Mental and Social Health Commons^™

The Effect Of Feedback Given To Nurse Aides On Response Latency To Patient Call Lights In A Geriatric Nursing Home, Patricia L. Matuszak

Masters Theses

Feedback has been used in staff performance and management systems in various human service settings. It was applied to four female nurse aides in a geriatric nursing home to decrease response latency to patient call lights. A multiple-baseline-across-subjects design was used with each aide receiving feedback on her mean response time to assigned patients' call lights. Two of the four subjects demonstrated a decrease in mean response times, while two showed little effect after feedback.

The Effects Of Methylphenidate On The Learning And Performance Of A Child Diagnosed Addh, Kendra Leigh Heath

Masters Theses

The effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) on the learning and performance of a child diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADDH) was evaluated using a repeated acquisition apparatus. A placebo and three dosages of methylphenidate were evaluated in both the learning and performance components of the experiment. Dosages tested included the subject's therapeutic dosage, a dosage 5 mg higher, and a dosage 5 mg lower. Methylphenidate produced no effect of consequence on the number of errors per session, suggesting that the medication neither impaired nor facilitated learning or performance at the range of dosages investigated. Data were also collected on social …

Effects Of Seating Arrangement On Affective Meanings And Group Interaction In Healthy Senior Citizens, Judith Ann Boughton

Masters Theses

Occupational therapists state that environmental factors (seating arrangements) influence behavior. This ex post facto study examined the effect of peripheral versus central seating arrangement on interaction (verbalizing and looking), affect, and group climate in 41 healthy senior citizens. Nine men and 32 women aged 62 to 83 participated in two collage activities (creative and imitative) in either a parallel/nonsharing group or a project/ sharing group. Seating arrangement was added to an earlier study's independent variables (creative and imitative activities, and sharing and nonsharing groups). Dependent variables consisted of three factors of affective meaning from the Osgood Semantic Differential, evaluation, power, …

The Effects Of Two Contracting Methods On Altering The Eating And Exercise Behavior Of Seven Obese Adolescents: An In-Home Weight Treatment Study, Donald Edward Montgomery

Masters Theses

Seven obese males and females, ages ranging 12-15 years, served as participants in an eight-week in-home treatment program. The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of two contracting methods to influence eating and exercise patterns. Individualized exercise and nutrition programs were designed for each participant based on their health and behavior patterns at the time of the study. Four subjects were assigned to Group A (Self-Management) where contracting was established with each adolescent and based their compliance with the program. In Group B (Parental Modeling) contracting was established with the mothers of three subjects who participated along …

Performance Of Brain Dysfunctional And Non-Dysfunctional Subjects On The Bip And A Multiple-Choice Bip With Varying Degrees Of Background Interference, Michael Joseph Ezzo

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the visual and motor behavior of brain dysfunctional patients and the effects of varying the line density on the Background Interference Procedure for the Bender-Gestalt (BIP). Various claims have been made for the increased diagnostic accuracy of the BIP over the regular Bender-Gestalt, yet few investigations have been conducted to explore the BIP phenomenon. A model for the process of drawing geometrical figures was proposed in hopes of clarifying how this procedure and others intervene in the graphomotor task.

The original BIP paper was considered to have lines of single-density. A transparency …

A Comparison Of The Sub-Types And Specific Learning Disabilities Of Attention Deficit Disordered Children, George D. Pommer

Dissertations

Children who have an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are typically reported by parents and teachers to be poor in attending and concentrating on tasks, functioning below academic potential, and displaying numerous impulsive behaviors. Although research indicates a significant number of these children may have specific learning disabilities, the identification of the specific type and an accompanying treatment modality is necessary for effective treatment.

The purpose of this research was to survey the clinical relationships between ADD, learning disabilities, and emotional problems. Subjects (N = 28) were outpatient clients of a private psychiatric clinic who were free of visual or auditory …

The Role Of Trainer Contact In The Treatment Of Enuresis Using A Conditioning Device, Elaine Lee Phillips

Dissertations

This study examined if regular planned contact compared to no contact with a trainer made a difference in terms of dropout rate and success rate in the treatment of enuresis using a conditioning device. The study additionally attempted to determine if the frequency of contact had an impact on success and dropout rates. Twelve boys and six girls were assigned to one of three groups, a high contact group, medium contact group, and no contact group. Other than matching for age, subjects were randomly assigned. All subjects received the same training on the use of the conditioning device. Subjects in …

Comparison Of Individual Vs. Group Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training On State And Trait Anxiety, Janet L. Niefert

Masters Theses

This study investigated the relative effects of group and individually administered progressive muscle relaxation on the reduction of state and trait anxiety. A six-week training program was conducted for 12 graduate and undergraduate volunteers. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Relaxation State Behavioral Checklist were administered prior to and immediately following training. A Subjective Stress Record was maintained daily for two weeks prior to training and for the s ix weeks of training. No decrease was found in trait anxiety scores after training. A significant decrease in state anxiety scores was found in both individually trained and group trained subjects. …

The Effects Of Reinforcement Magnitude On The Transfer Of Stimulus Control, L. Martin Grabijas

Masters Theses

Communication training for the developmentally disabled is becoming a vital component among residential training facilities. Such education necessarily entails the transfer of stimulus control from a prompt stimulus to a stimulus inherent in the task. The current study investigated the effects which different values of a reinforcer may have on the transfer of stimulus control. Three severely, mentally retarded adults were taught manual sign language, while two values of the reinforcer were varied according to two classes of response: preprompt and postprompt responding. A within subjects design was incorporated with a delayed prompting procedure in identifying the precise moment of …

Comparing Three Ways Of Obtaining Exercise Adherence, Maria Sonia Acosta

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of various incentives, including course bonus points, social reinforcement, and partner assignment to encourage exercise among college students. Participants were assigned to one of three groups. Members of the structured group exercised at a specific time and location, members of the partner group exercised with a companion determined to be their best match, and members of the individual group exercised on their own. In addition to a maximum of five bonus points, members of the structured group received social praise in terms of verbal statements such as "I'm glad …

The Relationship Between Marital Satisfaction And Jungian Psychological Type, Lawrence Brad Beer

Dissertations

Researchers investigating the relationship between marital satisfaction and psychological type have discovered indications of a clinically useful relationship. By further clarifying the relationship between these two variables, guidelines may be established which can be helpful to counselors conducting marital therapy and marital enrichment programs. A secondary purpose of the investigation was to assess the relationship between selected demographic variables and marital satisfaction.

Married subjects were randomly selected from two groups--La Maz class participants and students from a local community college. Subjects responded to three self-report instruments--the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI), the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and a Personal Information Questionnaire …

Internal External Locus Of Control And The Choice Of Therapy, Marlene Eid

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between the scores subjects obtain on Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale and the type of therapy they prefer. Two hundred and fifty-four students in general psychology classes were given Rotter's Scale. Considering their upper- and lower-third scores, 54 were classified as " Internals," 53 as "Externals." Subjects also were given written descriptions of both psychoanalytic and behavioristic therapies. Each of these descriptions dealt with the goal and the specific therapeutic procedure of the respective therapies. Subjects were asked to identify which therapy they preferred and to provide …

Sexual Activity In Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Analysis, Steven B. Bisbing

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.