Digital Commons Network^™

Accounting For Behavioral Contrast: Recent Interpretations, Ronald L. Snyder

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Behavioral contrast has been interpreted as a function of either (1) the reduction of frequency of reinforcement in one component of a multiple schedule or (2) the suppression of responses in one component regardless of reinforcement frequency.

These explanations are discussed in terms of their adequacy in accounting for several recent experimental results. Two alternative explanations are considered.

First, contrast is interpreted as a function of the relative summation of excitatory and inhibitory effects of stimuli.

Second, contrast is discussed as a possible function of a switch from a response-reinforcer contingency to a stimulus-reinforcer contingency as seen in auto-pecking. Both …

Relationships Between Psychogenic Needs And Theoretical Frameworks Of Psychotherapists, Dennis E. Ahern

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Each psychotherapist has a personal theoretical framework, that is, a set of assumptions on which his or her psychotherapy is based. It appears from the published writings and opinions of therapists that therapists generally concur that a major factor in the formation of an individual therapist's theoretical framework is the therapist's personality. This study was designed to address this issue by examining the relationship between the psychogenic needs and theoretical framework of the therapist.

From an accessible population of 178, responses were obtained from 153 therapist participants (108 males and 45 females) from five Utah training programs and three experience …

An Analysis Of The Hiskey Nebraska Test Of Learning Aptitute For Navajo Children With Suspected Learning Difficulties, Susan Louise Sawyer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the appropriateness of the Hiskey Nebraska Test of Learning Aptitude as a measure of ability for Navajo students with suspected learning difficulties. Item analytic procedures were employed for the 61 students in the younger group (ages 5-10) and for the 57 students in the older group (ages 11-17).

Using Hoyt's analysis of variance routine, reliability estimates of .87 (younger group) and .81 (older group) were obtained. The majority of the items discriminated in the appropriate direction for both subtest and total test scores.

It was concluded that the Hiskey Nebraska Test of …

The Relationship Between Ego Identity Status, Conformity Behavior, And Personality In College Students, John Harold Ryan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The relationship between conformity behavior and the four identity statuses as operationalized by Marcia was studied in 80 college students. Also, various personality characteristics were studied relative to their discernability by identity status and their relationship to conformity behavior. As sex difference was a major consideration in the study, the sample was divided into 40 males and 40 females ranging in age from 18 to 25 years. Statistical analysis indicated there were no significant differences between identity statuses relative to conformity for either males or females. In addition, very few personality characteristics were indicative of conformity for either sex. However, …

Social Interaction: The Relationship Between Facial Attractiveness And Verbal Influence Style, Laurie Jean Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine if male and female communicators utilize different styles of persuasion with an attractive versus an unattractive female target. Forty undergraduate students were asked to persuade a female confederate in either an attractive condition or an unattractive condition to eat M&M's. Perceptions of attractiveness and personality assessments were checked by a post-experimental questionnaire. Influence attempts were rated and categorized by the use of the Social Interaction Scoring System. Individual responses were then factor analyzed to identify profiles of persuasive communication. These behavioral profiles were then statistically compared across experimental conditions by analyses of …

Stages Of Contemplative Mysticism: A Description And Taxonomy, Kenneth Burton Kaisch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to describe and classify the stages of contemplative mystical development in the major world religions. To accomplish this task, a sample of five major world religions was chosen from the total population. From each religion, a contemplative author who was regarded as an authority by the members of that religion was chosen. The major work of each author was described in order to make explicit his/her conceptualization of the stages of contemplative development. These conceptualizations were then compared together, resulting in two models of contemplative development. The first model was composed of those stages …

The Development Of S+ And S- Rules In Matching-To-Sample By Pigeons Through Prior Autoshaping, Mark S. Innocenti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to develop behavior by the pigeon illustrative of S+ and S- rules and to examine if behavior consistent with a concept rule interpretation developed. In order to examine this possibility six groups of pigeons (N=31) were provided different histories of autoshaping. Histories involved the identity of the color of the lighted center key and one side key of three horizontally mounted pigeon keys. Center key onset was followed three seconds later by onset of either outer key. Outer key onset was followed six seconds later by food presentation (explicitly paired) or 45 seconds later, …

Jacobsonian Versus Autogenic Relaxation Training: Interactions With Locus Of Control, Mark J. Weaver

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thesis that matching locus of control with type of relaxation training enhances physiological self-control. This was accomplished by comparing the effectiveness of a somatic and a cognitive relaxation method for internal and external locus of control subjects. It was hypothesized that the two techniques vary in degree of cue salience, and that the attentional strategy of internals would interact with the cognitive approach while externals would respond better to the somatic approach.

Subjects were 80 volunteers from stressful occupations who scored high on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory A-trait scale. Forty internals …

The Prediction Of Tenure And Job Performance Based On The Job Activity Preference Questionnaire (Japq): A Concurrent Study, Nolan R. Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess the concurrent validity of the JAPQ in predicting the work output and tenure levels of persons employed in the occupation of Data Entry Operator-Financial Keyer. Three separate hypotheses were tested: (1) JAPQ-D² differences based on employee tenure and output loads; (2) JAPQ dimension preference differences, which may not be reflected in JAPQ-D² scores; and, (3) the relationship between employee tenure and employee output. Separate research questions focused on the applicability of the JAPQ in predicting employee tenure and employee output, based on multiple regression results.

Sixty financial keyers were administered …

The Sex Typed Activities Test: A Supplementary Measure Of Masculine And Feminine Dimensions Of Personality, Steven Harold Weaver

Theses and Dissertations

This paper details the development of a personality measure which differentiates among individuals on the basis of their self-reported comfort with a variety of day to day activities. These activities were systematically pre-se lected to be either masculine or feminine in nature. The history of masculinity and femininity measurement is exam ined, and the trend toward increasingly specific measurement devices traced. In line with an emerging multi-dimensional model of masculinity and femininity, it is suggested that a paper and pencil measure of two separate masculine and femi nine dimensions composed of items that are behavioral in terms of content would …

An Investigation Into The Problem Of Validity Generalization & Situational Specificity For Nuclear Power Plant Operations, Jeffrey Hornsby

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The issues of situational specificity and validity generalization have shed new light on employment test validation in personnel psychology. Over the past six years Schmidt, Hunter and colleagues have accumulated an abundance of evidence supporting the use of validity generalization. The present study attempts to further investigate the issues of situational specificity and validity generalization for five nuclear power utilities using the CNS test battery. Using the Bayesian statistical procedure developed by Schmidt and Hunter (1977) the results indicated that neither the rejection of situational specificity or the inference of validity generalization was possible. However, further analyses indicated that the …

The Relationship Between Absenteeism And Job Involvement, Work Orientation, Job Characteristics, And Satisfaction With Work, Greg H. Richardson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Punishment In Industry, Promise Sibonisiwe Zungu

Masters Theses

This study was aimed at finding out if apparent inadequate use of punishment in industry is a problem of lack of knowledge of appropriate punishment procedures on the part of punishment agents (supervisors/managers) or a problem of execution. Variables that affect the effectiveness of punishment were identified by means of a literature search, as timing, intensity , consistency, appropriateness, providing a ration ale and punishment schedules.

Test items were constructed and administered to two groups to find out if there was any consistency between participants ' recommendations about disciplinary procedures and punishment principles. Results showed that the majority of participants …

Complex Behavior: A Systematic Reformulation Of Radical Behavioral Analyses, Linda J. Parrott

Dissertations

Mentalistic psychology thrives in the absence of a satisfactory, naturalistic account of complex human behavior. Inadequacies in the radical behavioral position with respect to complex events are of two sorts. First, the complexity of such events is undermined, either by reducing the latter; or, by providing only a very superficial treatment of events at their own level of complexity. The former procedure applies to Skinner's treatment of verbal behavior; the latter to his distinction between rule governed and contingency shaped behavior. Second, the analyses made of some classes of complex phenomena indicate a commerce with metaphysical philosophy, and they thereby …

Psyche And Time: The Phenomenology Of Time Consciousness, Sharon Fleet Hartman

Institute for the Humanities Theses

Time in its inward form may be able to provide a significance which sustains the human spirit. If this is true, it becomes unnecessary to seek an enduring significance for life in the transcendent.

Western man's attitudes toward time are a composite of religious, historical, and cultural assumptions. The Christian model of time supported man by its emphasis on God's interventions in the world. The scientific model of time left man adrift in an objective world. The ascendancy of the scientific model brought a devaluation of both time and human life.

Bergson, Husserl, and Merleau-Ponty all describe a type of …

Improving Customer Service Using A Self-Recording Checklist, Donald Troy

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to investigate a method for improving customer service of three parttime salespeople. A job aid which consisted of a checklist was used to increase the frequency of eight target behaviors. The target behaviors consisted of: appropriately approaching and greeting the customer, being courteous and helpful, appropriately ringing up the sale and closing, having a neat appearance and wearing an identification badge. After training, the salespeople were taught to self-record their customer service behavior. Training increased the subjects' performance, but only had a short term effect. Customer service behaviors increased after implementing the checklists …

The Latin American Experience In Applying Social Psychology To Community Change, Gerardo Marín

Psychology

No abstract provided.

Perceived And Demonstrated Competence As Affected By Child Abuse, Diane Gallinger

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Sex Roles In A Physically Handicapped Population As Measured By The Bem Sex-Role Inventory, Vince. Vegna

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Juvenile Intake: Differences Between Police And Probation Officers On Disposition Of Cases, James M Fogg

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Ua35/11 Student Honors Research Bulletin, Wku Honors Program

WKU Administration Documents

The WKU Student Honors Research Bulletin is dedicated to scholarly involvement and student research. These papers are representative of work done by students from throughout the university.

• Albin, Bettye. John Dryden's Criticism: The Neglected Link
• Allen, Christopher. Martial Reflections: Ancient Cultures and Their War-Gods
• Case, Laura. Climatic Preference
• Deller, Kathy. Regression Analysis: The Effects of Advertising, Price, Income and Import Sales on American-Made Auto Sales
• Downing, Elizabeth. Dorothy Leigh Sayers: Detective of Literary Theory in The Mind of the Maker
• Elder, Janice. A Retrospective Study on Discharge Planning and Primiparas at Breckinridge Memorial
• Flora, Joan. Narcissism and the Need for …

A Different Approach To Horse Handling, Based On The Jeffery Method, Judith K. Blackshaw, Des Kirk, Sharon E. Cregier

Equines Collection

A method of horse training is discussed which is based on an old technique known in Australia as the "Jeffery method." It makes use of several behavioral principles, including understanding of horse behavior, reinforcement for desired behavior, and use of flight distance principles.

Environmental Psychology And Great Ape Reproduction, Terry L. Maple

Zoos and Aquariums Collection

At the 1980 Great Ape Infertility Workshop, we concluded that "physical and social environments must be improved if not optimized if great apes are to reproduce satisfactorily ... " In 1982, the trend toward improvement continues and there are some promising signs that reproduction has been enhanced as predicted. The problem of designing and evaluating captive environments which will facilitate interaction, reproduction, appropriate parenting, and socialization is well within the scope of Environmental Psychology. I intend to illustrate the promise of this applied research field in the remarks that follow.

Effects Of Moose, Alces Alces, On Aquatic Vegetation In Sibley Provincial Park, Ontario, D. Fraser, H. Hristienko

Feeding Behavior Collection

The effect of Moose (AIces aIces) on aquatic vegetation was studied in Sibley Provincial Park, Ontario. Two small exclosures were built in preferred feeding lakes to protect vegetation from Moose. Both exclosures developed a dense growth of plants. In one, species palatable to Moose were much more abundant than in unprotected areas. The other lake supported very little vegetation outside the exclosure. Aquatic vegetation in a large preferred lake underwent a series of changes from the 1960's to 1980. Nuphar variegatum and Potamogeton filiformis largely disappeared, leaving the lake sparsely vegetated in some years and dominated by annuals in others. …

Util: A Basic Program For Determining Optimal Cutting Scores Adjusted For Base Rates And Classification Utility, Dale E. Berger, Richard N. Tsujimoto

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

An interactive menu-driven BASIC program calculates the cutting score or scores for classifying cases into two groups to maximize classification utility. The user can specify base rates, means, and variances on the test score distributions, as well as the utility for each possible decision outcome. An interactive feature facilitates sensitivity analyses.

Validity Of The Revised Beta Examination Second Edition For Use With A Multiply Handicapped Population, Cluster Glenn Robbins Jr.

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Education at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Cluster Glenn Robbins, Jr. in January of 1983.

A Cross-Sectional And Social Class Comparison Of The Development Of Distributive Justice Between Hearing And Prelingually Hearing Deficient, Communicatively Impaired Children, Pietrina Victoria Termini

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Psychology, Ralph H. Kolstoe

UND Departmental Histories

This departmental history was written on the occasion of the UND Centennial in 1983.

Behavioral Sciences Center 1983-84 Bulletin, Nova University

CPS Undergraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Sex Differences In Mortality Statistics In Relation To Employment Status And Marital Status, Moseley Green Ruark

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Male mortality rates exceeded female rates in every death type and the sex differential increased from 1970 to 1980 in every death type except homicides. The findings in this study suggest that marital and employment factors contribute to sex differences in mortality for suicidal and accidental deaths. Being employed was associated with fewer suicidal and accidental deaths for females than for males. Being married was associated with fewer suicidal and accidental deaths for males, while marital status had no relationship to suicidal and accidental deaths for females. Due to these relationships it might be inferred that the expanding sex differential …