Digital Commons Network^™

Theory Of Mind In Youth And Emerging Adults With Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, With And Without Comorbid Mood Disorder, Amy K. Olszewski

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Mood disorders are some of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BPD) have become more widely recognized in children and adolescents in recent years and are especially common in individuals with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). Disruptions in social functioning are a common feature of mood disorders, including social withdrawal and loss of interest in activities that the individual typically experiences as pleasurable (anhedonia). Studies of individuals with 22q11.2DS also show they experience difficulty with social functioning, as well as social cognition, visuospatial, and executive functioning tasks. Studies of …

Does Attractiveness Matter For Sex Offenders? An Examination Of Defendant Attractiveness, Defendant Gender, And Crime Severity, Adam Charles Austin

Theses and Dissertations

There has been an abundance of research showcasing an attraction-leniency bias that benefits attractive defendants of various crimes. However, this bias tends to diminish if the crime is deemed serious or if the defendant uses his or her attractiveness to commit the crime (i.e., swindle). The purpose of the current study is to investigate judgments made about a defendant being accused of a sexual offense. The study represents a 2 (gender of defendant) x 3 (attractiveness of defendant: attractive, unattractive, no picture) x 3 (crime severity: low, medium, high) factorial design. Participants (N = 686) were asked to report their …

Restoration, Presence And Computer Use: How Computer Displays Incorporating Restorative Environments Effect Users' Sense Of Restoration And Presence, Jacob Bell

Theses and Dissertations

Recent technological advances provide opportunities for computer users to replace

desktop pictures with dynamic, audio-visual recordings. Such advances provide researchers with opportunities to better understand how specific video content may effect users' sense of restoration and presence. As described within Attention Restoration Theory, those perceiving restorative environments, which are found primarily within nature-based environments, experience a sense of restoration. Yet, prior research has largely focused on singular, and to an extent, non-interactive displays of restorative environments. The current research further investigated the restorative potential of environments having incorporated interactive, computer-based displays, with animated audio-visual environments. Participants were assigned to either …

Minnesota Paraeducators' Perceptions Of The Barriers To Becoming Licensed Special Education Teachers, Joni Burris

Theses and Dissertations

Public schools across the country are facing a critical shortage of licensed special education teachers. For many reasons, paraeducators have been considered strong teacher candidates and have been recruited into the teaching profession intermittently for decades. Paraeducators who decide to obtain their teaching license often experience obstacles to this endeavor: money, time, family obligations, navigating the university system, and academics.

This research study examined and analyzed Minnesota paraeducators' perceptions of the barriers to obtaining their special education teaching license. It also assessed the perceptional differences between Minnesota paraeducators who have completed at least a bachelor's degree and those who have …

Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Factors That Affect The Acceptance Of Unmanned Aircraft Usage Within The United States National Airspace System, Eric Cameron

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aircraft have been around since before the Wright brothers took flight in 1903. Even though unmanned aircraft have had a history that well exceeds the century of manned aviation, they were primarily used by the military, and were mostly outside the public's purview. In recent years unmanned aircraft have made a giant leap from military use to commercial use within the United States and around the world. While pilots and operators flying these aircraft may have accepted the technology and its future potential; the public might have a different point of view on utilization over their home, town, state, …

The Influence Of Priming On College Students' Financial Valuation Of Art, Lenetta Choate

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of priming on college students' financial valuation of six artworks (i.e., three landscapes and three abstracts). This research study examined the independent variables of priming, gender, number of art courses completed, college class status, and college major on the dependent variable of college students' financial valuation of art. The sample for this study included 422 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university. Three research questions were examined. First, a t-test with an alpha of .05 was used to examine the difference in college students' financial valuation of art between college students …

Affect Dysregulation As A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma And Comorbid Substance Use Disorder And Bulimia Nervosa, Brianna Joelle Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening psychiatric disorders associated with a variety of negative medical, social, and psychological consequences. Comorbid mental disorders, such as substance use disorders, present an increasingly complex clinical picture. A significant body of research has been devoted to investigating the etiology of eating disorders and their comorbid conditions. One factor that has received research attention is that of childhood trauma experiences. Childhood trauma has been related to the development of both bulimia nervosa and substance use disorders, and more broadly, an impulsive, behaviorally dysregulated trajectory. Affect dysregulation is one factor proposed to play a role in …

Common Core State Standards: Beware The Trojan Horse, Yee Han Chu

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) represent a promise by general education that all students can be college and career ready through the acquisition of essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. These essential elements will be rigorous, supporting the higher-order and independent thinking skills typically associated with the achievement of excellence. CCSS, in short, promises excellence in all students. The needs of those students who demonstrate high ability do not receive any separate mention: (1) how has the concept of excellence been incorporated into the CCSS; and (2) what is the potential impact on high ability students?

These questions are examined …

The Visible #Family: Using The Hashtag To Study Family Construction, Joshua M. Parcha

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to see, through a raw collection of data, how the family is currently being portrayed on social networking sites. Twitter is used to examine the social construction of family based upon observing tweets that contain #family. This paper argues that the family is best understood as being constructed through interactions with others, using symbolic interaction theory for theoretical grounding. Through examining over 1,000 tweets using a grounded theory methodological approach, three main themes emerged: family types, statements of family, and the esoteric family. The emergent themes suggest several implications, including that the family is …

Dysmenorrhea And Body Mass Index, Marisa Richard

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological complaint among women, one that costs the U.S. economy approximately $2 billion in lost productivity each year. The present observational study examined the correlation of BMI and diagnoses of dysmenorrhea in a large sample of women ages 18-40 seen in an outpatient setting over the course of one year at a large health system in southeast Michigan. Although there were no statistically significant differences in the probability of dysmenorrhea among women of different BMI groups, the trending information seemed to suggest that dysmenorrhea is not influenced by BMI categories per se, but by extremes in …

Autism Centered Theatre: The Use Of Drama To Improve Social Skills For Children On The Autism Spectrum, Olivia Rhoades

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the benefits of a week-long drama camp on the socials skills of children on the autism spectrum through the perspectives of parents and instructors. Data collection included pre- and post-camp questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that daily intensive exposure to drama and theatre can be a viable option to promote the development of social skills among children on the autism spectrum. The activities seemed to promote particular gains in caregiver/peer interaction, adjusting to routines, eye contact, and social perceptions/cues. Additionally, results indicated that children with greater social communication needs and those with more extensive exposure …

Mental Illness Stigma, Mental Health Literacy, And Psychological Help-Seeking In A Rural Population, Astrid Shanthi D'Cunha

Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed relationships between mental illness stigma (public stigma (Vogel, Wade & Ascheman, 2009) and private stigma (Vogel, Wade & Haake, 2006)), mental health literacy (Mental Health Literacy Survey (MHLS; Epps et al. 2007) and Symptom Recognition Scale, (SRS)), and psychological help-seeking (Attitudes towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale and Intentions via LSHS) in a rural population. Two-hundred three adults living in rural and urbanized counties within a rural Midwestern state completed paper and online surveys. Stepwise hierarchical regression analyses showed that private stigma, mental health literacy, and previous help-seeking behavior predicted attitudes towards seeking professional help while symptom …

Trauma Experiences And Symptoms Reported By American Indian And Caucasian Sex Offenders, Regina Sioux Ertz

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people are known to have a history of man-made trauma that corresponds to the colonization of the Americans. Trauma experienced by AI/AN sex offenders has not been evaluated in the research as it relates to their treatment planning. The lack of data reflecting intervention needs for AI/AN sex offenders is problematic. The current study hypothesized that American Indian sex offenders would report a greater number of trauma experiences, endorse increased symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), display more traumatic cognitions, and endorse higher dissociative experiences than Caucasian sex offenders. Statistical results yielded did not support the …

Grade Level Retention: A Comparative Study Of Beliefs And Practices In North Dakota And Surrey, Kim Englund

Theses and Dissertations

Many regions of the United States retain students who are not performing at grade level, yet a large body of research shows the ineffectiveness of having students repeat an academic year. The United Kingdom practices social promotion rather than retention. This comparative study sought to better understand the practices in these two countries and the research surrounding retention. First, it compared the interventions before and alternatives to retention used by both a North Dakota school district in the United States and two schools in Surrey, England. Second, it outlined a plan for teachers, parents, school administrators, and school policy makers …

Effects Of Video Game Playing And Training On Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Performance, Kathryn Feltman

Theses and Dissertations

The popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has resulted in the need to determine who is suitable to learn to operate UAVs. The present study examined the likelihood that action video game players (VGPs) would make better potential candidates for learning to become UAV pilots. Additional training is also examined as a factor to determine how well training assists with maintaining situational awareness and vigilance during performance of the task, which are beneficial skills for UAV pilots to possess. Ninety-two undergraduate students participated in the study, and piloting skills were tested using the Multi-Attribute Task Battery-II, which consists of generalizations …

An Analysis Of Abortion Demand In Pennsylvania 2000 - 2010, Guido Giuntini

Theses and Dissertations

In this paper I expand on previous research of the determinants of abortion demand to examine the demand for abortion in the specific case of Pennsylvania, where precise statistics are available for each county. The data considered is for the years 2000 and 2010, and allows for cross sectional and panel data analysis, specifically, first-difference permitting to look at the effect of changes over time of specific explanatory variables. Careful attention is placed on variable selection techniques to avoid the use of low significance variables. The analysis allows controlling for price, as it is considered to be constant across the …

Understanding Somali Women Refugee Students' Lives And Program Decisions At Two-Year Colleges: A Narrative Approach, Mary Fontes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore Somali women refugee students' lives and to identify what factors influenced their program decisions at two-year colleges in the Midwest. Refugees have been admitted to the United States (U. S.) as early as 1948 under the Displaced Persons Act. Some states have experienced a greater influx of refugees than others. Employment and economic self-sufficiency are emphasized as quickly as possible after arrival in the United States. Some foreign-born individuals, who aren't prepared for employment, pursue education. Somali women refugees who pursue education may be doing so unprepared or counter to cultural norms …

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention For Autism: Is It Actually More "Intensive" Than A Typical Child's Day?, Caitlyn B. Sorensen

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, and excessive ritualistic and repetitive behavior. Numerous treatments for autism devised over the last half-century have proven ineffective, or have never been scientifically evaluated. Despite the state of the research, the most demonstrably effective treatment, Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI), has been a target of much criticism, including accusations of being too intense. A large number of learning trials in relatively short periods of time supposedly induce children to have disordered stress responses. To explore the intensity of EIBI, behavior samples from children engaging …

Multiple Baseline Study Of The Effects Of Left Visual Field Stimulation During Emotion Recognition Training Among Four Male Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Rachelle Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by social deficits in emotional comprehension. Research has demonstrated that for the neurotypical population, recognizing, and reacting to facial emotions improve when using the left visual field by employing the right brain hemisphere's configural processes. Behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging findings suggest an opposite pattern within the autistic population - left hemisphere activation contributing to a right visual field preference for analyzing and assessing facial affect. The present study attempted to activate and strengthen the right hemispheric neural pathway responsible for emotion recognition using modified eyewear to contrive left visual field stimulation during an empirically …

Differentiated Instruction For Responsive Teaching In Elementary Education Student Teachers' Classrooms, Laurie Dillon Guy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore what differentiated instruction looked like in three student teachers' classrooms. I sought to understand the challenges and successes these student teachers experienced with differentiation, the conditions they were able to control or not control, and how the relationship with the cooperating teacher impacted their capacities to practice differentiation as a method for responsive teaching. Methods included observation, interviews, and collecting student teaching artifacts. Data analyses were completed through Atlas ti, a computer program that supports qualitative research synthesis.

The theoretical framework underpinning this study was Tharp and Gallimore's neo-Vygotskian learning …

Development Of A Prototype Movement Assistance System For Extravehicular Activity Gloves, Tyler Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Spacesuits utilized a rubberized layer of material to contain a pressurized atmosphere to facilitate respiration and maintain the physiologic functions of the astronaut residing within. However, the elasticity of the material makes it resistant to deformation increasing the amount of work required during movement. This becomes particularly fatiguing for the muscle groups controlling the motion of the hands and fingers. To mitigate this a robotic system was proposed and developed. The system built upon previous concepts and prototypes discovered through research efforts. It utilized electric motors to pull the index, ring, and middle fingers of the right hand closed, ideally …

Impact Of Reverse Ethnocentrism On Competence Regarding Food Related Behaviors As A Function Of Attachment Style, Ethnic Identity, And Locus Of Control, Sheryl Holter Vogel

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated associations between attachment styles, locus of control (LOC), ethnic identity, and competence regarding food-related behavior (competence) among 168 White and 61 American Indian participants. An experimental manipulation was also conducted in which the concept of reverse ethnocentrism was tested. Attachment style accounted for the most significant variance of competence at 9% followed by ethnicity at 2%. Ethnic identity and LOC accounted for nonsignificant variance at 4% and less than 1% respectively. Prior to the experimental manipulation, results found competence was significantly negatively associated with low anxiety and high avoidance (dismissing attachment style), and American Indian participants …

Impact Of Cultural Identity On Mmpi-2 Profiles In Northern Plains American Indians, Colleen Kagan

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian populations experience high rates of psychological distress with 44.5% percent of Northern Plains American Indians reporting experiencing some depressive, anxiety, or substance use disorder over their lifetime. The MMPI-2 is a commonly used psychodiagnostic tool that has become widely used in the mental health treatment of different racial and ethnic groups. Research on the MMPI-2 with minority populations, and American Indian populations in particular, fails to account for the impact of level of acculturation. This study examined the impact of cultural identity on MMPI-2 profiles in Northern Plains American Indians and comparison Caucasian samples. Participants were administered a …

An Investigation On Relationship Between Epistemological Beliefs And Instructional Practice Of Preservice And Inservice Teachers, Jacob Manu

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative research sought to investigate the relationship between epistemological beliefs and instructional practice of preservice and inservice teachers. Despite the vigorous emphasis and investment on the need for teachers to adopt teaching and learning practices that are more authentic, learner-centered, project-based, meaningful, and context-based, there is a growing trend where inservice teachers are trained in constructivist learning environment but end up adopting traditional learning pedagogies. Thus, teachers are constantly struggling to incorporate the tenets of constructivism into the teaching and learning process. With the use of the discipline-focused epistemological beliefs questionnaire and instructional practice scale, preservice and inservice teachers …

Relational Aggression Among Caucasian And Northern Plains American Indian School Children, Stephanie Parisien

Theses and Dissertations

Relational aggression is a form of aggression that has received increasing attention within the psychological literature. Among the American Indian population, however, research on relational aggression is currently non-existent. To date, research is continuing to grow with regard to the base rates of relational aggression. The current study has examined both peer-nominated and self-report relational aggression among Caucasian and Northern Plains American Indian school children in order to explore cultural, gender, grade level, and age differences. Other forms of aggression and social status were also explored in order to understand how these constructs may play a role in peer relations. …

Effect Of A Nutrition Program On Eating Habits In Female Collegiate Athletes, Jorid Dagfinrud Oiestad

Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, an intervention took place using two female collegiate NCAA Division 1 (D1) teams. One team was randomized to be the experimental group, receiving the intervention of the 6-week nutrition education class Fueling for Performance (FFP). And the other team served as the control group, receiving no treatment. The purpose was to examine the effect of the FFP intervention on energy balance, body composition and self-efficacy compared to the control group, pre- and post- intervention.

The participants provided pre- and post intervention data through 3-day food records entered in MyPlate Super Tracker, wearing of a BodyMedia Senswear …

A Video Game Cycling Intervention Assessing Exercise Enjoyment, Rpe, Heart Rate, And Total Work Output In College Students, Shawn Ryan Reich

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Physical inactivity can lead to numerous health issues. More recently, advances in technology have catered to this area of concern. Activity-promoting video games or exergames, have recently been providing consumers with an innovative and alternative experience to exercise. Traditional exercise modalities such as the cycle ergometer (CE) have utilized video game (VG) play to help increase exercise enjoyment and overall health benefits. However, few studies have examined CE and VG play in this regard.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate if cycling with a non-interactive CE while playing a VG is a viable option to increasing …

Educational Experiences Of Rural Minnesota High-Ability Mathematics Learners, Jodi Lynn Sandmeyer

Theses and Dissertations

Meeting the educational needs of rural Minnesota high school high-ability learners in mathematics can be challenging for educators. This qualitative study involved interviewing high school graduates who scored between 30 and 36 on the mathematics subtest of the ACT and high school mathematics teachers who observed high-ability mathematics students. The graduates were from four different one-section or two-section schools from three counties in rural Minnesota. The purpose of this study was to use phenomenological qualitative research methods to identify educational experiences of high-ability mathematics learners from rural one-section and two-section high schools. There were two research questions guiding this study. …

Native American Cultural Participation And Post-Traumatic Stress Symptom Reduction, Royleen J. Ross

Theses and Dissertations

Native Americans experience a disproportionately high incidence of many medical and mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of physical and sexual abuse. Thus, it is critical to conduct valid therapeutic assessments if we are to accurately diagnose and treat the effects of abuse. However,

current therapeutic tools were developed and normed on the White majority population and may not be as valid for Native Americans.

The purpose of this study was to determine if cultural participation reduced post-traumatic stress symptom reduction in Northern Plains American Indian adults. This study used the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Questionnaire, …

Marijuana Consumption And The Perception Of Harm, David Ruggeri

Theses and Dissertations

Drug use is a public health issue with one-third of the United States population having reported consuming marijuana at some point in their lifetime. This paper examines how the perception of risk (both health and criminal sanctions) affects consumption behavior. This study examined marijuana consumption for the age ranges of 12-17, 18-25, and 26 and older during the years of 1999-2007.

Perceptions of health risk of marijuana vary from by age groups (12-17, 18-25, and 26 years of age and up). Persons age 26 and older perceive the health risks to be the greatest for occasional marijuana consumption, trailed by …