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A Methodological Consideration In The Comparison Of Two Explanatory Hypotheses Of Imagery, Paula Carter

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A replication of the Carter and Craig (1975) investigation comparing the “conceptual peg” and “relational connective” explanations as to the effectiveness of an interaction imagery strategy in paired-associate learning was performed with the suggested changes in methodology. These changes included training the subjects and presenting the stimulus and response nouns on separate screens rather than visually side-by-side. In addition, two separation imagery strategies were investigated so that the nouns were visualized on opposite sides of the imaginary visual field or on opposite walls of an imaginary room.

An interaction imagery strategy, a separation imagery—space strategy, a separation imagery—wall strategy, and …

Attitude Toward Women’S Role And Self-Concept In College Women, Susan Fisher

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study was designed to help answer the question: Do women with nontraditional attitudes toward the role of women in society obtain higher self-concept scores than women with more traditional attitudes toward the role of women? A second question was also investigated: Do women with non-traditional attitudes toward the role of women report that they behave more assertively than women with more traditional attitudes? One hundred and eighty-five undergraduate females were administered the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS), the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS), and the College Self-Expressions Scale (CSES). Subjects were included in one of the three experimental groups …

A Partial Test Of The Contingency Model On Adult-Led Groups Of Children, Jeffrey Wayne Jones

Master's Theses

The problem was to test the applicability of Fiedler's contingency model on 15 adult-led groups of children in a field situation. The effectiveness of high and low least preferred co-worker (LPC) leaders on structured and unstructured group tasks was investigated when leader­ member relations were good and leaders had strong power. The data were analyzed in a 2 x 2 factorial design using the analysis of variance. None of the F tests reached statistical significance, thus the model was not supported. Several possible reasons for the findings were given as well as suggestions for future research.

The Effects Of Crowding On The Dominance Behavior Of Laboratory Rats As Assessed By Three Measures Of Dominance, Barbara C. Worthington

Master's Theses

The present study was designed to assess behavioral changes in social dominance, which may accompany or be affected by short term crowding and any adrenal enlargement which may be a concomitant of crowding. To avoid methodological inaccuracy and further establish whether different measures of dominance would accrue the same results a multimethod approach suggested by Howells and Kise (1974) was employed. · Additionally sequence of test presentation was considered and both male and female subjects were used to determine if the measures differentially discriminated between the sexes.

This experiment as designed to evaluate the effects of crowding (independent variable) on …

Sodium Phenobarbital In Prevention Of Electroconvulsive Shock-Induced Disruption Of Taste-Illness Association, Stuart W. Reynolds

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Male Holtzman rats injected with a toxic solution of lithium chloride (US) 30 minutes after drinking saccharin flavored water (CS) learned to avoid that taste upon subsequent encounter. Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) interpolated temporarily between the pairing of a novel taste (CS) and an induced gustatory illness (US) prevents the taste from being associated with the illness (Kral, 1971). The purpose of the present experiment was to determine if sodium phenobarbital pretreatment would protect the association of taste with illness, against the normally interfering effects of ECS in the interpolated intervention paradigm. This question was investigated with a 2 (sodium phenobarbital …

Interpersonal Attitudes Of Suicidal Individuals, Vicki Lee Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to see how suicidal individuals in therapy as compared to nonsuicidal individuals in therapy characteristically report their relations to other people in interpersonal interactions.

One hundred and nineteen individuals were referred to the study by his or her psychotherapist associated with the participating mental health centers in the Salt Lake City and Logan, Utah, vicinities. The following measures were administered to all individuals: the FIRO-B, Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior, two scales, Sociability and Tolerance, from the CPI, California Psychological Inventory, and a brief biographical questionnaire composed of age, sex, marital status, education, religion, and …

The Effects Of Increment And Decrement Manipulations On Titration Level Under Interlocking Progressive-Ratio Schedules Of Reinforcement, Dennis Lorbin Nunes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Generally human titration performance under schedules of reinforcement has not been investigated. In an attempt to examine the variables which control titration, an interlocking progressive-ratio schedule was devised. Under an interlocking progressive-ratio schedule, the number of responses required for reinforcement increases by a constant (the increment value) after every ratio, but during each ratio the response requirement can be lowered (the decrement value) by emitting pauses of a specified duration (the stepdown duration).

The first experiment sought to determine if children would titrate when exposed to interlocking progressive-ratio schedules. Although three of the four subjects did not show evidence of …

Response Selectivity As A Function Of Developmental Activity Level, Wilford William Beck Iii

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research in hyperactivity has been primarily concerned with demonstrating casual relationships with cerebral dysfunction of the effects of drugs on improving learning performance. Studies which have attempted to focus on other factors influencing learning performance have demonstrated IQ and perceptual motor differences between hyperactive and normal children.

More recently Koegel and Covert have shown that, among a group of autistic children, over-selectivity of components from stimulus complex may adversely influence learning performance on a simultaneous discrimination task. There have been no demonstrations of this phenomena with hyperactive children.

The present study employed a simultaneous discrimination task composed of two stimulus …

The Development And Validation Of Self-Actualizing Education: A Primer For Affective Education, Carolyn G. Barcus

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study describes the development and evaluation of a communications skills course for elementary teacher inservice training. The development and evaluation strategy centered on a research and development (R & D) process. The major steps of the R & D process were: (1) product selection, (2) literature review, (3) prototype planning, (4) development of preliminary prototype, (5) expert appraisal and product revision, (6) main fieldtest, (7) product revision, and (8) operational fieldtest.

The course was composed of 13 communication skills with 20 behavioral objectives and evaluations. Experiences in self-awareness and practical application of the skills presented were stressed.

The purpose …

Behavioral Induction In Guinea Pigs As A Function Of Reinforcement Magnitude In Multiple Schedules Of Negative Reinforcement, Dennis L. Burns

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of changes in magnitude of negative reinforcement on multiple schedules with the guinea pigs. In both schedule components, the first response (lever press) after an average of 10 seconds was reinforced. In the constant component of this schedule the reinforcement magnitude (time-off from electric foot shock) was always 15 seconds; whereas, in the manipulated component the magnitude changed in the following sequence: 15, 7.5, 15, 30, and 15 seconds. All subjects showed a gradual decrease in response rate across baseline conditions. When behavioral effects were evaluated relative to this changing …

The Relationship Between A Measure Of Dogmatism And Retention Of Rogerian And Skinnerian Concepts, Richard A. Carpenter

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The present study attempted to investigate the relationship between a subject's degree of dogmatism and his attitudes towards the different theoretical positions held by B. F. Skinner and Carl Rogers regarding the control of man. This study utilized selective retention as an indicator of subjects' attitudes. No significant difference was found between Skinner's and Rogers' on their retention of high, medium, and low dogmatism groups. There was also a non-significant correlation between subjects' scores on the retention of Sinner's and Rogers' concept and subjects' dogmatism scores.

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Parent Training Programs In Changing Parent Behavior, Betty Payne Janiak

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effectiveness of two types of parent training were evaluated and compared with a control group that received training. A child Management Inventory was constructed for this purpose.

Parent Effectiveness Training was significantly superior to a training program developed by the Utah State Department of Education as measured by pre- and post-test criterion measure. There were no significant differences between the Utah State Department of Education group and the control group. This was determined by applying an analysis of covariance to the pre- and post-test data from all three groups. However, on a follow-up critical incidents test the Utah State …

A Comparison Of Second Grade Children's Learning Curves On School Tasks With Their Respective Performances On The "Black Box Test Of Learning Ability", Robert Stephen Knox

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study investigated the usefulness of the Black Box Test of Learning Ability as an indicator of children's performance on math and writing tasks. Twelve second grade students, seven to eight years of age, demonstrated naivete on both tasks and were subsequently individually administered the learning test. The subjects were divided into two groups, and each group received a different task presentation order. Composite scores were derived for all subjects and tasks, and individual learning curves were compared.

The combined Black Test score produced a significantly high correlate to math (rho = .733) and writing (rho = .841) than either …

Assessing The Impact Of The Mobile Assisted Career Exploration Unit 3 Years Later, Gary Lynn De Vries

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The specific objective of this research was to determine if the MACE (Mobile Assisted Career Exploration) Program has had an effect on the realistic occupational decision-making ability of students after a period of 3 years.

Subjects were 12th grade students at Dixie High School. The experimental group was composed of 40 students (15 males and 25 females) who had been involved in project MACE in the ninth grade. The control group was composed of 32 students (15 males and 17 females) who had moved into the boundaries of Dixie High School since the loth grade and who had, therefore, not …

Perceived Feminine Role Orientation And Positive Self Concept, Jeanne Josselyn Edwards

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this thesis was to explore the relationships between perceived feminine role orientation and positive self-concept, as measured by scores attained on the Inventory of Feminine Values (IFV), and the Total Positive Self Scale of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS). Three objectives were established. First, to gather current information on women's realistic and ideal self-perceptions of their feminine roles, and determine whether these are liberal, traditional, or neutral in orientation. Second, to determine if there are significant differences in self-concept as measured by the TSCS among women who see themselves as either traditional, liberal or neutral in …

A New Self Report Behavioral Measure For Evaluating Therapeutic Outcomes, Clyde D. Elliott

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Statement of the problem

Psychology is currently unable to demonstrate that psychotherapy is effective because it has no reliable no-inference objective measures of behavior and behavior change. Reliable measures of therapeutic outcomes are currently nonexistent. The problem with which this study was concerned was one of reliably evaluating psychotherapy outcomes and behavioral change.

Objective

The objective of this study was to develop and assess new measures of behavioral change. The assessment was directed toward those distressing behaviors which cause adult clients to seek psychotherapy.

Methods and procedure

Development of a Behavioral Checklist which would assess the distressing behaviors which brought …

The Effects Of Videotape Relaxation Training And Emg Feedback On Frontalis Muscle Activity, Richard G. Weiher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two studies were undertaken to assess the relative effects of videotape progressive relaxation and EMG feedback. During both studies EMG levels of the frontalis muscles were recorded. Ten subjects referred by the University Counseling Center, as high anxiety individuals, were exposed to one of the above two methods. A single subject multiple baseline design, including reversals, was used. Each subject was given four or six baseline sessions, one, four or seven exposures to the videotape and three return to baseline sessions. In the second study, using the same design, each subject was given four or six baseline sessions, four or …

The Effects Of A Self-Directed Behavior Change On Self-Concept, Larry A. Leatham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effects on self-concept as a result of behavior changes made during a self-directed self-modification project were studied on 16 students at Utah State University over a period of nine weeks. Pre and post measures of self-concept administered were the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Well-Being Scale from the California Psychological Inventory. The research design employed was the pretest-posttest control group design. A separate analysis of covariance was run for the Total P raw score of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and raw scores on the Well-Being Scale. The F was substantially short of the value of F needed …

The Individual And Collective Relationships Of Levels Of Aspiration. Expectation And Achievement To The Construct Of Self Concept, Mark G. Latham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A review of the literature revealed that while numerous studies exist relative to the self concept, no study was found that addressed itself specifically to the relationship and relative contribution to the self concept of aspirations, expectations and achievements. Therefore, this study was launched addressing itself to the question, "Are aspirations, expectations and achievements related to the construct of self concept?", "to what extent are they related when considered as individual variables, in combinations or as a totality?"

The FitzGibbon Rating Scale (FRS) was used as the criterion variable.

FRS scores were gathered by classroom teachers experienced with the FRS …

Staffing The College Counseling Center To Meet The Needs Of Minority And Female Students, Christine Rickly

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study assessed Utah State University students perceptions of the U.S.U. Counseling Center with regard to meeting students' counseling needs. The study focused on racial background and sex of counselors as significant variables. A written questionnaire was mailed to 420 students. Fifty-three percent of the questionnaires were returned.

The students' impressions of the Counseling Center were generally positive. Caucasian females were more satisfied than Caucasian males. Minority students were least satisfied. Students who had not used the center most often indicated they had no need. Many students lacked information concerning the services and availability of staff of different sex and/ …

The Effects Of Different Time Arrangements On A Segment Of Individual Psychotherapy Sessions, Dan C. Yergensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether different time arrangements for individual psychotherapy vary in effectiveness for the therapeutic process. The following time arrangements were compared against each other: Treatment I, 1/2 hour sessions twice per week; Treatment II, 1 hour sessions once per week; and Treatment III, 2 hour sessions every other week.

Twenty-one subjects and seven therapists were selected from six mental health facilities in Utah and Idaho for this project. All therapists participating had at least 2 years experience as psychotherapists. All subjects were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments. Each therapist received …

Development And Validation Of An Instructional Program To Teach Observational And Recording Skills In Behavior Modification, Gerald D. Hecker, Darlene L. Adams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A multimedia program for teaching observational and recording skills was developed and validated using a modified research and development model. The program consisted of two slide carousels (192 slides) with accompanying cassette tape and workbook and three super-sound 8 mm cassettes with accompanying manual and monitor's guide. These materials are available through the Instructional Media Center of the Exceptional Child Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. The model employed two phases to determine program effectiveness. Phase I was concerned with the development and formative evaluation of program materials and procedures. In Phase II the program was validated under field conditions. …

The Effects Of Leadership Style On Group Interaction In Differing Socio-Political Subcultures, Kenneth W. Gilstein

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Four encounter groups were run using 41 undergraduates at Utah State University to measure the effects of leadership style, member vii socio-political subculture, and member personality on the quantity and quality of group interaction, and on member satisfaction. Using Kerlinger's Social Attitudes Scale, the subjects were divided into subgroupings of "conservatives" and "liberals." One conservative group and one liberal group were each conducted by a leader acting in a non-directive style, while one conservative and one liberal group were run by a leader acting in a directive style. The California Psychological Inventory was administered to the subjects to gain …

An In-Service Education Evaluation Of The Communication Skills Workshop Self-Actualizing Education, Gerald Eldon Manwill

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was concerned with the evaluation of a communication skills works hop for elementary school teachers titled, Self-Actualizing Education sponsored by the Psychology Department at Utah State University and funded under a rural development grant from the Kellogg Foundation.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate objectives related to the interaction of students and teachers with regard to: (1) student attitudes towards teachers; (2) student misbehavior; and (3) student-teacher verbal communication. Testing was done on a control-experimental, pre-post basis. The treatment consisted of a nine week communication skills workshop, held two to three hours once per week. Twelve …

Community Alcohol Education And Prevention Program, John Fredricks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate an alcohol education program for the inhabitants of region seven, state of Idaho. A questionnaire comprised of multiple choice, and true-false questions, plus an attitude scale was developed to measure changes by way of pre and post testings.

The five hypotheses of this study are:

1. That our community and school education program would result in subjects obtaining a higher percentage of correct responses on information items on the post test administration of our questionnaire versus the pre testing.
2. The community and school education program would result in subjects obtaining an …

The Effects Of Concurrently Teaching Parents And Their Children With Learning Adjustment Problems The Principles Of Parent Effectiveness Training, Sterling Andelin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study attempts to determine if concurrently teaching Parent Effectiveness Training principles to parents and their children results in greater effectiveness than teaching the parents only.

The study was performed in the context of the Learning Adjustment School Program sponsored by the Eastern Idaho Community Mental Health Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

The subjects were 35 students in this program who had learning disabilities and/or emotional disturbances. Fifty-two of their parents were also subjects. An experimental group of parents, a control group of parents, an experimental group of children, and a control group of children were selected. The students in …

Performance On An Anagram Task As A Function Of Experimenter Status And Subject Dogmatism, Michele Ballering

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of experimenter status and subject dogmatism on anagram solving. The subjects were 90 college students. Only those subjects scoring in the upper or lower thirds on the Dogmatism Scale were utilized. The same experimenter was described as being of either high or low status in each class. In the low status condition, the experimenter was introduced as a student making up an incomplete, while in the high status condition, the experimenter was introduced as a Doctoral student doing research for a Federal Grant Agency. Therefore, four experimental groups were formed …

Description And Research Study Of Four Effective Teaching Methods, Gail Ryan

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

During my years in the public school system, I have felt that a basic deterrent to the child's personal and emotional growth has been the inability of educators to effectively communicate with children in the classroom. Gordon (1970, p. 298) states that teachers and other adults "lack the basic attitudes and skills to be effective training agents in an interpersonal relationship with a child or adolescent." Flanders (1971) feels that teachers, while behaviorally influencing children and determining the learning situation, actually have little knowledge about those methods of influence.

I am concerned with the need to train teachers to work …

Increased Recall For Low Anxious Subjects Using Increased Anxiety, Charles Webb

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A sample of 14 low anxious (LA) male and 18 LA female subjects was drawn from introductory psychology classes. The effect of increased state anxiety, using differing instruction procedures, upon serial recall learning was studied. The Multiple Affect Adjective Check List was used as a measure of anxiety, and a Hull memory drum with nonsense syllables was used as the learning task. Results indicated that there was a significant (p < .05) increase in learning for females but no significant increase in learning for males. This study is in agreement with the majority of studies which found differences due to sex. The female subjects gave results more consistent with drive theory in relationship to increased state anxiety and learning than male subjects. A hypothesis to explain why males do not yield as consistent results as females in relation to increased anxiety and learning is stated. Implication for further research is also discussed.

Perceptual Reactance & Female Athletic Participation, Elliot Herman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Three groups of females: contact athletes (basketball players), noncontact athletes (tennis and golf players), and nonathletes, were tested to determine their perceptual reactance. It was predicted that since women contact athletes tolerate more pain than women noncontact athletes and nonathletes, they should reduce their estimations of the test block more than noncontact athletes and nonathletes. It was also predicted that since women noncontact athletes tolerate more pain than women nonathletes, they should reduce their estimations of the test block more than the nonathletes. These predictions parallel previous findings for men. The results demonstrated no significant differences between the three groups …