Digital Commons Network^™

Exposure To Predator Kairomones Influences Egg Number And Size In Littorina Littorea, Jessica Raynor, Simon Rundle

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Predator kairomones play an important role in intertidal ecosystems, but knowledge on their potential role in influencing maternal effects is lacking. The aim of this study was to test whether egg production by female Littorina littorea was influenced by short-term exposure to predator kairomones before egg laying. Laboratory populations were exposed to predator cues from the intertidal crab Carcinus maenas for nine days, and egg number, egg size, and survivorship of the offspring were measured and compared with those from reference populations. Snails exposed to predator cues produced significantly more eggs, which were also significantly smaller than those produced from …

Plymouth Undergraduate Research In Mathematics, Tom Heinzl, Tom Mccourt

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Guest editorial from lectures in Physics and Pure Mathematics.

Why Is Eyewitness Testimony So Inaccurate? An Investigation Into Event-Related Potentials And The Recognition Of Familiar And Unfamiliar Faces, Jack Evans

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Eyewitness-testimony is notoriously inaccurate and unreliable. In addition, a body of research has indicated that unfamiliar faces are poorly recognised in comparison to famous or familiar faces. Under the assumption that poor unfamiliar face recognition plays a role in the inaccuracy of eyewitness testimony, the present study sought to use the P300 ERP to provide evidence that unfamiliar face recognition is a factor in the inaccuracy of eyewitness testimony. After showing videos of either busy public places, mock-crime videos, or a film clip, this experiment recorded EEG data from 12 healthy undergraduates in their 20s attending Plymouth University whilst they …

Are Children's False Memories Driven By Conceptual Or Perceptual Factors?, Alexandra Hodgson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Using the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm we examined the effects of perceptual (distinctiveness) and conceptual (backward associative strength) factors on the generation of false memories in 5 and 7-year-old children. Participants were randomly assigned to either the perceptually similar (just black or white pictures) or dissimilar condition (alternating black and white with colour pictures). For both conditions, these pictures were also high or low in backward associative strength. We hypothesised that false memories would be influenced by age, perceptual similarity and conceptual factors interacting. Results showed that true memories increased with age. False memories in 5 year olds not only extended …

The Association Of Microstructural Connectivity In The Brain And Auditory Modulation Of Representational Momentum, Emma Theobald

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Perceived displacement from an object’s forward trajectory results in a representational momentum (RM) effect. In a behavioural task, participants watched a video of an actor reaching for/withdrawing from an object after hearing ‘I’ll take it’ or ‘I’ll leave it’, which was either congruent or incongruent with the subsequent action witnessed. The knowledge of other people’s intentions through auditory cues and then the predictions of their actions have been found to create an effect on the strength of RM experienced. The degree to which this auditory information affects the RM effect differs for each individual. This variation could, at least partially, …

You Can't Tickle Yourself...Or Can You? The Effect Of A Hypnotic Suggestion On Sensory Attenuation Phenomenon, Shamsideen Yusuf

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The internal motor simulation mechanism is widely believed to generate anticipatory sensory outcomes on the basis of the efferent copy of the motor commands. What is currently unknown is whether the motor prediction mechanism can integrate non-motor inputs such as a hypnotic suggestion in generating sensory predictions. Seventy-two undergraduate students (M=12, F=60) were recruited via Plymouth University participation pool, to undergo a randomised hypnotic suggestion (IV) of either an alien- hand or an alien-foot. The participants were asked to apply tactile stimulation to their left palm (DV) before and after the suggestion and report the tickling sensations. The results revealed …

Sports Information And Sports Media In High Schools, Meredith R. Shaul

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

How Mental Health, Sojourner Adjustment, And Drinking Motives Impact Alcohol-Related Consequences For College Students Studying Abroad, Laura Kay Thompson

Dissertations - ALL

The topic of college student drinking has been widely addressed in the literature. Traditional-aged college students are considered to be an at-risk population in terms of the problematic use of alcohol, putting them at risk for a wide range of negative consequences. College students who study abroad are a sub-group of students who may be vulnerable to increased alcohol-related consequences due to variables associated with being in an unfamiliar environment where alcohol is often more accessible. While previous studies have explored the impact that a range of factors has on alcohol-related consequences for students abroad, none has examined the impact …

The Effects Of “Handwriting Without Tears®” On The Handwriting Skills Of Appropriate Size, Form, And Tool For A Four Year-Old Boy With A Developmental Delay, Colleen Meyers, T.F. Mclaughlin, Mark Derby, Kimberly P. Weber, Milena Robison

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

The ability to write one’s own name legibly is a critical lifelong skill for academic success. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the Handwriting Without Tears® program on teaching a four year-old how to write his first name using proper size, form, and tool. The participant was a four year-old boy in a self-contained preschool setting. A multiple baseline design across letters was employed. The overall outcomes indicated improvement through the use of Handwriting without Tears® materials. The participant enjoyed the procedure and improved his academic skills.

Choosing Progress: Evaluating The "Salesmanship" Of The Vietnam War In 1967, Gregory A. Daddis

History Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"As the president and his war managers increasingly saw Vietnam as a 'race between accomplishment and patience,' publicizing progress became an integral part of the war. Yet far from a unique case of bureaucratic dishonesty, the 1967 salesmanship campaign demonstrates the reality, even necessity, of conversation gaps when one is assessing progress in wars where the military struggle abroad matters less than the political one at home."

Effects Of A Software Program Vs. Constant Time Delay In The Acquisition Of Sight Words For A Student With Significant Disabilities, Turkie Ali Algharbie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of sight words is essential for individuals with significant disability. There is a plethora of research highlighting the acquisition of sight words for this population but to date, most focus on teacher led interventions (Browder, Algrim-Delzell, Spooner, Mims, & Baker, 2009). This study investigated the use of computer technology vs. one-on-one instruction targeting sight words acquisition for a student with a significant disability. Results showed the participant indicated improved performance using the computer based intervention versus the constant time delay instructor led intervention.

Nurses’ Perceptions Of Self As Role Models Of Health, Shelia Hurley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given the sad state of obesity and lifestyle-related illnesses in the US, nurses, as the largest and most trusted health profession, must take the cause of health promotion seriously and personally. This study seeks to close the gap in knowledge of nurses’ perception of self as a role model of health and personal healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study focuses on four specific behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle: limit alcohol, avoid tobacco, improve nutrition, and engage in physical activity. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between nurses’ health practices and their perceptions of self as …

Student And Faculty Views Of Important Elements Of Teaching In Associate Level Allied Health Programs, Jennifer N. Burrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teaching requires constant adapting, and need to continually reflect, and be ready to make changes when teaching elements may not prove effective. The purpose of this study was to examine faculty and student views of effective elements of teaching in an associate level allied health program. Surveys were collected from associate degree seeking allied health students and full-time faculty currently employed at a technical college in the northeastern region of the state of Georgia. The results showed a high confidence level with little to no difference in mean confidence levels between faculty and student responses on 15 Likert-scaled questions. Two …

Patients' Perception Of The Use Of Motivational Interviewing For Childhood Obesity Treatment: A Qualitative Study, Penelope L. Neal Dr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative interpretive descriptive study was to better understand children’s perceptions of the use of motivational interviewing (MI) as a communication style for childhood obesity treatment. Childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions and much research effort has been dedicated to reversing this trend. One approach that has demonstrated positive outcomes in the clinical setting is MI. Leading organizations in pediatric healthcare now recommend MI as a communication style to be used for childhood obesity-related behavior change. Although empiric studies have demonstrated improvement in outcomes when this communication style is used with patients and …

Teaching The Spiritual Dimension Of Nursing Care: A Survey Of Associate Degree Nursing Programs In The Southeast United States, Nancy L. Labine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spirituality is a subject which is often neglected in nursing education. The purpose of this study was to determine associate degree nursing faculty’s perception of their ability to teach the spiritual dimension in the delivery of nursing care. The study explored whether faculty have received training related to spiritual care, how and where nursing programs integrate spirituality education into the curriculum, nursing faculty’s understanding of the terms spirituality and spiritual care, and faculty members perception of whether they receive sufficient support and guidance in teaching related to spirituality and spiritual care.

Survey research was used in this study. The participants …

The Human Terrain System: Operationally Relevant Social Science Research In Iraq And Afghanistan, Christopher Sims Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The Human Terrain System embedded civilians primarily in brigade combat teams (BCTs) in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2007 and 2014 to act as a collection and dispersal mechanism for sociocultural comprehension. Set against the backdrop of the program’s evolution, the experiences of these social scientists clarifies the U.S. Army’s decision to integrate social scientists at the tactical level in conflict. Based on interviews, program documents, material from Freedom of Information Act requests, and secondary sources, this book finds a series of limiting factors inhibiting social science research at the tactical level, common to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Complexity in integrating …

Training Deictic Relations To Children With Developmental Delays Through The Use Of The Peak Relational Training System, Dena Larae Kime

Theses

Children with developmental delays often do not acquire perspective taking skills without training. These skills are imperative to the ability to relate to others socially and the development of appropriate social behavior. They may lack the ability to recognize that another person’s view may differ from their own, or that reality may differ from appearance. This study used deictic relational training to aid in the development of a ‘Theory of Mind’ and the acquisition of perspective taking skills. The PEAK relational training system was used in a special education classroom to train YOU and I relations, as well as YOU …

Relational Training Of Contextual Cues And Self-Rule Formation In Simulated Slot Machines, Rocco Giovanni Catrone

Theses

Between 1% and 1.4% of people who engage in gambling behaviors lead to disordered or pathological gambling (Whiting & Dixon, 2015), while 44% of all money spent on legal gambling is done so with slot machines (Choliz, 2010). Various behavioral concepts have been theorized as a possible source of gambling addition; losses disguised as wins (LDWs), near-miss, gamblers’ fallacy, illusions of control, and verbally constructed self-rules related to these topics. The current study sought to extend the previous research on condition discrimination in altering slot machine preference while also analyzing the effects of vocalized self-rules during slot machine selection. Conclusions …

Characteristics And Motivations Of Die-Hard Sport Fans, Ryan Smart, Steve Chen, Kenneth Henderson

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Past research has examined the die-hard fans’ characteristics, consumption behaviors, and attending motivation of avid sport fans. The study further evaluated those fans’ characteristics and motivation through a series of qualitative interview questions based on the conceptual frameworks of loyalty, fan motivation, fan identity, and “sport-as-religion.” The participants were 24 season-ticket holders of a Mid-west professional football team who also identified themselves as a fan of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Their fanship varied from collegiate to professional level teams of various locations. Results showed die-hard fans’ game-attending motivations were influenced by their family, popularity and performance of players, and …

Youth Representation On County Government Committees: Youth In Governance In Kenosha County, Wisconsin, Matthew Calvert, John De Montmollin, Tedi Winnett

Journal of Extension

The Kenosha County Youth In Governance program was created to build leadership skills and civic engagement opportunities for high school-aged students by placing two youth representatives on each of the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors standing committees. In reviewing data from 3 years of youth participants, the program was effective in increasing civic engagement and leadership skills of young people. Respondents reported specific increases in knowledge of county government, connection to community, empowerment, communication skills, and confidence. Effective program practices were also identified from reviewing statements made from youth participants.

Motivations Of Volunteer Leaders In An Extension Exercise Program, Lisa T. Washburn, Carol E. Cornell, Lavona Traywick, Holly C. Felix, Martha Phillips

Journal of Extension

This article describes findings from a qualitative study of volunteer leaders in the StrongWomen strength training program in Arkansas. The study explored reasons volunteers initially agreed to serve, perceptions of volunteer role, and motivations for continuing to lead strength training groups long-term. Findings suggest a combination of factors supporting volunteer engagement: personal benefit of program, desire to continue program combined with a personal invitation to volunteer extended by the agent, desire to support a co-leader, and exercise and social support needs met through volunteer service. Motivations of Extension health program volunteers are important to address to maximize program impact.

Exploring Male Counselors’ Experiences With Vulnerability In The Counseling Relationship, Hannah Edith Davis Kreider

Dissertations

While existing literature clearly indicates that the relationship between counselor and client is important and crucial for therapeutic progress (e.g., Norcross & Wampold, 2011), little research has been done on the experiences of counselors within the therapeutic relationship. Vulnerability has been noted as an important component of growth-fostering relationships (e.g., Jordan, 2008), however research is lacking on how counselors experience vulnerability with their clients. Within the field of counseling, men are underrepresented (Michel, Hall, Hays, & Runyan, 2013) and little research exists exploring their unique experiences as counselors. Additionally, due to gender role socialization, men are likely to struggle with …

Predicting Coaching Efficacy In National Collegiate Athletic Association Assistant Coaches: A Social Psychological Analysis Of Coaching Goals, Commitment, And Values, Brett Allen Nichols

Dissertations

Coaching is a complex undertaking and understanding what it takes to be an effective coach is important for coaches and researchers in the field of sport and exercise science. Horn’s (2008) heuristic model of coaching effectiveness organizes and summarizes the previously established relationships among predictors and outcomes of effective coaching. The purpose of this study was to examine the heart of Horn’s model, specifically examining coaching goals, coaching commitment, and coaching values with the five dimensions of coaching efficacy (Feltz et al., 1999; Myers et al., 2008). Using intercollegiate assistant coaches (N=740) this study demonstrated initial reliability and factorial validity …

The Meaning Of Physical Activity From The Perspective Of Indonesian Immigrant Youth, Caly Setiawan

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine what constitutes the experience of physical activity for Indonesian immigrant youth. Fifteen Indonesian young people aged 13 to 18 participated in the study. Data were collected through two sets of interviews. During the first set of interviews, data were gathered about physical activity experiences and the meanings that the youth ascribed to their participation. A second set of interviews were conducted to collect information about the participants’ strategies for engaging Indonesian immigrants in physical activity. Seven purposefully selected participants were the respondents in these interviews. Data were analyzed using a three …

All Families Are Unique: Experiences Of Lesbian-Parented Families, Rachel Tova Gall

Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of families with lesbian mothers and elementary school-aged children residing in metropolitan areas of the United States. This phenomenology aimed to transcend comparative and binary research to include the voices of sexual minorities and children. Eight whole-family interviews were conducted in alignment with the study’s systemic-constructivist approach. A number of themes emerged from the data that were generally consistent with prior research. Mothers were intentional about the communities in which they surrounded themselves, the process of having children, and having discussions with children about potential discrimination. Participants saw themselves as advocates and were typically out …

Person-Corporate Social Responsibility Fit: Considering The Effects Of Corporate Values On Fit Within The Organization, Brittney Winters

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an expanding trend as more organizations have adopted various CSR policies. Due to this, CSR has been a growing topic in Business and Psychology research, especially on the micro-level of CSR’s effects on individual employee outcomes. In this study, we proposed a new sub-dimension of Person-Organization (P-O) fit, such that there’s a Person-CSR (P-CSR) fit: the perceived congruence between an individuals’ values with an organization’s CSR initiatives. We predicted that P-CSR fit would explain additional variance over and beyond P-O fit for organizational outcomes: organizational commitment, organizational identity, job satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behaviors. Further, …

Dispositional Employability And The Relationship To Career Success: A Meta-Analysis, Alisha M. Jasmer

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This meta-analysis focuses on the willingness to work aspect of the RAW model of employability of Hogan et al. (2009), in relationship to career success. Willingness to work (W) can be defined as favorably disposed to work hard and take initiative at one’s job. The variables I used to structure the W are proactive personality, conscientiousness, work ethic, job involvement, adaptability, and ambition.

I used the Hunter and Schmidt method to analyze the data applying a random effects model. All calculations were conducted in Excel. The overall sample consisted of 100 effect sizes (r) derived from 41 studies. The total …

“God Hates Fags”—The Use Of Religion As Justification For Prejudice Towards Homosexuals, Michelle S. Fabros

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The Westboro Baptist Church and Phelps family are notorious for their signs proclaiming anti-homosexuality epithets such as “God Hates Fag,” and references to Biblical verses to revile homosexuality (e.g., Romans 1:24-27). Although the homonegativity bias that Westboro patrons and many traditional Christians express is often understood as being rooted in religion, I proposed the possibility that religion can be a justification rather than source of homonegativity. That is, although religion typically is seen as the source of prejudice towards LGBT+ people, I argued that this relationship might work in reverse. I examined under which conditions this “reverse” phenomena might occur …

Lethal And Legal? The Ethics Of Drone Strikes, Shima D. Keene Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

While supporters claim that drone warfare is not only legal but ethical and wise, others have suggested that drones are prohibited weapons under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) because they cause, or have the effect of causing, indiscriminate killings of civilians, such as those in the vicinity of a targeted person. The main legal justification made by the Barack Obama Administration for the use of armed drones is self-defense. However, there is ambiguity as to whether this argument can justify a number of recent attacks by the United States. In order to determine the legality of armed drone strikes, other factors …

Activation Of Microglia In The Rotenone Lymnaea Stagnalis Model Of Parkinson's Disease, Xiomara Galvan

Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common irreversible neurodegenerative movement disorder affecting approximately ten million people worldwide. In the central nervous system (CNS), PD is known by the selective loss of Dopamine (DA) cells of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Although the disease has been very widely studied, the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. Several hypotheses have arisen as result of injury of the mitochondria, some experiments include microglia activation, microtubule damage, and reactive oxidative species, which all result in the death of DA cells. The theory of microglia activation upon inflammation was explored in this study. Using the …