Psychology Commons^™

The Relationship Between Receptive Vocabulary And Letter Recognition, James Bennett

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The West Virginia Educare Program has randomly chosen 150 children from 2 ½ to 5 years of age to participate in an academic readiness study. These children came from a 6 county pilot community program collaborative, including the counties of Cabell, Wayne, Monongalia, Roane, Upshur, Webster, and Summers. The Bracken-R, the PPVT-III, and Carolina Curriculum for Pre-Schoolers with special needs were used to assess all subjects. For this study, the letter recognition subset of the Bracken-R and the raw score of the PPVT-III were used to determine if a correlation exists between receptive vocabulary and letter recognition. This study found …

Chronic Pain: A Study Of Low Back Pain Patients From Southern West Virginia And Eastern Kentucky, Nickandrea M. Cooke

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) was administered to 60 males ranging from 22 to 65 years of age. Subjects were seeking treatment at Mountain Comprehensive Care Center, an outpatient mental health center, for depression/anxiety with a secondary diagnosis of chronic pain stemming from low back pain related to an injury. This study considered T-scores of a K-corrected profile using Scales F (Faking, 1 (Hypochondriasis), 2 (Depression), and 3 (Hysteria). Statistical interpretation of data was obtained through use of the General Linear Model at the p < .05 level of significance to determine variance among the groups. Subjects were assigned to three of six groups based on the criteria of age (less than 35 years vs. 35 years or older); duration of pain (less than one year's duration vs. one year or more duration); and medical evidence available (with clinical evidence to support an orthopedic diagnosis vs. those with no clinical evidence available). The results of this study showed that there was no significant difference between groups on the age variable and the only significant differences on the medical evidence variable were for Scales 2 (D) and 3 (Hy). On the duration of pain variable, significant differences among groups for all scales were noted. Also, chronic low back pain patients from this geographic area presented with extreme elevations on Scale F and high elevations on Scales 1 (Hs), 2 (D), and 3 (Hy), with a higher elevation on Scale 2 (D).

Relation Of Age Beginning Delinquency, Chemical Dependency, Family History Of Substance Use And The Likelihood To Display Elevated 49/94 Two-Point Codetype On The Mmpi-A With Juvenile Delinquents, Jay Cunningham

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A data search of male juvenile delinquents (N=40) who had taken the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for Adolescents (MMPI-A) was undertaken from archival data at the Industrial Home for Youth Division of Juvenile Services at Salem, West Virginia. The Industrial Home for Youth is a 120 bed maximum security correctional facility for males age 10 through 20 and females age 12 through 20. Subjects’ files were placed into two groups, 20 in each group. The study group is males whose MMPI-A profile had a two-point codetype of elevated 49/94, T-score being 65 or above. The comparison group did not have …

Selling With A Visual Aid, Michelle Fields

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Many have pondered the key to delivering an effective speech. Speculation ranges from what one wears to the tone of voice used to how the speech is outlined. No matter the opinion, most agree that visual aids are key to getting and keeping the attention of your audience. Visual aids can add interest, clarity, and drama to a presentation (Pollock, 2000). Clearly, all advertising seeks to influence behavior (Berger, 1999).

In the case of Boise Cascade Office Products, a visual aid helped to differentiate it from Office Max and Staples, while also driving the business 44% over the previous year …

The Effect Of Residence Type On Adjustment To College, Matthew J. Facemire

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the difference in adjustment to college between Commuters (students who lived at home with their parents) and Boarders (students who lived on campus in residence halls). The study was conducted at a rural teachers college in West Virginia. The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) was administered to 86 students from four English 102 classes. The results include 48 students who met the requirements of the study. The results of the SACQ were input into a SPSS computer program to produce a 2x2 design ANOVA. The Test of Between-Subject Effects showed three areas of significant difference between …

Student Victimization And Its Relation To School Violence, Heidi Gregoire

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The frequent depiction of school violence in the media today has led some to believe that violence in our schools is an increasing problem. Those who are most prone to be influenced by the media’s perception of school violence may include those most affected by school violence such as parents, educators, and students. This influence may increase parents’ concerns about sending their children to school, and create a fear of going to school on a daily basis in educators and students. Despite such fears, research suggests that school violence is, in fact, decreasing, at least with regard to school shootings. …

Individual Differences And The Effects Of Time Of Day And Interference On Memory, Keelon L. Hinton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Using the Wickens, Born, Allen (1963) release from proactive interference paradigm, subjects were tested at both a morning and afternoon period in hopes of observing the effects time of day, age, and interference have on working memory. 42 college students and 21 participants over the age of 65 first completed the Horne-Ostberg (1976) questionnaire for morningness-eveningness. While most younger adults were evening and neutral types, the vast majority of older individuals showed a stronger preference for earlier hours of the day. Recall results indicated that recall performance of older participants decreased from morning to afternoon, while recall performance of younger …

Race Vs. Threat: How Teens Perceive Violence As A Function Of Race, Corey R. Layne

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The relationship between race students’ perceptions of threat was examined using an examiner-made questionnaire with WV 6th, 9th, and 12th grade students. Eleven ambiguous scenarios and eight demographic questions were rated to measure the level of threat perceived by subjects. The results indicated that both Minority and Caucasian students found both black and white students the threatening.

The Conners' Continuous Performance Test, Karrie Mace

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the Connors’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT). The CPT purports to measure levels of vigilance or attention. This test is administered by computer.

Fifty children from a summer school program were individually administered the CPT. A univariate analysis of variance was completed using previous diagnosis of ADHD, gender, and age. A logistic regression was also completed using gender, age, and total score. No significant difference was found.

Gender And Parenting Stress Using Abidin's Parenting Stress Index, K. Penny Nicholls

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The effect of gender on parenting stress was studied on a sample of 56 parents at the time of custody disputes. Each pair of parents completed the Parenting Stress Index or the Parenting Stress Index/Short Form. Results were not significant when gender was matched to the total parent stress scores, indicating parent child stress was not associated with parent gender as was found in previous research.

Referral Source And Its Relationship With The Completion Of A 12-Week Intensive Outpatient Program And Continuing Care Program, Amber J. Rinehart

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Research suggests that employer referrals to addiction treatment facilities play a significant role in the completion of the treatment programs. Individuals who are coerced into treatment with the threat of the loss of their jobs are more likely to continue treatment. Since program completion is important for the long term process, length of time in treatment increases the likelihood the individual will remain abstinent (Miller, 1994). This particular study consists of an examination of a 12-Week Intensive Outpatient Program, followed by an optional, but highly recommend, Continuing Care Program. A statistically significant difference was determined to exist between the completion …

The Relationship Between Language Development And Self-Help Skills In Developmentally Delayed Infants And Young Children, Tammy M. Roberts

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The author explored the relationship between language skills and self-help skills in young children diagnosed as developmentally delayed. Twenty-eight children from the West Virginia Birth to Three Program at Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center in Princeton, West Virginia, were involved in the research. The data was analyzed using the Spearman r formula. The analysis found a strong positive relationship between language skills and self-help skills. The results indicated that developmental interventions need to be global and not delay-specific. Young children learn skills in the various areas of development concurrently. Recommendations for future research were made.

The Relationship Between Parent Education And Their Child’S Academic Readiness, S. Noelle Barton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between parents’ education level and their child’s academic readiness. The following research question was examined: Is there a relationship between the level of parents’ education and their child’s academic readiness? In this study, Marshall University Graduate College (MUGC) and West Virginia University (WVU) graduate students collected data from randomly selected children attending West Virginia Educare (WVE) sites. The results of this study indicated there was no significant correlation between parents’ education level and their child’s academic readiness, generally believed to be highly correlated. Conclusions and recommendations for future research …

The Relationship Between Attention And Memory And School Readiness In West Virginia Preschoolers, Brenda Carol Parker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The current study investigated the relationship between memory and attention and academic readiness in children between the ages of 2 ½ and 5. Forty-two preschool children were involved in the study and were selected from childcare centers participating in the Educare project in West Virginia. All subjects were tested with the Bracken and the Carolina Curriculum. The Bracken measured the academic readiness and the Carolina Curriculum measured memory and attention levels of the children. The results indicated a positive correlation between memory and attention and academic readiness. The findings supported the position that there is a positive correlation between mastery …

The Relationship Between Receptive Language Skills And School Readiness, Patricia Slack Hines

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationship between language and academic readiness. The current study included 56 preschool children. Specifically, 9 two year olds participated, 18 three year olds participated, 21 four year olds, and 8 five year olds participated. Twenty- three were female and twenty-three were male. Each child was administered the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT III), followed by both the School Readiness Composite (SRC) of the Bracken Basic Concept Scale – Revised or BBCS-R. A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the relationship between the standard scores of the PPVT III, and the …

Locus Of Control And Aggression, Glenna Anderson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The relationship between locus of control and aggression in children was investigated. Twenty-five students from grades 5 through 8 from a rural public school in southern West Virginia were involved in the research. The students - completed the Children’s Nowicki- Strickland Internal-External Locus of Control scale, and the students’ teachers completed the Conners’ Global Index for measuring psychopathology and hyperactivity. The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was utilized to evaluate the relationship between the variables. Alpha was set at .05. There was no significant relationship between locus of control and aggression in the children. Research suggests that the expression of aggression is …

Cognitive And Emotional Variables In Childhood Anxiety, Robin L. Browning

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Research was conducted on 60 subjects from mental health agencies in order to determine that childhood anxiety and depression can be differentiated. The 60 subjects were given the CDI and the RCMAS self-report measures in order to be placed in groups. This allowed the subjects to be divided into 4 groups: Anxious, Anxious/Depressed, Depressed and Not Anxious/Not Depressed. The 4 groups were then given 2 additional self-report measures, the STAIC and FSSC -R to measure whether Anxious and the Anxious/Depressed children exhibited more fears and anxious traits than did the Depressed and Not Anxious/Not Depressed children. Analyses of variance revealed …

Program Evaluation Of A School-Violence Project In Wv Schools, Charley Bowen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Youth violence has been a major concern in every community in the United States. A group of educators, social service providers, law enforcement officials, mental health providers, and various interest groups in a small rural West Virginia County developed a plan to address the growing problem of violence among Lincoln County youth. In the fall of 1999, Lincoln County was awarded a three-year Federal Grant. The goal of the Lincoln Early Aggression Prevention Program was to develop and implement a program to increase the health and safety of Lincoln County Students. The county has also received a state grant (Drug …

The Relationship Between Social Skills And Language Acquisition In West Virginia, Stephanie Angel Childers

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The interaction between social skills and language acquisition has been a topic of interest in recent years. Current research has suggested children with social deficits are at increased risk for language problems, and vice versa (Gallegher, 1999). As part of the West Virginia Educare initiative, children ages two and a half to five years were randomly selected and individually evaluated using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition and the Carolina Curriculum for Preschoolers with Special Needs to assess language comprehension and social skills. A Pearson Product Moment correlation on 42 study participants yielded a correlation of -.083 with a significance …

Similarities And Differences In Eyewitness Testimonies Of Children Who Directly Versus Vicariously Experience Stress, Marc A. Lindberg Ph.D., Susan Jones, Lisa Mccomas Collard, Stuart W. Thomas

Psychology Faculty Research

This study tested questions of ecological validity by comparing the eyewitness testimonies of children directly experiencing a painful inoculation experience with those of children in a yoked-control group who vicariously experienced the inoculation on videotape. The study involved 86 5-year-olds, divided between 2 groups: the experiential and yoked control. The experiential group was followed through a health department with a video camera as they received diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DFT), and oral polio inoculations. They were tested immediately, 20 min later, and I month later. Each child in the yoked-control group merely watched the videotape of his or her counterpart in …