Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Behavior Systems Analysis Approach To Designing A Hlgh-Impact Knowledge Management System, Jacalyn S. Smeltzer

Dissertations

Behavior systems analysis is an approach to designing and managing systems that incorporates the human-performance-technology model of systems analysis and considers the basic principles of behavior when analyzing causes of performance deficiencies and in selecting interventions to address those deficiencies. Behavior systems analysis focuses on three major conditions that influence behavior: (1) the motivation of the individual, (2) the immediate environmental cues, and (3) the consequences of behavior (Malott & Garcia, 1987; Suarez, 2001). The present study used behavior systems analysis to design a knowledge management system (independent variable) for a small business, a consulting firm in the employer-provided training …

Factors Predicting Disrupted Versus Continuous Memory For Child Sexual Abuse, Tami Lorraine Young

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Information regarding the nature of disrupted memory for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is limited. To increase understanding, repressive coping, dissociative tendencies, and characteristics of CSA were measured via survey in college students to determine if they predicted disrupted memory for CSA. Dissociative tendencies, but not repressive coping, predicted disrupted memory. Furthermore, repressive coping and dissociative tendencies were negatively correlated in those with disrupted memory for CSA. Characteristics of CSA loaded onto four factors: less physically intrusive CSA, significantly intrusive CSA, pornographic exploitative CSA and psychological impact of CSA. The psychological impact of CSA factor, greater number of years abused, and …

Fetal Attachment Among Pregnant Substance Users, Trisha Paulette Barcley

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Identification of factors that may lead to child maltreatment is important for intervention at the earliest point in time. Substance use can adversely impact the developing bond between mother and child. The formation of an insecure attachment relationship may place the child at a greater risk for child abuse or neglect. If the mother-child bond can be assessed during pregnancy then intervention relating to attachment and prevention of child abuse may be possible. The relationships between childhood history of and the potential for child abuse, substance use, and fetal attachment were investigated utilizing a sample of 56 pregnant women from …

Effects Of Moral Sensitivity And Moral Climate On Moral Reasoning, Marita Louise Mahoney

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

As healthcare professionals, psychology students and psychologists are expected to behave ethically and morally. It is assumed that moral and ethical reasoning in psychology students develops through exposure to ethical dilemmas within ethics classes and during clinical training experiences. Rest's Four Component Model of Moral Behavior, a neo-Kohlbergian approach to understanding moral development, posits an interaction of Moral Sensitivity, Moral Motivation, Moral Reasoning and Moral Character. Moral sensitivity, or awareness of a moral dilemma, is posited to cue the moral reasoning process, though little is known about how the training environment can facilitate or hamper such developments. Fifty".'two psychology-graduate students …

Exploring The Physician’S Processes: Diagnosing Autism, Gwennyth Li Sze Palafox

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Physicians are customarily the first point of contact for parents who are concerned about a child’s development. Thus, it is important for physicians to be current and educated about childhood disorders and subsequent treatment for those disorders. Recently, empirical evidence has led to the proposal of early indicators of autism supporting that autism may be diagnosed accurately in children less than three years old. Furthermore, formal screening and assessment parameters developed by medical organizations have been proposed in order to identify autism as early as possible (American Academy of Neurology, 2000). While the proposed parameters and empirical evidence support early …

Cultural And Psychological Influences On Diabetic Adherence, Keikilani Mcmillin-Williams

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease that poses a particular healthcare challenge because progression is considered controllable (Cox, et al, 1985; Vinicor, et al, 1996) yet treatment adherence, and thus outcome, is very poor (Gonder-Frederick, Cox, & Ritterband, 2002; Goodall, 1991). Culture is a lethal risk factor for diabetic contraction and treatment maintenance. Latinos within the United States are two-to-three times more likely to develop complications and die than non-Latinos (Haffner et al, 1996; Rubin, Peyrot, & Saudek, 1991) and are less likely to adhere to treatment (Lipton, Losey, Giachello, Mendez, & Girotti, 1998). Efforts to eliminate health disparities have …

Evaluating Task-Interspersal Outcomes With Children Diagnosed With Autism: Systematic And Direct Replications, Ivy M. Chong

Masters Theses

This study sought to replicate findings by Charlop et al. (1992) in which presenting the same consequences for maintenance (previously learned tasks) and nonacquired tasks was found to stagnate learning on nonacquired tasks during task interspersal. Initially, we conducted a systematic replication (Study I). However, presenting the same consequences for maintenance and nonacquired tasks did not appear to stagnate learning for our participants. All participants reached mastery criterion for the nonacquired vocal task during baseline and two of three participants reached mastery criterion for the nonacquired motor task during baseline. Subsequently, we conducted a direct replication (Study 2). Again, all …

A Research Agenda For Political Personality And Leadership Studies: An Evolutionary Proposal, Aubrey Immelman, Theodore Millon

Psychology Faculty Publications

Despite major neuroscientific advances in the past two decades and parallel conceptual refinement in evolutionary theory, personality-in-politics inquiry remains adrift, divorced from these broader spheres of scientific knowledge. This paper reviews the neurobiological substrates of three major domains of evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology relevant to political personality assessment and the psychological examination of political leaders; furnishes a context and set of guiding ideas to revitalize the study of the person as biopsychosocial entity in politics; advances a generative theory of personality and political leadership performance; and proposes an agenda for advancing personality-in-politics and leadership inquiry, informed by insights derived …

Hormonal Assessment Of Sexual Maturation In Four Captive Lowland Gorilla Males, Anna Bellisari, Jeffrey French

Psychology Faculty Publications

Monozygotic twins Mosuba and Macombo were born at the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo in 1983. During their first year, weight and skeletal growth indicators were virtually identical. The twins lived together continuously until age 7, when they were permanently separated. Mosuba joined a group of males and elderly, non-breeding females in the Henry Doorly Zoo of Omaha, Nebraska. He sired an infant by artificial insemination at age 12. At age 16, Mosuba had the appearance of a fully mature silverback, with prominent sagittal and nuchal crests and typical large body size, consistent with his age.

Are Asian Thinking Styles Different? Acculturation And Thinking Styles In A Chinese-Canadian Population, Jenny M. Tang

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This research examined the theory of mental self-government and its various thinking styles. The theory of mental self-government (Sternberg, 1988a) has established its utility in verbal contexts including education, occupation, partner choices, and cross-culturally. The Associated Thinking Style Inventory (TSI; Sternberg & Wagner, 1991; 1992) has also demonstrated its reliability and validity in a Hong Kong population (Zhang, 1999; Zhang & Lcks, 1997; Zhang & Sternberg, 1998), but it has not been used with Chinese-Canadians. It was hypothesized that as Chinese individuals become more acculturated to the North American cultural system, their thinking styles approach European-American norms. This study found …

Ethnic Identity And Racial Attitudes In A Minority Group Of Mixed Racial Origin, Timothy B. Smith, Joy Stratton, Christopher R. Stones, Anthony Naidoo

Faculty Publications

Limited information exists on the racial attitudes and ethnic identities of groups of mixed racial origin. The present research tested the hypotheses that the construct of ethnic identity is valid among such groups and that ethnic identity is related to out-group prejudice, as predicted by social identity theory. The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, the Anti-White Scale, and the Subtle Racism Scale were administered to 70 South Africans of mixed racial decent, the so-called Coloureds. A factor analysis supported the structural validity of the measure of ethnic identity with this sample, but correlations between scales did not support the prediction that …

Announcements, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

IBPP announcements pertaining to reader requests, editor nominations, and relevant conferences, as well as online and print publications.

Security Watch: No-Fly Zones And Flying Blind, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The article evaluates the gain in security from no-fly zones from a security perspective.

Wanted: A Political Psychology, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes guidelines for a political psychology curriculum that could be pursued by the academic, the academic student, and the autodidact.

The Psychological Training Of Intelligence Analysts: Self-Change And Changes In The World, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author considers the prospects of self-change of analysts in the context of intelligence analysis, and the possibility of the analysts’ gaining better insights into the actual state of global affairs in the process.

Hope Springs Eternal: The Psychology Of Deception, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author considers the idea of detecting deception, noted difficulties in doing so, and questions whether additional funding applied to detecting deception in the context of terrorism would be effective. The author refers to the efforts of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) specifically.

An Examination Of Factors Related To Women's Perceptions Of Female Celebrities: Body Satisfaction, Awareness And Internalization Of Thinness Standards, And Maternal Influence, Jennifer M. Mayer

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

The Psychometrics Of Student Evaluations Of Instructors And Courses At Eastern Michigan University, Thomas P. Proctor

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The study applied Classical Test Theory to the student evaluation forms for 25 departments to assess reliability. The study also applied Generalizability Theory to assess the reliability of the Psychology Department evaluation form. Regression analysis on the Psychology Department form assessed the effect of absolute expected grades on student ratings of teaching effectiveness and courses. The results show that the reliability of the 25 department forms is very high, exceeding .80 for each form. Generalizability theory indicates the Psychology Department form to be reliable for assessment of student ratings of the effectiveness of teaching but not necessarily of courses. Results …

Secure Attachments And Peer Relationships : The Effects Of Secure Mother-Child Attachments On Peer Relationships In Pre-School, Cassandra Damlo

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

What’S Wrong With The Rorschach? What’S Wrong With Opponents Of The Rorschach?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article provides a political psychological commentary on the contemporary controversy concerning the reliability and validity of the Rorschach.

The Life And Death Of Saddam And Osama, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

A version of this article appears in the May 5, 2003 issue of the United States publication, Newsday.

The author compares the impacts and legacies of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

Exploding Causalities: An Example From Iraq, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article provides explanations for a seemingly paradoxical social psychological response to the April 26, 2003 explosions within an ammunition dump in Baghdad.

Announcements, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

IBPP announcements pertaining to reader requests, editor nominations, and relevant conferences, as well as online and print publications.

Changes In False Memories Over Time, Justin Arneson

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Predicting Self-Esteem Based On Perceived Parental Favoritism And Birth Order., Kristy Lynn Adkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parental favoritism is the preference or perception of preference of a parent for one child over another. The present study examines parental favoritism as well as the effects perceived favoritism has on one's self-esteem and if the effects are based on birth order. Participants were 325 undergraduate college students enrolled in introductory level classes. The mean age of the participants was 21.4 with 60% being women and 40% being men. Participants completed a parental favoritism questionnaire developed by the experimenter which assessed if the participant thought his/herself to be favored by a parent compared to a sibling. Self-esteem was assessed …

Expected Happiness, Love, And Longevity Of Marriage: Effects Of Wedding Type Preference, Gender, And Location Of The Wedding Ceremony., Karen Sue Rudd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gender and wedding type preference affect views of those who get married in a courthouse as opposed to a church. The participants for this study consisted of 198 unmarried, undergraduate students that planned to marry someday. Participants responded to a wedding location scenario then completed a wedding type preference questionnaire, the Life Orientation Test Revised, and a demographics questionnaire. Results revealed that group 1 (participants who were high on traditional wedding preference and received the scenario of courthouse wedding ceremony), rated the hypothetical couple as having a higher chance of being happy after 25 years of marriage and being more …

Perceptions Of Cosmetic Alteration In Different Sized Attractive Women., Deborah Suzanne White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two experimental phases examined the characteristics impacting the physical attractiveness stereotype and a potential stereotype shift. From reading a description of a hypothetical target, Phase 1 of this study revealed that participants considered an overweight attractive woman significantly more likely to help a friend in need and significantly more likely to become a friend than an underweight attractive woman. These findings provide understanding of how particular stereotypes may provide social benefits. In Phase 2, knowledge of the woman's plans for liposuction, which was disclosed in a second description of the target, dramatically lowered the participants' evaluations of her physical attractiveness, …

The Influence Of Acculturation On The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test By Mexican Americans, Dean M. Coffey

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The relationship hctwccn the level of acculturation anManual de Normas y procedimientos para la Bateria Neuropsicologica en Espanol (Artiola i Fortuny, Hennosillo, Heaton, & Pardee, 1999) using the Mexico/U.S. border region norms in the manual. Significant differences were demonstrated for Total Number Correct (p < .01) for the less acculturated subgroup (n = 26). There were no significant differences between the more acculturated subgroup (n = 8) and the Spanish normative sample. This study demonstrates that the WCST is not a culture-free neuropsychological instrument. The results provide supporting evidence for the use of the Mexico/U.S. border region norms with Spanish-speaking Mexican Americans in the Northwest region of the United States.

An Analysis Of Psychopathy Characteristics In A Non-Incarcerated Population, Ebony D. Hunter

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

Psychopathy has received increased recognition as a critical clinical construct for evaluation and management of troubled individuals. To date, clinical research has examined psychopathy simply as a global construct rather than focusing on its specific criteria. In addition, researchers have tended to utilize downward extensions of adult, incarcerated conceptualization to understand general populations. Research pertaining to non-incarcerated diverse populations is scarce. This study is designed to assist in evaluation of personality traits related to psychopathy in a general, non-institutionalized population showing that there are selective psychopath characteristics present in non-incarcerated population.

The Relationship Between Tentative Drug And Self-Concept Among Rural African American Children In Four Bucolic Communities In Southern Louisiana, Chakema C. Carmack

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

This research contributes to the much-needed information on rural children in the South. While drug use plagues our society, research strives for answers to combat the destructive behavior. Very little research studies rural African American children and the effects these issues have on them. The present study (1) focuses on rural African American children's overall self-concept. (2) focuses on rural African American's children's tentative drug use to commonly known drugs of abuse, and (3) seeks out a relationship between attitudes of tentative drug use of an self-concept as they pertain to these African American Children in Southern communities, majority impoverished …