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Cognitive Preference And Ethnic Identity Among Anglo And Native American High School Students, Chad Martin Novak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the Office of Educational Research and Improvement: A Project of the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research, graduation rates for Native Americans from both secondary and post secondary institutions are dismally low at 58% and 7%, respectively. Some research addresses cognitive preference and other ethnic identity, but research animating the cognitive preference---ethnic identity interplay for high school students is absent. These limitations in access to educational opportunities lead to abbreviated quality life experiences and a restriction in individual efficacy and collective agency. The following project assessed ethnic identity using Phinney's Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure and cognitive preference using …

Examining The Effects Of Early Life Stress From Maternal Separation On Measures Of Pain And Anxiety, Megan Lynne Uhelski

Psychology Theses - Archive

Animal models of stress-induced conditions have provided important insight into the physiological mechanisms of many chronic disorders. Models of early life stress involve procedures designed to induce prenatal or postnatal stress upon pups, which produces adult rats with enhanced stress responses and behavioral similarities to animal models of schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. Since little research has focused on the effect of maternal separation on adult pain processing, the purpose of the current study is to examine both sensory and affective pain measures in adult rats following repeated maternal separation in infancy, a common model of early life stress. Eighty-six male …

Visual Versus Auditory Learning And Memory Recall Performance On Short-Term Versus Long-Term Tests, Katie Lindner, Greta Blosser, Kris Cunigan

Modern Psychological Studies

Our study explored the influence of visual versus auditory learning on recall of a memory test. There were four groups in our study, two of which heard an article, and two of which read an article. All groups were then given a posttest to assess their recall. Two of the four groups took an immediate posttest, and the other two took a delayed posttest 45 minutes after hearing or reading the article. Visual learning outperformed auditory learning in both the immediate post-test condition, as well as in the delayed post-test condition. Overall, our study found that visual learning produced better …

Integrating Developmental And Free-Choice Learning Frameworks To Investigate Conceptual Change In Visitor Understanding, E Margaret Evans, Amy Spiegel, Wendy Gram, Judy Diamond

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Complex ideas like evolution—which run counter to common, but mistaken, intuitive knowledge like the 9-year-old’s quoted above—are challenging, both for exhibit developers and for the evaluation and research teams who assess the impact of exhibitions. It is always difficult to document measurable changes in deep conceptual understanding following a single visit to an exhibition (Allen, 2008, p. 58); Is this even possible with complex topics, such as evolution? In this article, we summarize a series of studies that may offer some help to exhibit developers and evaluators, as well as others who design and assess informal learning experiences. The studies …

Reconciling Modern Knowledge With Ancient Wisdom, Papalii F. Avegalio

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper is about an academic as well as cultural journey of (re)affirmation. Imbued with

Western knowledge, I was nearly swayed to alter my beliefs and core assumptions towards a

modern world view. I was referred to an article by Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese (hereafter Tui

Atua) which significantly assuaged the tensions of seemingly opposing values rooted in two

different world views. I realized now that in many ways, Tui Atua’s publications on Samoan

wisdom, culture and philosophy had the effect of a gentle wind tapping my shoulder. The

articles reaffirmed my sense of heritage and strengthened my resolve to …

Reflections On Two Of Our Early Ancestors, Gustav Jahoda

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

No abstract provided.

Review: The Body In The Reservoir: Murder And Sensationalism In The South, April Renfroe-Warren

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the non-fiction book "The Body in the Reservoir: Murder and Sensationalism in the South," by Michael Ayers Trotti.

Downright Sexy: Verticality, Implicit Power, And Perceived Physical Attractiveness, Brian P. Meier, Sarah G. Dionne

Psychology Faculty Publications

Grounded theory proposes that abstract concepts (e.g., power) are represented by perceptions of vertical space (e.g., up is powerful; down is powerless). We used this theory to examine predictions made by evolutionary psychologists who suggest that desirable males are those who have status and resources (i.e., powerful) while desirable females are those who are youthful and faithful (i.e., powerless). Using vertical position as an implicit cue for power, we found that male participants rated pictures of females as more attractive when their images were presented near the bottom of a computer screen, whereas female participants rated pictures of males as …

Using Language To Navigate The Infant Mind, Laura Wagner, Laura Lakusta

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

How do infants represent objects, actions, and relations in events? In this review, we discuss an approach to studying this question that begins with linguistic theory—specifically, semantic structures in language. On the basis of recent research exploring infant cognition and prominent linguistic analyses, we examine whether infants representations of motion events are articulated in terms of the components proposed by Talmy (1985; e.g., path, manner) and whether infants’ event representations are defined in terms of broad semantic roles (agent, patient, source, goal) as proposed by Jackendoff (1990) and Dowty (1991). We show how recent findings in infant cognition are consistent …

Animals In The Classroom: Implications And Implementation, Christen Lynn Robinson

All Graduate Projects

The role of animals in the classroom through Animal Assisted Therapy is examined. The benefits and risks are outlined and discussed. Specific measures to decrease related risks are given. A look at Animal Assisted Therapy from the perspective of the animal itself is also explored. Does the practice exploit animals? The research suggests that it depends upon the type of animal used. A Power Point presentation explaining the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy is provided. The target audience for the presentation is educators interested in implementing an Animal Assisted Therapy program within the school setting. The presentation clearly outlines the …

The Epidemiology Of Soccer Heading In Competitive Youth Players, Christin M. Salinas, Frank M. Webbe, Trent T. Devore

Psychology Faculty Publications

We administered neurocognitive batteries to 49 youth soccer athletes (9–15 yr), who were selected from competitive soccer teams in Central Florida. We collected observational data on soccer heading, self-reported soccer heading, as well as demographics, including school, medical, and soccer history. Both the frequency and intensity of heading the ball in soccer was low in comparison with adolescents and adults. In our sample, the vast majority of soccer headings were of low to moderate intensity and direct (i.e., the incoming flight of the ball was perpendicular to the forehead). Age significantly correlated with frequent heading. Parents were reliable observers of …

Boston Naming Test Performance In Young Adults : An Investigation Of Ethnocultural And Educational Factors In Performance And Emotional Response, Julie Elizabeth Horwitz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The rapidly growing ethnic minority population and increasing focus on cultural awareness and sensitivity within psychology have led to calls for expanded research on minority and cross-cultural issues. Despite this recognized need, ethnic minority and cross-cultural research within neuropsychology continues to lag behind similar research in other areas of psychology, and those studies published have generally utilized older adult samples. In addition, although research in this area has predominantly focused on performance differences between different ethnocultural groups, recent discussion on various neuropsychology listserves has focused on the emotional salience of the noose item on the Boston Naming Test (BNT). Therefore, …

The Effects, Brain Targets, And Mechanisms Of Estradiol For Affective Behavior, Alicia Ann Walf

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Although estradiol (E2) has numerous effects in the central nervous system, this review will focus on addressing the effects of E2 on behaviors related to mood in women and animal models and include recent findings from our laboratory related to this topic. E2's anti-anxiety and anti-depressant-like effects may depend upon many factors (e.g. age, reproductive history/status, time in E2 deficient state before initiation of E2 therapy, regimen and dosing of E2, neuropsychiatric/stress history). First, evidence of how factors may alter responses to E2 in people and in animal models will be discussed. Second, interactions of E2 with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis/stress …

Cue Reactivity In Smokers, Gamblers, And Smoking Gamblers, Kristin Kay-Kelchak Harris

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A large number of problem gamblers also smoke cigarettes, and data suggest that gamblers who smoke may be prone to experience more problems than non-smoking gamblers, including higher severity of gambling problems and stronger urges to gamble. Given such mounting evidence, an improved understanding of this relationship is greatly needed. The theory of cross-domain cue reactivity may account for this relationship. This theory posits that repeated pairings of cigarette and gambling cues result in these cues acquiring conditioned stimulus properties that elicit cravings for the immediate as well as the associated substance. Thus, the sight of someone smoking may induce …

Observer Effects Of Non-Sexual Nipple Erection And Their Possible Reproductive Advantages In Human Females, Amy J. Lefevre

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Nipple erection in women for any purpose other than lactation is somewhat of an evolutionary mystery. In earlier studies I found evidence of nonsexual nipple erection (NSNE) in females in response to anxiety-provoking stimulus material (LeFevre, unpublished). The goal of the present research was to determine what benefits, if any, that NSNE may confer upon females who display this behavior. Specifically, two studies tested the general proposition that non-sexual nipple erection decreases aggressiveness in males and looked at the possibility that cognitive interference may be a mediating factor in aggression de-escalation. Fifty-one undergraduate students (33 male and 18 female) took …

Interoceptive Fear Conditioning And Panic Disorder Ii : Clarifying The Role Of Cs-Us Discrimination, Dean Thomas Acheson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Despite the role afforded interoceptive fear conditioning in learning theory accounts of panic disorder, there exists little research demonstrating such learning in humans. A recent study by Acheson and colleagues (2007) was the first to successfully demonstrate interoceptive fear conditioning in humans. The authors employed a single-cue fear learning paradigm with 20% carbon dioxide-enriched air as interoceptive conditioned (CS) and unconditioned (US) stimuli. The current study had two aims: 1) to replicate the results of Acheson et al. (2007) while improving upon the methodology, and 2) to clarify the role of CS - US discrimination in fear learning and extinction. …

Pathways To Obesity In Women : The Role Of Coping And Emotional Eating, Veronica Nicole Stotts

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Obesity is a major health crisis in the United States, with approximately two-thirds of the population qualifying as overweight and, of those, almost one half qualifying as obese (CDC, 2007). While there are a myriad of causes of obesity, a great deal of evidence shows that many individuals, and particularly women, eat as a coping response to stress (e.g., Greeno & Wing, 1994). Therefore, one's ability to cope, or the process by which individuals deal with situations that involve stress or threat, may be a factor that contributes to increased body mass index, or BMI, a common measure of obesity. …