Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Memory And Age Differences In Spatial Manipulation Ability, Timothy A. Salthouse, Deborah Mitchell, Roni Reiter-Palmon

Psychology Faculty Publications

Young and old adults were asked, in 3 experiments, to make decisions about the identity of line segment patterns after either adding or subtracting line segments from the original pattern. On some of the trials, the line segments from the initial display were presented again in the second display to minimize the necessity of remembering early information during the processing of later information. Although this manipulation presumably reduced the importance of memory in the tasks, it had little effect on the magnitude of the age differences in any of the experiments. Because the 2 groups were equivalent in accuracy of …

Concurrent Validity Of The Pain Locus Of Control Scale And Its Relationship To Treatment Outcome Variables, Linda Kay Schaefer

Student Work

Studies have shown that locus of control orientation is related to emotional and behavioral adjustment to chronic pain. Researchers have begun the process of establishing the validity and reliability of the Pain Locus of Control Scale. This study was conducted to establish the concurrent validity of the PLC Scale at the time of follow-up from pain management treatment, an effort not previously undertaken. In addition, studies suggest that those persons with an Internal locus of control orientation demonstrate more favorable treatment outcomes, as compared to a Powerful others or Chance locus of control. This research examined the relationship between treatment …

Esther's Narrative In Bleak House, Jennifer Willa Tonn Sternhagen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the complexity of Dickens's involvement with his narrative and characters, specifically Esther Summerson in the novel Bleak House. The introduction examines his habit of interrupting the speech of his characters with direct authorial comments in order that he not give up his story entirely to a character, even in an extended first-person narration. It is noted that this is true even of characters who are autobiographical, like Pip or David Copperfield. Here my references are to the work of Susan R. Horton (The Reader in the Dickens World) and Mark Lambert (Dickens and the Suspended Quotation).

A …

The Effects Of Alcohol On Semantic Memory, Norman A. Kerbel

Theses and Dissertations

Previous studies have shown that the effects of alcoholic intoxication on memory result from a functional decrease in capacity of working memory (e.g., Petros, Kerbel, Beckwith, Sacks, & Sarafolean, 1985). However, other studies looking at speeds of retrieval of information from long-term memory have brought this conclusion into doubt (Moskowitz & Roth, 1971). The present study presented subjects with decisions to be made regarding word pairs. Three conditions were used, each requiring different amounts of information to be accessed from long-term memory.

Sixty-six male college students, between the ages of 21 and 29 years, were divided into two groups. One …

The Integration Of Metabolic Measurement And The Behavioral Management Of Nutrition And Exercise For Treating Obesity, Cheryl Rae Maphies

Dissertations

Four female subjects participated in an eight-week, behavioral weight control treatment program that emphasized changing the behavior of food choice and aerobic exercise. This study also tested the hypothesis that by utilizing measurements of an individual's resting metabolic rate to determine caloric level, an individual could lose weight without a disproportional drop in metabolic rate. During the initial eight weeks, subjects' resting metabolic rates were determined through the measure of oxygen consumption. Caloric intakes were based on a reduction of 500-1000 calories per day from the estimated number of calories expended daily. Using a multiple-baseline design, the effects of diet …

The Therapeutic Bond Scales: Psychometric Characteristics And Relationship To Treatment Effectiveness, Stephen M. Saunders, Kenneth I. Howard, David E. Orlinsky

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

The Therapeutic Bond Scales assess the quality of the therapeutic relationship from the patient's perspective. The therapeutic bond is composed of 3 aspects: working alliance, empathic resonance, and mutual affirmation. Scales were developed to measure these aspects and the therapeutic bond as a whole. The correlations between these scales and 2 measures of outcome (session quality assessed by the patient and termination outcome evaluated by nonparticipant raters) were examined. All scales were significantly correlated with session quality. Therapeutic bond was significantly correlated with termination outcome in both a linear and a curvilinear fashion, suggesting that, at least in the initial …

Donald H. Rubinstein's Review Of Catherine A. Lutz's Unnatural Emotions: Everyday Sentiments On A Micronesian Atoll And Their Challenge To Western Theory, Donald H. Rubinstein

Pacific Studies

No abstract provided.

Timoti S. Karetu's Review Of Joan Metge's In And Out Of Touch: Whakamaa In Cross Cultural Context, Timoti S. Karetu

Pacific Studies

No abstract provided.

Proxemic Behavior Of The Nonhandicapped Toward The Visually Impaired, Carol J. Olsen

Student Work

This study investigated spatial behavior of nonhandicapped individuals toward physically handicapped individuals. Initial seating distance was measured between a visually impaired experimenter and nonhandicapped subjects. Subjects were from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Students completed a survey and then, one at a time, went to an adjacent room to answer some follow-up questions posed by a visually impaired confederate. Distances were measured and compared to other studies measuring handicapped/ nonhandicapped interactions. Previous research showed significant differences in distance between handicapped/ nonhandicapped interactions and nonhandicapped/nonhandicapped interactions. Greater distances were chosen when interacting with a physically handicapped individual than with a …

School Of Psychology Doctoral Program Fall 1989 [And] Summer 1990 Schedule, Nova University

College of Psychological Services / College of Psychology Postgraduate Student and Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Auditory Feedback And Fitts' Law, Tamara L. Atkinson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Previous research on Fitts' Law has concentrated on presenting tracking tasks using visual feedback. The present research investigated the effect of auditory and/or visual feedback with a tracking task. Thirty subjects (15 male, 15 female) performed the tracking task using a mouse control to track a target on a computer monitor. The three feedback conditions included auditory, visual, and auditory/visual. For each condition, the Index of Difficulty was varied and the movement time was measured. It was predicted that the auditory feedback would produce movement times that would conform to Fitts' Law. The results indicted that the auditory condition did …

The Role Of Values In Personality Development, Joanne Peterson

Institute for the Humanities Theses

As an important element of human life, values play a distinctive role in structuring the developing personality. Considerations of this role are discussed from an objective, subjective, and situational perspective, recognized as three known value orientations incorporated into differing personality theories. Initial inquiries suggest that values are not as important as the degree to which an individual commits to a moral life and then employs this viewpoint in sorting through various alternatives to select those beliefs, attitudes and behaviors best reflecting this commitment.

Patient Satisfaction With Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Social Exchange Theory Approach, Jan H. Nelson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

During the past decade patient satisfaction with mental health treatment has become an important issue in research. Administration of patient satisfaction surveys has become a standard practice in treatment and therapy in order to evaluate and improve treatment programs and services. This study examined patient satisfaction in inpatient psychiatric hospitalization based on two social exchange theories. These theories are Kelley and Thibaut's (1978} interdependence theory and Rusbult's (1980) investment model. Fifty inpatients at a state psychiatric facility were given a questionnaire designed to assess satisfaction and commitment based on costs, rewards, investments, comparison level, and comparison level for alternatives. Reliabilities …

Moratorium On Maltzman: An Appeal To Reason, Mark B. Sobell, Linda C. Sobell

Faculty Articles

Maltzman's comment on Cook (1985), which appears elsewhere in this issue, is an unveiled attempt to resurrect the same allegations about our research that he made 7 years ago. None of the allegations are new! Over the past 7 years, those allegations have been the topic of 5 separate inquiries, in each of which we were vindicated. In this response, we review the multiple inquiries and we show how Maltzman continues to (1) cite our work out of context, (2) make false assumptions about the inquiries and our procedures and (3) disregard evidence contradicting his assertions. He relies on data …

On Being Better But Not Smarter Than Others: The Muhammad Ali Effect, Scott T. Allison, George R. Goethals, David M. Messick

Jepson School of Leadership Studies articles, book chapters and other publications

Past research suggests that people believe that they perform socially desirable behaviors more frequently and socially undesirable behaviors less frequently than others (Goethals, 1986; Messick, Bloom, Boldizar, & Samuelson, 1985). The present research examined whether this perception also characterizes people's thinking about intelligent and unintelligent behaviors. In Study 1, subjects wrote lists of behaviors that they or others did. Subjects indicated that they performed more good and intelligent behaviors and fewer bad and unintelligent behaviors than others, although the magnitude of these differences was greater for good and bad acts than for intelligent and unintelligent ones. In Study 2, a …

The Predictive Value Of Mmpi Personality Style In Obesity Therapy, Jeffrey J. Harvey

Student Work

The present study assessed whether psychopathology influences obese subject’s ability to lose weight. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used to differentiate between 46 pathological and 52 nonpathological subjects. A repeated measures analysis of variance did not support the hypothesis that the degree of weight loss is negatively associated with the amount of psychopathology measured by the MMPI. In addition, an analysis of covariance was conducted in an attempt to control for possible confounding factors at the start of treatment and also failed to support the hypothesis.

The Effect Of Spatial Or Verbal Strategy Practice On Hand Involvement, Michela Anita Larocca

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A review of the research on spatial problem solving indicates that spatial problems can be solved using verbal or spatial strategies. Research on block designs further indicate that increased solving speed is correlated with increased left-handed use in right-handers. However, the effect of strategy teaching on hand involvement has not been explored. The present study selected 38 right-hand dominant college students low in spatial ability (Total Standard Score ≤ 95) using the matrices Analogies Test (Naglieri, 1985). Subjects were randomly assigned to a spatial, verbal, or no (control) strategy condition. After completing the pretest consisting of seven block designs based …

Training Program Evaluation For A Prototype Command, Control & Communication System: Soldier Requirements, Performance & Feedback, Natalie Dancho

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An Army training program was evaluated in order to present recommendations for program refinement. The training program, developed as part of two larger Army combat development (CD) studies (DuBois & Smith, 1989a, 1989b), represents an attempt to define program design requirements for training tank commanders to use the Intervehicular Information System (IVIS). IVIS is a computer-based command, control, and communications system proposed for future M1A1 tank upgrades. Twenty-four Army tank commanders (TCs) participated in the research effort. TCs were of various rank and age. Training and testing were conducted over a 4 day period. Training lasted 1-1/2 days followed by …

The Effects Of Age & Practice On The Speed Of Processing In The Functional Field Of View, Francis Frey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Previous studies have indicated that the useful or functional field of view is a dynamic visual measure. Specifically, it has been shown to constrict as a function of increasing ago, decreasing target duration, decreased conspicuity, and to expand as a function of practice. Two possible explanations for the age-related decline were examined: (1) older observers have a deficit in selective attention which prevents them from ignoring irrelevant information, thereby making a target lees conspicuous, and (2) the time required to process a given visual area increases with age. The purpose of this study was to determine which of these explanations …

Comparisons Of Adolescent Sex Offenders And Juvenile Delinquents On Human Figure Drawings And The Adolescent Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Paula F. Zindren

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of two personality tests, the human figure drawing (HFD) and Adolescent Multiphasic Personality Inventory (AMPI), in differentiating adolescent sex offenders from juvenile delinquents without a known sexual offense or victimization history. Subjects (ages 13-17) provided responses to a Structured Clinical Interview (SCI} (adapted from Becker, 1986), completed HFDs of both sexes, and completed the AMPI (Duthie, 1985). Pearson product moment correlation coefficients on each psychodiagnostic characteristic on the HFD rating scale were obtained between pairs of three independent raters. Reliable HFD psychodiagnostic indicators were subjected to a 2 x 2 …

The Effects Of Monthly Expenses On Worker Choice Of The Percent Age Of Incentive Pay To Expected Total Pay: A Simulation, Shezeen Oah

Masters Theses

Because studies that examine factors that affect worker preference for different pay systems are difficult to conduct in the workplace, the feasibility of using a laboratory simulation was assessed. The dependent variable was subject choice of the percentage of incentive pay to total pay. The independent variable was the percentage of monthly expenses to monthly income. The higher the incentive percentage the greater the potential earnings, but the greater the variability of pay and the probability that subjects would be unable to pay expenses. Work performance was simulated by the roll of a die. Thirty college students worked in groups …

Principal Transfer In Urban Manitoba School Divisions: Superintendent And Principal Perceptions Of The Transfer Process And Its Intended And Actual Succession Effects, Brian David Boese

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived value of principal transfer by examining and describing superintendent and principal perceptions of school division transfer processes and of anticipated and actual succession effects. Five superintendents and ten principals--the superintendent, one elementary principal, and one secondary principal from each of five of the ten metropolitan school divisions located in Winnipeg, Manitoba--were interviewed by the researcher. The superintendents described one of two general types of transfer used in moving principals--a long-term career/organizational development process and a short-term vacancy chain process. The principals reacted to these descriptions and gave their perceptions of …

Facial And Pictorial Recognition As A Function Of Massed Versus Distributed Presentation And Imaging Instructions, John Allyn Cayard

Master's Theses

Beneficial effects of distributed practice and rehearsal on recognition has been demonstrated in numerous memory studies for verbal stimuli and manual skills. However, no research has been reported using non-verbal, pictorial stimuli. In addition, few studies have examined the effects of pictorial rehearsal. The present research examines the effects of massed versus distributed practice and post-exposure imaging on pictorial memory. The first and third experiments used faces while the second used plant stimuli. In general, the results showed beneficial effects for post-presentation imaging. Presentation mode produced complex effects, but generally supported the superiority of distributed presentation. The results of Experiment …

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator : Consistency As A Result Of Genuine And Discrepant Personality Type Feedback, Stephanie Ann Falk

Master's Theses

Because of the use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI; Myers & McCaulley, 1988), psychological practitioners, consultants and researchers need to address implications of personality type feedbeck for clients, employees, and research subjects. This study investigated consistency of the MBTI as a result of genuine and discrepant personality type feedback. True and false feedback was expected to influence subjects in the directton of feedback given. Subjects were selected based on their Sensing-Intuitive (S-N) preference scores. Each of the forty subjects was given either true personality type feedback (TFG) or false personality type feedback (FFG), and then retested. Results showed that …

Temporal Discrimination Training Of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury Using Computer-Based Operant Procedures, Robert Edward Obrecht

Masters Theses

Computer-based interresponse time (IRT) and matching-to-sample (MTS) procedures were employed in two experiments to assess and effect changes in temporal discriminations made by adults with a history of traumatic brain injury. The results of Experiment One support the interpretation that maintaining correct IRT > t performance was a function of stimulus conditions that included signalled IRTs, values of t less than 3-seconds, a contract agreement to maintain performance, and other contingencies not explicitly part of the design. The results of Experiment Two, that minimal response latencies on MTS tasks are mediated equally well by an experimenter's verbal prompting as well as …

Compliance With Universal Precautions By Health Care Workers In A Rural Community Emergency Room, Jane E. Devries

Masters Theses

Performance feedback has been used in various organizations to correct problems in the areas of safety, customer service, absenteeism, and tardiness. The present research examined the effects of performance feedback to increase compliance with universal precautions in an emergency room department. Four subjects (Registered Nurses) were observed for glove wearing in any of six different situations common to the emergency room. These included cleaning instruments, cleaning a laceration, giving an injection, phlebotomy, inserting an intravenous catheter, and obtaining and/or transporting specimens other than blood. A multiple baseline experimental design was employed in this study. Results indicated that performance feedback increased …

The Writing Processes Of Theodore Taylor And Jane Yolen, Jean Myers Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a description of the writing processes of two professional writers for children and young adults, Theodore Taylor and Jane Yolen. Theories concerning the writing process and implications for classroom use, as expressed by Cowley, Smith, Murray, Flower and Hayes, Graves, and Calkins, are the basis for an examination of the working papers for Taylor's The Cay and Rocket Island and Yolen's The Bird of Time and The Sultan's Perfect Tree which have been donated to the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota.

The working papers include notes, drafts, revisions, galley and foundry proofs, and correspondence, although …

The Effects Of Feedback Referent And Content Upon Self-Determination, Rated Task Interest, And Intrinsic Motivation, Kerry L. Sheehan

Student Work

This study was an attempt to determine if verbal feedback could be used to convey information about feedback referent and feedback content to individuals in an experimental setting, and if so, if that information would influence their perceptions of perceived task competence, self-determination, task-interest, and intrinsic motivation. Eighty subjects were used from psychology classes. The majority were college freshmen or sophomores. Results showed that subjects did attend to the feedback referent, but that the referent had no subsequent influence on any of the dependent variables. Additionally, the feedback content manipulation did not produce the predicted effects upon the dependent variables. …

Application Of Library Least-Squares Analysis To Human Whole-Body Counter Spectra Derived From Low Level Gamma Emissions, Hang-See Ong

Theses and Dissertations

The method of library least-square analysis (LLSA) has been applied to gamma ray spectra obtained from the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center whole body counter. The validity of the method was tested under various conditions. Mathematical formulation of the method is presented along with a detailed description of the computer program algorithm used. Special features, schemes and pitfalls of the computer program (or the method as a whole) are discussed in detail

Use Of Visual Phonics In The Remediation Of Children's Phonological Disorders, Diane E. Dacquay

Theses and Dissertations

Investigations within the field of child phonology- have been concerned with the acquisition of a phonemic repertoire as well as the developmental rules for combining phonemes sequentially. Children acquire the adult phonological system by simplifing their productions through the application of phonological processes. Speech-language pathologists target phonological processes for remediation when they are atypical of children's developmental stage or when the processes are unusual in form.

A recently developed hand symbol system called Visual Phonics (1985) may enhance the remediation of phonological processes. Support for this proposition comes from studies which have incorporated, with some success, the use of manual …