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Effects Of Treatment Integrity Level And Error Type On Dro Efficacy: A Parametric And Comparative Analysis, Paige O'Neill

Theses & Dissertations

Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) is a strategy commonly used in applied contexts to address challenging behavior but can be difficult to implement with high treatment integrity. Previous research has shown that DRO may be robust despite marginal errors of commission, but the impact of differing degrees of errors and different error types during DRO is still unclear. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a parametric evaluation of treatment integrity level (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%) in DRO when implemented with combined errors (Experiment 1) and to directly compare error types (commission errors, omission errors, combined …

Eco-Emotions And Climate Activism In Adolescents, Julianna Sahoo

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background. Youth are especially vulnerable to climate change, both physically and psychologically. Combatting climate change will require a coordinated, global effort. Understanding the motivations and emotions behind climate activism is essential to coordinate efforts to combat climate change.

Methods. This research uses survey data collected from first and second year undergraduates (n=521) at a private, urban university in California in the Fall of 2022. Youth were surveyed on emotions related to climate change, activism, compassion, eco-anxiety, and well-being.

Results. Experiencing positive emotions had a stronger relationship with environmental activism compared to negative emotions.

Conclusion. Results suggest climate change communications should …

The Anti-Work Attitude Scale: Conceptualizing And Measuring The Resistance To The Institution Of Work, Alayna Del Rosario

Master's Theses

Recent shifts in labor discourse have drawn attention to rising burnout, declining organizational commitment, and diminishing job satisfaction, which challenge traditional assumptions about the centrality and desirability of work. These tensions have given rise to the concept of anti-work, a growing discourse that questions the moral, economic, and psychological foundations of work itself. Despite its cultural relevance, anti-work remains largely undertheorized and unmeasured in empirical research. Drawing from interdisciplinary scholarship, this study defined anti-work as a negative critique of work as a social construct, questioning its value, purpose, and impact on individuals and society. Anti-work was operationalized through two higher-order …

Adding Varying Degrees Of Performance Feedback Components To The Taped Problems Intervention, Alyson C. Honaker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Math fact fluency, the ability to quickly and accurately solve one-digit by one-digit math problems, is a common challenge for many school-aged children. Difficulties with fluency often lead to reliance on inefficient strategies, hindering progress in more advanced math skills. Evidence-based interventions like Taped Problems Intervention (TPI) have demonstrated effectiveness in improving math fluency. However, research suggests incorporating behavioral components such as Performance feedback (PF) and goal setting/reinforcement (GS/R) may enhance its effectiveness. The present study used a multiple-probe across-task design to evaluate the effects of three variations of TPI on the subtraction fluency of five elementary students in a …

Team Resilience In The Nba: When Teams Fall Behind, Chloe M. Howell, Nadav Goldschmied

McNair Summer Research Program

National Basketball Association (NBA) games have become more volatile in scoring as the pace of the game has quickened and reliance on the three-point shot has increased. This research analyzes 20-point scoring deficits and the comeback abilities of NBA teams from an archival, as well as team resilience perspective, which is the ability of a team to deal with adversity. The collective experience of challenge by all team members is a process more complex to study than individual resilience due to the diverse interactions between teammates. Another aspect of this study is the context of locale or home versus away …

The Consequences Of Workplace Racial Discrimination: A Scoping Review, Yaritza A. Ortiz, Evelyn D. Sarsar

McNair Summer Research Program

Racial discrimination has been consistently associated with negative mental health outcomes among marginalized communities. Racial discrimination within the workplace has shown to be detrimental to mental well-being and behavioral outcomes, however, there is much less work investigating these links. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to understand the association between workplace racial discrimination and mental and behavioral health outcomes.

Empirical articles were identified using Google Scholar and PsycINFO. The extracted data included, design of the study, the number of participants, ethnicity or race, type of discrimination, mental or behavioral outcome, and the results produced by the data. For the final review, …

How Cultural Intelligence Shapes Communication And Decision-Making In Multicultural Teams, Jonathan Freking

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study explores how cultural intelligence influences patterns of communication and decision-making in multicultural teams, with particular attention to behaviors such as turn-taking, conflict resolution, and feedback. Drawing on a thematic analysis of 45 peer-reviewed articles spanning foundational theories, empirical studies, and methodological approaches, this paper identifies six key themes: the evolution of the CQ construct; CQ as an adaptive communication mechanism; its role in conflict resolution; its influence on collaborative decision-making; the emergence of collective cultural intelligence; and methodological approaches for understanding CQ in context. Findings suggest that high-CQ individuals and teams demonstrate more equitable voice distribution, engage in …

Understanding Biological Behavior 2nd Edition, Emily Marler

Open Educational Resources Collection

Understanding Biological Behavior, 2nd Edition, compiled by Emily Marler in collaboration with UMSL Libraries, is a Open Educational Resource (OER) that offers free access to an engaging exploration of where biology and psychology intersect. As an openly licensed textbook, it removes financial barriers to quality education while helping students understand how our biological systems directly influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

The web version of this text can be found at https://umsystem.pressbooks.pub/ubb2e/

This resource systematically progresses through twelve carefully structured units that build upon each other to create a complete understanding of biological psychology. Beginning with fundamental concepts of nerve …

A Single-Blind Active-Control Randomized Controlled Trial Of Group-Based Social Competence Intervention, Erin Kang, Tamara E. Rosen, Cara M. Keifer, Alan H. Gerber, Matthew D. Lerner

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study evaluated specific effects of a blinded randomized controlled trial of a group-based social skills intervention, Socio-Dramatic Affective-Relational Intervention (SDARI), against an active attention control (AC) intervention. Fifty-five autistic youth (Mage=12.40; SDage=2.92; 73% boys) were randomly allocated to either the SDARI or the AC condition. Both interventions comprised 10 weekly sessions and were tightly matched for structure, participant age, IQ, and gender, such that the specific activities of SDARI were directly examined. Multimethod assessments at pre-, post-treatment, and 10-week follow-up included informant-reported social skills and autism-related behaviors, observer-rated spontaneous peer interaction, peer-rated friendships, and …

Measuring Emotional Biases In Attention And Memory In Individuals Who Fear Happiness, Michael R. Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

A central goal in contemporary clinical science is to measure emotionally driven factors of psychopathology through cognitive experimental methods. However, limitations in previous experimental paradigms have led to a lack of sensitivity and reliability in measuring the biased processing of positive and negative information. Additionally, these biases have not been investigated in individuals who fear happiness. Therefore, this study examined the unique relations between attention and memory biases of emotional stimuli and fear of happiness scores. A more sensitive experimental paradigm tracked eye positions while participants viewed faces over time to measure tendencies to attend to emotional content. A memory …

In Good Times & Bad: Measuring Ambivalence In Custodial Grandparents, Marin Gail Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Like other forms of caregivers, custodial grandparents experience both the joys and trials of raising their grandchildren. This culmination of positive and negative feelings is called “caregiver ambivalence." It has only recently been studied in relation to caregiver burden and wellness in the form of caregiver ambivalence theory (CAT). By collecting data from approximately 395 custodial grandparents via an online survey, the current study aimed to test if custodial grandparents’ feelings of burden influence their perceived well-being and if feelings of ambivalence mediate this relation. Implications of this research include identifying areas of strength and growth within custodial grandparents and …

The Interplay Of Biomarkers And Psychosocial Variables In Ipv Perpetration, Arturo L. Cantos, María L. Mondolfi, K. Daniel O'Leary

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Relevant biopsychosocial factors, including testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) levels, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and difficulties in emotion regulation, have been implicated in IPV perpetration. However, further research is needed to clarify how biomarkers and psychosocial variables interact. The authors herein predicted that emotion regulation difficulties would moderate the association between ACES and IPV perpetration. The sample consisted of 30 IPV perpetrators aged 18 to 51 (M = 30.80, SD = 8.43) and 30 control non-perpetrator participants aged 18–35 (M = 24.13; SD = 4.28). All participants provided saliva samples to assess T and C levels and completed a sociodemographic …

A Multi-Measurement Study Of The Relation Between Deliberation And Volition, Guillaume P. Pech, Emilie A. Caspar, Elisabeth Pacherie, Axel Cleeremans, Uri Maoz

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Historically, voluntary action and volition more generally have been investigated through the lens of meaningless decisions. Importantly, these findings have been used in the debate about key notions like free will and moral responsibility. However, more recent claims have challenged the possibility of generalizing findings from a meaningless context to a more meaningful one. The current study investigates the markers of volition, specifically comparing meaningful and meaningless decisions. In an effort to maximize their monetary gain, 50 participants repeatedly deliberated between two options, making either rewarded choices—hard-deliberation decisions (where the options differed along two dimensions) or easy-deliberation decisions (where the …

The Relationship Between Hindrance Demands And Work Engagement: The Moderating Role Of Resilience, Adoré Davis

Master's Theses

The coronavirus pandemic decreased work engagement globally due to increased hindrance demands. Many organizations were motivated to increase work engagement, which is positively correlated with beneficial organizational outcomes. The intention of this study is to examine if personal resources like resilience moderate the relationship between hindrance demands and work engagement. Hindrance demands are refined from job demands and hindrance stressors, which are stressors that impede progress in employees. Resilience is a personal resource correlated with pro-social behavior, internal locus of control, and higher levels of empathy. Resilience as a personal resource has mainly been studied as a predictor of work …

The Illusion Of “El Chingon”: A Scoping Review On How Machismo Affects Mental Health And Behavior, Vanessa Estrada Garza

McNair Summer Research Program

Machismo is a set of cultural values tethered to the gender binary, defined by the specific gender roles and expectations that men have to act upon. These ideals create a male archetype based on aggression, stoicism, superiority, and the enabling of sexist attitudes. Research has shown that rigid hypermasculine attitudes have a negative effect on mental health (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms) and behavior (e.g., aggression and substance abuse). However, given its cultural context, much less is known about how machismo may manifest based on different demographic variables. Therefore, the goal of this scoping review was to understand the relation …

The Evaluation Of Traditional And Latency Based Functional Analyses On The Identification Of The Function Of Inappropriate Mealtime Behavior, Mallie N. Donald

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that up to 80% of children with developmental disabilities have feeding problems. Feeding problems typically coexist with the presence of inappropriate mealtime behavior which includes behaviors such as aggression, throwing food or utensils, or turning head away from the presented bite. As a result, functional analysis procedures are commonly used to determine the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior to later inform effective function-based interventions. Traditional functional analysis procedures utilize the measurement of the rate of inappropriate mealtime behavior. Several limitations exist within traditional procedures for the assessment of inappropriate mealtime behavior which include demands across all test and …

Tabletop Role-Playing Games As A Therapeutic Intervention: Translating Ttrpgs To Therapy, Joanne Adelle Hillerman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the aspects of tabletop role-playing games, or TTRPGs, that are appealing to therapists, aspects of TTRPGs that may be challenging for therapists to implement, and to identify outside factors that may associated with therapists’ interest in using TTRPGs. This study used the technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989) as a theoretical framework. A sample of therapists and mental health workers (N = 102) answered survey questions on their perceptions of the ease-of-use and usefulness of TTRPGs in therapy, their likelihood to use TTRPGs in therapy, and additional items measuring outside influences on their …

My Grandparents Raised Me: The Role Of Formative Individual And Family Experiences In Predicting Emerging Adult Substance Use, Attachment, And Mental Health Outcomes, Acacia Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals raised in a grandfamily, or family structure in which a grandparent raises their grandchildren, experience higher rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), insecure attachment, and negative mental health outcomes during childhood. Literature on outcomes of these individuals across the lifespan is extremely limited, however, and it is unclear how formative individual and family experiences of being raised by grandparents carry into emerging adulthood (e.g., 18 to 25-years-old). Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage marked by significant instability and unpredictability that is linked with increased vulnerability to mental health concerns and substance use. It has been identified as an important …

Older Adult Men’S Well-Being: The Impact Of Masculinity And Negative Perceptions Of Aging, Darby D. Mackenstadt

Theses and Dissertations

Stereotype embodiment theory states that individuals who hold negative aging stereotypes may internalize them, and thus view their own aging process as negative. This study aimed to evaluate how older adult men may be influenced by their adherence to masculinity standards, such as men are expected to be strong and independent, in older adulthood. A sample of 438 men aged 55 and older living in the southern United States was analyzed, finding that beliefs of masculinity moderated the relationship between negative perceptions of aging and depression. Participants who reported a high adherence to masculinity beliefs and a negative perception of …

Family Matters: How Caregiver Influence And Internal Locus Of Control Relate To Academics, Maia Mclin

Theses and Dissertations

Academics in college predicts life outcomes; students from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds often face greater challenges. One such population, consisting of many individuals from marginalized backgrounds, are those raised by nontraditional parents. This study investigated predictors of academics among 357 college students, examining authoritative parenting style, intrinsic motivation, academic locus of control (LoC), SES, and caregiver type (parental vs. non-traditional). Academics was assessed using two composite scores: 'academic knowledge' (GPA/ACT) and 'compensatory attention' (working memory via n-back task accuracy and attention/concentration via SMALSI-C). Hierarchical regressions revealed that higher authoritative parenting, higher SES, and being raised by biological parents significantly …

Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised: Short Form In College-Attending Emerging Adults, Lydia Stanhope

Theses and Dissertations

Psychopathy research stems from the work of Dr. Hervey Cleckley, whose research aided in providing the foundation for psychopathy assessments currently utilized in the field. Several researchers used Cleckley’s framework to further home in on characteristics that are central to psychopathy. Among the primary researchers who adapted the characteristics into their own measures are Robert Hare, Paul Frick, and Scott Lilienfeld; the work of these researchers is what helped lead to the creation of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised: Short Form (PPI-R: SF). The current study aimed to confirm the two-, three-, and eight-factor models from previous versions of the measure …

“It Just Builds Character”: Building The Bullying Myths Scale, Jessica Weiss Utley

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 20% of American children and adolescents report being victims of bullying each year (Irwin et al., 2022). Bullying victimization is linked to serious behavioral and psychological outcomes, like depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide (e.g., Chou et al., 2020; John et al., 2018; Mulder et al., 2017; Schoeler et al., 2018). Despite these sobering data, misconceptions continue to portray bullying as a normal part of growing up, that it is trivial in nature, and that some kids deserve to be bullied (Dawes et al., 2022; Kulig et al., 2008). This study tested the validity and efficacy of the Bullying Myths …

The Experiences Of Physical Therapists Trained In Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization For Self-Care, Edward Bezkor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical therapists and physical therapy students are susceptible to overuse and postural-related injuries related to computer work, lifting, and transferring patients. An effective technique for musculoskeletal dysfunction is instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) self-care. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to better understand the lived experiences of physical therapists and physical therapy students who are trained in IASTM self-care. The theoretical foundation for this study was the health belief model (HBM), which proposes that one’s beliefs strongly influence behavior change. In alignment with HBM, research questions related to the participants’ beliefs regarding the perceived threat of not …

An In-Depth Exploration Into College Students’ Information Acquisition And Evaluation Behaviors During The Covid-19 Infodemic, Nien-Tsu Nancy Chen, Kimmy Kee, Bianca T. Villalobos, Miriam Ortiz, Hyesun Lee

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: This study examines how vaccination-inclined and vaccination-hesitant U.S. college students acquired and evaluated COVID-19 vaccination information.

Methods: In 2021, we conducted 26 focus group discussions and used thematic analysis to identify patterns in information acquisition behaviors and trust in information sources.

Results: Findings revealed mismatches between frequently used and most trusted sources. Public health agencies were highly trusted but not commonly consulted first. In contrast, social media were frequently used for information scanning despite being the least trusted. Interpersonal sources (e.g., family) were identified as both a most and least trusted source. They were trusted for their good intention …

Investigating The Role Of Student-Instructor Connectedness And Student Thriving In Living A Calling, Whitney Claire Cranford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study explored student-instructor connectedness and student thriving as predictors of living a calling for graduates of four-year higher education institutions. It also investigated which aspect of student thriving - academic, emotional, or social - is most predictive of living a calling. While research addresses these variables individually, limited research has been conducted to address their interconnection and the results for four-year higher education graduates. All variables were measured using established scales. The mixed-method approach encompassed qualitative data from surveys and quantitative data from interviews with graduates of four-year higher education institutions. A total of 79 participants were recruited …

Navigating The Digital Impression: A Grounded Theory Exploration Of Impression Management, Personal Social Media Curation, Cybervetting, And Whole-Person Hiring In The Hiring Process, Stacey G. Benson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The interaction between job seekers and hiring managers within the social media space was examined through this grounded theory research. Undergraduate college students training to work in local Christian organizations and the hiring managers seeking to hire them were the two participant types who provided the rich data for this study. Study participants included 22 undergraduate students nearing graduation from a Christian university (in 3 focus groups) and 17 hiring managers from Christian churches and organizations who participated in individual interviews. Data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. The study gathered data from both groups to discern how …

Evidence-Based Autism Assessments: Utility Of A School-Based Autism Evaluation Fidelity Checklist, Melissa Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has demonstrated limited use of evidence-based autism assessments in school settings. The use of fidelity checklists for evidence-based interventions for autism are a focus of research; however, there are not any fidelity checklists or tools for measuring evidence-based autism assessments. This study used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to create and utilize a school-based autism assessment fidelity checklist rubric with a retrospective model. This study began with a focus group to refine the rubric and provide social validity. Then, the rubric was used to measure the fidelity of 52 initial school-based autism assessments across two time periods, one …

Pass It On: Developing Children's Identity With Biblical Storytelling At First Baptist Church Of Sanford, Caleb Mccord

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In a culture where many youths are not only leaving the church but also facing psychological issues like identity crises, it is important that children develop their identity as God’s Word prescribes rather than the preference-based identities pushed by secular parties. To best ensure this development, then it is essential that children receive biblical storytelling from both the church and also the parents at home, the latter of which is underutilized in many modern Christian homes. This thesis posits that if parents are made aware of the need for biblical identity development and trained to do so, then they will …

Single-Working Parents’ Psychological Autonomy And Psychological Well-Being And The Mediating Role Of Work-Life Balance, Patrina Anastasia Lowrie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Single-working parents (SWPs) shoulder dual roles and responsibilities, often resulting in strained psychological autonomy (PA), psychological well-being (PWB), and work-life balance (WLB) across their work and nonwork domains. These overlapping responsibilities create challenges in sustaining a quality of life over time. The specific problem this study addressed is that many SWPs in leadership positions do not manage their emotional center well, and the relationships among their PA, PWB, and WLB remain unknown. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether WLB mediates the relationship between PA and PWB in adult SWPs. Research questions were developed to explore …

Exploring The Role Of Online Fan Communities During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study, Misha Alarie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals increasingly turned to online fandom communities for social support and companionship. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the impact of digital communities on individuals' social support networks throughout and beyond the pandemic. Through an exploration of participants' lived experiences within virtual spaces, specifically Reddit, the research sought to comprehend how interactions within online fandoms address individuals' social needs and influence their overall well-being. The research examined how people find online communities, their interactions, perceptions of group dynamics, how these spaces can change them, and their role in offering support during and after …