Digital Commons Network^™

Reviewing Or Retrieving: What Activity Best Promotes Long-Term Retention?, Paul D. Lindgren

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Research studies repeatedly emphasize the importance of vocabulary capabilities to a large variety of academic activities. This study compared a learning strategy that exclusively involved the visual review of vocabulary word-definition pairs to a strategy that, in addition, prompted participants to attempt free-recall retrieval of words to match specific definitions. This comparison attempted to identify which of the two strategies best produces longer-term attainment of vocabulary knowledge. A group of participants (N = 20) used a web-based system to take a pre-test over 21 relatively difficult SAT-review vocabulary words using a drag and drop graphical user interface. For each participant, …

The Role Of Dairy Products And Milk In Adolescent Obesity: Evidence From Hong Kong’S ‘‘Children Of 1997’’ Birth Cohort, Shi Lin Lin, Marie Tarrant, Lai Ling Hui, Man Ki Kwok, Tai Hing Lam, Gabriel M. Leung, Mary Schooling

Publications and Research

Background
Observational studies, mainly from Western populations, suggest dairy consumption is inversely associated with adiposity. However, in these populations the intake range is limited and both diet and obesity may share social patterning. Evidence from non-Western developed settings with different social patterning, is valuable in distinguishing whether observed associations are biologically mediated or socially confounded.

Objective
To examine the associations of milk or other dairy product consumption with adolescent obesity.

Methods
We used multivariable linear regression models to examine the associations of milk or other dairy product consumption, obtained from a food frequency questionnaire, at 11 years with body mass …

The Impact Of Tarp On Bank Efficiency, Oneil Harris, Daniel Huerta, Thanh Ngo

Documents

No abstract provided.

Partnering Into Parenthood : Exploring The Relationship Between Coparenting And Couple Satisfaction In Triadic Family Systems, Elizabeth H. Welton

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This mixed methods study explores qualities in couple relationships, as they emerged in the initial interview of a coparenting intervention, as they relate to couple satisfaction. Fifteen sets of parents were asked to describe and discuss their coparenting and couple relationship in the initial interview. Their degree of couple satisfaction was measured at baseline and again 18 months later, and coparenting and couple qualities were examined side by side with baseline couple satisfaction scores and change scores. By exploring qualities pertaining to the coparenting and couple subsystems during early parenthood, this study illuminates the complex interplay between coparenting and couple …

Life In College : An Exploratory Study Examining Undergraduate Students' Experiences With Indirect Aggression, Mary M. Mclaughlin

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The aim of this project was to examine college students' perceptions about a destructive, covert form of bullying known as "indirect aggression." Indirect aggression is a type of social manipulation in which the aggressor manipulates others to attack the victim. This study also collected information about the "reality TV" viewing habits of the sample during high school. The goal was threefold: to pilot a methodology for examining perceptions of indirect aggression in the college student population, to expand our understanding of this covert form of bullying in young adults, and to examine the relationship of reality TV exposure to indirect …

Multicultural Competency, Training, And Outreach And Setting : A Quantitative Study With College Counselors, Eline Potoski

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study looked at differences in multicultural competencies of college counselors by training, outreach, institutional setting, and demographic characteristics and their relationship to multicultural counseling competencies as measured by the Multicultural Counseling Knowledge and Awareness Scale. Using a non-experimental cross-sectional design, this study gathered information from 77 college counselors responding to a web-based, self-report survey. The participants for this study were drawn from a non-probability sample of college counseling center staff currently employed at a college counseling center and currently providing counseling services to college or university students. The study found that training, outreach and certain institutional setting characteristics, such …

Is Sexual Violence A Public Concern Or A Private Affair? : An Exploration Of Community Members' Perceptions In A Rural New England Village, Mary S. Thompson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative methods study explores how community members were impacted by isolated cases of sexual violence that involved their neighbors in a rural New England village and asks whether they perceive sexual violence as a public concern or a private affair. As a pastor in the town when these events occurred, I wondered about the ensuing communal silence and its impact on the community as a whole. Were individuals navigating questions about social norms and communal responsibilities, as they processed personal thoughts about sexual violence and their emotional experiences of their neighbors' pain? Fourteen community leaders representing three generations of …

Resiliency On The Home Front : Addressing The Needs Of Family And Friends Of Unmarried Military Members During Deployment, Michelle E. Biltz

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore the needs of family and close friends of unmarried military members. Unmarried military members depend on parents, relatives, siblings, significant others, and close friends for support during deployments, however there is limited research available on the needs of this population. The main research question was: What are the needs of family and close friends of unmarried military members during deployment? A questionnaire was used to recruit participants through Facebook military communities and online military community forums. There were 33 total participants who were asked to identify an unmarried military member with whom they had …

Questioning Neutrality : An Inquiry Into Contemporary Therapists' Attitudes Towards Neutrality In The Clinical Encounter, Shoshanna D. Brady

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore the possible relationship between clinicians' training in neutrality at Smith College School for Social Work and their enduring practice ideals with respect to neutrality. Grounded in the theoretical literature regarding models of psychodynamic therapeutic change, this research project sought to describe the role of neutrality in contemporary clinical practice, addressing a gap in comprehensive empirical research on this topic. Research data was collected from 224 alumni who graduated from Smith College School for Social Work (SCSSW) during the past 30 years and are currently practicing in the field of mental health. Participants completed an …

A Queer-Positive Institution And Its Creation Of Gender-Competency In Social Workers : A Project Based On The Exploration Of Smith College School For Social Work Alumni, Haley M. Burton

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative study explored the inclusion of transgender specific curriculum provided at the Masters level at Smith College School for Social Work and the degree of competency and level of preparedness it provided graduates of the program. The chosen alumni population was reached through the alumni email network. This study utilized a curriculum survey created by previous researchers, as well as a transphobia scale to perform an attitudinal assessment. It was hypothesized that those who indicated receiving more education on issues specific to the transgender population would feel more competent and more prepared. An additional hypothesis was that those who …

The Role Of Blogging Across Stages Of Change In Recovery From Anorexia Nervosa, Sarah A. Kupper

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory, mixed-methods study sought to understand how individuals at various stages of change in the recovery process from Anorexia Nervosa (AN) use blogging. The study also aimed to discover why these individuals begin blogging and the impact of this activity on the recovery process. A total of 13 participants were included in the sample for this study. An internet survey measured bloggers' stage of change using the Anorexia Nervosa Stage of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ). Additionally, the survey contained open-ended, qualitative questions eliciting bloggers' reasons for beginning to blog, as well as how they perceived the influence of blogging on …

Psychotherapists' Decisions Regarding Boundary Crossings In Outpatient Practice, Victoria E. Brinckerhoff

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research study was a quantitative, exploratory investigation of the experiences and opinions of outpatient psychotherapists regarding decisions about crossing boundaries within clinical practice. The focus was on boundary-crossing behavior, as distinguished from boundaryviolating behavior, in that boundary crossings are not necessarily harmful, and at times may be helpful to the client. An electronic questionnaire, developed specifically for this research, was administered anonymously to 46 practicing clinicians in the United States. The major areas of inquiry were the following: boundary-crossing decisions with which clinicians experienced the most difficulty, factors influencing decisions regarding boundary dilemmas, and types of resources that clinicians …

Unequal Access : Gaps In Service For Gay Male Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Elizabeth H. Condrey

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study explores the problem of gaps in intimate partner violence services for gay male victims of abuse and the implications for social workers and other service providers. Unequal access to appropriate, affirming, and inclusive partner abuse services is a widespread problem for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and communities, and, for the purposes of this study, partner abuse specifically among gay men is considered. This study utilizes two theoretical models, intersectionality and cultural competency, to provide a guiding framework for service providers to use when assessing current services and implementing improved policies and procedures. Intersectionality …

Perspectives Of Foster Parents : What Influences Their Motivation To Become And Continue To Be Foster Parents?, Bridget D. Conway

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores the experiences of current foster parents. The purposes of this study were to 1) identify motivation for fostering; 2) identify foster parents' supports; 3) learn of foster parent's motivation to continue fostering; 4) assess foster parents' needs; 5) create recommendations to further support and encourage our foster parents. Nine foster parents from eight different US states participated in one-hour phone interviews to provide the data for this research. The results of this research are consistent with previous research about factors contributing to the retention rates of foster parents. Findings demonstrate that successful fostering includes teamwork, communication, …

"There's No Escaping The Body" : Clinicians' Views On The Relevance Of The Body And The Use Of Body-Based Interventions In Work With Mother-Child Dyads Exposed To Domestic Violence, Danielle E. Sachs

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory, descriptive study was to examine if and how clinicians working with mother-child (0-5) dyads exposed to domestic violence perceived the body as being a part of treatment: Did they perceive the body as being a part of treatment; did they then make use of specific body-based interventions, and how were those interventions defined? Eleven clinicians participated in qualitative interviews to provide their perspectives on the relevance and integration of the body in dyadic clinical work focused on the attachment between mother child dyads exposed to domestic violence. Participants -- compromised of licensed and provisionally licensed …

Are We Reaching The Body? : A Study Of Social Workers' Attitudes On The Mind-Body Connection In Trauma Treatment, Samuel R. Douglas

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

A national sample of 39 social workers currently treating traumatized clients in therapy in the United States responded to an anonymous, online survey designed to gauge their attitudes toward the role of the mind-body connection in trauma treatment and recovery. The study sought to ascertain whether the most recent research in the neurobiology of trauma, and the resulting developments in the theory of trauma treatment, had significantly influenced the approach taken by social workers in clinical settings. The findings suggest that social workers have largely embraced the idea of a mind-body connection in trauma, and are inclined—in theory, if less …

Screening Techniques : Clinicians' Views And Approaches To Assessing Alcohol And Substance Use In Older Adults, Erin M. Conlan

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study examined how New York State licensed clinicians approach the initial assessment and ongoing treatment of older adults (55+) identified to be struggling with alcohol or substance misuse issues. The research questions specifically asked: Do clinicians assess for alcohol and substance misuse in the older adult patients they serve? What are the mediating factors within this assessment and treatment process? This study was initiated in an exploratory fashion because of the limited amount of research available which investigates the relationship between clinicians' attitudes and approaches to this work with the rapidly growing older adult populations they serve. Given …

Talking Through The Body : A Comparative Study Of Cognitive-Behavioral And Attachment Based Treatments For Childhood Trauma, Eric A. Eichler

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Childhood abuse and neglect have been shown to have a devastating impact on an individual's social, emotional, and physical development. This study was undertaken in order to determine the best treatment approach for survivors of childhood trauma. The author investigated the impact of traumatic stress on the brain, and reviewed the psychoanalytic, child development, and neurobiological literature on the importance of the attachment relationship for healthy development. Various perspectives on the diagnosis of childhood trauma were explored, including models that centralize childhood trauma as the cause of much of the spectrum of mental illness we see today. The author researched …

Nature's Ritalin : The Effects Of Green Spaces On Symptoms Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Roger A. Sideman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored the effects of exposure to natural green spaces on symptoms of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among diagnosed college students. Six students from three universities in the San Francisco Bay Area were interviewed regarding the impact of experiences in urban green spaces and wilderness on their perceived attentional functioning, stress, and mood. The study sought to: 1) contribute to the growing base of literature and research on Attention Restoration Theory (ART); 2) offer a potential non-pharmacological alternative treatment for ADHD; and 3) further develop within the field of social work an understanding of the natural environment as it …

The Double Bind Of Triple Jeopardy : Exploring The Impact Of Multiple Minority Stress On Lgbtq-Identified Asian Women In America, Anastasia Y. Taketomo

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to determine the impact of multiple minority stress on LGBTQ-identified Asian women living in America. The research explored how the values of families of origin, communities, and chosen families impact identity negotiations, as well as overall quality of life. The findings of this study were utilized to conceptualize best practices for mental health practitioners around better meeting the needs of individuals experiencing multiple minority stress. One hundred and fifty-two women living in the United States responded to a series of multiple choice and narrative response questions via Internet survey. They were asked questions focusing on demographics, …

Ecopsychology And Race : An Exploratory Study, Luke B. Woodward

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

While ecopsychology has brought critical attention to the relationship between the natural environment and the human psyche, very little has been written about how race and racism shape our experience of the natural world. This qualitative study asked the following central question: How are race and racism relevant to ecopsychology in theory and practice? Twelve semistructured interviews were conducted with a racially diverse group of ecopsychologists, environmental justice activists and spiritual leaders. Interview data emphasized the importance of employing a broad definition of ecopsychology that encompasses not only the relationship between psyche and nature, but the relationship between psyche, nature …

A Theoretical Approach To Understanding Alcohol Misuse In Military Personnel Returning Home From Operation Iraqii (Oif) And Operation Enduring Freedom (Oef), Patrice K. Boyce

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical thesis explores the misuse of alcohol in military personnel who are returning home from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The study focuses on what occurs to these soldiers upon their return home, as they try to manage their experiences of combat while continuing to fulfill their duties as soldiers, sailors, Marines, airman, and guardians. The comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which sometimes result from traumatic memories and experiences of the Middle East, and the misuse of alcohol which some returning soldiers use as an acceptable tool for numbing symptoms of PTSD are explored in this …

Dwell In Possibility : An Exploration Of The Use Of Metaphor In Psychotherapy : A Project Based On Interviews With Fourteen Psychotherapists, Heather B. Clarke

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored the use of metaphor in psychotherapy. Fourteen interviews were conducted with psychotherapists with a variety of training and expertise. Each clinician was asked the same six interview questions which attempted to shed light on which metaphors in particular emerged during treatment with patients, whether or not these metaphors reflected the patient's history or diagnosis, the metaphor's relationship to patient affect, the metaphor's influence on the therapeutic alliance, as well as other topics. Primary themes that emerged in multiple interviews included the fact that metaphor may arise from various sources, including dreams as well as spontaneous cocreations …

How Does Homeless Outreach Work : The Perspective Of The Homeless Outreach Worker, Carlos E. Encalada

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory/descriptive study examines the perspective of workers who provide outreach services to a population experiencing street homelessness, about the work they do. It utilizes a convenience sample derived from the diverse workforce of a five-agency collaborative in a large Northeastern U.S. city. The purpose of this study was to give voice to and contextualize the perspective of outreach workers on the nature of work with vulnerable populations. Largely missing from the literature on outreach work with the chronically homeless, the perspective of outreach workers is needed to inform an understanding of the complexities of this work and to support …

A Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Mexican Americans And Non-Latino White Americans : Does Culture Influence Family Cohesion And Father Involvement?, Claudia V. Ruiz Esparza Escobedo

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative research study is a preliminary assessment of family cohesion and father involvement in two cultural groups: Mexican American and non-Latino white American families with children between the ages of one to seven years old and of low to medium socioeconomic status. The line of inquiry is whether or not culture influences family cohesion and father involvement in this sample. The variables of family cohesion and father involvement were measured along with an examination of the effects of culture and acculturation on Mexican American families. The Family Circles instrument is a pictorial assessment tool used in this study to …

The Who, How And Why Of Facebook Use : The Relationship Between Level Of Use And The Big Five Personality Traits, Larua K. Mackie

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits and level of Facebook use. It was hypothesized that certain personality characteristics such as extraversion and low levels of conscientiousness would be more strongly correlated with higher levels of Facebook use. In addition, the study explored whether agreeableness and openness were significantly correlated to use/non-use of the site as had been found in previous research. Data was collected using an online survey, which included questions regarding demographic criterion, the Big Five Personality Inventory, whether participants utilized Facebook and if so how frequently, and what their reasons …

Hip-Hop As Healer : Black Males' Experience Of Hip-Hop Culture, Tawnee Sae-Saue

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study was developed to explore the experiences that Black men have of hip-hop and its potential healing function. Ten Black men were interviewed in the Los Angeles and Bay Area regarding their experiences as either practitioners or followers of hip-hop. Participants were asked to reflect on the role that hip-hop has played in their lives, hip-hop's effect on their racial identities and its impact on their emotions. All subjects described themselves as having a relationship with hip-hop that was, and continues to be, transformative. Participants described hip-hop as a chosen kinship and described the culture as having a …

An Untapped Body Of Knowledge : The Use Of Body Language In Clinical Social Work, Alexandria D. Wright

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This mixed-method study explores the role and relevance of nonverbal communication in the clinical encounter as perceived by clinical social workers. A survey of 54 clinical social workers currently practicing with an MSW was used to assess the perceived value, frequency, and presumed usefulness of attending to nonverbal communication between oneself and one's client. The survey also inquired into the depth and breadth of training participants had received in incorporating nonverbal communication into a therapeutic practice. Participants evaluated the quantity and quality of training they received in both MSW and other professional programs, and reflected upon the impact extracurricular, personal …

Resiliency In Survivors Of Human Trafficking : An Exploratory Study Of Clinicians' Perspectives Of Protective Factors, Theresa A. Carter

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores the salutogenic question as it relates to female survivors of human trafficking, "Why, when women are exposed to the same trauma which causes some to become ill, do some remain healthy?" Using a standardized open-ended interview format, this author gathered the perspectives of twelve health and social services providers, including executive directors, case management workers, mental health counselors, and advocates. This data was compiled and analyzed, alongside the existing literature on resiliency and within the framework of Salutogenic Theory. All participants identified protective factors that contribute to resiliency based on their professional work with female survivors …

The Essence Of Beauty : Examining The Impact Of Idealized Beauty Standards On College-Age African America Women, Tiffany M. Paschal

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study examined the psychological and emotional effects of contemporary western society's standards of beauty on college-age African American women. Various studies on perception of beauty have explored body image perception from a middle class Caucasian perspective; and as a result, body image conceptualization from the perspective of African American women has gone unnoticed (Spurgas, 2005, Hatcher, 2007, Hall 1995). Previous literature suggests that African American women define self-perception and beauty differently from mainstream definitions. This study involved conducting a focus group with eighteen students between the ages of 18 and 25 who were enrolled at a Historically Black …