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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Trust Betrayed: Counseling Girls Who Have Been Sexually Abused By Educators, Courtney Paige Boyd Dec 2011

Trust Betrayed: Counseling Girls Who Have Been Sexually Abused By Educators, Courtney Paige Boyd

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Educator sexual abuse is rarely discussed, although literature shows that it occurs at an alarming rate. This paper discusses the literature that does exist about educator sexual abuse, as well as the prevalence of this type of sexual abuse. Aspects of the trauma are discussed including grooming, blaming the victim, and the guilt and denial associated with the abuse. The paper concludes with recommendations for counselors who are working with girls who have experienced educator sexual abuse. Inner child work, guided imagery, and trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy are referenced.


Nonresponse Bias In Online Course Evaluations, Cassandra Jones Dec 2011

Nonresponse Bias In Online Course Evaluations, Cassandra Jones

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Recently more universities have started administering course evaluations online. With the process no longer in the classroom, some students decide not to complete their course evaluations during their own time, resulting in concerns about online course evaluation results being biased because of lack of response. This study examined course evaluation results at a small diverse mid-Atlantic Catholic university. A cross-classified random effects model was used to capture student responses across all of their courses. Nonresponse bias was examined by determining predictors of online course evaluation ratings and participation. Variables predicting both participation and ratings were considered to be a potential …


Grief And Resilience In Children And Families: Resources For Counseling Professionals, Parents, And Children, Ashley Smith Hall Dec 2011

Grief And Resilience In Children And Families: Resources For Counseling Professionals, Parents, And Children, Ashley Smith Hall

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Ninety percent of children in the United States will have experienced the loss of a significant loved one by the time they are 18 years old (McClure, 2007). Parents and other family members can provide a significant amount of support, provided that they are equipped with the necessary resources. The purpose of this project was to identify and develop tools that provide parents and other family members with the opportunity to learn ways to incorporate themselves as a support system for a grieving child in their family. Children express their feelings by showing rather than telling. Creativity allows bereaved children …


Attachment And Resilience In Military Families Throughout The Deployment Cycle, Jason A. Kacmarski Dec 2011

Attachment And Resilience In Military Families Throughout The Deployment Cycle, Jason A. Kacmarski

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

The number of military deployments in the United States of America has been on the rise since the United States attacked Iraq in 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Ongoing combat operations over the last few years have meant a growing number of military families have experienced the deployment process. This research paper utilizes the concepts of attachment and resilience to explore the deployment process within the framework of the emotional cycle of deployment. Integrating current knowledge within the field of mental health related to attachment theory, resilience, and the deployment process, I explore the potential risks military …


The Relation Between Delay Discounting And Disordered Eating In College Women, Lindsey Alanna Mayberry May 2011

The Relation Between Delay Discounting And Disordered Eating In College Women, Lindsey Alanna Mayberry

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Some researchers have suggested that impulsive behavior is a characteristic of disordered eating. Nevertheless, there are relatively few studies that have examined the relation between impulsivity and disordered eating. In the present study, I used a delay-discounting task to measure impulsive behavior in a sample of college women who met the criteria for disordered eating and in a sample of matched controls. On this task, participants completed trials on which they chose between smaller, sooner monetary rewards and larger, later monetary rewards, all of which were hypothetical. I found that women with disordered eating were no more impulsive, on average, …


The Increasing Rate Of Undergraduate Male Attrition: What The Men Tell Us. A Qualitative Case Study., Monika Neelam Kushwaha May 2011

The Increasing Rate Of Undergraduate Male Attrition: What The Men Tell Us. A Qualitative Case Study., Monika Neelam Kushwaha

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The current study explores the factors that may contribute to undergraduate male attrition and ways of improving retention at James Madison University (JMU) using qualitative case study methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five men who were currently enrolled at JMU, six men who had previously been enrolled at JMU but who had left before completing a degree, and two university administrators who work closely with students at risk of dropping out. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. They were analyzed using QSR’s N-Vivo 9, a qualitative data management software package. Themes and sub-themes emerged around two major categories: factors that …


Examining The Bricks And Mortar Of Socioeconomic Status: An Empirical Comparison Of Measurement Methods, Ross Markle May 2011

Examining The Bricks And Mortar Of Socioeconomic Status: An Empirical Comparison Of Measurement Methods, Ross Markle

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on educational outcomes has been widely demonstrated in the fields of sociology, psychology, and educational research. Across these fields however, measurement models of SES vary, including single indicators (parental income, education, and occupation), multiple indicators, hierarchical models, and most often, an SES composite provided by the National Center for Educational Statistics. This study first reviewed the impact of SES on outcomes in higher education, followed by the various ways in which SES has been operationalized. In addition, research highlighting measurement issues in SES research was discussed. Next, several methods of measuring SES were used …


Finding Balance: School-Based Yoga Programs For The Prevention And Reduction Of Anxiety, Jessica Dawn Aaron May 2011

Finding Balance: School-Based Yoga Programs For The Prevention And Reduction Of Anxiety, Jessica Dawn Aaron

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Children and adolescents experience anxiety to varying degrees; levels vary from healthy and motivating to clinically elevated and debilitating. At present, anxiety disorders are most commonly treated through psychopharmacology and cognitive behavioral therapy. This thesis contains a brief literature review of these existing treatments, followed by a presentation of the emerging support for mindfulness-based yoga programs, highlighting a particular opportunity for school-based mental health providers. Keywords: yoga, anxiety, wellness, prevention, school-based, holistic care.


Perceptions Of Acceptability And Effectiveness Of Interventions For Adhd: A Comparison Of Teachers And School Psychologists, Bradley Call May 2011

Perceptions Of Acceptability And Effectiveness Of Interventions For Adhd: A Comparison Of Teachers And School Psychologists, Bradley Call

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

This study compared school psychologists’ and teachers’ perceptions of classroom interventions for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants read vignettes of a student with ADHD. They then read descriptions of the Daily Report Card and Response Cost Techniques, two proposed interventions to help the student. They then rated the interventions using the Behavioral Intervention Rating Scale (BIRS; Elliot & Von Brock Treuting, 1991). Differences were observed between which intervention was rated as more acceptable and effective. School psychologists rated the Daily Report Card as less acceptable than teachers did. They also rated the Daily Report Card as less …


Resilience Through Attending To The Power Of The Mind, Jennifer Dawn Behm May 2011

Resilience Through Attending To The Power Of The Mind, Jennifer Dawn Behm

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Abstract The science of psychological genomics, otherwise known as epigenetics, demonstrates how thoughts and emotions affect our physiology and even our genes. Genetic expression is a determining factor in many physical diseases and mental conditions. There is recent evidence that suggests that effective resilience-focused counseling may enable genes to express themselves in salubrious ways, frequently averting disease. Early counseling interventions can eliminate a future need for more costly invasive medical procedures. People can be mentally and physically healed when they are ministered to in their totality. The science of epigenetics has profound ramifications for all in the healing professions including …


Substance Abuse And School Counseling, Katherine A. Baird May 2011

Substance Abuse And School Counseling, Katherine A. Baird

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

School counselors are in a unique position to address substance abuse issues in schools and communities. School counselors may work with students who have substance abuse problems, therefore, it is essential for school counselors to be aware of the research on substance abuse. It is also essential for school counselors to have a sense of what interventions to use with students who are abusing drugs and/or alcohol. The purpose of this project is to: examine the latest research on substance abuse as it relates to youth; examine the role of the school counselor in substance abuse assessment and treatment; and …


Study Strategies In High School Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Mikaela Renee Cribbs May 2011

Study Strategies In High School Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Mikaela Renee Cribbs

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) are entering college after high school at higher rates than in the past. Previous research suggests that students with SLD have a significantly more difficult time adjusting to the demands of college, with deficits noted in the area of study strategies. This study compared study strategies of students with SLD with those of students without disabilities. The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory High School, 2nd edition (LASSI-HS; C.E. Weinstein & D.R. Palmer, 2002) was used to assess ten areas of study strategies. Results indicate that students with student with SLD have significantly more developed …


Giving A Voice To Adolescents Hip-Hop Therapy: “Music Expresses That Which Cannot Be Said And On Which It Is Impossible To Be Silent,”Victor Hugo., Amanda Gaye Francis May 2011

Giving A Voice To Adolescents Hip-Hop Therapy: “Music Expresses That Which Cannot Be Said And On Which It Is Impossible To Be Silent,”Victor Hugo., Amanda Gaye Francis

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Hip-hop therapy is a new, thriving therapeutic approach for adolescents and young adults. Extensive research is being done utilizing this approach with adolescents as a way for them to express their emotions and experiences. Through group counseling in a school, students can begin to express their experiences by learning to create their own emotional story through writing rap songs. The creation of their song can be accomplished in eight group sessions, starting with finding music that expresses who they are and ending with the creation of a song.


An Exploration Of Two Couples Workshop Approaches: Getting The Love You Want By Imago Relationships International And The Art And Science Of Love By The Gottman Institute, Dessie Morgan Canelakes May 2011

An Exploration Of Two Couples Workshop Approaches: Getting The Love You Want By Imago Relationships International And The Art And Science Of Love By The Gottman Institute, Dessie Morgan Canelakes

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

The purpose of this project is to examine, compare, and evaluate two differing approaches to couples’ workshops. Chapter 1 will use one couple’s story to illustrate the epidemic of romantic relationship/marriage dissolution. Chapter 2, the literature review, will introduce two workshop approaches by Harville Hendrix and John Gottman. This chapter presents literature that supports the workshops and highlights couples’ therapy research. Chapter 3 will review each workshop separately with respect to their goals, structure, and how they express underlying ideas. Also, a comparison and evaluation will be provided for both. Chapter 4 will follow with a summative evaluation of my …


Extra-Curricular Activity Participation And Psychological School Engagement In Ethnically Diverse Middle School Students, Andrew Intagliata May 2011

Extra-Curricular Activity Participation And Psychological School Engagement In Ethnically Diverse Middle School Students, Andrew Intagliata

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Students of diverse populations have the highest risk of becoming disengaged from school and dropping out. This study investigated the relationship between extra-curricular activity participation and psychological school engagement among a group of fifty-three diverse middle school students. The sample studied mostly lived in the United States their entire lives, participated in extra-curricular activities, and reported being affectively “engaged” in school. Among the students studied, no correlation between participation in extra-curricular activities was observed. Students of all ethnicities reported similar levels of psychological school engagement. However, a difference was found in Hispanic/Latino students, in that those who had spent less …


Curriculum For Parents Of Children In Foster Care Who Are Working To Achieve Reunification, Andrea Lynn Skaflen May 2011

Curriculum For Parents Of Children In Foster Care Who Are Working To Achieve Reunification, Andrea Lynn Skaflen

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

This review considers the reasons for the disconnect between what has been identified as best practice and what is routinely practiced regarding services to biological parents of children in foster care. As well it synthesizes the current data regarding what practices are most effective in working with biological parents of children in foster care in achieving the goal of family reunification to create a curriculum for parents of children in foster care who are working to achieve reunification. It also synthesizes current data regarding best practices and presents a curriculum for parents of children in foster care who are working …


Development And Validation Of The Preservice Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching Items (Pmkt): A Mixed-Methods Approach, Javarro Antoine Russell May 2011

Development And Validation Of The Preservice Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching Items (Pmkt): A Mixed-Methods Approach, Javarro Antoine Russell

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) is the knowledge required for teaching mathematics for understanding. Researchers suggest that this construct consists of multiple knowledge domains. Those domains include teachers’ knowledge of mathematical content and knowledge about teaching mathematics. These domains of MKT have been theoretically and empirically examined to determine their effects on K-12 student achievement. However, empirical evidence of this relationship is limited due to a lack of measures to assess MKT. Recently, researchers have constructed measures of MKT to evaluate the effectiveness of professional development activities with in-service teachers. These measures, however, lack validity evidence for use in teacher …


The Effects Of Mental And Physical Wellness Promotion Programs On Students’ Well-Being, Jamie Constantz May 2011

The Effects Of Mental And Physical Wellness Promotion Programs On Students’ Well-Being, Jamie Constantz

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

How an individual interprets past, present, and future situations contributes to their overall level of happiness and determines how they perceive themselves, their present life situations, and their view of the future. In addition, increased physical activity has been associated with improved physical health, mental health, and academic achievement in children and adolescents. Previous research has indicated the benefits of both mental health promotion and the engagement in physical activity for children and adolescents. The current study was designed to promote these aspects through a wellness program targeted for seventh grade students. This study focused on two areas of investigation: …


Religion, Spirituality, And School Psychology: A National Survey Of Training Programs, Jessica Marie Bass May 2011

Religion, Spirituality, And School Psychology: A National Survey Of Training Programs, Jessica Marie Bass

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

As school psychologists strive to become culturally competent in our growing diverse society, an important piece that seems to missing from the typically accessed conceptualization of culture is religion and spirituality. The focus of this study was to survey NASP approved training programs to determine how these programs intentionally incorporate knowledge and skills and determine the competence of their graduate students in matters of religion and spirituality. All NASP approved school psychology programs were sent a survey and the program director served as the sole participant. Most programs do not believe that their students have been involved in casework involving …


The Relationship Between Acculturation Status, Goal Orientation, And Self-Efficacy In Adolescents, Thi Beam May 2011

The Relationship Between Acculturation Status, Goal Orientation, And Self-Efficacy In Adolescents, Thi Beam

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Current commentary on population growth in the United States more often than not includes phrases such as, "the increasing minority population”. While the composition of our overall population is evolving and changing, so does the makeup of our schools. As seen through the current state of the achievement gap, differences between cultures, ethnicities, and races are growing in relevance as we work to address educational shortcomings. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between acculturation status, achievement goal orientation, and self-efficacy. A sampling of 98 10th grade students was taken from a large and diverse school district in the …


Teachers' Perceptions Of A Universal Screener And Progress Monitoring Tool Within An Rti Framework, Dale Bostwick May 2011

Teachers' Perceptions Of A Universal Screener And Progress Monitoring Tool Within An Rti Framework, Dale Bostwick

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

The following study will report the findings from a survey and focus group conducted with teachers. The research findings will reflect the teachers' experiences using the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment, a social-emotional universal screener and progress-monitoring tool, within an RtI framework. The domain areas of perceived effectiveness, perceived need, motivation to implement, willingness to try the intervention, perceptions of the role compatibility, perception of relative advantage, skill proficiency, self-efficacy, buy-in, shared vision, and perceptions of intervention recipient influencing teachers' perceptions of the tool and implementation of the service model will be discussed. The information gathered in this study can assist …


Recruitment And Retention Of African-Americans In School Psychology In A Social Justice Context: Practitioners' Perspectives, Marlana Ashe May 2011

Recruitment And Retention Of African-Americans In School Psychology In A Social Justice Context: Practitioners' Perspectives, Marlana Ashe

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

School psychology is moving toward more culturally competent practice; one way of attaining that is through increasing the number of culturally diverse practitioners. African-Americans in particular are needed. Various factors including a negative perception of psychology and lacking knowledge of school psychology contribute to the low numbers of members of this ethnic group in school psychology. Social justice issues, such as prejudice and disproportionality in special education seemingly affect minority groups’ interest in the field; however, little research has been conducted to examine this interaction. Effective recruitment and retention strategies to increase the number of African-American school psychologists in the …


A Systematic Evaluation Of The Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique, Whitney Flemming Smiley May 2011

A Systematic Evaluation Of The Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique, Whitney Flemming Smiley

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Currently, researchers are conducting many studies on n improving teaching methods. However, research is underdeveloped is improving testing formats so that they can promote student achievement. One way of improving testing could be to incorporate feedback into the testing procedure. This study replicated and extended past research done Epstein, Epstein, & Brosvic’s (2001) by for a testing technique called the Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF-AT), which allows test takers to receive immediate feedback on each response during testing. I extended Epstein’s research by including two new conditions (scantron with feedback and computerized IF-AT). Results showed that adding feedback into the …


Comprehensive Directory Of Mental Health Services 2010: A Tool For Collaboration In Providing Services, Glennys Heatwole Shouey May 2011

Comprehensive Directory Of Mental Health Services 2010: A Tool For Collaboration In Providing Services, Glennys Heatwole Shouey

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

The purpose of this project was to update the 2007 edition of the Comprehensive Directory of Mental Health Services and to expand the geographical areas covered. The directory was first published in 1990 and, with regular updating, has continued to provide helping professionals with resources for making referrals and for working in a collaborative framework to meet the mental health needs of our communities. All information included in the 2007 edition was verified and updated and new listings were added. The directory is available in printed form and online at http://www.psyc.jmu.edu/counseling/servicesdirectory.html.


In The Trenches: Strategies For Effective Work With Troubled Youth, James Tavenner May 2011

In The Trenches: Strategies For Effective Work With Troubled Youth, James Tavenner

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

The overarching goal of this project is the compilation of a resource for those who have chosen to work with troubled youth. . Most workers in the field have a bachelor’s degree or less, and even those with a solid education may find themselves ill-prepared for the practical challenges of working with this difficult group. For that reason, it was necessary to create a resource increasing the practical knowledge base of workers in the field. Within this text, I have compiled and reviewed literature concerning practical interventions with at-risk adolescents, combined it with professional experience, and provided a guidebook which …


The Impact Of Cheating On Irt Equating Under The Non-Equivalent Anchor Test Design, Daniel Pacheco Jurich May 2011

The Impact Of Cheating On Irt Equating Under The Non-Equivalent Anchor Test Design, Daniel Pacheco Jurich

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The prevalence of high stakes test scores as a basis for significant decisions necessitates the dissemination of accurate and fair scores. However, the magnitude of these decisions has created an environment prone to examinees resorting to cheating. To reduce the risk of cheating, multiple test forms are commonly administered. When multiple forms are employed, the forms must be equated to account for potential differences in form difficulty. If cheating occurs on one of the forms, the equating procedure may produce inaccurate results. A simulation study was conducted to examine the impact of cheating on IRT true score equating. Recovery of …


The Relationship Between Self-Esteem And Social Influence: An Empirical Comparison Of Two Theoretical Models, Chauncy Thomas Brinton May 2011

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem And Social Influence: An Empirical Comparison Of Two Theoretical Models, Chauncy Thomas Brinton

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The relationship between social influence and self-esteem was examined in two studies from the lens of two different theoretical approaches, Leary’s sociometer theory and Henriques’ Unified Theory of Psychology (HUTP). Whereas sociometer theory contends that self-esteem functions completely as a barometer of relational value, HUTP posits that human self-esteem should also be significantly influenced by the cultural context, especially the extent to which self-enhancement is justified. This conception leads to the prediction that socialization will influence self-esteem, after controlling for social influence. Specifically, individuals socialized to self-enhance should demonstrate higher levels of self-esteem after controlling for social influence. Two studies …


Gathering Further Validity Evidence For The Academic Entitlement Questionnaire: Examining The Relationship Between Noncompliance And Academic Entitlement, Jason Paul Kopp May 2011

Gathering Further Validity Evidence For The Academic Entitlement Questionnaire: Examining The Relationship Between Noncompliance And Academic Entitlement, Jason Paul Kopp

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

A rigorous investigation of the psychometric properties of the Academic Entitlement Questionnaire (AEQ) was undertaken. Academic entitlement (AE) is defined as the expectation that one should receive positive academic outcomes (e.g., high grades), often independent of performance. AE had been theoretically linked with uncivil student behavior, but this relationship had not been evaluated empirically prior to this study. Responses on the AEQ were gathered from compliant and noncompliant students. Measurement invariance was established for the AEQ across these compliant and noncompliant samples. As predicted, the noncompliant sample was significantly higher in latent AE than the compliant sample. Relationships between AE …


Introducing The Unified Measure Of University Mattering: Instrument Development And Evidence Of The Structural Integrity Of Scores For Transfer And Native Students, Megan Katharine France May 2011

Introducing The Unified Measure Of University Mattering: Instrument Development And Evidence Of The Structural Integrity Of Scores For Transfer And Native Students, Megan Katharine France

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The psychological construct university mattering is defined as the feeling that one makes a difference and is significant to his or her university’s community. University mattering emerged from the theory of general mattering, which describes mattering as a complex construct consisting of the facets awareness, importance, ego-extension and reliance. The Revised University Mattering Scale (RUMS), created by writing items to represent these facets, was developed for use in the current study. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, the model-data fit of the RUMS was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Five a priori models were tested using two …


An Evaluation Of A New Method Of Irt Scaling, Shelley Ragland May 2011

An Evaluation Of A New Method Of Irt Scaling, Shelley Ragland

Dissertations, 2014-2019

In order to be able to fairly compare scores derived from different forms of the same test within the Item Response Theory framework, all individual item parameters must be on the same scale. A new approach, the RPA method, which is based on transformations of predicted score distributions was evaluated here and was shown to produce results comparable to the widely used Stocking-Lord (SL) method under varying conditions of test length, number of common items, and differing ability distributions in a simulation study. The new method was also examined using actual student data and a resampling analysis. Both the simulation …