Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Bilingual Language Learning Using Artificial Grammars, Kyla Kelly

Honors Theses

Language development research has established that infants can learn language rapidly and without explicit instruction through implicit learning mechanisms like statistical learning. These mechanisms can be used to learn word boundaries, sounds, meanings, and grammar rules of language. One method for investigating this is artificial grammar learning (AGL), in which people are exposed to sequences of nonwords to see if they can unconsciously learn their underlying grammars. While much of statistical learning and AGL research has focused on a monolingual perspective, most of the world’s population is multilingual. Studies like Weiss, Gerfen, and Mitchel (2009) and Mitchel and Weiss (2010) …

How Mindfulness Training Influences Attention: A Systematic Review, Ingrid E. O'Brien, Kent W. Barrett, Berna Altunisik Ms

Endeavors: Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Journal

The aim of this literature review is to understand the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on training attention control skills. Relevant resources were identified through academic databases by entering keywords such as “attention” and “mindfulness training”. Preference was given to recent publications to ensure the inclusion of up-to-date research findings. Three main factors that influence training efficacy emerged from the literature: Reducing mind wandering, increasing acceptance, and lifting mood and affect. Review of empirical findings suggested that mindfulness does contribute to enhancing attentional abilities, although findings are somewhat inconsistent. Mind wandering and acceptance were important moderators in this effect, while no …

Assessing Positive Digital Experiences: A Spanish Validation Of The Digital Flourishing Scale For Adolescents, Alfredo Zarco-Alpuente, Victor Ciudad Fernández, Jasmina Rosič, Sophie Janicke-Bowles, Tamara Escrivà-Martínez, Paula Samper-García

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Adolescents are immersed in digital communication, which can benefit or harm their well-being. Digital flourishing captures positive perceptions of this communication-connectedness, authentic self-presentation, positive social comparison, civil participation, and self-control-and how it contributes to well-being. In Spain there is still no validated instrument for adolescents. Method: We adapted and validated the Digital Flourishing Scale for Adolescents (DFSA) for Spanish adolescents. Study 1 involved a pilot survey (n = 13) and cognitive interviews (n = 10) to improve clarity and cultural relevance. Study 2 used a cross-sectional survey (n = 1,786) to examine the DFSA’s latent structure, measurement invariance by …

Male Disposability, Law, And Feminism, Edward Cantu

Faculty Works

This article explores scientific evidence that societies care more about the welfare and safety of females than that of males, and that this dynamic of "male disposability" is deeply entrenched in culture, and thus in law. The recognition and integration of male disposability theory would mean an evolutionary leap in modern theorizing about gender and the law, but it is ignored. Why? Feminist theory dominates current academic gender discourse. Far from appreciating the explanatory power of male disposability theory, feminist theorists are often invested in theorizing gendered problems in ways that mischannel compassion away from men and toward women. The …

Examining Connections Between Therapist Self-Disclosure, The Therapeutic Relationship, And Cultural Mistrust In A Sample Of Black And White Emerging Adults, Sarah Mitty Mcnamee

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

This analogue study examined how two different types of therapist self-disclosure (TSD) influenced the assessment of the working alliance and real relationship by observer participants, and how these variables were impacted by a participant’s race and experience of cultural mistrust. A sample of N = 339 Black and White adults watched one of two mock therapy videos, depicting either a non-immediate TSD or an Alliance- Focused Training (AFT)-consistent immediate TSD in response to the patient’s rupture markers. Based on the video, each with the same White therapist and bi-racial patient, participants rated the observed working alliance and real relationship. Participants …

Understanding Self And Others: Exploring The Relationship Between Maladaptive Personality Traits And Theory Of Mind, Christian Dellavella

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between theory of mind (ToM) and maladaptive personality traits is a poorly understood but critical intersection between cognitive and clinical psychology. While some research has suggested certain personality characteristics may elevate ToM ability, others may contribute to deficits that lead to negative health outcomes and poor social functioning. Understanding how variability in the population’s ideological disposition affects our capacity to comprehend others’ perspectives and emotions is key to grasping the intricacies of social interactions. As the fields of clinical psychology and psychiatry begin to reclassify their diagnostic systems, it is critical to evaluate how novel conceptualizations of personality …

Examining Positive Psychology Components In Cbt For Adolescent Depression: A Manual-Level Content Analysis, Isabel Bingham Mixter

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent depression is prevalent, recurrent, and associated with substantial functional impairment, yet variability in treatment response suggests that existing interventions may differ in how therapeutic processes are emphasized. The present study examined the extent to which positive psychology–consistent components, operationalized using the PERMA framework (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment), are embedded within empirically supported cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) manuals for adolescent depression and whether variation in this content corresponds to differences in treatment outcomes. Rather than analyzing individual participants, the unit of analysis was the treatment manual. Seven manualized CBT protocols for adolescents aged approximately 12–17 years were identified …

Academic Attention And Executive Difficulties In College Students: Reliability, Convergent Validity, And Exploratory Associations With Gpa, Piotr Draus

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in attention regulation, organization, and impulse control, which may be associated with academic challenges in higher education settings. The present study evaluates a custom, non-diagnostic academic attention/executive difficulties composite developed for college students and explores its associations with academic performance. Student participants (N=56) completed an online survey that included the custom composite, the Adult ADHD Self-report Scale (ASRS v1.1), and a self-reported numeric grade point average (GPA). The study primarily examined internal consistency and convergent validity of the custom composite using the ASRS v1.1 and secondarily explored associations between …

Parental Emotion Regulation: Associations With Child Affect And Emotion Socialization Behaviors, Jordan Holmén

Theses and Dissertations

Parenting is an emotional context in which parents often need to be able to regulate their own emotions in order to respond effectively to their child. Thus, how one regulates themselves may impact child outcomes. Supporting this notion, parent emotional regulation (ER) has been found to influence child adjustment (for a review, see Zimmer-Gembeck et al., 2021) and, more specifically, child affect (Hamzallari et al., 2022). For example, maternal suppression of emotions has been found to predict infant frustration (i.e., crying; Hamzallari et al., 2022). However, it is less clear how parent ER impacts child positive and negative affect. Theory …

The Relation Between Referral Source And Completion Of Trauma-Specific Assessment And Therapy In A Community-Based Training Clinic, Olivia Fiallo

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, more than 60% of youth experience at least one trauma by age 16, and about one-third develop a trauma-related disorder. Evidence-based trauma-specific cognitive behavioral therapies (TS-CBTs) exist, yet fewer than 20% of trauma-exposed youth receive trauma-focused treatment, with dropout rates as high as 75% after treatment initiation. Referral sources are gatekeepers to TS-CBTs and may be a key system-level factor shaping barriers to starting and staying in treatment. This study examined whether referral source was associated with entry into and completion of a full TS-CBT service delivery pathway in a community-based trauma clinic. Participants were 346 …

Interference Under Pressure: Task-Switching And Cognitive Control In Adhd, Rocio Belen Varela

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a widespread neurodevelopmental condition associated with significant academic difficulties, often resulting in students scoring a year below average on standardized examinations (Lawrence et al., 2020; Mohammadi et al., 2019). A proposed core feature of the disorder involves impairments in working memory (WM), specifically the Central Executive component responsible for attentional control (Alderson et al., 2013; Kofler et al., 2008). These WM operations are governed by two cognitive control modalities: proactive control (sustained, anticipatory maintenance) and reactive control (cue-driven, on-demand processing) (Braver et al., 2007). This quasi-experimental study investigated whether a natural tendency toward reactive control grants …

Don’T Hit Mommy! Associations Between Harsh Parenting And Aggression In Toddlerhood: The Moderating Role Of Temperament, Serah Betancourt

Theses and Dissertations

Physical aggression is known to be particularly common in toddlerhood. Further, harsh parenting practices and certain temperament traits in children have been found to be associated with aggressive behaviors. Recently, aggression has been demonstrated to be differentiated between provoked and unprovoked aggression. The current study examined early aggression and explored the mechanisms by which harsh parenting practices and temperament traits may predict different types of aggression and how that may also change depending on the stage of development in toddlerhood. That is, we proposed that harsh parenting would be more strongly associated with provoked aggression among toddlers with higher negative …

Vulnerable Narcissism In Borderline Personality Disorder: Impact On Emotion Dysregulation, Identity Disturbance, And Rejection Sensitivity In Psychiatric Inpatients, Lauren Baker Lloveras

Theses and Dissertations

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe personality disorder frequently seen in clinical settings due to high service utilization. It is characterized by emotion dysregulation, identity disturbance, suicidal behavior, fear of abandonment, and impulsive or risky behavior. BPD is categorized as a Cluster B personality disorder, alongside narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), which is defined by grandiosity, attention-seeking, and a lack of empathy. NPD can be further conceptualized across two subtypes: grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism (VN). Unlike grandiose narcissism, VN has been largely neglected in research – despite overlapping features with personality and mood disorders, especially BPD. These shared features …

Predicting The Effectiveness Of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Using Personality Assessmente, Seth Sizemore

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Depression, a pervasive and historically stigmatized disorder, has been treated through various paradigms over centuries, from spiritual to medical frameworks. Despite advances, Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) remains a significant clinical challenge, affecting a substantial proportion of patients. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) offers a promising approach for those unresponsive to conventional treatments. This study aims to assess the efficacy of TMS in treating TRD and its broader psychological effects using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3). Participants undergoing TMS at Lexington Forensic Psychiatry were invited to partake in the study. The treatment regimen consisted of 36 TMS sessions over nine weeks. Psychological …

Assessment Of Risk Factors In Sexual Offenders, Jennifer Bulin

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the importance and historical development of sex offender risk assessment, highlighting its critical role in managing public safety and guiding treatment interventions. This project traces the evolution of these assessments, from early methods focused on static risk factors to contemporary approaches that incorporate dynamic elements. The review discusses the most commonly used risk assessment tools for both adults and juveniles, evaluating their methodologies, strengths, and limitations. Assessments reviewed to be used with adults include the Static-99, Static-2002, Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool Revised (MNSOST-R), Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offence Recidivism (RRASOR), Sex …

Turning ‘Meh’ Into ‘Yeah!’: Modifying Motivational Interviewing For The Collegiate Experience, Mahala M. Saylor

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

This doctoral specialty project titled Turning 'Meh' into 'Yeah!': Modifying Motivational Interviewing for the Collegiate Experience explores the adaptation of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to better engage college students in mental health services. Traditional MI is highly effective in resolving ambivalence and fostering behavior change, yet its structure does not always align with the brief, solution-focused counseling models used in university settings. This project examines how MI can be tailored for time-limited interventions while enhancing student autonomy, self-efficacy, and retention in care. It integrates core MI principles—including empathy, ambivalence resolution, and self-efficacy—with developmental psychology and neurobiological research. The final product is …

The Underdiagnosis Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Women: Recognizing A Spectrum Of Symptoms, Taylor D. Bloomhuff

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have long been viewed as predominantly male diagnoses. Based on foundational studies for these disorders, not only are they more prevalent in male children, but symptom severity is also higher in male children. In attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in particular, it has become a common assumption that hyperactive/impulsive and combined types are ‘male’ ADHD presentations, while the inattentive type corresponds to the few female children who meet diagnostic criteria. However, emerging research looking at the decrease in autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prevalence rates between gender in adulthood suggests that these neurodevelopmental disorders …

Resilient Voices: A Proposed Support Group For Latina Middle Schoolers, Vanessa G. Leon

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

The transition to middle school represents a critical developmental period characterized by significant social, emotional, physical, and cognitive changes. For Latina adolescents, this transition may be further complicated by cultural, environmental, and systemic stressors that increase vulnerability to mental health concerns. This doctoral specialization project addresses the need for culturally responsive mental health interventions designed to support the well-being of Latina middle school students during this developmental stage. The project presents Juntas Podemos, a school-based support group intervention that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills within a culturally responsive framework to promote emotional well-being, …

Associations Between College Students' Belonging, Classroom-Based Relationships, And Mental Health Outcomes, Ella Grace Will

Honors Theses

Humans have a fundamental need to belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). A lack of belonging is associated with negative mental health outcomes, making it important to study student belonging in higher education (Strayhorn, 2019). Classroom-based relationships with professors and peers positively impact students' belonging (Tinto, 1993). The purpose of this study was to evaluate: the relative contribution of professor trust and peer interactions to classroom and university belonging, and to assess the associations between student belonging and internalizing symptoms. Survey data were collected via Qualtrics in September 2025 (baseline) and December 2025 from students in 32 first-year seminars participating in …

Maladaptive Shame Coping: The Effects Of Parental Emotion Socialization And Mentalization In The Context Of Maltreatment, Ayelet Raya Malinsky

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Among the self-conscious emotions—such as guilt, shame, and embarrassment—shame has increasingly received attention in the clinical literature for its established link to a range of psychopathological outcomes (Paulo et al., 2020). It is a prominent experience for individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment (Herman, 2012) and plays a central role in the development and maintenance of symptoms related to trauma and personality disorders (Lee et al., 2001). Further, maladaptive coping strategies used to manage shame often exacerbate psychological distress (Martin et al., 2021), highlighting a need to identify factors that contribute to the development of chronic shame and related coping …

An Evidence-Based Imperative To Videorecord Eyewitness Lineups., Nydia T. Ayala, Andrew M. Smith, Rebecca C. Ying, Gary L. Wells, Natalie M. Sommervold

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

DNA-exoneration cases reveal the unreliability of witnesses’ in-court behaviors; despite being mistaken, these witnesses delivered confident and compelling testimonies (Garrett, 2011). But testimonies are retrospective and subject to contamination. The legal system should focus instead on how the witness behaved at the time of the initial lineup. Unfortunately, few law enforcement agencies videorecord lineups, which makes this practice impossible. In a large-scale experiment, we videorecorded witness-participants (N = 1,496) completing lineups, scored them on numerous manifestations of recognition strength and fluency, and used machine learning analyses to determine whether these behaviors discriminated between accurate and inaccurate decisions. Not only did …

How Parents & Children Talk About Technology Rules, Elisha Seoyoon Bae , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Why Person-Environment Fit Matters When Addressing Homelessness: An Intersectional Analysis Of King County, Washington’S Coordinated Entry System, Cori L. Cafaro

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Coordinated Entry (CE) systems aim to address homelessness by allocating resources based on need and prioritizing the most vulnerable individuals. However, system success depends on appropriately matching people to housing. This study examined person-environment fit (P-E fit) and associated housing outcomes for single adults matched to permanent supportive housing through King County, Washington's CE for All system, with intersectionality as a secondary lens. This was a secondary analysis using Qualitative Content Analysis of interview and focus group transcripts from tenants (n = 18), staff (n = 27), and policy leaders (n = 11). Five dimensions of fit emerged as consequential …

Posttraumatic Growth In Appalachian Youth: Findings From An Outpatient Pediatric Trauma Specialty Clinic, Marinne M. Morgan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Childhood traumatic event exposure (CTE) involves exposure to extreme events that overwhelm one’s ability to cope. Childhood traumatic event exposure has been linked to a wide range of adverse mental and physical health consequences, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Fewer studies have examined positive trajectories following childhood traumatic event exposure, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG), especially in understudied regions such as Appalachia. The current study used a cross-sectional design to examine posttraumatic growth in 14 youths aged 9 to 15 years seeking trauma-focused therapeutic services at an outpatient pediatric trauma specialty clinic in West Virginia. In line with previous research, …

Paradise Lost And Character Motivation: Sinful Behavior Or Inferiority Complex?, Esperanza Barrios

Honors Theses

Sin is a concept that is always viewed through a religious perspective. But, through Paradise Lost, John Milton was able to bring further understanding towards human nature and one’s own sense of committing what’s perceived as sinful behavior without the veil of religion glazing over academics' understanding. In religious terms, sinful behavior is the idea of defying God’s commandments, but for this research, sinful behavior may be described as abnormal behavior that damages our best interests and relationships, usually for selfish gains. Each of Milton’s main characters, Satan, Adam, and Eve, fell from grace because all three damaged their relationship …

Development And Validation Of The Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, And Engagement Scale (Lakes) Among Rural Adults, Anna Morrison

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Adults living in rural regions experience mental illness at rates comparable to those in urban areas yet utilize mental health services significantly less. Underutilization of psychotherapy in rural populations has been attributed to structural barriers (e.g., geographic inaccessibility, limited provider availability, reduced anonymity) and sociocultural factors such as stigma. However, rural adults may remain reluctant to initiate treatment due to attitudes toward psychotherapy, limited help-seeking engagement, or inaccurate knowledge about psychotherapy. The present study developed and examined the psychometric properties of the Liebelt Attitudes, Knowledge, and Engagement Scale (LAKES), a self-report measure designed to assess psychotherapy-related attitudes, knowledge, and engagement …

Expert Validation Of A Professional Development Model For K–2 Emotional Regulation, Mark Simpson

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Emotional regulation (ER) is foundational to student learning, behavior, and long-term educational success and well-being; however, many elementary educators report limited formal preparation in explicitly teaching ER skills. The purpose of this study was to design a professional development (PD) program for K–2 teachers focused on ER and to evaluate its content validity through expert review. The framework was grounded in Gross’s process model of ER, Desimone’s core features of effective PD, and Sims’s dynamic IMTP framework. A researcher-developed rubric was used to evaluate alignment, clarity, theoretical grounding, and feasibility. Five experts in various roles within the field of education …

Camouflaging And Autism: An Examination Of Camouflaging’S Potential Association With The Clinical Assessment Of Autism And Subject Demographic Characteristics, James George Modico

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and restrictive/repetitive behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The clinical assessment of ASD requires behavioral observation of the participant. Within the context of ASD, camouflaging refers to cognitive and behavioral strategies that a person with ASD can utilize to adapt to a non-autistic world (Cook et al., 2021). Camouflaging may influence an autistic person’s behavioral presentation to a more “neurotypical” state. Behaving in a less atypical manner may contribute to not being referred for testing, having a clinician assign lower ratings on diagnostic measures, and preventing issuance of …

The Hidden Cost: Vicarious Trauma And Burnout In Professional Sex Offender Treatment Providers, Diazia Hughes

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Professionals who provide treatment to individuals who have commuted sexual offenses are routine exposed to traumatic material, placing them at increased risk for both vicarious trauma (VT) and burnout. Despite growing recognition of these occupational hazards, limited research has examined the relationship between VT and burnout within this specialized population. The present study investigated the association between VT and the three dimensions of burnout (i.e. Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and personal Accomplishment (PA)) among licensed treatment providers working directly with individuals who have commuted sexual offenses. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with a sample of 107 licensed providers …

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 …