Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Impact Of Passive Second Language Exposure On Word Segmentation And Word Mapping, Amiya S. Aggarwal

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research in statistical learning using artificial languages has suggested that passive exposure to linguistic patterns can guide word segmentation and word mapping. It is unknown whether this type of unsupervised learning can scale up to support these aspects of learning in a natural language. Our study exposed monolingual English speakers to either English or Italian podcasts for an hour daily for 21 days, collecting behavioural and EEG data during both the pre- and post-exposure period. Our behavioural measure tested if L2 exposure would lead to improved word mapping for words with high phonotactic probabilities. Our EEG measure tested whether the …

Multisensory Integration In Adhd: A Behavioral And Eeg Investigation In Youth And Adults, Carolynn Hare

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In daily life, we are constantly bombarded with sensory information from multiple sources. Our ability to combine these cues into a single perceptual experience is known as multisensory integration. This process can be disrupted in neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia, affecting cognitive functions and language. Multisensory integration may be affected in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), though findings are conflicting. To explore these discrepancies, we conducted a meta-analysis to appraise the current state of the literature, elucidate observed inconsistent findings, and identify gaps in ADHD research. Then, we conducted studies to investigate multisensory integration in youth and adults …

Eyes Open In The Dark, Brittany A. Forrest

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

An unusual dissertation that presents a science fiction autobiographical narrative, following a trial of trauma and identity dysphoria. Through a trans-queer biological female lens, the vulnerable tone of the author invites the reader into wording that describes matters they will care for on a human level. This study probes the question of what lives within the silence of our perceptions by appraising reverberations between interactions that coerce the human condition. Interrogating memory is inevitable when questioning how defense mechanisms interrelate and adapt to human needs. This study penetrates the complexities of perception fabrications, power dynamics, sensory perceptions, systemic moralities, and …

"The Whole World Opened Up, There's No Better Word For It Than Euphoria": Experience Of Embodiment In Trans*Feminine Individuals, Sara M. Stanley

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The “experience of embodiment” is a construct that captures how an individual experiences the body in their socio-cultural context and has important implications for mental health and well-being. The construct was originally developed to explain the experiences of cis-gender girls and women, and has not been investigated in trans*feminine individuals. Grounded in social constructivism, and integrating the gender minority stress model and principles of intersectionality, the present study investigated trans*feminine experiences of embodiment. To expand our understanding of this construct, trans*feminine participants engaged in focus groups (n=28), a photo-elicitation task (n=25), and one-on-one semi-structured interviews (n=25). Using a combined inductive …

Perceptions Of Adhd-Related Behaviours In Trinidad & Tobago And Canada: A Cross-Cultural Study, Ronald V. Auguste

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Undiagnosed ADHD is prevalent in the region where Trinidad & Tobago is situated. Children with ADHD are vulnerable to numerous negative outcomes. Parents and teachers are best positioned to identify ADHD-related behaviours in children but can only do so if they associate those behaviours with ADHD. This study investigates their perception of ADHD-related behaviours in children. It examines the hypothesis that these behaviours are more likely to be seen as issues of indiscipline and low motivation rather than a medical or psychological condition. Utilizing multilevel modelling, perceptions of ADHD-related behaviours in Trinidad & Tobago were compared to those in Canada, …

Ecological Momentary Assessments Of Daily Sensory Experiences In Autistic Adults: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Contextual Factors Impacting Sensory Processing, Michelle M. Luszawski

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Autistic individuals report sensory processing issues, which may impact daily experiences and abilities in educational and employment circumstances. Research that has explored contextual impacts on sensory processing is lab-based, lacking ecological validity, or qualitative and questionnaire based, introducing recall bias. We used ecological momentary assessment to investigate the daily sensory experiences of 41 autistic adults, who completed three daily questionnaires regarding their sensory experiences for two weeks. We conducted a mixed-methods analysis of their data. Results indicated significant associations between participants’ positive, negative, and neutral sensory experiences and their surroundings and other contextual factors. We found no significant relationship between …

The Influence Of Dispositions And Everyday Social Factors On The Hostile Attribution Bias, Mackenzie C. Smith

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Interpersonal conflict in ambiguous social situations can instigate aggressive responses in individuals with the hostile attribution bias (HAB). However, the nature of the psychological properties of these situations needs to be explored more extensively, including the specific social-contextual properties. One individual difference that few studies have explored with the HAB is dispositional trust, which is proposed to be the opposing side of HAB. The current vignette study aimed to explore this, along with improving previous measures and creating a new measure of HAB. Factor analyses and multilevel modeling were used for establishing a hostile composite and exploring both individual differences, …

Secondary Students' Educational Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis, Hannah D. Litchfield

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The primary purpose of this qualitative evidence synthesis was to examine the literature pertaining to the educational experiences of secondary students, globally, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A secondary purpose was to explore the impact of these experiences on students’ psychosocial wellbeing. Database searches resulted in the inclusion of 41 studies. Thomas and Harden’s (2008) thematic synthesis approach was used, which revealed five descriptive themes (Challenging Online Learning Experiences, Benefits of Online Learning, Complexities Associated with Education-Related Disruptions and Transitions, Social Connections and Support, Emerging Educational Needs and Areas of Improvement) and 20 subthemes. Three analytical …

Leveraging Intersubject Representational Similarity Analysis To Explore Individual Differences In Early Life Adversity And Cortico-Amygdala Connectivity In A Preadolescent Sample, Amira Hmidan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Preadolescence is a critical developmental phase characterized by changes in the functional connectivity (FC) between the cortex and amygdala, which are essential for emotional processing and regulation. Early life adversity (ELA), such as exposure to childhood maltreatment, familial dysfunction, and poverty, is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes (Felitti et al., 1998). Emerging research indicates that disturbances in cortico-amygdala FC could act as a mechanism linking ELA to various mental health issues; however, most focus on adult populations and overlook individual differences. Here, intersubject representational similarity analysis (IS-RSA) was leveraged to explore how individual variations in ELA relate …

A Cross-Classified Multilevel Study Investigating Perceptions Of Misogyny In Popular Music Presented In The Format Of Lyrics, Michelle Schwier

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Several sexist and misogynistic themes in music surround gendered power differences, gaslighting, and objectification (Hill et al., 2021), with a focus on sexual objectification, abuse, violence, distrust, and distain for women (Adams & Fuller, 2006). Thus, the current study investigated university students and adults’ perception of these messages. Using the 2022 Billboard Hot 100 Year-End chart, participants read lyrics from 36 songs and rated the content on six themes of misogyny. Participants then completed a Benevolent and Hostile sexism inventory. Through a cross-classified multilevel modelling design, the results indicated that participants who liked the lyrics rated them with less misogyny. …

Examining The Role Of Core Self Evaluations, Core Group Evaluations, And Individual And Team Referent Psychological Safety On Team Member Behaviours And Performance, Helen H. Lee

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Psychological safety has been defined by Edmondson (1999) as “a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking” (p.354). Psychological safety has been found to predict a host of beneficial outcomes for teams and organizations. However, the items in the most used measure of psychological safety developed by Edmondson (1999) demonstrates inconsistency in terms of mixing referents at both the individual and team level. Individual referent (IR) psychological safety appears to be more likely to reflect individuals’ perceptions of psychological safety rather than encompassing the psychological safety of a team as a whole. On the other hand, …

The Association Between Prenatal Maternal Stress, Infant Brain Volumes, And Temperament During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amber L. Di Paolo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is associated with altered trajectories of infant socio-emotional and brain development, including brain structures such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC). During the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a major global stressor, PNMS was significantly elevated, yet the impact on infant neurodevelopment remains uncertain. The objective of the present study was to determine whether PNMS during the pandemic was associated with infant amygdala and PFC volumes as well as temperament. In addition, we examined whether social support and resilience during pregnancy were protective factors.

Participants were enrolled in the Canadian ‘Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic’ cohort …

Good Vibes Are Contagious: Exploring Within- And Between-Person Predictors Of Grit In Group Environments, Rachel K. Edwards

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The groups we belong to and people we surround ourselves with can influence our goal pursuit through the types of goals we pursue and effort we put into pursuing them. Grit is one psychological construct encompassing passion and perseverance for goals that has yet to be thoroughly examined as it emerges across specific contexts. This thesis explored how perceptions of the group environment and group member goal interest and perseverance interact to influence individual context-specific grit. Study 1 examined a student club sample to investigate between-person associations of variables across groups exhibiting different levels of perceived interdependence. Study 2 aimed …

The Impact Of Emotional Sounds On Arousal And Task Performance, Brian Wu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In times of emotional arousal, it is hypothesized that neural processes are triggered to “heighten” our senses to better respond to threatening stimuli. Some studies have tested this by exposing participants to emotional sounds to determine their impacts on visual acuity but have found mixed results. Previous studies have not investigated interactions between arousal induced by emotional sounds and visual acuity. Participants (N = 42) performed an orientation detection task while presented in silence or with sounds that varied in valence. Results displayed comparable accuracy across conditions but significantly faster response times during the presentation of negative sounds on the …

On Mothers And Measures: The (Re)Production Of Mothering Ideologies In Psychological Measures Of Motherhood, Ella R. Keogh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Across disciplines, researchers look to motherhood as a site of theorization about the growth and wellbeing of the population because of their important role in biological and social reproduction. Psychologists frequently study motherhood and as such play an important role in producing an ideal maternal subject. Past research has shown that the measurement tools we use in psychology are laden with bias, stereotypes, and ideologies about the group being studied and as such are producing ideologically charged results that filter into the world under the semblance of scientific objectivity (McClelland et al., 2020). Using critical measurement analysis, I found that …

Listening To Transgender And Autistic Voices: Reflecting On Affirming Research And Mental Health Practices, Kameron Bm Kirbyson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Those who are both autistic and transgender/gender diverse, an often-overlooked group, face difficulties accessing gender-affirming care and appropriate therapy and have higher rates of mental health complications. This study focused on listening to the voices of people who live with both of these identities through semi-structured interviewing and by centring the writer who is also autistic and transgender. Seven participants shared their experiences and highlighted issues they have come up against while trying to access care. Thematic analysis revealed several themes that were sorted into barriers and strengths. Barriers included autism symptoms, complex medical factors, interactions with institutions, traumatic events, …

Educators’ Perspectives On Teacher Mental Health And Professional Development., Sybil Hw Chan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Educator wellness is inextricably linked to their ability to teach and support students in the classroom. However, limited research has examined the factors that influence educator mental health in Canada, and the role of mental health-based professional development in these relationships. Therefore, the present mixed-method, multi-phase study examined the current knowledge, understandings, and beliefs about professional development and mental wellness for Canadian teacher candidates and associate teachers. Results from a binomial logistic regression found that higher educator psychological distress was positively correlated with presenteeism, and negatively correlated with workplace psychological safety. A reflexive thematic analysis of twelve semi-structured interviews further …

Retrospective Pre-Post Evaluation Of A Healthy Relationships And Mental Health Promotion Program For 2s/Lgbtqia+ Youth, Nikita Kalwani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research has found that 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth experience disproportionately high mental health concerns and barriers to accessing support. Protective factors such as school-based support, peer support, and mental health interventions have been found to buffer this risk. The Healthy Relationships Program (HRP) for 2S/LGBTQIA+ Youth is a positive mental health promotion program that aims to build resiliency, bolster healthy relationship skills, and promote well-being among 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes, effectiveness, and feasibility of implementing this program within Gender and Sexuality/Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in secondary schools. Data from students (N = 17) and GSA advisors who …

Exploring The Feasibility And Outcomes Of Concurrent Parent And Child Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Melissa Read

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have shown to be effective in improving child and parent outcomes, including parental stress (Burgdorf et al., 2019; Friedmutter, 2016), child behaviour problems, and child executive functioning (Cheang et al., 2019; Donald et al., 2019; Dunning et al., 2019). The field of mindfulness has evolved to include parents and children together in programs, called parallel or concurrent parent and child MBIs. Children who have experienced adversity may be at a greater need for MBIs, as MBIs target stress and emotion regulation, areas where these children may need greater support (Bethell et al., 2016; Brenmer, 2003). As a …

Social Location & Counsellor Identity: A Reflexive Analysis Of Social Power And The Therapeutic Use Of Self, Stephanie R. Page

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

It has become widely appreciated that health and mental health are impacted by interconnected systems of inequity and individual social location. With demand for psychological services increasing in Canada, there does exist a need to better understand how social location relates to counselling. A random sample of 19 CCPA registered Canadian Counsellors were interviewed and asked about their social location. Participant responses were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed using the Six-Phase Model for Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022). One theme and two sub-themes were carved out: Participant Asset Experiences (25), Self-Identification (15), and Blind Spots (10). Findings relate to …

Anxiety In Children And Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Behavioural Phenotypes And Environmental Factors, Caitlin E. Leachman Miss

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Anxiety is the most prevalent comorbidity among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The phenotypical presentation of anxiety among children and adolescents with ASD is lacking within the literature. This study sought to differentiate behavioral phenotypes associated with anxiety in children with ASD from anxiety in typically-developing children. Participants completed a series of child and parent reports measuring anxiety, depressive symptoms, ASD symptom severity, emotional problems, parental stress, and socioeconomic factors. Three distinct anxiety profiles, including moderate, high, and low, were identified. Results demonstrated that depression is the strongest predictor of high anxiety among children and adolescents with …

Barriers To Working With Low Income Clients As Experienced By Counsellors, Riley Keast

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study aimed to answer the question “what are the perceived barriers or challenges counsellors experience when working with low income clients in their practice following COVID-19?”. Participants were recruited via mass email sent to professionals registered with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), who then completed a survey via Qualtrics (n = 322). 113 Canadian counsellors from across Canada were interviewed. Data obtained from interviews was analyzed using concept mapping software GroupWisdom. Participants (n = 29) grouped the statements into seven themes including: barriers due to low income and employment, systemic barriers for clients, barriers due to …

Harm Reduction In Psychotherapy, Jillian Cramer

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

With approximately 22 people dying due to opiate-related harms everyday in Canada (Government of Canada, 2023), there is a great need to offer low-barrier, evidence-based services for people who use substances across various disciplines, including healthcare, social services, and psychotherapy. This qualitative study examined the experiences of Canadian social justice-informed counsellors who work with clients who use substances from harm reduction frameworks of care. Seven counsellors were interviewed on their personal experiences implementing harm reduction in psychotherapy. Through a reflexive thematic analysis, five themes surfaced: axiology of harm reduction work, development of therapist surrounding harm reduction, main focuses of harm …

Fostering Friendship And Acceptance In An Inclusive Summer Day Camp, Emily Villani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Historically, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) have faced barriers to social inclusion and forming friendships - essential life factors. Research has indicated the importance of reducing social barriers to inclusion and highlights the benefits of improving social skills and fostering positive attitudes about IDDs for facilitating friendship formation and inclusion. With the goal of fostering friendships, the S³ summer camp offered 22 youth (aged 9-14) with and without IDDs accessible and inclusive STEM education and a one-week social skills training package which included disability awareness lessons. Analysis examined the effects of this training package on participants’ friendship …

A Comprehensive Study Of Neural Entrainment In Developmental Language Disorder And Reading Disability, Christine Moreau

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Prior research has suggested that reading disability (RD, dyslexia) and developmental language disorder (DLD) stem from deficits in rhythmic auditory processing, specifically in synchronizing neural oscillations (Cumming et al., 2015; Goswami, 2011). Speech relies on rhythmic patterns for signaling linguistic information at multiple timescales (e.g., phonemes, syllables; Giraud & Poeppel, 2012). The disruption of regular neural entrainment is hypothesized to lead to difficulties in processing fast acoustic changes in speech, negatively affecting phonological processing, and speech segmentation. In this dissertation, I studied neural entrainment to uncover possible areas of impairment related to speech tracking, which could help inform interventions. In …

Validation Of A Virtual Auditory Space, And Its Use To Investigate How Pitch And Spatial Cues Contribute To Perceptual Segregation Of Auditory Streams, Nima Zargarnezhad

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The human auditory system can decompose complex sound mixtures into distinct perceptual auditory objects through a process (or processes) known as Auditory Scene Analysis. Pitch and spatial cues are among the sound attributes known to influence sequential streaming (Plack 2018). In this project, the fidelity of a virtual acoustic space (the Audio Dome) in reproducing precisely located sound sources with a 9^th-order ambisonics algorithm was validated. The estimated horizontal Minimum Audible Angles aligned with previously reported values (Mills 1958) homogeneously across the space, and a robust low-frequency presentation was identified. Then, the Audio Dome was utilized to test …

Development And Validation Of The Pain Resilience And Optimism Scale (Pros), Wonjin Seo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Numerous self-report questionnaires have been used in pain research to explore patients' experiences. However, these questionnaires often employ negatively worded items that can potentially worsen patients' distress. In response to the emergence of positive psychology, this thesis aimed to develop a new questionnaire that adopts a positive and strengths-focused approach, incorporating resilience, to replace the negative items found in existing tools such as the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). First, the effectiveness of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in measuring resilience following trauma was assessed through a systematic review using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments …

Spontaneous Simulation Of Future And Past Events, Mackenzie Bain

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Spontaneous future and past events come to mind unintentionally. Previous research supports that environmental cues prompt spontaneous simulation, although the role of specific cues remains unaddressed. Previous work has found that involuntary autobiographical memories are generated in chained-event sequences, which refers to multiple, related events being generated consecutively. We addressed how event and location cues influence spontaneous future and past events, and whether future events occur in chains. In a boring vigilance task, 132 participants located a left-facing arrow amongst right-facing arrows. On 49 of 350 trials, participants encountered event or location cues. Ten times, participants audio-recorded off-task thoughts they …

Exploring How Covid-19 Impacts Relationship Dynamics Among Cohabitating Heterosexual And Female Same-Sex Couples, Mishele Kaplan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This qualitative study investigates the experiences of cohabitating heterosexual (n=10) and female same-sex couples (n=8) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how these couples utilized dyadic coping and relational resilience to manage pandemic-related stressors and how their gender identities influenced their responses. Employing a phenomenological approach informed by feminist, queer, and dyadic coping theories, the study reveals that couples strengthened their bonds during the pandemic through intentional communication and novel activities. The findings of the study also highlight that societal perceptions of gender roles continue to exert pressure on individuals, but female same-sex couples demonstrated greater adaptability by challenging these …

Too Many Constructs In The Kitchen: Toward A Feature-Based Approach To Mistreatment, Sarah Carver

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The field of workplace mistreatment has grown considerably over the last two decades yet continues to be plagued by construct overload and measurement challenges. Constructs such as incivility, bullying, abusive supervision, and social undermining are definitionally distinct in terms of their frequency, intensity, and intentionality but this is seldom explicitly measured. Across three studies, we created and developed the Features of Mistreatment (FOM) measure to explicitly measure frequency, intensity, and perceived intentionality. In Study 1 (N = 282), we examined the psychometric properties of the initial 28-item FOM measure and revised the subscales to four items each. We found …