development training by using identified high priority competencies and improve the on boarding process for new Extension professionals. With improvements as suggested, the effectiveness of professional development could be enhanced and produce Extension professionals who work more efficiently and are committed to the success of USU Extension.

Voluntary Engagement And College Retention: Does The Type Of Engagement Predict Retention For Different Types Of Students?, Sarah Louise Coley

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The current study examined whether voluntary engagement activities are associated with increased student retention rates at college to a subsequent semester. It was theorized that this association would owe to engagement enhancing the ostensible value of students’ college experience. Additionally, another theoretical idea was examined: Specific activities may be particularly beneficial for specific types of students. For example, students may have certain motivational needs, such as those identified by self-determination theory (SDT; i.e., competency and belongingness). Fulfilling those needs through engagement may promote retention. For the current study, student record data and student self-report data were sampled from a Midwestern …

Formative Experiences For Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teachers-In-Training, Margaret Fletcher

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Teacher development is of critical importance in the relatively new field of mindfulness. This study focuses on what can be understood about teacher development, from the perspective of teachers who have trained in this field. Five U.S.-based qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teachers were interviewed to find out about their formative experiences. The data were gathered from interview transcriptions, and have been presented in the context of the literature concerning teacher training pathways and recognized and/or recommended teacher development activities. The teachers described a range of formative experiences, involving formal training, professional, spiritual and ordinary life moments, and including pleasant as …

Evaluating Factors Used By Mental Health Professionals To Access Juvenile Adjudicative Competency, Heidi M. Wennesheimer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health professionals (MHPs) evaluate juveniles' competency to stand trial (JAC) for the courts more than any other psychological issue, but little research has been done about JAC. Only 2 previous studies have examined assessment procedures and tools used by MHPs to evaluate JAC. This quantitative nonexperimental study examined ratings by 44 MHPs in Wisconsin and Illinois for the importance of considering 6 different research-based factors linked to lifespan developmental theory and the usefulness of 3 assessment tools that have all been recommended previously by professional best practice guidelines to evaluate JAC. This study examined 2 levels of an independent …

The Effects Of A Trauma-Informed Care Training Program On Mental Health Professionals Knowledge, Skills, And Attitudes With The Smi, Angelina Pelletier

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Trauma has been found to be highly prevalent among individuals diagnosed with SMIs. Mental health professionals have been reported to misdiagnose or avoid addressing trauma in this population. There is a need to provide information about trauma and to foster awareness among mental health professionals who are treating individuals diagnosed with SMIs. With a TIC approach, operating from a recovery-oriented philosophy, there have been interventions created to address trauma and SMIs with the aim of developing awareness about trauma and the impact it may have on someone’s life. With these factors in mind, mental health professionals should be competent in …

The Development And Pilot Of A New Macro Social Work Field Evaluation Instrument, Sarah P. Maynard

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The dissertation study explores the complex concepts of macro social work student competence and describes the development and pilot of a field evaluation that employs the use of qualitative student descriptors in the evaluation of macro social work students. A qualitative student descriptor is a short statement that describes a behavior of a social work student. When used for field evaluation purposes, field instructors are given a list of qualitative student descriptors that cover a range of competency levels. Field instructors are asked to indicate which statements best describe their student. Each qualitative student descriptor is linked with a 1-5 …