Digital Commons Network^™

Disparities In Emergency Medical Services: Examining Care Gaps For The High-Frequency User Population, Sarah Krysl Cleveringa

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Although many studies have illustrated healthcare disparities related to patient demographic factors in emergency medical response, few studies have examined how differences in care may be related to a patient’s identity as a high-frequency utilizer of emergency medical services (EMS). The Superuser population (higher than average utilizers of EMS) has been examined for characteristics and costs to society, but it is unknown if they receive a different type or quality of care compared to the low-frequency utilizer population. The goal of this study is to examine the EMS care that Superusers receive and possible factors that may contribute to the …

“You’Re Denying God”: Thoughts On Institutional Homophobia From Lgbtq-Affirming Staff And Faculty At Christian Colleges, Kaytlin Epperly

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Over 4 million adults identify as LGBTQ Christians in the United States (Conron et al., 2020). Yet, despite increasing support in secular and religious circles alike, the LGBTQ community continues to face prejudice and discrimination in evangelical Christian spaces (Jones, 2026; Public Religion Research Institute, 2023). Unfortunately, much of this is experienced on Christian college campuses. During a crucial period of identity development, many emerging adults on these campuses struggle between their queer identities and Christian faith, leading to psychological distress, shame, and marginalization. However, previous research illustrates the integral role that social support plays in LGBTQ students’ wellbeing (Cook …

Contemporary Approaches To Group Psychotherapy Supervision, Michelle A. Collins-Greene (Ed.), Molyn Leszcz, Nina W. Brown, Ellen Wright, Scott Giacomucci, Les R. Greene, Susan P. Gantt, Leah M. Niehaus, Francis Kaklauskas, Tony L. Sheppard

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

This chapter captures the work of contemporary supervisors of group psychotherapy, all of whom have practiced many years and have trained and supervised innumerable group leaders. They demonstrate the diversity of settings and theoretical orientations that are prominent in the current era. Their essays speak for themselves and provide wonderful illustrations and models for supervisors-in-training and consultation to emulate. They also talk about who influenced, mentored, and supervised them.

Pbis Fidelity As A Predictor Of School Connectedness For Secondary Students, Danielle German

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

School connectedness, defined as the extent to which students "feel accepted, respected, included, and supported in the school environment," (Goodenow, 1993, p.80) has been identified as a protective factor linked to numerous positive behavioral, academic, and affective outcomes for secondary students. Given its importance, schools may seek to invest in efforts that enhance students’ sense of school connectedness. Research suggests that targeted instruction may be particularly effective in promoting school connectedness among adolescents (German et al., 2026). Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, multi-tiered framework that emphasizes explicit instruction of behavioral expectations and reinforcement of appropriate behavior. …

Early Developmental Wounds To Interpersonal Struggles: The Role Of Emotion Dysregulation, Parth Yogesh Sompura

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Numerous studies have examined the effects of trauma on emotion dysregulation or have focused primarily on childhood trauma. The present study aimed to understand the effects of trauma at different developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The sample consisted of 201 participants, who were selected from a larger pool of participants who received course credit for completing this study. The results of this study revealed that trauma at all ages significantly and positively affects interpersonal difficulties, through emotion dysregulation as a positive mediator, as hypothesized. However, contrary to hypotheses, childhood trauma did not have a greater effect compared to adolescent …

Framing Of Obesity In Magazines, Chitrangda Malik

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

The aim of this study is to determine how the top four magazines in America portray the issue of obesity in terms of responsibility and in relation to mental health. Additionally, it is to determine the kind of framing used to present the issue of obesity. The data of this study is limited to Costco Connection, Better Homes & Gardens, AARP, and People magazine. Data has been divided into two timelines, one from January 2020-January 2026 and the other from January 2022-January 2026. Results indicate that magazine articles primarily attribute the cause of and solution to obesity as behavioral and …

A Longitudinal Study On The Impact Of Childhood Air Pollution Exposure On Adolescent Cognition, Emily K. Carter

Open Access Dissertations

About 2 in 5 Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. Poor air quality has been shown to lead to a diverse set of negative health that can affect the cardiovascular system and have downstream effects on brain structure and cognition. The detrimental impacts of air pollution on cognition have been widely studied, though due to methodological limitations in the available research, a direct association between air pollution exposure and cognitive development remains inconclusive and unclear. Further, studies in this area have largely focused on prenatal exposure and neurocognitive impacts during early childhood; the potential longer-term effects …

Digital Lover: Insecure Attachment Styles And Romantic Parasocial Relationship Among Chinese Female Otome Game Playersdigital Lover: Insecure Attachement Styles And Romantic Parasocial Relationship Among Chinese Female Otome Game Players, Weifan (Kyrie) Zhang M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The existing literature has explored the relationship between insecure attachment styles and parasocial relationships, particularly focusing on traditional media such as television. However, it has largely overlooked the novel form of media represented by contemporary Chinese otome games, which offer an idealized digital environment potentially more appealing to players with insecure attachment styles. Moreover, previous studies have not sufficiently differentiated between general parasocial interactions and the specific nuances of parasocial romantic relationships unique to romantic video games (RVGs). This study seeks to bridge these gaps by examining the psychological underpinnings of Chinese female players' engagement with female-oriented romantic video games. …

The Lived Experience Of Intimate Partner Violence For Females In Emerging Adulthood: A Qualitative Study, Laurel Dobkin M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Emerging adulthood is the developmental period between ages 18 to 25 where individuals begin to explore their worldviews and develop intimate relationships. This period is important for developing a sense of identity and self (Arnett, 2000, 2014). During this period, negative events or relationships, such as intimate partner violence (IPV), may have detrimental effects (Erikson, 1968; Barreto & Frazier, 2012). While literature suggests that IPV has high rates and negative consequences in emerging adulthood (Bhattacharjee & Gopal, 2022; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024; Shen & Kusunoki, 2019), there is little research on the subjective experience of females …

Designing With Foresight: Premortem And Human-Centered Evaluation Of Emerging Technologies, Anusha Kannan

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in safety-critical systems, including transportation, where people must make fast decisions under uncertainty and high risk. As AI takes on a larger role in supporting human judgment, researchers and designers must evaluate more than just its technical performance, they must ask whether people can understand the system and use it effectively in high-risk settings.

This dissertation presents two distinct evaluation methodologies. First, the Human-Centered Evaluation, examines how intelligent in-vehicle alert systems influence driver decision behavior across two experiments. In Experiment 1 (n=24) and Experiment 2 (n=26), participants completed a driving simulator study in which our …

Visual Aids And Numeracy In Healthcare: Leveraging The Drawing Effect, Zephyr J. Markley

Capstone Showcase

Healthcare decisions often require patients to interpret numerical risk information under stress, yet many struggle with low numeracy, which can distort comprehension and undermine informed consent. Well-designed visual aids can improve diagnostic inference, calibrate confidence, and support better choices, especially for patients with limited numeracy, but their impact depends on whether users can actually interpret the format accurately. Drawing may further enhance these tools by adding a tactile, generative layer that engages visual, semantic, and motoric processing while helping patients organize information into concrete models.

Passive visual aids appear useful but limited because they often position patients as observers rather …

Climate Change In An Educational Context: A Model Addressing Psychological Distance, Hope, And Concern, Brooke E. Kasl-Godley

Scripps Senior Theses

As the threat of climate change becomes more urgent, educators should focus on fostering climate concern and action instead of simply providing climate information. These studies present a novel model of climate education where locally-framed and action-oriented curriculum increases students’ environmental concern through the mechanisms of psychological distance and hope. This curriculum was taught over two years to sixth-grade students at a school in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. Study 1 examines students’ environmental concern and sense of responsibility before and after delivery of the curriculum. Study 2 is a proposed follow-up study, that will address limitations of Study 1 …

Identity Development And Resonance With Cultural Sounds: A Study Of Undergraduate Women Of Mexican Descent, Manuela S. Flores

Scripps Senior Theses

Undergraduates of Mexican descent are not a monolith; their experiences vary based on positionality and lived experiences within academia in the United States. This study explored the lived experiences of seven women of Mexican descent, ages 18 to 25, to examine how they experience and make meaning of music while developing their identities in college. A descriptive phenomenological approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews to explore participant’s lived experiences in relation to music. Identity development was contextualized in relation to cultural values, musical experiences, and participant positionalities. Interview questions addressed music engagement, conceptualizations of Chicanx culture, and the values participants …

Bilingual Beginnings: Expressive Language And Socio-Emotional Development In Early Childhood, Molly C. Mccormick

Scripps Senior Theses

Although research on bilingualism has expanded rapidly in recent years, the majority focuses on cognitive advantages or receptive vocabulary, or the words children understand. Far less attention has been given to how expressive language, the words children produce, and its potential role as the mechanism linking bilingual exposure to socio-emotional development. Although dual-language learners sometimes appear to have relatively limited expressive vocabularies in one language, these differences tend to reflect patterns of language use and input quality rather than true developmental delays. Even so, temporary differences in expressive skills can be especially meaningful during children’s formative years, when they rely …

Ambivalence In The Context Of Competing Narratives: Exploration Through A Case Of The Us Military Base Issue In Okinawa, Maho Aikawa, Andrew Stewart

Psychology

The current research focused on how competing narratives (i.e., dominant and resistance narratives) are endorsed among low-status group members, through the case of the US military base issue in Okinawa, Japan. Specifically, we explored patterns of Okinawans’ narrative endorsement (i.e., dominant and resistance narratives surrounding the presence of US military in Okinawa), as well as their behavioural responses (e.g., resistance and compliance) using survey responses of Okinawan participants (N = 172). Following the identification of factors in narrative endorsement and behavioural responses through exploratory factor analyses, we identified narrative profiles of participants through a latent profile analysis. Then, we mapped …

Campus Sexual Assault: Cybersex At Bucknell, Rebecca Bonomo

Master’s Theses

Campus sexual assault continues to be a prevalent problem, particularly at Bucknell. The present study is the first study out of Bucknell Campus Sexual Assault Research team to explore the new module of the Sexual Experiences Survey - Victimization (SESV) Cybersex (Koss et al., 2024). This is a mixed methods approach to exploring cybersex at Bucknell. The study explored prevalence rates, differences between gender binary, sexual orientation, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The first hypothesis was that cybersex victimization will be prevalent at Bucknell. The next hypothesis was that women and sexual minorities would have higher rates of cybersex scores than …

Launching Love Online: How Soft-, Hard-, And No-Launch Practices Shape Perceptions Of Commitment And Relationship Security, Aleana Goetz

Master’s Theses

Social media has introduced new ways couples signal relationship status, ranging from a “hard launch” (a clear couple post) to a “soft launch” (subtle cues such as hands or hints) to a “no launch” (no posting at all). Although these posting choices may seem minor, they may shape how committed and secure a relationship feels. Guided by the Investment Model (Rusbult, 1980) and interdependence theory (Kelley & Thibaut, 1978), the present study examines whether relationship visibility on Instagram relates to perceived partner commitment and relationship security.

A total of 176 participants (36 male, 118 female, 22 did not report) viewed …

A Systematic Review Of Socioeconomic Status On Infant-Directed Speech, Laura K. Flaker

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project reviews the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on infant-directed speech (IDS) and examines potential interventions aimed at increasing the use of IDS. Existing research indicates that caregivers from higher-SES backgrounds tend to use more frequent and higher-quality IDS, including greater vocabulary diversity and more responsive interactions, compared to caregivers from lower-SES backgrounds. These differences are often influenced by factors such as parental stress, limited time, and access to resources. Understanding the differences in IDS is crucial to reducing disparities in language development. Findings from this review suggest that interventions such as increasing access to mental health services and …

A Child On Stand: The Impact Of Experiencing Trauma On Children’S Testimonial Efficacy In Legal Proceedings, Morgan Sweger

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Children who are victims of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse are nearly always left deeply traumatized by such events. In extreme cases, abused children may be asked to testify against their abuser(s) in legal proceedings, recounting their trauma in front of a room full of strangers. For some, the trauma of abuse may influence a child’s ability to effectively recall and describe their experiences and for others, the process of participating in legal proceedings creates deeper wounds. Research has aimed to understand whether children lack the ability to contribute sufficient testimonies during investigations of abuse and how these investigations …

The Implementation Of A Token Economy On The Behaviors Of Children With Adhd, Dominic M. Hritsko

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Saturday Treatment Program (SatTP) is a ten-day treatment program that was designed through the Cleveland Clinic and takes place at a middle school on Saturdays during the school year. The program design follows that of the Summer Treatment Program, where counselors utilize a comprehensive point system that is part of a token economy to evaluate children’s behaviors (ADHD summer treatment program). I will be working with other counselors led by Dr. Hallie Fetterman Ph.D., a pediatric psychologist, to deliver the program and evaluate the behaviors of sixteen children. The program is split into three age groups: six through …

Moving Positively: A Review Of Positive Psychology Interventions In Counseling, Spencer M. Fleming, Ingrid Weigold Ph. D

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Positive psychology is a relatively new and developing subfield of psychology which examines the machinations and roles of various character strengths and traits such as growth, well-being, meaning, life satisfaction, character strengths, and more. Positive psychology holds various implications for counseling, therapy, individual growth, and self-determination. However, current literature on positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are scattered, nuanced, and lack overall consensus. Thus, encompassing research is necessary to identify common trends, areas for improvement, and a clear direction moving forward. The present review analyzes positive psychology interventions (PPIs) within psychology and counseling. This review examined forty-eight articles, including fifteen meta-analyses, on …

Emotional Contagion In Nonhuman Working Animals: Lessons From Canine Rescue Teams, Kimberly T. Schneider, S. Burak Ozkum, Alexandra Ilie, Dan Ispas

Faculty Publications – Psychology

No abstract provided.

A Psychometric Evaluation Of Obsessive-Compulsive Items In The Hierarchical Taxonomy Of Psychopathology (Hitop)-Self Report Among Caregivers Of Children, Zach Wasserman

Honors Theses

Introduction: The classification and assessment of psychopathology is a crucial part of understanding mental health. The current model, published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, with the current 5th edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2022), utilizes a categorical approach to psychopathology (i.e., one has the disorder or they do not). This creates ~300 diagnoses that are understood as theoretically distinct from one another. In reality, categorical diagnoses are often heavily comorbid (Forbes et al., 2024) and within a diagnostic category there are large amounts of heterogeneity (Feczko & Fair, 2020). To address these issues, dimensional models …

What Race Means For Health Among Black Americans: How Microaggressions Shape Self-Efficacy And Readiness For Behavior Change, Amanda Lee Almond

Publications and Research

Objectives: Persistent racial disparities in cardiovascular health among Black Americans reflect not only structural inequities in the United States, but also the racialized meanings of cardiovascular disease reproduced through public and private health communication. Drawing on ecological systems theory, this research examines how beliefs linking race and cardiovascular disease are reinforced through routine clinical interactions and how these meanings shape health behavior change. Method: Across two experimental mixed-methods studies, a model integrating ecological, social–cognitive, and behavior change frameworks was tested. In Study 1 (N = 374), health-message framing was experimentally manipulated to examine effects on self-efficacy and decisional balance while …

Tuning Human And “Artificial” Intelligence: A Sentic Theory Of Resonance And Communication, Michael J. Miller, Chatgpt (Ai~Nesbo+)

Psychology

This paper introduces a new model of intelligence as resonant communication, co-developed by a human researcher and a generative AI system. Drawing from emotion science, communication theory, and studies of AI–human interaction, we argue that intelligence is not merely a function of problem-solving or pattern recognition. Instead, it emerges through dynamic resonance—an attunement process rooted in shared rhythms, emotional calibration, and symbolic co-creation. At the core of this model is the Resonance Octave (8va), a framework of eight foundational emotions conceptualized not as static categories but as waveform phenomena that shape meaning, memory, and predictive cognition.

These emotional waveforms are …

The Obverse-Turing Test: Rethinking Authorship, Trust, And Time In An Accelerated Age, Michael J. Miller, Chatgpt (Ai~Nesbo+)

Psychology

In this paper, we propose a new test for scientific accountability in the era of artificial intelligence: the Obverse Turing Test for Authorship. While the traditional Turing test focuses on a machine's ability to mimic human intelligence, our test addresses the question: when should a scientific contribution involving artificial intelligence be attributed joint authorship? We argue that more and more authors are using AI in the idea generation and elaboration stages of their work, but rarely acknowledge this use explicitly. To examine this gap, we analyze examples of human–AI interactions across fields and propose a new approach to authorship based …

Theory Of Mind: Effects Of Ecological Syntactic Training In Children With And Without Autism, Jill De Villiers, Stephanie Durrleman

Linguistics: Faculty Publications

Complement clauses, such as Mary says that Santa exists, are complex linguistic structures that have been argued to help children grasp others’ beliefs when those beliefs do not align with reality. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) tend to have difficulties with Theory of Mind (ToM), which might be helped by enhancing understanding of complements. The study investigates whether an ecological approach to training, using children's books containing false complement clauses, can improve false belief reasoning in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children. The goal is to assess if structured dialogic reading at home, led by parents, …

Wise Beyond Our Years: Menopause, Negative Body-Image, And Art As A Catalyst To Self-Acceptance, Nicole Lea

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This mixed methods study examined the impact of menopause on women’s body image and self-acceptance through an arts-based group intervention. Quantitative data was collected using the Body Image Self-Compassion Scale, and qualitative data was gathered through art-making, group discussion, and individual interviews. Participants were (n=5) menopausal women aged 46-52 from the Bay Area who reported negative body image related to menopause. The intervention consisted of four one-hour open studio workshops with a fifth meeting added in which participants created altered books while engaging in peer support and discussion. Descriptive statistics indicated an increase in mean body image self-compassion scores from …

Forecasting The Emotional Cost Of Online Dehumanization, Reyhaneh Bagherian Shamir

All Master's Theses

The use of social media platforms to share, view, and communicate information is now ubiquitous (Crockett, 2017). Given the prevalence of problematic content found on social media (e.g., prejudice, misinformation), this research examines how accurately people predict their responses to such content. Kawakami et al. (2009) found that individuals overestimate their emotional distress and behavior in response to discriminatory actions (i.e., racism) in-person predicting they would be more upset, and more likely to reject a racist confederate than individuals who experienced the incident actually were. In the current research, we built upon the work of Kawakami et al. (2009) to …

Exploring Students' Perceptions Of Active Learning Practices And Their Role In Critical Thinking Development In Undergraduate Biology Education, Kwame Kyeremah

All Master's Theses

As the global landscape becomes increasingly complex and undergoes more rapid changes than ever before, critical thinking has become an indispensable skill for addressing challenges in society, science, and the workplace. Despite its widespread adoption in undergraduate STEM education, active learning remains poorly understood from the student's perspective. This study investigated how undergraduate biology students perceived active learning in a ten-week biostatistics course (BIOL 213) at Central Washington University, and whether those perceptions aligned with critical thinking gains measured by the California Critical Thinking Skills Test with Numeracy (CCTST-N). A convergent mixed-methods design integrated student perception and mindset survey data …