Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of The Parent-Adolescent Relationship On Risky Internet Behavior, Jefferey Lewis Sanders

Theses Digitization Project

This study suggests that adolescents with a poor self-esteem and poor social development are more at risk for online predators. Adolescents from insecure parent-child relationships could be at greater risk for engaging in risky online internet behavior. The primary purpose of this study is to examine this link.

Maternal Influences On Children's Eating Behaviors, Raena Lynne Matthews

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to examine maternal influences on childhood obesity, specifically the impact of maternal modeling of eating behaviors and sensitivity/control on children's eating behaviors. It was hypothesized that: 1) maternal modeling of eating behaviors would significantly predict children's eating behaviors, 2) the degree of maternal control of children's eating cues would influence child self-regulatory ability,1 and 3) maternal modeling would have a greater relationship to child eating behavior than maternal sensitivity/control.

Participants were 153 mothers with at least one child 6 to 11 years old. Mothers completed a questionnaire ‘ assessing eating behaviors for themselves and …

Predictors Of Sexual Harassment Experiences And Their Cross-Cultural Differences: A Workplace Study Among Women From The United States, Puerto Rico, And Japan, Gustavo Segura

Theses Digitization Project

This study evaluates the influences of individualism, feminism, and extroversion on sexual harassment experiences, as well as the differences of these variables across cultures. Data was collected from 495 female employees located in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Japan.

Networking In The 21st Century: The Influence Of Self-Esteem On Networking Behaviors, Cassaundra Renee Leier

Theses Digitization Project

Networking has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for attaining career success. The present study examined the relationship between self-esteem and media preference for engaging in social networking. The purpose of this study was to examine self-esteem as a predictor of media preferences for engaging in social networking in a work-based content. While networking relationships have the potential to benefit one's social and personal life, the focus of the present study is on developing relationships to build social capital and advance one's career. The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of self-esteem for engaging in social networking activities.

Efficacy Of Early Literacy Intervention Project For Early Literacy Development In Family Child Care Homes, Gloria Ruth Kinzler

Theses Digitization Project

This project focused on the concept that family childcare providers who completed "Building Literacy Bridges" intervention project, which included interactive early literacy classes on phonological and print awareness, dialogic and shared reading skills, as well as providing a literacy rich environment, would implement those concepts into their daily care with children. Nine family childcare providers completed the four-hour per week, four-week intervention project.

Socioeconomic Stereotypes Among Undergraduate College Students, Amanda K. Gilmore, Paul B. Harris

Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Publications

Classism, i.e., socioeconomic stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination that college students direct toward their peers, was examined. A sample of 53 undergraduate students (36 women and 17 men), ages 18 to 22 years (M = 19.0, SD = 1.2), were recruited from psychology courses. Utilizing a computer-administered questionnaire, participants were randomly assigned to rate a fictitious student whose family income was specified as among the lowest or highest at the college. Upper Income targets were rated as more sociable, judgmental, attractive, more likely to use alcohol and drugs, and more likely to belong to a fraternity or sorority. Lower Income targets …

Self-Stereotyping And Vocational Choice Among Asian Americans, Tzuting Chang

Theses Digitization Project

The underlying purpose of this study was to examine how the social portrayal of Asian Americans, with social identity as the moderator, may impact their career preferences for Investigative/Realistic professions. The role of Asian Americans' self-efficacy in math/science was also explored in the self-stereotyping process. Asian American undergraduate students of all majors were recruited electronically. Professors of Engineering and other science departments from the University of California, Riverside, Irvine, and Los Angeles were contacted via email and were asked to assist with recruitment by forwarding the message to students. In total, 162 Asian American students clicked on the web link …

Visit Versus Purchase, Comparing Internet Shopper Clusters, Farahnaz L. Khan

ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not differences occurred in how individuals visited and purchased products from the Internet. The study utilized data administered through an online survey to 441 individuals in the United States. The survey included items regarding general Internet use, website visit and purchase behavior, preferred website attributes, innovativeness, trust, presence, and demographics. Two cluster solutions were identified from the sample by clustering individuals based on website product categories visited and purchased separately. A new technique known as PermuCluster 1.0 was employed to enhance the stability of the cluster solutions. Results revealed that …

What Law Enforcement In West Virginia Know About Stalking Crimes, Sandra Kiser-Griffith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Emerging research is beginning to reveal how prevalent, and dangerous, stalking can be, especially in situations that involve domestic or former domestic partners. As front line responders to stalking-related crimes, it would seem imperative that law enforcement personnel have extensive training and be knowledgeable about a broad range of stalking-related issues. A victim’s well-being can be directly impacted by the actions and interventions of the officers handling his or her case. Unfortunately, however, many states, including West Virginia, still do not require that officers receive stalking training. In an attempt to establish how well informed law enforcement officers in West …

Efecto Específico Del Hablante En El Reconocimiento Auditivo De Palabras Con Acento Extranjero, Conor T. Mclennan, Julio Alvarez Gonzalez

Psychology Faculty Publications

A pesar de la enorme variabilidad de la señal del habla, reconocemos las palabras de forma rápida y acertada. Si escuchamos la palabra "teléfono", en seguida surge en nuestra mente la idea de un aparato que sirve para comunicar a distancia. Y esto ocurre con cientos de hablantes distintos, a diferentes velocidades de habla, entonaciones, acentos, estados afectivos, etcétera. Aparentemente la información superficial del estímulo no forma parte de su contenido lingüístico.
La mayoría de los modelos actuales sobre el reconocimiento

The Past And Future Of The International Transpersonal Association, Stanislav Grof, Harris Friedman, David Lukoff, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

The International Transpersonal Association (ITA) was formed in 1978 for the purposes

of promoting education and research in transpersonal subjects, as well as sponsoring

global conferences for the international transpersonal community. The association was

subsequently dissolved in 2004, but is now in the process of being reactivated and revitalized.

As background for this development, this paper reviews the history of ITA including its

international conferences and noteworthy presenters, the organization’s definition, strategies,

and specific goals, and details of its contemporary revival.

More Polish Or More British? Identity Of The Second Generation Of Poles Born In Great Britain, Emilia Lewandowska

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

No abstract provided.

Horses And At-Risk Youth: An Alternative Approach To Reconnect Adolescents, Christiane Deaton

Theses Digitization Project

The author developed a model for at-risk youth that outlines processes and incorporates best practices of an equine-facilitated program. The Horse Program Model (HPM) is designed to determine if and how participating in a horse program can help change attitudes, skills and behaviors of at-risk youth.

Ethical Issues In The Provision Of Online Mental Health Services, Donna M. Midkiff, W. Joseph Wyatt

Psychology Faculty Research

A number of ethical and legal implications of on-line therapy [e-Therapy] are examined. e-Therapy is defined and its strengths and weaknesses listed. Specific ethical issues addressed include boundaries of competence, basis in science, avoidance of harm, confidentiality, avoidance of false or deceptive statements, media presentations, testimonials, solicitation of clients, fees and informed consent. Legal issues are discussed including the issue of interstate eTherapy. As a necessary measure to protect the public, the profession and the practitioner, it is recommended that federal legislation be enacted, informed by the American Psychological Association based upon APA's review of other disciplines’ (e.g., medicine) e-Practice …

Espousing Interactions And Fielding Reactions: Addressing Laypeople's Beliefs About Genetic Determinism, David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

Although biologists and philosophers of science generally agree that genes cannot determine the forms of biological and psychological traits, students, journalists, politicians, and other members of the general public nonetheless continue to embrace genetic determinism. This article identifies some of the concerns typically raised by individuals when they first encounter the systems perspective that biologists and philosophers of science now favor over genetic determinism, and uses arguments informed by that perspective to address those concerns. No definitive statements can yet be made about why genetic determinism has proven so resilient in the face of empirical evidence pointing up its deficiencies, …

A Contextual Examination Of St. Anselm's Ontological Argument, Amanda C. Hammill

ETD Archive

Messages are more effective when framed to be congruent with individuals' approach/avoidance motivation (Sherman, Mann, & Updegraff, 2006). Two experiments explored whether congruency might also effect consumer reactions by examining whether person-message fit enhances enjoyment of taste of a product, increases how fluid an advertisement is perceived to be, and heightens one's willingness to buy a product and the overall product value. Study 1 demonstrated a congruency effect, where avoidance motivation scores positively predicted perceptions of taste/enjoyment of a sugar-free food, but only when the product advertisement was loss-framed. In the loss-frame condition, higher avoidance scores also related to increased …

Relationship Between Believed Causes Of Depression And Social Distance, Samantha Jean Tomsick

ETD Archive

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between causal explanations for depression and the social distance individuals would desire from a depressed person in order to clarify whether changes to existing public awareness campaigns concerning depression might be warranted. The sample used consisted of 223 students attending a university in a large mid-western city. Each participant received a vignette that described an individual suffering from depressive symptoms and also included information regarding whether these symptoms were caused by psychosocial or biological factors. The subjects then completed a survey incorporating questions from the modified version of the …

Perspectives And Progress In Contemporary Cross-Cultural Psychology, Gang Zheng, Kwok Leung, John G. Adair

IACCP Proceedings of the Biennial International Conferences

Selected Papers from the XVIIth International Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, 2004, Xi’an, Sha’anxi Province, China

Contextualism Versus Positivism In Cross-Cultural Psychology, Carl Ratner

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

Theories have the power to shape our conceptualization of psychological issues. Very general, abstract theories of ontology and epistemology have very specific and practical effects on cross-cultural psychological research. They shape our general understanding of culture, the interrelation between culture and psychology, and methodological principles of empirical research. Because theories are so powerful, it is vital that we examine them. Limitations in theory will lead to limited conclusions.

I will contrast two theories: contextualism and positivism. I argue that the ontological principles of contextualism are more helpful than positivism for conceptualizing what culture is and the relation between culture and …

Qualitative Analysis Of The Implementation Of An Autism Program Within A Public School District, Lucila F. Hernandez

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The study analyzed the development, implementation and success of an educational program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis within a public school structure. Records reviewed for a two year time period identified four phases to program development and implementation, as well as identifying themes and barriers for specific roles, administration, staff and parents. The success of the program is evidenced by growth in the children and by reported satisfaction of parents and staff. A program blue print offers an outline to program development and implementation. Necessary ASD program components, based on literature reviewed are summarized. This study highlights …

Advertisements: Interpreting Images Used To Sell To Young Adults, Alyssa Dana Adomaitis, Kim P. Johnson

Publications and Research

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to identify images used in advertising directed toward young adults, investigate what young adults thought of these images, and explore how young adults used these images.

Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis of 674 apparel and cosmetic advertisements located in four fashion magazines (Elle Girl, Seventeen, YM, and TeenVogue) resulted in eight categories. Participants (n ¼ 32) viewed advertisements representative of the categories and answered questions related to their thoughts about the model depicted in the advertisement and their use of the images.

Findings – Participants’ used the models as a point of …

Learning African-American History In A Synthetic Learning Environment, Adams Greenwood-Ericksen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic Learning Environments (SLEs) represent a hybrid of simulations and games, and in addition to their pedagogical content, rely on elements of story and interactivity to drive engagement with the learning material. The present work examined the differential impact of varying levels of story and interactivity on learning. The 2x2 between subjects design tested learning and retention among 4 different groups of participants, each receiving one of the 4 possible combinations of low and high levels of story and interactivity. Objective assessments of participant performance yielded the unexpected finding that learners using the SLE performed more poorly than any other …

Fostering A Healthy Body Image: Prevention And Intervention With Adolescent Eating Disorders, Michelle Giles, Michael Hass

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Eating disorders are among the most frequently seen chronic illnesses found in adolescent females. In this paper, we discuss school-based prevention and intervention efforts that seek to reduce the impact of this serious illness. School counselors play a key role in the prevention of eating disorders and can provide support even when not directly involved in psychological or medical treatment. Because of their ability to play a leadership role in school-based prevention of eating disorders, school counselors are essential in facilitating a collaborative approach to the prevention of and intervention in eating disorders and their associated risk factors.

High School Students' Academic Achievement And Their Mothers' Attitudes And Level Of Education, Nicole M. Classen

Masters Theses

What is life like for a teenager growing up with a sibling who has a disability? Using their own words, five high school students explored, through an interview format, how their experiences, family systems, and identity have been shaped in direct and indirect ways by having a brother or sister with a disability. Several common themes emerged and included how sibling-care responsibilities influenced their ability to participate in social activities outside of the home, reported perceptions of having more household responsibilities than their peers and/or siblings, recognition that the sibling with a disability influenced family members and family life, an …

Family Structure And Psychological Factors: The Effects Of Family-Of-Origin Variables On Young Adults' Psychological Well-Being, Catherine E. Morgan

Masters Theses

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between family structure and life satisfaction in young adults. Additionally, the study examined explanatory style, parenting style, family cohesion, family satisfaction, and the presence of siblings as potential moderating factors between divergent family structures and levels of life satisfaction in young adults. Ninety male and 121 female university students completed a demographic survey, the Parental Authority Questionnaire, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales IV, the Attribution Style Questionnaire, the Family Satisfaction Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. As anticipated, results indicated that participants who grew up in single parent and step-family …

The Effects Of Target Age And Perceived Death Responsibility On Posthumous Impression Formations, Jenny Rebekah Heilborn

Master's Theses

Death positivity biases and posthumous evaluations are considered a universal normative social phenomenon which influences social judgments of the dead; we postulate that these individual biases are mediated by both sympathy and fear of mortality, or the belief in a just world. Study 1 postulated that sympathy mediates such positivity biases when target responsibility for cause of death is manipulated. We hypothesized the mediation of the just world violation on posthumous evaluatory measures when age at the time of death was manipulated in Study 2. Although results were inconclusive for both studies, alternate hypotheses and boundary conditions of death positivity …

Attitudes Towards And Perceptions Of Entrepreneurs In Central Eastern Europe (Poland, The Czech Republic, And East-Germany), Ute Stephan, Martin Lukes, Dominika Dej, Peter G. Richter

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

No abstract provided.

Culture As Unfolding Process: Integrating Perspectives In Building A Theory, Ludmila N. Praslova

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

Current theory and research in culture and psychology produced multiple definitions and conceptualizations of culture. This paper reviews several approaches to understanding culture and introduces an integrative model of Culture as Unfolding Process (CUP) as a way of integrating insights from several perspectives. The model highlights mechanisms of cultural change and stability, and provides a versatile framework for understanding culture on multiple levels.

Medicating Children: The Enduring Controversy Over Adhd And Pediatric Stimulant Pharmacotherapy, Rick Mayes, Jennifer L. Erkulwater, Catherine Bagwell

Political Science Faculty Publications

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) holds the distinction of being both the most extensively studied pediatric mental disorder and one of the most controversial. This is partly due to the fact that it is also the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder among minors. On average, one in every ten to 15 children in the U.S. has been diagnosed with the disorder and one in every 20 to 25 uses a stimulant medication—often Ritalin, Adderall, or Concerta—as treatment. The biggest increase in youth diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed a stimulant drug occurred during the 1990s, when the prevalence of physician visits …

Cultural Identity, Communication, And Cultural Reentry: Experiences Of American Students, Yuliya Kartoshkina

Theses and Dissertations

In 2003 the National Education Association annual survey revealed that male teachers currently make up 35% of America's kindergarten through 12 th grade classroom teaching cadre. In grades kindergarten through sixth grade, men comprise 9% of the classroom teachers, and only 2% of classroom teachers inkindergarten through third grade are men. In 1994 Sadker and Sadker published Failing at Fairness, which examined gender biases in American kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms, including the effects of the overwhelmingly-female faculties. At the National Education Association's 2002 Representative Assembly, members adopted a measure to "identify, recognize, recruit and retain," more male teachers, …