Digital Commons Network^™

Reassessing The Mozart Effect: Musicians And Non-Musicians Respond Differently To Late Eighteenth-Century, Non-Texted Music For A Monochromatic Instrument, William B. Cooper '97

Honors Projects

Recent accumulating evidence suggests a relationship between music and spatial-reasoning. One particular link:, the termed "Mozart effect," is an enhancement in performance on spatial-reasoning tasks after listening to the ftrst movement of a sonata by Mozart. Though some studies offer additional evidence to support the "Mozart effect," it is interesting that a number of studies attempting to reproduce it have failed. Accordingly, this study investigated the "Mozart effect" using an alternative means of assessing spatial-reasoning ability. Additionally, the music of Haydn was used in an effort to reproduce the effect. Lastly, a differentiation was made between the scores of musicians …

Women Who Batter: A Comparison To Men Who Batter, Treva S. Bogaerts '97

Honors Projects

A sample of 27 females and 27 males was drawn from the client files of a domestic violence agency in a medium-sized mid-western city. Clients were matched on ethnicity, age, and education so that comparisons could be made to determine whether distinctions exist between these batterer populations. The two groups were compared in terms of legal, family, mental, and social histories, as well as type of physical abuse used. The results have implications for adjustments in treatment procedures for female batterers.

The Effects Of Multiple Injections Of Ba(25-35) Into The Medial Septal Area On Spatial Learning In The Male Rat, James Bedrosian '97

Honors Projects

Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that beta-amyloid (PA) plays a role in the degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain. Degeneration of the basal forebrain cholinergic system, which is implicated in learning and memory function, is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. It has been previously reported that injections of PA(25-35) into the medial septal area (MSA) of rats produce a hypofunction of the cholinergic system and a decrease in ACh release in the hippocampus. Investigators report mixed results in the development of behavioral spatialleaming impairments following single injections of pA. Recent studies suggest that multiple injections or chronic administration …

Attitudes Toward Aging Lesbians: An Exploratory Study, Karen E. Cunningham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of midwestern college students toward older lesbians. It is hypothesized, due to the commonly held assumptions that older women are "asexual" and that the popular image of homosexuals is extremely negative, that the lesbian identity will go unrecognized by others outside of those to whom they have disclosed their sexual orientation. Variables considered in this study include: (a) knowledge of aging and (b) attitudes toward homosexuality. Two hundred and fifty midwestern college students completed questionnaires that assessed their attitudes toward lesbians, their knowledge of aging, and their attitudes toward aging …

A Neuropsychological Assessment Of Music Stimulation On Individuals With Dementia, Peter Leo Cuff

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Previous research has suggested that musical therapy temporarily improves the cognitive and perceptual functioning of individuals with varying forms of dementing illnesses. However, no research to date has focused on the effects of musical stimulation exclusively. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether, and to what extent, a brief exposure to music might enhance the cognitive and perceptual functioning of clients with mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It was hypothesized that following a brief exposure (6 minutes) to musical stimulation, all subjects (N = 9) would achieve higher scores on the following neuropsychological …

Right-Wing Authoritarianism Relative To Traditional Western Thinking And Locus Of Control, Nadejda Diakonova

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among right-wing authoritarianism, traditional Western thought and the degree to which subjects tend to perceive themselves as having control over their lives (having internal or external locus of control). It was hypothesized that these three aspects of individuals' cognitive-emotional makeup are interrelated. Three questionnaires were used in the study: the Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) Scale (Altemeyer, 1988), the EastWest Questionnaire (EWQ) (Gilgen & Cho, 1979), and the Locus of Control (LC) Scale (Rotter, 1966). A counterbalanced experimental design was used to control for possible order effects. Duckitt's (1989) conceptualization of …

The Pain Related Self-Statements Scale (Prss): Psychometric Properties In A College Sample, Howard D. Griffin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Pain Related Self-Statements Scale (PRSS) in a college sample. Specifically, the purpose was to replicate the two factor structure of the PRSS, evaluate the instrument's internal consistency, and examine the convergent validity of the PRSS with other measures of coping with pain. The PRSS is a measure of "situation specific" cognitive coping strategies for individuals suffering from chronic pain. The instrument has two subscales: Catastrophizing and Active Coping. Participants in this study were undergraduate psychology students. Each student was given a packet of self-report measures including a …

Social Support, Prior Interracial Experiences, And Network Orientation: Factors Related To Later Adjustment Among Black Freshmen At A Predominantly White University, Calvin Graham

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

African-American students (mostly Freshmen) enrolled for the first year at a four-year university completed information about the racial composition of their high school, family income, living arrangements, and stressor prior to entering school. At two times during the first semester they completed measures of social support, network orientation and adaptation to college. Information about Grade Point Average (GPA) for the following term and attendance at the University one year later were also obtained. Racial composition of high school had some affect on social support at the university: Students from integrated and mainly Black high schools reported more social support satisfaction …

A Behavioural Checklist For The Measurement Of Self-Esteem In The Classroom, Dawn Metcalfe

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The study sets out to develop a behavioural checklist for the measurement of self-esteem in the classroom. The importance of self-esteem to learning and adjustment to life's situation is well recognised by educational practitioners and theorists. This study examined the concept of self-esteem and the need for an objective instrument to measure the concept in children aged 6 to 12 years. The development of the instrument was in four phases and in every phase the input and feedback of classroom teachers was considered crucial The resulting instrument therefore comprises descriptions which are entirely teacher-generated. At several points in the process …

The Need For A United States Government Capacity To Analyze And Counter Foreign Perception Management Operations: Part Ii, Todd Levanthal

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This is the second part of a three-part series by Mr. Todd Leventhal who from January 1987 to May 1996 was Program Officer for Countering Disinformation at the United States Information Agency (USIA.) The series reflects only his personal opinions, not those of USIA or the United States Government (USG.) It is presented with only the most minor editing but with extensive commentary by IBPP. The series also reflects IBPP's deep commitment to foster deliberation and--when appropriate-- change in science, policy, programs, and informed opinion.

Problems With Political Types, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The editor discusses and evaluates the concept of typology in the context of political psychology, including those who use typology as a tool.

A Psychopolitical Analysis Of Situation Awareness: An Editorial, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The editor discusses aviation-related terrorism, situational awareness, and related psychological and human factors involved.

The Need For A United States Government Capacity To Analyze And Counter Foreign Perception Management Operations: Part I, Todd Levanthal

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This begins a three-part series by Mr. Todd Leventhal who from January 1987 to May 1996 was Program Officer for Countering Disinformation at the United States Information Agency (USIA.) The series reflects only his personal opinions, not those of USIA or the United States Government (USG.) It is presented with only the most minor editing, but with extensive commentary by IBPP. The series also reflects IBPP's deep commitment to foster deliberation and--when appropriate-- change in science, policy, programs, and informed opinion.

Competitive Orientations And Motives Of Adult Sport And Exercise Participants, Diane L. Gill, Lavon Williams, Deborah A. Dowd, Christina M. Beaudoin, Jeffrey J. Martin

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

Participants in four different adult sport and exercise programs (running club, exercise classes, cardiac rehabilitation program, senior games) completed measures of competitive orientation and participation motivation. Our samples were older and more diverse than samples of previous research, and their competitive orientations and motives were similarly diverse. Multivariate analyses revealed gender and sample differences. Males were higher than females on competitiveness and win orientation, and runners were less win-oriented than other groups, but overall, all groups were similar to previous college-age samples in competitive orientation. Groups varied on specific motives, with females rating fitness, flexibility, affiliation, and appearance higher than …

Using Biodata To Predict Alternative Measures Of Training Period Turnover, Ronald Pankratz

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Logistic Regression was utilized to add to what is known about biodata and turnover. Biodata items from 958 former and current employees in a manufacturing environment were used to develop models to predict a) which employees will turnover prior to completion of a ninety-day training period, b) who will leave voluntarily versus involuntarily, and of those who leave voluntarily c) which leavers are functional versus dysfunctional. A significant relationship was found between biodata items and completion of the ninety-day training period. The resulting model indicated that those who completed training were employed at time of hire, had higher aptitude scores, …

Determination Of Chromatic And Luminance Channels In The Zebrafish Visual System Using An Increment Threshold Technique, Richard Hughes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

It is well established that the primate visual system possesses anatomically separate chromatic and luminance channels; these pathways are responsible for the visual coding of color and brightness information, respectively. In lower vertebrates, such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio), there does not appear to be any anatomical separation of cell types mediating color and luminance information. However, several studies suggest that these vertebrates may be able to discriminate these attributes of a visual stimulus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the zebrafish visual system possesses chromatic and luminance channels. In addition, the contribution of each cone photoreceptor …

Assessing The Persistence To Graduation Of Students Joining Fraternities At Western Kentucky University, Charles Pride

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In the study, I assessed the persistence of students who joined fraternities at Western Kentucky University. Also included is a comparison between them and the general student population. The study includes 1467 students who joined fraternities between the Fall 1986 to Spring 1991 semesters. A five-year time period was used as the benchmark for graduation from the institution. Factors that were explored included race, initiation status, year in school when pledging, and organizational affiliation. Pearson Product-Moment Correlations and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data. The results illustrated that students who join fraternities graduate at a higher …

Score Changes From The Wisc-R To The Wisc-Iii In Disabled Population In Kentucky, Rachel Swing

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study was conducted to examine the extent of score changes from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) to the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) when administered to Learning Disabled and Mild Mental Disabled populations. Specifically, this study examined whether there are differences, or, differential score changes between these populations from one test version to the next. Score changes were obtained from 7 school districts in Western Kentucky. Recorded were scores from the WISC-R and WISC-III administrations in the areas of Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores. The information collected about the children included date of …

Linking Assessment To Intervention: Teacher Awareness And Training Needs Related To Students With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Matthew Luckett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Despite the efforts of private and federally funded research, which have led to a prodigious accumulation of information concerning the assessment and diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and interventions for students diagnosed with ADHD, a minimal amount of research focus has centered around the application of assessment information in the development of treatment plans. The evolution of diagnostic labels for ADHD and variability among school-based assessment practices have impeded the utilization of assessment data in intervention planning. Although reaction to the challenges presented by ADHD students has been widespread, research generated by the interest in this heterogeneous population has only …

An Investigation Of Peripheral Localization Errors In Older Adults, Eric Stephens

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In a typical useful field of view (UFOV) paradigm, an observer must correctly identify a center target while simultaneously localizing a peripheral target. Previous research has shown that many older adults have difficulty locating the peripheral target in the UFOV paradigm when compared to younger adults (Sekuler & Ball, 1986; Scialfa, Kline, & Lyman, 1987; Ball, Beard, Roenker, Miller, & Griggs, 1988; Ball, Roenker, & Bruni, 1990; Scialfa, Thomas, & Joffe, 1994). However, the reason for this difficulty is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to test two potential explanations for the difficulty that some older adults …

A Survey Of Black Student Perceptions And Attitudes On The Utilization Of Academic Retention Programs, Beora Willams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In this study I examine the perceptions and attitudes of black students attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) concerning student support services designed to assist them in achieving social and academic success. PWIs have established minority retention programs with an overall mission of recruiting and retaining black students; however, program use is minimal and black students continue to depart college prematurely. This research seeks to assess the perceptions and attitudes of black students to determine if program ambiguity, lack of faculty involvement or available mentoring, campus affiliation, racism, or time taken away from academic pursuits has a role in whether …

The Effects Of Practice On Stroop Inhibition: A Process Dissociation Approach, Emily Patterson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Two studies were performed to investigate the effects of age and practice on Stroop inhibition. The first experiment examined the influence of age on the ability to ignore the meaning of words on Stroop items. Fifteen younger and 15 older adults were asked to name the color of congruent, incongruent, and control items appearing on a computer screen. Participants' interference and facilitation scores, error rates, and color and word process dissociation estimates were computed. The results indicate that older adults experienced more interference and facilitation than the younger adults and produced more errors than the younger adults on items where …

Temporal Characteristics Of Zebrafish Cone Types And Their Role In Separate Visual Processing, Warren Patterson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Chromatic and luminance information are processed separately by the visual systems of most higher vertebrates via anatomically separate pathways. Research on primates suggests that the luminance mechanism transmits information about stimulus luminance, movement, and flicker while chromatic mechanisms signal color and detailed information. In order to signal rapid movement, the luminance channel transmits information more rapidly than the chromatic mechanism. While some lower vertebrates such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio) do not demonstrate anatomical separation of processing, it is believed that separate processing is a basic requirement of vertebrate vision. The spectral sensitivity functions (relative sensitivity to different wavelengths of …

Work Redesign And Its Influence On Employee Motivation And Job Satisfaction, John Koscielniak

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Reengineering and work redesign have become the buzzwords of the healthcare industry giving rise to the unprecedented growth of reengineering / work redesign consultants who offer cookbook methods to make the organization efficient and reduce costs. The unfortunate consequence of this rush to redesign is that the employer accepts recommendations to change the organization without knowing the state of the workforce. The purpose of this research is to test the effects of work redesign as implemented at two for-profit hospitals using a measurement tool developed specifically for work redesign. The intent is to compare the hospitals separately as each work …

A Content Analysis Of Student's Perceptions Of Instructors, Bill C. Cassill

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In his recent confirmatory factor analysis of the Instructional Development and Effectiveness Assessment rating instrument (IDEA), Marsh (1994) identified six factors matching those from his Students' Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ) rating instrument. However, four of these factors, Enthusiasm, Interaction, Learning, and Organization, were found to be highly intercorrelated. Due to this, other researchers have questioned whether these four factors are really independent constructs as Marsh asserts. Because of the question of independent constructs, many researchers feel that a greater reliance should be placed on the use of global rating items instead of items designed to measure specific dimensions of …

The Effects Of An Information/Counseling Session And Partner Participation In Treadmill Testing On Sexual Functioning Following Myocardial Infarction, Betty J. Fisher

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to assess the effects of an intervention designed to reduce patient and partner anxiety regarding the resumption of sexual activities following myocardial infarction (MI). A multiple baseline across subjects design was employed.

Participants completed self-report measures o f sexual functioning, knowledge of psychological and physical sequelae to MI, depression and anxiety on a weekly basis for at least 3 weeks (to a maximum of 12 weeks) prior to participating in treadmill testing, and attending the information/counseling session. Couples also completed these assessments for a 4-week period following the intervention.

Six heterosexual couples in which …

The Mmpi-A: A Diagnostic Tool For Adhd Adolescents, Harry J. Marshall

Dissertations

This research investigated the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) as an instrument in the diagnosis of adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Subjects were 32 male and 12 female adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 who presented for evaluation and/or treatment for ADHD in one of three privately operated mental health clinics in a large, industrial, midwestem state. Upon establishment of the diagnosis by a psychologist who specializes in the area of ADHD, the subjects were invited to participate in the study and complete the MMPI-A. A correlational research design was used which compared …

Fluency Training On Quantitative Skills Tested By The Graduate Record Examination, Pamela L. Vunovich

Dissertations

This research consisted of an evaluation of a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) preparation course and two ancillary studies. Eighteen students enrolled in one of three courses (spring, summer, or fall) during which they spent approximately 140 hours preparing for the GRE using self-instructional texts and supplementary materials. Two sets of fluency practice drills with both accuracy and speed criteria were developed to improve students' performance on the quantitative portion of the GRE. The first set of four drills used in the spring and summer courses covered basic skills (basic math, fractions, decimals, and percentages). The second set of 42 drills, …

Worker Productivity As A Function Of The Percentage Of Monetary Incentives To Base Pay, Carol J. Frisch

Dissertations

Several studies have shown that individuals working under pay conditions with monetary incentives have higher levels of productivity than individuals working for non-incentive pay, such as hourly wages (Abernathy, Duffy, & O’Brien, 1982; Dierks & McNally, 1987; Farr, 1976; Gaetani, Hoxeng, & Austin, 1986; George & Hopkins, 1989; London & Oldham, 1977; Orpen, 1982; Nebeker & Neuberger, 1985; Terborg & Miller, 1978; Yukl, Wexley, & Seymore, 1972). It has also been noted that a minimum of 30% incentive is generally accepted as necessary to affect (employee) motivation (Fein, 1970), and increasing incentives above this level will not result in appreciable …

Environmental Attitudes And Behaviors: An Examination Of The Antecedents Of Behavior Among Air Force Members At Work, Mark S. Laudenslager

Theses and Dissertations

A questionnaire was randomly distributed to members of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB, OH, with 307 returned. The survey was designed to test the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model developed by Icek Ajzen, and the organizational theory of planned behavior (OTPB) model explored in this research effort. Validation and measurement of the TPB in relation to an organizational setting was accomplished, with the organizational theory of planned behavior (OTPB) developed. The behaviors and intentions individuals have towards recycling, energy conservation, and carpooling were examined, with the demographic variables of gender, age, and education also investigated. …