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Exploring Conceptualization And Operationalization Of Interorganizational Interactions: An Empirical Study, Andrew Paul Williams

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

Collaboration and other forms of interaction between complex arrangements of private, nonprofit, and public organizations to address challenging policy problems now occurs routinely. In many cases collaboration is mandated by law, and often disbursement of grants to nonprofits is contingent upon demonstrating collaboration with other organizations. To understand this contemporary landscape of public administration and develop cumulative knowledge, theory requires reliable and valid constructs of collaboration and other forms of interorganizational interaction. Theoretical rigor then underpins practice, including the growing discipline of evaluating the level of interaction between organizations or an organization’s “collaborative capacity,” and to understand more broadly how …

The Value Of Integrated Information Systems For U.S. General Hospitals, Liuliu Fu

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Each year, huge investments into healthcare information systems (HIS) are being made all over the world. Despite the enormous cost for the hospitals, the overall benefits and costs of the healthcare information systems have not been deeply assessed. In recent years, much previous research has investigated the link between the implementation of Information Systems and the performance of organizations. Although the value of Healthcare Information System or Healthcare Information Technology (HIS/HIT) has been found in many studies, some questions remain unclear. Do HIS/HIT systems influence different hospitals the same way? How to understand and explain the mechanism that HIS/HIT improves …

Behavioral Immunity Suppresses An Epizootic In Caribbean Spiny Lobsters, Mark J. Butler Iv, Donald C. Behringer Jr., Thomas W. Dolan Iii, Jessica Moss, Jeffrey D. Shields

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Sociality has evolved in a wide range of animal taxa but infectious diseases spread rapidly in populations of aggregated individuals, potentially negating the advantages of their social interactions. To disengage from the coevolutionary struggle with pathogens, some hosts have evolved various forms of "behavioral immunity"; yet, the effectiveness of such behaviors in controlling epizootics in the wild is untested. Here we show how one form of behavioral immunity (i.e., the aversion of diseased conspecifics) practiced by Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) when subject to the socially transmitted PaV1 virus, appears to have prevented an epizootic over a large seascape. We …

Meditation In The Classroom: Cultivating Attention And Insight, E. James Baesler

Communication & Theatre Arts Faculty Publications

Goals: Care must be taken by the instructor not to overemphasize achieving the goal(s) of meditation. Often, when there is too much emphasis on trying to reach the goal, the benefits of meditating can be hindered. On the other hand, when the goal of meditation is held loosely, then the goal is more easily approached. For this class meditation activity, the instructor might loosely hold several interrelated goals for their students: cultivate experiences of first person attention, concentration, and awareness while simultaneously developing capacities for insight, imagination, exploration, and discernment of ideas related to class content and applications to everyday …

Section Abstracts: Statistics

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Statistics Section for the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 21-23, 2015, James Madison University, Richmond, Virginia

Section Abstracts: Psychology

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Psychology Section for the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 21-23, 2015, James Madison University, Richmond, Virginia

Dreams And Identity: A Self-Study Using Dream Imagery And Analysis To Explore Relationships And Identity Development, Jasmine S. Jackson

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

For this self-study, I explored the use of art-making and reflective writing in the analysis of my dreams over a nine-week period. A review of the literature discussed the historical and contemporary use of dreams and their relevance to art therapy and counseling. The importance of self-awareness for emerging art therapists was highlighted, as well as the use of dreams, journaling, and art-making to facilitate this process. The results showed that working with dream imagery helped me gain insight on depression, fear, relationships, communication patterns, and sexual identity. Art-making and reflective writing were effective tools for analyzing dreams, identifying problems …

Starving: An Art Therapy Perspective Of Anorexia Nervosa, Reland L. Happel

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this capstone project was to create an art exhibition based on the literature and current art therapy practice to educate the public about anorexia nervosa and about treatment options. This exhibit especially emphasized the use of art therapy in the treatment of anorexia. Sixteen pieces of art were created and displayed with accompanying descriptions and quotes. These pieces of art were displayed in Eastern Virginia Medical School and left up for several weeks. Anonymous responses to the exhibition were collected and analyzed for general themes. Responses demonstrated that the art show had education value and that viewers …

Self Study: Exploring Art Therapist Professional Identity And Body Image After Bariatric Surgery Through Reflective Art Making, Jennifer W. M. Gorman

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This self-study utilized self-reflective art making to record my experience with body image as a bariatric surgery patient. I created artwork and written reflections over five structured sessions. I analyzed qualitative data including five pieces of artwork and written responses to distill patterns, themes, and subthemes. I discovered patterns of visual characteristics, my beliefs about society’s perceptions of me, negative self-talk, positive self-talk, actions, time, assimilation, and health upon data analysis. Implications of this are encouraging for the future study of reflective art making for bariatric patients, researching the effects of individual and group art therapy to further integrate this …

Interviews With Trauma Informed Art Therapy Experts: A Qualitative Study, Kara Cross

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Through qualitative interviewing of art therapy trauma experts, this study’s aim was to discover the “best practices” related to the field of art therapy when working with patients who have experienced trauma. The introduction described the background and rationale behind the study, followed by a brief overview of trauma related disorders and the neurocognitive effects of trauma on the human brain. A synopsis of literature supported the efficacy of art therapy in trauma work, and described multiple art therapy methods as effective treatments when working with patients who have experienced trauma. A description of the six art therapists interviewed for …

Art Therapy With A Patient With Schizoaffective Disorder, Caroline Cheslak

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

People with disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum require treatment and care which are often needed for the duration of that person's life. While medication and traditional therapy are somewhat effective, some symptoms of the disorder often remain. In addition, there are often difficulties in the treatment of this population, which include non-compliance, lack of insight about the disorder and treatment, and distrust of the therapist. Research suggests that art therapy is somewhat effective in the treatment of some of the symptoms of disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum such as low sense of self, the effect of negative stigma, negative symptoms, …

A Self-Study Using Zentangles To Respond To Countertransference In Art Therapy, Lauren N. Caraotta

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This exploratory self-study utilized the production of mixed-media zentangles to respond to countertransference throughout a 15-weekinternship during my art therapy and counseling graduate school experience. Zentangles and written reflections in response to patients on an oncology and hematology unit were created over the course of the internship. Qualitative data including 20 zentangles and corresponding written responses were analyzed in order to identify themes and patterns from my overall experience. The overarching theme that emerged was that there was a relationship between the investment I made in the response art pieces and the strength of my countertransference to individual patients. The …

Art Therapy With A Familial Caregiver Of An Individual With Dementia Of The Alzheimer’S Type, Alexandra M. Serino

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and causes problems with memory, behavior, and thinking. The symptoms of this progressive disease commonly develop slowly and worsen over time. Family members who are caring for individuals with Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT) experience significant burden that affects their psychological well-being. This may result in an increase in stress/anxiety and a decreased mood. In this mixed methods case study, six individual in-home art therapy sessions were conducted with one 80 year old woman who was caring for her husband who had DAT, in order to gain preliminary understanding of …

Clinical Case Report: Art Therapy Treatment Of An Adolescent With Autism Spectrum Disorder In An Educational Setting, Alyssa Spjut

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Children and adolescents having a diagnosis that affects their development and social interactions, such as ASD, face many challenges in a school setting. These challenges can include socially appropriate interactions with their peers, disruptive behaviors, language and intellectual impairments, sensory integration problems, understanding emotional responses, and learning skills (Bellini, 2004; Brereton, Tonge & Einfeld, 2006). Specific art therapy interventions, processes, and materials can provide motivating and engaging opportunities for individuals with ASD to increase social and emotional skills and it addresses individuals’ psychological needs (Martin, 2009b). This clinical case report will describe the assessment and treatment of a 12-year-old male …

Bringing The Darkroom To Light: A Heuristic Study In Photographic Art Therapy Processes, Maria Papa

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The process of analogue photography can be complex and rewarding for the field of art therapy, though current photographic techniques and research utilized in art therapy focus mainly on the product and not the process. This qualitative heuristic study focuses on my own eight-­‐week experience of shooting photographs and developing prints in a darkroom. The aim was to understand potential benefits and challenges analogue photography could provide for art therapy practice through a connection with the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC). My reflections on my experience allowed me to extract the major steps of the analogue photography process and identify challenges …

A Self-Study On The Use Of Dreams In Self-Reflective Process To Foster Art Therapist Professional Identity In Graduate School, Ramsi M. Metzger

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This exploratory self-study utilized the tool of dream journaling along with visual and written reflections to record my art therapy and counseling graduate school experience in order to foster professional identity development. Visual reflections on dream journals were created weekly during an eight-week period. Qualitative data, including eight visual reflections and corresponding written haiku responses and artist statements, were analyzed in order to extract patterns and themes from my overall experience. Dream journaling combined with the reflection process was found to foster professional identity development through personal growth and insight.

The Efficacy Of Art Therapy-Based Processes And Techniques In Decreasing Symptoms Of Burnout And Compassion Fatigue In Pediatric Hospice And Palliative Caregivers: A Mixed-Methods Study, Aubrey Maggio

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine the efficacy of art therapybased processes and techniques in decreasing symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue in pediatric hospice and palliative caregivers. Interventions consisted of two twohour art therapy workshops, one in November 2014 and the second in January 2015. Participants were additionally supplied materials to promote self-care between the two workshops. Quantitative and qualitative measures of burnout and compassion fatigue were conducted pre- and posttest using the ProQOL-5 and individual post-intervention interviews. Due to the small sample size, data was analyzed without statistics, but rather illustrated with graphs and tables. …

Battling Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Graduate Student’S Journey Through Art Therapy, Christina Lynn Lowry

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this self-study was to explore the personal experience of being a patient in art therapy, and how effective that experience was in treating the patient’s psychological problems attributed to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

The total duration of the study was five months. The patient underwent a total of ten individual art therapy sessions in which three art pieces were created. One hour self-guided reflections were implemented following the close of each session in which visual journaling was used as a tool and ten visual reflections were created. Art materials and practices varied throughout the art making and …

Considerations For Introducing And Practicing Wellness In Harp Pedagogy And Performance, Alexandra Haile Calvert

Music Theses & Dissertations

Movement, breath, and intense focus are crucial to the playing of any musical instrument. In addition, these are important areas in many wellness methods. Many harpists are prone to injury from playing, moving their harps, sitting with poor posture, and not warming up the body before playing. By considering and incorporating the wellness practices of ergonomics, Alexander Technique, yoga, meditation, and constructing a conducive learning and practicing environment, the risk of injury may be lowered for harpists. The purpose of this study is to research and present various methods in which harpists can prevent injury. This study will assess the …

Work Across The Generations: Communication Narratives Of Stay-At-Home Fathers In Early And Middle Adulthood, Alice L. Jones

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

The notion of work whether it is done inside or outside the home represents a complex and shifting pattern of social relationships, gender role identities, and ideologies. For an increasing numbers of men, who represent the population of fathers labeled as "stay-at-Home Dad" [SAHD] or "stay-at-home father" [SAHF], these changes have created special challenges, controversies, and raised questions about cultural expectations concerning the transition from that of a stigmatized role to that of a "new, involved father" (Eranta & Moisander, 2011; Rochlen, 2008). Increased participation by men in roles that challenge traditional and long standing gender role norms and expectations …

Children’S Human Figure Drawings And Racial Identity: A Mixed Methods Study, Sonya B. Jimerson

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This study explored characteristics of children’s Human Figure Drawings (HFD) to determine whether any relationship existed between drawing characteristics and the artists’ identified race. Three hundred nine children’s HFDs obtained from the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) art therapy database were used in the study. The drawings were completed by 34 Black American males, 61 Black American females, 105 White American males, and 149 White American females, the children were between the ages of 7 and 11, and attended public schools in Southeastern Virginia. A checklist was developed through content analysis that contained 11 items associated with each group. The …

Unearthing Redemption: A Student’S Self Exploration With Survivors Of Trafficking, Carly Elise Dean

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

When entering the mental health professions, a student may find value in a process of self-exploration (Deaver, 2012; Deaver & McAuliffe, 2009; Harter, 2007; Hubbs & Brand, 2005; La Torre, 2005; Wadeson, 2003). In order to gain a greater awareness of one’s personal as well as professional identity development, the experience of cultural immersion may aid as the catalyst for unearthing a clearer understanding of one’s internal worldview. By employing the approach of authoethnography (Muncey, 2010) and following the heuristic study method developed by Moustakas (1990), I journeyed into an excavation of my own personal and professional identity development in …

Non-Traditional Students Attitudes Toward Academic Advising And Its Affects On The Successful Completion Of Education Programs, Parisa Fetherson

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine non-traditional student's attitudes toward academic advising and its effect on the completion of their education goal.

Place-Identity: Understanding Sense Of Self Through Art-Making In Nature After A Geographic Transition, Monika Burkholder

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This heuristic self-study researched the impact of a geographic transition on my personal and professional identity by making art in nature with natural materials. A thorough review of the literature revealed a lack of research in making art in nature to study identity after a transition. The following research questions were studied: Does my principle of continuity change as I connect with nature in new places after a geographic transition? How is my self-concept impacted by my connections and disconnections with various places? Does art-making in nature affect my professional identity as an art therapist and my approach to clients? …

Law Enforcement Officer Stress Management Art Therapy Group Design, Abigail Williams

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Law enforcement officers are at increased risk for experiencing negative physical and psychological effects of stress. Art therapy can be an effective method for addressing the effects of stress. The goal of this paper will be to present the design for a 16-week stress management art therapy group for law enforcement officers. The purpose of this paper will be to provide art therapists with insight into understanding police culture and needs and how art therapy can address those needs. The design of this group includes an integrative approach to group art therapy treatment in order to maximize effectiveness and meet …

Consideration Of The Impact Of Therapist’S Gender In Art Therapy Treatment With An Adolescent Female Survivor Of Sexual Abuse: A Clinical Case Study, Michael J. Galarraga

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Providing art therapy to survivors of sexual abuse can help in safe processing of trauma, increase positive self-esteem, and address predominant symptoms of mental healthcare need. Case studies in art therapy clinical experiences provide insight to inform treatment approaches and progress. Essential to the therapeutic relationship, is the exploration of the most salient dynamics including the survivor’s behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms as well as the characteristics of the therapeutic alliance. However, art therapists must understand that the processing of trauma cannot take place without creating a safe, working therapeutic relationship. This clinical case study explored the effects of working …

Art Therapy For Anxiety And Depression During Military-Induced Separation: A Case Study, Christa L. Turpin

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this case study was to gain a preliminary understanding of the effects of art therapy on anxious and depressive symptoms in a 32-year-old African American military wife experiencing military-induced separation from her active duty husband. The mixed methods study design included administration of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after six sessions of individual art therapy and a semi-structured interview conducted at the conclusion of the study to gain insight into the participant’s experience of art therapy. Results of the BDI-II revealed no change in overall score pre to post-intervention, but …

Approaches And Considerations For Providing Medical Art Therapy: A Qualitative Analysis, Jillian Popp

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Medical illness and injury as well as, the resulting psychosocial stressors can greatly impact the psychological health of the patient and their family. It is important to provide mental health services as collaborative treatment in medical hospitals. Art therapy is a uniquely accessible mental health treatment for all ages and abilities. Previous research supports the benefits of art therapy for individuals suffering from various medical illnesses and injuries. Art therapy can alleviate depression, ease anxiety, provide tools for coping with symptoms, and help the individual overcome medical crisis or trauma. This study examined the experience of art therapists working with …

Table Of Contents

Virginia Journal of Science

Table of Contents for Virginia Journal of Science, vol. 66, no. 1 & 2, Spring/Summer 2015

Motivation, Marital Quality, Maternal Gatekeeping, Breadwinning, And Father Identity: Models Of Biological Fathers’ And Stepfathers’ Involvement In Childcare, Jessica E. Ladage

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Compared to biological fathers, there is far less knowledge about stepfathers in reference to their involvement in childcare. As stepfathers continue to increase in number in the United States, it is important to understand the factors that influence a stepfather to be more or less involved in the care of their stepchildren. Few studies have examined both biological fathers and stepfathers together on multiple sets of parenting variables. Thus, the current study aims to compare biological fathers and stepfathers on a model of paternal involvement.

Participants were 306 biological fathers and 69 stepfathers. In order to participate, fathers had to …