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Expanding Links Between Work Values And Occupations: Development Of The Occupational Values Inventory (Ovi), Nicholas F. Heimpel, Kevin Hoff, Zihan Liu, Federick L. Oswald, James Rounds

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This research developed the Occupational Values Inventory (OVI), a 30-item measure that expands the content coverage of work values by linking into a broad range of O*NET occupational descriptors, including Work Activities and Work Contexts, along with salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The OVI assesses 11 work values—Interpersonal, Outdoor, Physical, Leadership, Salary, Prestige, Variety, Interest, Work Hours, Knowledge Utilization, and Autonomy—providing an updated and refined coverage of work values relevant to people and occupations in the modern labor market. Study 1 (N = 768) developed and refined the OVI’s scales using conceptual and psychometric criteria, also reporting …

Sex Differences In How Celebrity Crushes Bolster Self-Perceived Mate Value, Madyson M. King

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Previous research indicates that parasocial relationships provide surrogate connections for individuals to where they offer various psychological benefits. Some benefits include self-esteem and improved body image, which may be connected by such relationships facilitating attainment of one's ideal self. Given this benefit of social surrogacy, it could be possible that a vicarious romantic connection with a parasocial figure may similarly bolster one's mate value if that relationship were to move an individual closer to a personal ideal. We predicted that engagement with a celebrity crush would be associated with a heightened mate value. A community sample of men and women …

The Effects Of Cannabidiol (Cbd) On The Social, Cognitive, And Physical Facets Of Anxiety Sensitivity, Ezri Rathbun

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The current study investigated how repeated administration of 300mg of cannabidiol (CBD), when compared to a placebo, affects the social, cognitive, and physical facets of anxiety sensitivity (AS), a characteristic that reflects fear of the consequences of anxious arousal. Prior work suggests CBD may have anxiolytic effects that may be specific to the social aspects of anxiety. Thus, it was hypothesized that, that, relative to placebo, CBD would reduce self-reported AS-social concerns, but not AS-cognitive or AS-physical concerns, compared to baseline. Participants (N= 79; 52 women; M_age = 22.06) with elevated perceived stress were randomly assigned to 14 …

A Vicious Cycle: The Interplay Between Anxiety, Perfectionism, And Indecision, Kaelyn G. Moran

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic indecisiveness is a pervasive issue that can negatively impact academic, occupational, and psychological functioning. Although prior research has identified anxiety and perfectionism as relevant correlates of indecisiveness, less is known about how these factors uniquely and jointly contribute to decision-making difficulties. The present study examined the relationships between trait anxiety, multidimensional perfectionism, and indecisiveness in a sample of 199 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. Participants completed self-report measures assessing anxiety (STICSA), perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale), and indecisiveness (Revised Indecisiveness Scale). Zero-order correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate both overall and dimension-specific effects. Results …

The Effect Of Self-Disclosure To Dogs On Stress, Coping, And Emotional Well-Being, Lilian Crawford

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Self-disclosure has been defined as the voluntary sharing of personal thoughts and experiences with another individual, and in recent years, it has been associated with improvements in psychological and physiological well-being. Recent research into animal-assisted therapy has also demonstrated the emotional benefits of interacting with dogs. However, the current research has not yet explored how the specific act of self-disclosure to dogs affects emotional well-being. The present study explored the effects of self-disclosure to dogs on stress, ability to cope, and emotional well-being. Participants (N = 113) included dog owners who were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: self-disclosure …

The Relationship Between Media Use, Identity, And Attitudes Towards Women, Kelly A. Summers

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pornography’s popularity among college men is widespread, with degrading content being common in top-selling pornography (Bridges et al., 2010; Foubert et al., 2011). Research has shown higher consumption of degrading pornography is associated with more negative attitudes towards women, greater acceptance of rape culture, more sexist beliefs, and greater likelihood of engaging in aggressive and dominant behavior during physical intimacy (Bridges et al., 2023). “Incels” (a term meaning involuntarily celibate) are individuals who have not yet had a sexual debut despite an interest. Relatively little research exists on this population, but the little that has been conducted suggests incels have …

Grace Under Pressure: An Analysis Of School Administrator Personal And Professional Stress And Self-Efficacy, Andrew Mcdaniel

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Indiana public school administrators are one of the most important factors for a school’s academic success. If those administrators are effective, they can help maintain an excellent school’s academic success or perhaps even turnaround a failing school. Without a doubt, their performance is critical for a school’s success. If they have confidence in their ability to help create positive outcomes, their school can achieve great things. Unfortunately, assistant principals and principals are facing significant challenges, not only from schools, but also at home. How do these personal and professional stressors affect their sense of self-efficacy? The purpose of this study …

Raising Regulated Moms: Reducing Reactive Parenting Responses, Victoria J. Perez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many parents and caregivers lack access to information and support that accurately relates effective parenting styles, without this knowledge caregivers and parents may unintentionally rely on reactive responses that end up escalating conflict with their child rather than resolving it. When parents respond to their child's big emotions without effective tools to first regulate themselves, they risk contributing to higher stress levels, emotional withdrawal, and behavioral dysregulation in their children. Research consistently demonstrates that when parents are given the tools to successfully incorporate self-regulation skills and evidence-based approaches to guide children through difficult emotions, both the child and the parent …

Detection Of Changes In Short Narratives, Presley Priddy

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Narrativity and object association have been extensively researched in the past to determine how changes in a text impact reader interpretation. In this research, we attempted to establish a relationship between the relation of an object to a character situated in a particular narrative context and the detection of inconsistencies presented in the given story. Participants read texts that either associated or dissociated an object with a character, within a high or low-narrative context. Reading times were measured on critical sentences that were inconsistent with the placement of previously dissociated objects. When presented with object inconsistencies in highly narrative stories, …

Unveiling Embodied White Supremacy: Therapists’ Experiences And Its Imprint On Therapeutic Relationships In Dance/Movement Therapy, Melody E. Gamba

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

This qualitative, arts-informed research study explored how White-identifying dance/movement therapists experience and articulate their awareness of embodied White supremacy within therapeutic relationships. Grounded in critical race theory, relational-cultural theory, and embodied critical transformation theory, the study addressed a gap in dance/movement therapy literature concerning how White supremacy is not only cognitively understood, but also somatically felt, relationally enacted, and professionally navigated. The purpose of the study was to understand how White-identifying dance/movement therapists perceive, kinesthetically experience, and make meaning of embodied White supremacy in therapeutic practice, and to explore how these embodied experiences influence therapeutic presence, attunement, and the potential …

Overwhelmed By Competing Priorities: Exploring Women’S Motivational Conflict Across The Menstrual Cycle, Arial S. Bloshinsky

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether the biological context of the menstrual cycle predicted overwhelming feelings due to competing bonding and achievement motivations (i.e., motivational conflict). Building on the motivational shift hypothesis, it was predicted that the luteal phase, characterized by elevated progesterone and heightened bonding motivation, would be associated with more overwhelming feelings from motivational conflict. To assess potential changes across the menstrual cycle, a within-person design was used where women reported their overwhelming feelings daily. Primary analyses did not support the hypothesis. Overwhelming feelings from motivational conflict did not differ across cycle phases. However, the expected mid-cycle peak in sexual …

Self-Directed Violence In Athletes, Adela Vavrinova

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-directed violence (SDV) in athletes comprises a spectrum of behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidality, and self-harming behaviors that can be embed- ded within sport contexts. Competitive sport environments may intensify psychological vulnerability through factors such as performance demands, body-image pressures, injury and rehabilitation stress, and norms that discourage help-seeking. This thesis synthesizes existing literature on SDV among athletes with the aim of clarifying how SDV is concep- tualized and measured, summarizing what is known about prevalence patterns, functions, and contextual risk factors, and identifying prevention and intervention strategies relevant to athlete systems. The reviewed evidence suggests the SDV literature …

Understanding The Effects Of Adventure Therapy On Inner City Youths' Sense Of Relatedness, Nicolas Bellegarde

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adventure therapy is a creative, transtheoretical group-based model of counseling that utilizes kinesthetic activities coupled with metaphors and processing modalities, alongside experiences outdoors, to facilitate insight and motivate healthy communication between group members. Through intentional sequencing and guidance of activities, facilitators aim to improve participants' communication skills, group engagement, and ability to tolerate discomfort and risk while strategically solving problems. In addition, the integration of nature and the outdoors has been demonstrated to improve mental health and well-being, generating a sense of connectedness to the environment and to the group. Adolescence is a time of rapid developmental change characterized by …

Effects Of Social Sport Settings And Belonging On Female Athlete Mental Health Stress, Abby Caudill

Undergraduate Theses

Mental health concerns among collegiate athletes have become an increasingly important issue, particularly for female athletes who face unique social and performance-related pressures. Understanding the factors that contribute to or protect against mental health stress is critical for improving athlete well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine whether sport type, team belonging, self-stigma, and athletic identity were associated with mental health stress among female collegiate athletes. Participants included 57 undergraduate female athletes from a small private university who completed self-report survey measuring team belonging, self-stigma, athletic identity, and mental health stress. Bivariate correlation results indicated that higher self-stigma …

Balance Due: A Cross-Sectional Examination Of The Role Of Financial Stress And Dissociation In Suicidal Ideation, Caden Reynolds

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Prediction of suicide risk has not improved despite decades of research (e.g., Franklin et al., 2017). Given this, researchers have highlighted the importance of integrating multiple risk factors to better understand the suicidal phenomenon, including suicidal ideation (SI), and propel the field forward. Two factors that may influence suicide risk independently and in concert include: financial stress, the subjective stress that individuals face in response to their financial circumstances, which can amplify suicide risk (Elbogen et al., 2020), and dissociation, a complex internal psychological process that impacts memory, perception, and identity (Macia et al., 2023). Independently, financial stress and dissociation …

Believe It Or Not: An Examination Of The Nature And Implications Of Evidence-Resistant Beliefs, Jack Geruc

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The aim of this thesis is to contribute to a growing body of academic research regarding the nature and origin of evidence-resistant belief systems and examine the influence that they have upon our lives. This examination of the origin of these beliefs draws on two intellectual disciplines: psychology and epistemology. A psychological approach examines the cognitive mechanisms that allow for the formation and persistence of these beliefs. The psychological approach focuses on the biological drives of belief formation and resilience. Furthermore, an examination of the psychology of identity shows an entanglement of one’s identity with belief systems that allows for …

The Role Of Executive Functions In Creativity, Gavin R. Kyer

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The present study investigates the relationship between executive functions and creativity, measured through divergent thinking. Literature review determines that there should be a positive correlation between executive functioning and creative idea generation, however, findings are mixed. This study tested the level of correlation/predictability between executive functions, specifically, updating, shifting, and inhibition, and creativity. Participants (N=112) completed tasks assessing updating (letter memory), shifting (number letter) and inhibition (Stroop). They also completed the Alternative Uses Task (AUT) that measures divergent thinking. Pearson’s correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine any individual or combined relationship between executive functions and creativity. Results …

Potential Impact That Generative Artificial Intelligence Has On Adolescents' Relationship With Parents, David Jimenez Jr., Christal Pelayo, Rebecca Evans

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into adolescents’ daily lives has introduced both opportunities and concerns regarding family dynamics and psychosocial development. Increasingly, adolescents are using AI tools for academic assistance, emotional support, and transparency on sensitive topics. This study examines adolescents’ attitudes toward discussing personal issues with parents compared to AI platforms and explores the potential relational impacts of AI use on parent–child relationships. Guided by Attachment Theory and Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory, this research focuses on adolescents ages 12–16, a developmental stage marked by identity formation and evolving autonomy. The study will include a sequence of recruitment, …

Utilizing Self-Determination Theory In Therapy For Veterans With Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Carlos A. Tinoc

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Substance use disorder (SUD) has increasingly affected U.S. veterans, with rising misuse of alcohol and opioids. Many veterans also confront mental health issues, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To explore this issue further, the researcher will investigate the effectiveness of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in addressing substance use and mental health disorders (dual diagnosis) among veterans. Previous research on the implementation of SDT for dual-diagnosis patients has not sufficiently addressed the veteran population. The researcher will review existing systematic literature reviews on the topic of SDT implementation in the treatment of SUDs and mental health disorders among both civilian and veteran …

Intimate Partner Violence In Immigrant Communities: A Qualitative Study, Melina Ruiz-Reyes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important issue affecting immigrant women, specifically those from collectivistic cultures, due to social norms that can make them highly vulnerable. This study investigates the underlying causes of IPV in these communities, focusing on cultural, legal, and systemic factors. Despite the prevalence of IPV, immigrant women face unique barriers to seeking help, including stigma, legal vulnerabilities, and economic dependence. Previous research has mainly focused on specific ethnic groups, missing a broader, intersectional understanding of IPV across diverse immigrant communities. This study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi- structured interviews based on the Danger Assessment for …

Building Resilience: How Protective Factors Mitigate Acculturative Stress In The Latinx Immigrant Community, Andres I. Delgado, Jamie Tierrablanca

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This literature underscores the vital role of protective factors in reducing

acculturative stress among Latinx immigrants. Key factors such as social

support, religious affiliation, familism, and physical activity help contribute to

mitigating the negative effects of acculturation. The Latinx community can

significantly benefit from integrative, culturally responsive interventions informed

by social work frameworks such as ecosystems theory and critical race theory

(CRT) as they are essential in addressing the mental health needs of this

population. Despite existing research, gaps remain in understanding the full

scope of the Latinx immigrant experience, suggesting a need for further

exploration. The expected findings will …

Impact Of Social Worker Bias On African American Fathers With Open Children Family Services Cases, Jenna Espinosa, Cecil Perry, Jasmine Alvarado, Jennifer Garcia, Lacrietia Grate-Dixson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Systemic barriers and biases within institutions and policies affect how African American fathers engage with Children and Family Services (CFS). According to research, social worker bias, whether overt or covert, can influence case decision-making, affecting fathers' access to resources and overall involvement in their children’s lives. This study aims to quantitatively assess the impact of social worker bias on African American fathers' engagement by evaluating service completion rates at the .21e hearing. A quantitative research design will be utilized by implementing a validated survey to measure social worker bias and case file reviews to assess service completion. Statistical analyses, including …

The Effect Of Facial Adiposity On Hypothetical Medical Treatments As A Function Of Disgust, Lindsey Duran

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Perceivers are capable of estimating the health of individuals through cues to facial adiposity, with such inferences having accuracy in recognizing worse chronic health among those exhibiting greater adiposity. Nonetheless, these inferences could extend beyond health assessments into subsequent anti-fat prejudice based on perceptions of such individuals as pathogenically threatening. Although potentially functional in ancestral contexts, modern healthcare settings could render this functional stigmatization a liability that results in worse medical care toward those with higher adiposity. In this study, I tasked medical workers to evaluate male and female hypothetical patients at high and low levels of facial adiposity, particularly …

Unmasking Emotional Labor: Visualizing The Challenges Experienced By Human Resources Professionals, Abigail (Abby) Leff

Honors College Theses

The field of human resources (HR) requires a complex balance of advocating for others and enforcing organizational policies, all the while managing its own emotional challenges. This dynamic demands that HR professionals engage in intense emotional labor without sufficient organizational support, the burden of which can lead to burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and psychological consequences. Despite the prevalence of these dynamics, the emotional experiences of HR professionals are under-researched. This literature review explores emotional labor and burnout HR professionals face, evaluates available resources in the field, and examines coping strategies that HR professionals use. The research is applied to an …

Cracking The Hive Code: A Quantitative Examination Of Queen Bee Syndrome Behaviors In K–12 Education, Katie Renee Gordon

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Queen Bee Syndrome (QBS) has historically been used to describe women who distance themselves from other women and hinder the advancement of female peers (Staines et al., 1974). While early explanations framed QBS as rooted in individual competitiveness, more recent scholarship suggests it may reflect responses to gender discrimination and organizational context (Derks, 2017). In K–12 education, women comprise the majority of the workforce, yet remain underrepresented in upper leadership roles, particularly the superintendency. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of Queen Bee Syndrome behaviors among female leaders in K–12 educational settings and to explore how internal …

The Effects Of Fluency Building On Undergraduate Student Performance, Lauren B. Shibley

Dissertations

Online learning has become integral to higher education, with enrollment steadily increasing over the past decade and accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research highlights the importance of flexibility, learner autonomy, and self-regulated learning skills in this environment, with studies demonstrating that strategies such as mastery-based, self-paced instruction, fluency training, and timely feedback support student engagement and academic success. Early work adapting personalized instruction for online use (Pear & Crone-Todd, 1999) and subsequent studies on fluency practice (Quigley et al., 2018; Urbina et al., 2019) emphasize how these supports can improve concept retention. Despite these advances, more quantitative research is needed …

The Self-Perception & Identity Of Latino Men: Looking At The 2024 Presidential Election & Its Impact On Latino Communities, Lucia M. Revollo

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

In the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election and under the second Trump administration, Latino and immigrant community has experienced significant sociopolitical impacts. During the presidential campaigning of the elections, media narratives focused on the male Latino voters as a contributing factor to this presidential election. However, this was not as big of a contributor as the media and research centers are portraying. This study addresses critical gaps in existing research by examining the self-perception and identity of Latino men and how these factors shaped their voting decisions in the 2024 presidential election. Especially looking at the current trends in …

Cultural Influences On The Association Between Gender Typicality And Self-Perceived Competence In Adolescents Across Multiple Countries, Alexa Mcinerney

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Participants were early adolescents from Bogota, Colombia; Curitiba, Brazil; Montreal, Canada; and Shanghai, China. Correlations between gender typicality and social, cognitive, and physical competence were examined across cultural contexts. Gender typicality was strongly, positively correlated with social competence, and weakly, positively correlated with physical competence. Classroom-level collectivism and individualism were tested as moderators of the examined associations but did not significantly impact the relationships. Place and gender effects were analyzed. Three-way interactions between gender typicality, gender, and place were significant for social and physical competence. Gender typicality and social competence were distinctively weakly related among boys in Bogota. Gender typicality …

Utilizing Brain Computer Interfaces That Interact With A Virtual Keyboard, Skye Lilienthal

Honors Theses

A brain-computer interface (BCI) can allow someone to utilize electrical signals in their brain to complete tasks using a computer. BCIs can help people take advantage of technology to type without the need for a traditional keyboard setup. This paper used the OpenBCI Mark IV to test the effectiveness of non-invasive BCIs with dry electrodes within the OpenViBE P300 Speller. This paper shows how to use the P300 speller through a setup pipeline. Results indicate that electrode placement affects P300 accuracy and that areas related to visual processing improve accuracy, suggesting that P300 signals can be detected within OpenBCI Mark …

Choosing Death: The Moral Legitimacy Of Voluntary Active Euthanasia, Emma Rougeou

Honors Theses

During the last three decades, the issue of physician assisted suicide has captivated the interest of private citizens and state legislatures. Thinking about the matter of end-of-life concerns, particularly surrounding euthanasian (practices that hasten the deaths of suffering terminally ill people) have shifted. Views of private citizens and state-level legislation reflects a “slow shift to more permissive attitudes” (Cohen et al., 2012). Meanwhile, as recently as March 2026, state legislators in conjunction with the NY State Governor, passed a bill legalizing medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients. This thesis is intended to thoughtfully contribute to meaningful discourse on …