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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Companies' Responses To Negative Online Reviews, Claudia L. Ramos
Companies' Responses To Negative Online Reviews, Claudia L. Ramos
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Past research has revealed that very little research had examined services recovery strategies in the online context. The study investigated different types of companies’ responses to negative online reviews as a service recovery strategy after a service failure. The current research centers on the relationship between one service recovery strategy and three online customer behavioral reactions: post-purchase cognitive dissonance, post-recovery satisfaction and re-purchase intentions. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five conditions and were asked to complete a questionnaire that measured cognitive dissonance, post-recovery satisfaction and re-purchase intention scores, as well as demographic items. Results showed that the apology …
Assessment And Treatment Of Elopement In Young Children With Autism, Ivette Andrade
Assessment And Treatment Of Elopement In Young Children With Autism, Ivette Andrade
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Elopement, leaving a caregivers side without permission or supervision, is a behavior that is more prevalent among children with autism as compared to their typically developing peers. With potentially fatal consequences (e.g., drowning, being run over, abducted), it is reported to cause high levels of stress for caregivers. In the present study, we evaluate the assessment and treatment of elopement using a multicomponent treatment package to address the multiple functions of elopement. The treatment consisted of an antecedent treatment procedure, blocking and differential reinforcement of other behaviors with extinction (DRO w/ EXT). An ABAB reversal design was utilized to assess …
Anxiety Symptoms Among Mexican And Mexican American Groups Based On Acculturation, Yolanda Rodriguez
Anxiety Symptoms Among Mexican And Mexican American Groups Based On Acculturation, Yolanda Rodriguez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The incidence of somatic and cognitive anxiety symptomatology has been found to affect up to 29% of Latinos. Currently literature is problematic in regards to its neglect of the heterogeneous nature of the Latino population. In order to correctly analyze the within-group differences in anxiety symptomatology, this study focused in identifying the individual characteristics of Latinos of Mexican origin residing in the United States. Participants consisted of 190 college students from the University of Texas-Pan American. The relationships between vertical/horizontal collectivism, vertical/horizontal individualism, sex, annual income, and immigration status were studied. Vertical and horizontal individualism were found to be positively …
Bilingualism And Age Of Onset Of Alzheimer's Disease And Vascular Dementia In Hispanic Americans, Deborah M. Lawton
Bilingualism And Age Of Onset Of Alzheimer's Disease And Vascular Dementia In Hispanic Americans, Deborah M. Lawton
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Studies have linked bilingualism to later age of onset of Alzheimer’s disease in comparison to monolinguals. It has been theorized that in bilinguals inhibitory control is consistently used to suppress one language, leading to enhanced executive functioning and an increase in cognitive reserve. The effect of bilingualism on age of diagnosis was investigated retrospectively using data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging. This involved a longitudinal cohort of 1,789 Hispanic Americans > 65 years of age. Within the cohort there were 128 cases of dementia: 85 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 43 diagnosed with vascular dementia. Analysis of variance …
Premenstrual Experiences: The Simultaneous Examination Of The Association Of Self-Perceived Stress, College-Related Stress, And Sleep Quality, Sara Julia Gonzalez
Premenstrual Experiences: The Simultaneous Examination Of The Association Of Self-Perceived Stress, College-Related Stress, And Sleep Quality, Sara Julia Gonzalez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Research suggests that stress may contribute to the severity of premenstrual experiences, but the contribution of different types of stress has not been carefully examined. Using self-report measures, the current study examined the relation between self-perceived stress, college-related stress, sleep quality, and premenstrual experience in a predominantly Hispanic female college sample. Results indicated that self-perceived stress accounts for a statistically significant proportion of the variance in premenstrual experience ratings, with higher stress associated with greater premenstrual distress. Based on a hierarchical regression analysis, adding college-related stress to the predictive model allows for a significantly larger amount of the variance in …
Snow Monkeys In South Texas, A Thirty Year Study Of Behavioral Adaptation, Lou E. Griffin
Snow Monkeys In South Texas, A Thirty Year Study Of Behavioral Adaptation, Lou E. Griffin
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
A thirty year study of a transplanted species of primate, Macaca fuscata, Japanese snow monkey, documents the environmental influences on an intact troop relocated from Arashiyama, Japan to south Texas. These influences include novel disease, toxins, and predation. The effects of the environment on the social structure, hierarchy, and population of the primates are presented. The study begins in 1972 and is completed in 2002.
An Evaluation Of Alternative Methods For Online Survey Recruitment: The Equivalency Of Data Collected Through Amazon Mechanical Turk And Second Life To Traditional Undergraduate Student Samples, Elizabeth M. Briones
An Evaluation Of Alternative Methods For Online Survey Recruitment: The Equivalency Of Data Collected Through Amazon Mechanical Turk And Second Life To Traditional Undergraduate Student Samples, Elizabeth M. Briones
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
A major proportion of psychological research uses subjects from undergraduate populations. Increasingly, researchers are exploiting the Internet to reach beyond the traditional undergraduate sample. The current study sought to compare data obtained from a conventional undergraduate student sample to data collected via two online survey recruitment platforms: Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) crowdsourcing site and the virtual environment of Second Life (SL). Data obtained via these online recruitment platforms was statistically equivalent to the data obtained from the college sample, based on standardized measures of psychological stress and sleep quality. Additionally, correlations between the sleep and stress measures were not statistically …
Will A Confederate's Initial Decline Of Assistance Influence People's Willingness To Help Others?, Israel Vela
Will A Confederate's Initial Decline Of Assistance Influence People's Willingness To Help Others?, Israel Vela
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Observational study testing the effect a confederate has on social influence. The study examined whether overhearing a prior refusal to assist from a confederate had an influence on a subsequent person’s willingness to help in time of need. Similarity characteristics between model and participant were also examined to determine if they contributed to an increased likelihood of helping. Observation was held at the University of Texas-Pan American and consisted of 60 male participants. Participants were approached, and asked for assistance, in two separate conditions: Experimental (confederate) condition (n=30) and Control (non-confederate) condition (n=30). Assistance was determined by a participant’s willingness …
Sex As A Moderator Of The Association Between Childhood Trauma, Impulsivity, And Primary Psychopathy In A Hispanic Undergraduate Sample, Judy D. Sifonte
Sex As A Moderator Of The Association Between Childhood Trauma, Impulsivity, And Primary Psychopathy In A Hispanic Undergraduate Sample, Judy D. Sifonte
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The current study investigates the effect that sex as a moderator has on the association between childhood trauma and impulsivity on primary psychopathy in a Hispanic college sample. The online survey obtained 443 responses from undergraduates; however after incomplete responses were removed and the data was cleaned, a sample size of 367 remained for use in primary analysis. The study utilized a hierarchical moderation regression analysis to determine the effect of sex on the association of predictor variables—childhood trauma and impulsivity, to the dependent variable, primary psychopathy. Researchers hypothesized that sex will enhance the association between childhood trauma and psychopathy, …
Examining The Association Between Personality And Alcohol Use Among Mexican Americans: Acculturation And Gender As Moderators, Miguel A. Reyes
Examining The Association Between Personality And Alcohol Use Among Mexican Americans: Acculturation And Gender As Moderators, Miguel A. Reyes
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
In this study the moderating effects of gender and acculturation on the association between personality traits and alcohol use among Mexican American adults were examined. Participants for this study were undergraduate students from a university in the southwestern USA (N=572, 94.5% Hispanic, 72.6% female). The sample completed self-report measures of personality, alcohol use, and acculturation. When using, regression analyses, alcohol use was found to be weakly yet negatively associated with Conscientiousness, weakly yet positively with Neuroticism, and statistically unrelated to Extroversion. The moderation hypotheses were not supported when utilizing a multiple regression analyses. However, a post-hoc analysis of variance involving …
Analyzing The Effects Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder On Marital Satisfaction Among The Veteran Latino Population Of South Texas, Iris J. Segundo
Analyzing The Effects Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder On Marital Satisfaction Among The Veteran Latino Population Of South Texas, Iris J. Segundo
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The current study examined the relation between combat exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), PTSD and marital satisfaction and the influence of religion/spirituality as a moderator. Study consisted of 31 participants; male veterans (n=19) and female spouses (n=12), of which 11 were couples (n=22). Participants were recruited from the University of Texas Pan-American (UTPA), local veteran organization and networking. The sample completed self-report measures for combat exposure, PTSD, marital satisfaction, and religiosity/spirituality. When using a correlation analyses to examine the relation between combat exposure and PTSD and PTSD and marital satisfaction, results showed a negative relation for both; thus, supporting …
Evidence Of Olfactory And Visual Learning In The Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina Citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Dara G. Stockton
Evidence Of Olfactory And Visual Learning In The Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina Citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Dara G. Stockton
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Investigation of the mechanisms underlying learning and memory can be achieved through research on neurobiologically simplified invertebrate species. As such, insects have been used for decades as ideal models of olfactory learning. The current study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of chemosensory attraction in an invasive insect, Diaphorina citri, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), through manipulation of olfactory stimuli. After classical conditioning to a non-innate cue (vanilla extract), psyllids displayed enhanced feeding behavior. There was, however, an inverse relationship between olfactory “noise” and feeding behavior. Preliminary data suggests ACP may also be visual learners, as evidenced by trials attempting to …
Mental Health Factors That May Contribute To Sexual Functioning, Monique Tenay Cano
Mental Health Factors That May Contribute To Sexual Functioning, Monique Tenay Cano
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The present study investigated the relationship between mental health factors— depression, dysfunctional eating habits, and sexual abuse trauma—and sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction was measured with The Sexual History Form (Nowinski & LoPiccolo, 1979 as cited in Davis, Yarber, Bauserman, Schreer, & Davis, 1998), a self report questionnaire. Depression was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D Scale) (Radloff, 1977). Dysfunctional eating habits were measured by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q 6.0) (Fairburn & Beglin, 2008). Sexual abuse trauma was measured by a subtest—the Sexual Experiences Short Form Version Victimization—of the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss et al., …
Perceived Anxiety Control And The Contribution Of Gender In Social Anxiety Symptoms Within Latinos, Delia Yazmin Villarreal
Perceived Anxiety Control And The Contribution Of Gender In Social Anxiety Symptoms Within Latinos, Delia Yazmin Villarreal
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This study examined the severity of social anxiety symptoms and levels of perceived anxiety control in a Latino sample. It explored how perceived control, over anxiety-provoking events and reactions to those events, contributed to social anxiety symptoms of social interaction fears and performance fears. Potential gender effects were also examined. Gender differences for fear of performance and for levels of perceived anxiety control were found. However, no gender difference was found for social interaction fears. In general, men reported higher levels of perceived anxiety control than women. Low perceived anxiety control significantly correlated with higher social interaction fears and performance …
Family Members' Support Approaches Toward Veterans Exhibiting Symptoms Of Ptsd: A First Step Toward Validating The Inconsistent Nurturing As Control Theory Scale, Danielle M. Reed
Family Members' Support Approaches Toward Veterans Exhibiting Symptoms Of Ptsd: A First Step Toward Validating The Inconsistent Nurturing As Control Theory Scale, Danielle M. Reed
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This study was an initial step toward validating a new quantitative measure, the Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory (INCT) Scale, designed to quantitatively operationalize the INCT and assess whether functional family members take a controlling, nurturing, or inconsistent support approach to deal with their veteran’s PTSD behavior. Functional family members (88%) indicated that their veteran relative exhibited signs indicative of PTSD, using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-M). The INCT Scale was then used to determine which support approach family members used to deal with their veteran’s behavior. Results indicated that question items on nurturing and controlling yielded .70 or above internal …
Comparisons Of Emotional Reactivity In Two Variations Of Schedules Of Reinforcement, Mayra A. Aguillon
Comparisons Of Emotional Reactivity In Two Variations Of Schedules Of Reinforcement, Mayra A. Aguillon
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which the frequency of behavior is affected by its consequences (Powell, Symbaluk & Honey 2009).The main focus of the study was to compare two different schedules of reinforcement: gradual group versus the abrupt group (FI-20 sec).Both groups were used to observe emotional reactivity in 8 Sprague Dawley female rats from the Behavioral Neuroscience lab at UTPA. The hypothesis presented was that animals will reveal less emotional reactivity in the gradual than in the abrupt. According to Skinner, behavior is affected more by the consequence that is followed. Results suggested that the abrupt …
Awareness Of Individual Daily Caloric Requirements And Food Energy Content And Its Relation To Calorie Intake: A Multiple Baseline Design, Frances Rachel Morales
Awareness Of Individual Daily Caloric Requirements And Food Energy Content And Its Relation To Calorie Intake: A Multiple Baseline Design, Frances Rachel Morales
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The terms overweight and obesity are used to identify ranges of body weight that are linked to an increased risk for certain diseases and health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, certain cancers, and others. Current estimates indicate that over two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese while one-third of American children are overweight or obese. Therefore, this has become a significant public health issue. One strategy for combating overweight and obesity is to educate people about nutrition and the nutritional content of the food they consume. Nutrition labeling of prepackaged foods and calorie posting in restaurants …
Radicalization In Post-War Bosnia And Herzegovina: Social Disorganization And Its Consequences, Mirela Dapo
Radicalization In Post-War Bosnia And Herzegovina: Social Disorganization And Its Consequences, Mirela Dapo
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This thesis will explain how social disorganization leads to the radicalization. During the process of rapid change (e.g. abrupt democratization of previously authoritarian Bosnian society) new situations cause development of new desires (e.g. a need for greater independence from social controls) which results in development of new attitudes (e.g. individualism). When the society is unable to satisfy the new desires and attitudes, people resort to illegal acts and even violence to meet their new needs, and social disorganization develops. Due to lack of research that focuses directly on Bosnia this thesis will analyze similar researches conducted in other regions (e.g. …
The Relation Between Gender Role Socialization, Work-School-Family Conflict And Mexican-American College Students' Academic Performance, Alma D. Trevino
The Relation Between Gender Role Socialization, Work-School-Family Conflict And Mexican-American College Students' Academic Performance, Alma D. Trevino
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
he present study investigated the relation between gender role socialization, work-school-family conflict and Mexican-American college students’ academic performance. Gender role socialization was measured with the gender role socialization scale (Raffaelli & Ontai, 2004). Work-Family Conflict was measured with the Work-School Family Conflict Scale (WFC) and Family-Work Conflict Scale (FWC) (Netemeyer, Boles, & McMurrian, 1996), School-Work Conflict Scale (SWC) and Work-School-Conflict Scale (WSC), Family-School Conflict Scale (FSC) and School-Family Conflict Scale (SFC) were modified versions of Netemeyer et al (1996). Academic performance was measured using participants disclosed GPA (Grade point average). Regression analyses were used to establish predictions between each variable. …
Does Responding On Progressive Ratio Schedule Of Reinforcement Vary As A Function Of Phase In Estrous Cycle?, Armandina M. Sanchez
Does Responding On Progressive Ratio Schedule Of Reinforcement Vary As A Function Of Phase In Estrous Cycle?, Armandina M. Sanchez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual and estrous cycle have been found to influence a variety of behavioral and physical responses in humans and animals, respectively. Impulsive behavior has been associated with the luteal phase of the cycle. Progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement has been widely used to assess the strength of reinforcers. In the present study, a comparison was made between the rate of motor activity, lever pressing, of early and late estrous groups. Differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Further analysis explored subjects individually. Visual examination of the data reveal extreme variability in responding, which coupled with …
The Effects Of Physical Activity On Self-Injurious Behavior, Lynnette D. Aguilar
The Effects Of Physical Activity On Self-Injurious Behavior, Lynnette D. Aguilar
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Auto-mutilation is a maladaptive coping mechanism and a major problem confronting behavioral medicine with no known treatment to date to place the behavior on complete extinction. The purpose of this experiment is to examine the possible beneficial effects of running relative to caffeine-induced SIB. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 4) served as subjects with each having a different extended baseline and treatment condition. Visual analysis of a multiple baseline graph did not support the hypothesis that as treatment (physical activity) was implemented SIB would decrease. It was found that subjects who drank more caffeinated water had higher amounts of …
Enriched Vs Impoverished Housing: Food Choice And Consumption, Berenice Martinez
Enriched Vs Impoverished Housing: Food Choice And Consumption, Berenice Martinez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This study focused on the relationship between environmental setting, eating choices and food intake. Ten Swiss Webster female subjects were socially housed under impoverished environmental conditions and ten under enriched housing conditions. Subjects were exposed to a nutritious food and sweet fat-laden food diet together with ad lib access to regular tap water on a 12 h light and dark cycle for four weeks. Results showed that an impoverished environment does not lead to an increase in body weight (t(6)= 0.293, p > .05) and environmental manipulations do not delineate a preference for diet type (t(6)= .877, p >.05). Further research …
The Use Of Debit Cards In Promoting On-Time Payment Behavior In A Daycare Center In The Rio Grande Valley Region Of Texas, Ruben James Nieto
The Use Of Debit Cards In Promoting On-Time Payment Behavior In A Daycare Center In The Rio Grande Valley Region Of Texas, Ruben James Nieto
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The study investigates the inappropriate payment behavior of consumers at a local daycare in the Rio Grande Valley. An AB, baseline and intervention, single subject design was used to increase the on-time payment behavior of consumers paying on time at the daycare. Baseline data was taken for 14 weeks before the intervention was implemented. The intervention consisted of an alternative payment method, accepting credit and debit cards, [as an antecedent, to the consumer in order to receive payments on time]. This alternative payment method showed that on-time payment behavior increased compared to pre-intervention.
Are Progressive Ratio And Fixed Interval Schedules Of Reinforcement Related Measures Of Impulsivity?, Christine Guiterrez
Are Progressive Ratio And Fixed Interval Schedules Of Reinforcement Related Measures Of Impulsivity?, Christine Guiterrez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The area of impulsivity is widely studied among many different professional fields. However, given the broad brush that has been used to paint the construct of impulsivity, it’s apparent that there is no true agreement on a definitive definition. In the present study, a purely behavioral procedure was tested with 10 female Sprague-Dawley rats who were placed on a progressive ratio and then a fixed interval 20 s schedule of reinforcement to see if these two schedules were related measures of impulsivity. The definition of impulsivity used in this study was relative to the performance of all animals in that …
The Occurrence Of Child Maltreatment And Revictimization Among Hispanic Women, Eleni Isis Escorza
The Occurrence Of Child Maltreatment And Revictimization Among Hispanic Women, Eleni Isis Escorza
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The current study examines the prevalence rates of child multi-type maltreatment and adult revictimization among Hispanic women who have witnessed domestic violence and/or experienced sexual abuse or physical abuse as children. A sample of two hundred-forty-three undergraduate, Hispanic, female students completed measures of events occurring in childhood and adulthood, sexual experiences, substance use, acculturation status, and family characteristics. The results indicate that experiencing multiple forms of child abuse is fairly common, especially for women who report a history of child abuse. The results also suggest that experience of abuse as a child is significantly associated with experiencing physical or sexual …
Gender Differences In Advanced Theory Of Mind And Social Competence Among School-Age Children, Cheryl A. Barton
Gender Differences In Advanced Theory Of Mind And Social Competence Among School-Age Children, Cheryl A. Barton
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The present study explored gender differences in the development of theory of mind (ToM) and social competence among school-age children. It was hypothesized that children’s ToM ability related to their social competence. Children, ages 6 to 12-years (N=62; 38 girls, 24 boys) were administered 12 advanced ToM stories and a language assessment. Parents and teachers evaluated the children’s social skills (N=70; 40 girls, 30 boys), - using a 23 item social competence inventory which consisted of positive behaviors and two forms of negative behaviors: relational aggression and overt hostility. Results indicated positive associations between children’s ToM ability and positive social …
Sociocultural Attitudes And Expectations As A Result Of Media Internalization: An Exploration Of Potential Cultural Resiliency Factors Among Mexican-American College Women, Natalie Marie Perez
Sociocultural Attitudes And Expectations As A Result Of Media Internalization: An Exploration Of Potential Cultural Resiliency Factors Among Mexican-American College Women, Natalie Marie Perez
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
This study involved a final sample of 153 Mexican-American college women who viewed photos of models who exemplify the thin ideal and models who are considered average and overweight according to society’s standards of beauty. The order of the photos was manipulated to determine if subjection to the thin ideal would negatively affect body satisfaction and or affect how the participants judged the models who did not meet the thin ideal. Manipulation did not negatively affect how participants judged the average and overweight models. In addition, upon manipulation, both groups rated themselves as heavier despite group assignment. Finally, acculturation level …
Sibling Stress In Families Of Children With Autism, Valerie N. Moreno
Sibling Stress In Families Of Children With Autism, Valerie N. Moreno
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have an increased chance of experiencing more stress than siblings of typically developing children. Stress experienced by siblings of children with an ASD may be dependent on the adaptive and maladaptive behavior of the child with autism. A total of 30 mothers were recruited in this study. Results indicated that the difference in stress levels in siblings of children with an ASD and siblings of typically developing children were not statistically significant. It was also found that the stress levels in siblings of children with an ASD were not dependent …
Patterns Of Attachment And Factors From The Neo Pi-R As Predictors Of Deviant Sexuality, Michelle L. Varon
Patterns Of Attachment And Factors From The Neo Pi-R As Predictors Of Deviant Sexuality, Michelle L. Varon
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Research has shown that both personality factors from the Big 5 personality model and underlying attachment dimensions are related to deviant sexuality. Over 500 primarily Hispanic undergraduate college students completed the NEO PI-R, The relationship scales questionnaire, and a deviant sexuality measure, which was a composite of attitudes, intentions and behaviors. A hierarchical regression analysis showed that conscientiousness and agreeableness, combined with the underlying attachment dimensions of avoidance and anxiety, are useful in predicting deviant sexuality.
Predictors Of Pap Smear Utilization Among Female Mexican American College Students, Sylvia M. Morales
Predictors Of Pap Smear Utilization Among Female Mexican American College Students, Sylvia M. Morales
Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
The Pap smear is a diagnostic screening test that detects abnormal cell growth, which may lead to cervical cancer. Pap smears are performed at a consistently lower frequency among Hispanic than non-Hispanic American White women, potentially contributing to a 70% higher rate of cervical cancer in Hispanic Americans. This study examined possible predictors of Pap smear utilization among 165 Mexican American female college students aged 18 to 30 attending the University of Texas-Pan American situated near Texas’s United States – Mexico border. Significant predictors were: recommendation by a health care professional; sexual activity; mother’s educational level; and external locus of …