Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Factors Affecting Judicial Decision Making, Brooke Marie Hansen

Honors Program Theses

The U.S. court system relies on the discretion of judges for most sentencing decisions. Even when there are sentencing guidelines, the judicial decision making process requires judges to use their discretion to determine the actual sentence. Personality characteristics play a role in juror decision making, as shown by studies of the effect of authoritarianism on verdicts (Narby, Culter, & Moran, 1993). Little research has focused on the personality characteristics of judges and what role they play in sentencing decisions. Judicial decision making is a debated topic as demonstrated by the fact that the Supreme Court heard the case Blakely v. …

Front Matter

Modern Psychological Studies

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of The Variability Hypothesis On Margaret F. Washburn's And Mary W. Calkins' Parodoxical Relations With Faculty In Their Graduate Programs, Ginger Hudson, Ann N. Elliott

Modern Psychological Studies

This paper offers a possible explanation for the paradoxical relations for two of psychology's 19th century female pioneers with faculty members in their graduate programs: Margaret F Washburn and James M. Cattell at Columbia University; and Mary W. Calkins and Hugo Munsterberg at Harvard University. Cattell's and Munsterberg's strong support and advocacy for these female graduate students appear contradictory to their general beliefs regarding women's intellectual capacities and pursuit of higher education. However, it is suggested that their views were, in fact, consistent with the variability hypothesis, which drew a sharp distinction between "average" and "exceptional" women. It is further …

Physiological And Psychological Responses To Stress In Elite Swimmers, Josie M. Jedick

Modern Psychological Studies

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of different amounts of outside stress on a group of 13 male and 12 female swimmers from Arizona State University who were involved in the same amount of exercise stress. It was hypothesized that high levels of outside stress in addition to the imposed training stress should correlate with more negative mood and with more health problems. It was also expected that the combination of these effects would contribute to a decline in performance. Several questionnaires were utilized to evaluate the defined variables of life event stress (Life Events Survey …

The Relationship Between Hypergender Ideology And Rape Empathy Among Male And Female College Students, Erin E. Okun, Suzaime L. Osman

Modern Psychological Studies

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between hypergender ideology and rape empathy. A sample of 157 college students completed a questionnaire packet containing demographic variables, the Hypergender Ideology Scale (HOS) and the Rape Empathy Scale (RES). It was predicted that those indicating stronger adherence to extreme stereotypic gender roles would report more empathy for the perpetrator rather than the victim of rape. It was also predicted that men would show stronger adherence to stereotypic gender roles and less victim empathy than women. Results show significant support for all predictions. Discussion involves implications that the …

Unskilled-Unaware And The Role Of Defensive High Self-Esteem, Kim Wilson, Christine Smith

Modern Psychological Studies

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between defensive high self-esteem and inability to recognize one's own incompetence. It is hypothesized that individuals displaying defensive high self-esteem will be most likely to show a high correlation between lack of skill and lack of awareness. Participants were assessed for defensive high self-esteem using the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The unskilled-unaware construct was identified through comparison of prediction versus actual performance on a curriculum-scheduled exam. The null was rejected at p = .01, indicating the likelihood that defensive self-esteem can or does play a …

Age And Cohort Differences In Flashbulb Memory, Jenny Denver

Modern Psychological Studies

Current research in autobiographical memory gives evidence of both a retention effect and a "reminiscence bump," as well as evidence of an agerelated decline in older adults' ability to vividly recall certain memories. The present study investigated the existence of an age-related decline and the reminiscence bump in flashbulb memories, which Brown and Kutik (1977) describe as detailed, vivid, and persistent memories for unexpected, emotional events. Participants from three age groups (n=220) were questioned about three potential flashbulb memory events (9 / 11, JFK's assassination, and Pearl Harbor). Younger adults had lengthier free recall accounts for 9/11 than middle-aged and …

Delivery Of Smoke Toxicants From Cigarettes Made In Developed And Developing Countries: A Comparison Of U.S. Full Flavor And Ultra Light Brands With Syrian Cigarettes, Lynn M. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical research is needed to understand how cigarette toxicant yield affects smoker toxicant exposure. While there is much clinical research on yield and exposure in developed countries, there is little in developing countries. Forty smokers completed one, 4-hour session to compare yield and exposure of different cigarettes. Participants smoked three cigarettes under controlled topography conditions: one U.S. 111 flavor, one U.S. ultra light, and one Syrian cigarette, with 90 minutes between cigarettes. Sessions differed by Syrian brand; 21 participants smoked Alhamraa while 19 smoked A1 Sham cigarettes. Blood nicotine and breath CO samples were obtained, HR was monitored and subjective …

The Construct Validity Of The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale Of Intelligence (Wasi) And The Wide Range Intelligence Test (Writ): Replication And Extension, Gregory S. Wilson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to further verify the relationship between the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and the Wide Range Intelligence Test (WRIT) by replicating Collins' (2002) study regarding the convergent validity between these two tests. To assess the convergent validity of the WASI and WRIT, two newer brief intelligence tests, 86 participants from central Illinois public schools were administered both measures in counterbalanced order. All correlations between the WASI and WRIT were significant (p < .05). Furthermore, the correlations between the corresponding IQ scales and subtests of the WASI and WRIT were moderate to high, ranging from .55 (r2 = .30) to .82 (r²= .67). The results provided convergent evidence for the construct validity of the WASI and WRIT and supported the contention made by Collins (2002) that the WASI and WRIT are measuring similar constructs. The results of the joint exploratory factor analysis supported the retention of only one factor (general intelligence "g"). A forced, two-factor solution resulted in 10.50% more variation among WASI/WRIT subtest scores. However, the two factors correlated at a high magnitude (r = .75), and all subtests cross-loaded with their theoretical dissimilar factor. The results of the factor analysis supporteda conclusion that the WASI and WRIT are best conceptualized as providing strong measurements of general intelligence.

Exploring The Subjective Meanings And Experiences Of Depression, Reena Sheth

Masters Theses

This study aimed to provide subjectivist accounts of how people understand and interpret their experience of depression. In the mainstream research on depression, the voices of people who experience depression are largely absent. Therefore, the meanings and experiences of depression from the perspective of people who are living with depression themselves were explored in this study by drawing on in-depth interviews. The stories of two participants diagnosed with depression were examined using the holistic-content and the holistic-form analysis approach proposed by Lieblich, Mashiach, and Ziber (1998). Illness narrative forms outlined by Frank (1998) were also utilized to explore how the …

Childhood And Adolescent Depression: Association With Gender, Social-Cognitive, Behavioral, And Gender-Role Factors, Jessica Finn Hougham

Masters Theses

The current study examined the association between gender and depression in childhood and adolescence with respect to social-cognitive, behavioral, and gender-role factors. The participants for this study were 231 children and adolescents ranging in age from 8 to 17 years old. Participants completed a demographic survey and measures assessing depression, self-esteem, self and peer ratings of social standing, cognitive errors in social standing, peer rejected and aggressive behaviors, femininity, and masculinity. Results indicated that there were gender differences in depression scores, with females reporting higher levels of depression than males. Significant negative correlations were found between depression and the factors …

Small Group Social Norms Intervention With Students Involved In Greek Life, Krista A. Mazza

Masters Theses

The misuse of alcohol is often a concern on college campuses nationwide. This concern has created a need for effective alcohol interventions to reduce alcohol misuse. This study investigated college student's perceptions about peer alcohol usage and one's own actual alcohol consumption. A social norms presentation was used to with seven Greek letter organizations to attempt to correct the misperceptions students have about their peers alcohol consumption, and therefore reduce the amount of alcohol consumed. A total of 68 individuals completed all elements ofthe project relevant to this study, of which 22 were male and 46 were female. Furthermore, 17 …

Illinois Standards Achievement Test (Isat) Reading Test Performance And Oral Reading Rate Of 3rd And 5th Grade Illinois Students, Angela R. Herrera

Masters Theses

The relationship between Illinois Standard Achievement Test reading scores for 3rd and 5th graders and their oral reading fluency rates was examined. Four hundred fifty nine students in those grades were given reading probes to determine their reading rate. Reading rate was defined as words read aloud per minute correctly on reading probes composed of text from the students' basal readers as measured by the classroom teacher. The Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) reading test results were obtained in the spring of each year in a group format. The results indicated a modest correlation between the two sets of data. …

Effects Of Self-Monitoring With Accuracy Feedback Versus Self-Monitoring With Corrective Feedback On Students' Performance In Mathematics, Kristina R. Baker

Masters Theses

The current literature suggests that when students are engaged in metacognitive activities, such as self-assessment, self-explanation, monitoring, or revising; their learning is enhanced (Xiaodong, 2001). Further, feedback, an integral element of self-monitoring, has been shown to increase the effectiveness of self-monitoring by guiding students through tasks, delivering corrective feedback that helps the learner identify errors, and providing hints about how to correct the problem (Pintrich, 1995). In this study, the effects of self-monitoring with accuracy feedback and corrective feedback on math performance of fourth grade students were investigated. During a regular mathematics instruction period, the classroom teacher implemented the intervention. …

Gender And Ethnic Biases In Personality Disorder Diagnostic Criteria, Christopher Lootens

Masters Theses

The present study examined bias within the diagnostic criteria for personality disorders, a category for diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. Specifically, gender biases, ethnic biases, and interaction effects between the two were examined for the three Cluster C PD diagnoses. One of the more heated controversies concerning the DSM-IV involves the diagnosis of PD's, especially with regard to the notion of diagnostic bias. For the present study, 60 female and 60 male participants were recruited from the introductory psychology subject pool and given course credit for their participation.

Participants …

Chorda Tympani Nerve Transection At Different Developmental Ages Produces Differential Effects On Taste Bud Volume And Papillae Morphology In The Rat, Suzanne I. Sollars

Psychology Faculty Publications

Chorda tympani nerve transection (CTX) results in morphological changes to fungiform papillae and associated taste buds. When transection occurs during neonatal development in the rat, the effects on fungiform taste bud and papillae structure are markedly more severe than observed following a comparable surgery in the adult rat. The present study examined the potential “sensitive period” for morphological modifications to tongue epithelium following CTX. Rats received unilateral transection at 65, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, or 5 days of age. With each descending age at the time of transection, the effects on the structural integrity of fungiform papillae were more …

In Vivo Neurophysiological Recordings From Geniculate Ganglia: Taste Response Properties Of Individual Greater Superficial Petrosal And Chorda Tympani Neurones, Suzanne I. Sollars, David L. Hill

Psychology Faculty Publications

Coding of gustatory information is complex and unique among sensory systems; information is received by multiple receptor populations located throughout the oral cavity and carried to a single central relay by four separate nerves. The geniculate ganglion is the location of the somata of two of these nerves, the greater superficial petrosal (GSP) and the chorda tympani (CT). The GSP innervates taste buds on the palate and the CT innervates taste buds on the anterior tongue. To obtain requisite taste response profiles of GSP neurones, we recorded neurophysiological responses to taste stimuli of individual geniculate ganglion neurones in vivo in …

Incremental Validity Of The Learning Behaviors Scale, Jessica Willenborg

Masters Theses

Previous research on the incremental validity of the Learning Behaviors Scale (LBS; McDermott, Green, Francis, & Stott, 1999) has shown that good learning behaviors were associated with good academic achievement (Schaefer & McDermott, 1999; Yen, Konold, & McDermott, 2004). Additionally, research has indicated that learning behaviors account for appreciable variation in student grades and academic achievement test scores above and beyond the contribution of intelligence (Schaefer, 1996). The present study investigated the influence of cognitive ability and learning behaviors in the prediction of scores from standardized academic achievement tests. Learning behaviors were assessed with the LBS (McDermott et al., 1999) …

Effects Of Interspersing On Peer Tutoring Of Sight Words, Jennifer Schultz

Masters Theses

This study investigated the effects of short-term peer tutoring, with interspersal or without interspersal, on sight word acquisition. Four first grade students and two second grade students participated in the study. Student dyads (i.e., 1 tutor and 1 tutee) were either in the without interspersal condition or in the interspersal condition. Using an AB single case design, student performance was measured and graphed in two ways, cumulative learning and student learning rate. Contrary to expectations, results indicated the overall cumulative learning measurement for students in the without interspersal condition acquired the greater number of words learned, required less instructional time, …

Leadership Behaviors And Subordinate Resilience, Lynn K. Harland, Wayne Harrison, James R. Jones, Roni Reiter-Palmon

Psychology Faculty Publications

Utilizing a sample of 150 part-time MBA students, this study evaluated the relationship between leader behaviors and subordinate resilience. We proposed that the transformational leadership dimensions of Attributed Charisma, Idealized Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individualized Consideration, as well as the transactional leadership dimension of Contingent Reward would be positively associated with subordinate resilience. We also proposed that the transactional leadership dimensions of Management-by-Exception Active and Management-by-Exception Passive and the non-leadership dimension of Laissez-Faire leadership would not be positively associated with subordinate resilience. With the exception of Inspirational Motivation, all hypothesized relationships were supported. A post-hoc analysis of open-ended …

Distinctions Among Terms Used To Describe Emotions And Moods, Joseph A. Allen

Psychology Faculty Publications

Emotion theorists continue to debate about differences between emotions and moods. Many agree that emotions are necessarily directed at objects, whereas moods are not. This, and other, alternative differences between mood and emotion terms were examined. Fifty undergraduate students were asked to rate a number of affect terms according to their object-directedness, duration, intensity, physiological impact, and psychological feeling states. The results were analyzed to illustrate possible differences between moods and emotions. Implications of the results are discussed.

Altruism In The Context Of Door-Courtesy Behaviors Among College Students, Landen M. Roundy, Meagan E. Griffith, Sarah E. Jensen, Joseph A. Allen

Psychology Faculty Publications

Altruism has been debated as both selfishly and selflessly motivated. Though there are many possible illustrations of altruism in daily activities, a simple model to measure altruism is observing door-holding behaviors. This study observes the door-holding behavior patterns of undergraduate college students, assessing the sex differences and the possibility of an altruistic theme within the observed population. A general sex difference was found illustrating that males hold the door more often than females. Implications of the results are discussed.

Observations And Ratings Of Preschool Children’S Social Behavior: Issues Of Representativeness And Validity, Brian Mckevitt, Stephen N. Elliott

Psychology Faculty Publications

Data were gathered from videotaped recordings of two preschool children engaged in unstructured free play over 12 days each. Observers coded behavior from the videotapes and completed a behavior rating scale for each child after every two observation sessions. Teachers also completed two behavior rating scales per child. Results indicated that at least three 30-min observation sessions were required to reliably represent a child’s overall behavior. Moderate correlations were obtained when observations were compared with teachers’ and observers’ own ratings, indicating the behavior rating scale did an adequate job of reflecting actual observed behavior. The implications of these results for …

Physical And Behavioral Complaints In Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd): Paradoxical Effects Of Methylphenidate, Maria M. Coiro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypotheses concerning paradoxical, psychostimulant-related side effects experienced by ADHD children were examined in the context of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within subject (crossover) experimental design. Results revealed that behavioral and physical complaints were significantly higher under baseline relative to placebo and the four methylphenidate (MPH) conditions (5-mg, 10-mg, 15-mg, 20-mg) across three symptom categories: ADHD core/secondary symptoms, symptoms common to all children, and symptoms highly specific to MPH. No significant differences were found among active drug conditions. Implications of these findings for assessing and monitoring potential treatment emergent symptoms in children are discussed.

The Relationship Of Parent And Child Self-Talk In A College Sample, Reesa Donnelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research has demonstrated the importance of early social interactions in the development of self-talk. It does not appear, however, that existing research has examined the relationship between parents' self-talk and the self-talk that develops in their children. This study examined the relationship between self-talk in parents and their college-age children. Results revealed significant relationships between students' and parents' positive self-talk, but not negative self-talk. Marginal relationships were found for self-talk ratios (ratios of positive and negative self-talk). Maternal communication was found to mediate the relationship between students' and their mothers' positive self-talk. Different trends also were noted between genders. Finally, …

Perceived Stress, Coping, And Adequacy Of Social Support: Implications For Subjective Well-Being In College Students, Kia Asberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stress is a widespread concept commonly associated with psychological and medical problems that may impair an individual's functioning and incur costs on society. Alarming rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other stress-related problems have been found among college students. This study (N = 241)argues that reducing emotional and financial stress-related costs may be possible through increasing public and professional awareness of moderating variables, such as social support and coping resources. Results indicated that stress, inadequate social support, and escape-avoidance coping were related to higher levels of depression and lower life satisfaction in both males and females. Social support functioned …

Resource Allocation Using Touch And Audition, David Mortimer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When people multi-task with inputs that demand attention, processing, andencoding, sensory interference is possible at almost any level. Multiple Resource Theory (MRT) suggests that such interference may be avoided by drawing from separate pools of resources available when using different sensory channels, memory processes, and even different response modes. Thus, there should be advantages in dividing tasks among different sensory channels to tap independent pools of attentional resources. For example, people are better with two tasks using the eye and ear, than when using two auditory or two visual inputs. The majority of the research on MRT involves visual to …

Vibrotactile Guidance Cues For Target Identification, Joshua Downs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to establish how vibrotactile guidance cues can be used to improve marksmanship. This work originated in an effort to provide covert communication, navigation, and weapon aiming cues for infantrymen. It is predominantly an application-driven investigation rather than driven a priori by specific theoretical predictions from models of human performance. Three experiments are presented. Experiment 1 established the affect on initial response to vibrotactile guidance cues of tactor placements on the palmer versus dorsal surface of the hand, and targets appearing left versus right of center. Results suggest that tactile cues provided on the left …

Childhood Predictive And Protective Factors Of Adult Substance Abuse, Melissa A. Grossman

Masters Theses

Psychological abuse in childhood is believed to have an affect on psychological wellbeing in adulthood, specifically in the area of substance abuse. Following the lead of studies in psychological abuse, substance abuse and protective factors, the present study examined the relationship between childhood psychological abuse and adult substance use, along with the role of protective factors in that relationship. Participants, consisting of college undergraduates, completed a series of measures of family cohesion, bonding, substance use, and psychological maltreatment. Although results did not show a relationship between childhood psychological abuse and adult substance abuse, family cohesion was shown to be related …

The Tootling Intervention: Verbal Vs. Private Reports Of Prosocial Behavior, Jessica Torbeck

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the tooling intervention, developed by Skinner, Skinner, and Cashwell (1998), through the use of verbal versus private reports of peers' prosocial behavior. Previous tootling studies have focused on private reports of prosocial behavior, but verbal reports of prosocial behaviors utilizing the tootling intervention have not been investigated. Two classrooms of 3rd grade students were taught to tootle by either verbally reporting or by privately writing down observed prosocial behaviors of their peers. Both classrooms were reinforced for reaching a desired number of tootles. The results of the current study …