Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Interpersonal Perception Of Narcissism In An At-Risk Adolescent Sample: A Social Relations Analysis, Sarah June Grafeman

Dissertations

The current study utilized Kenny's (1994) social relations model to explore the interpersonal consequences of narcissism in an at-risk adolescent residential sample. Members of two platoons (N= 47) attending a 22-week military-style intervention program completed a self-report measure of narcissism and rated one another on narcissism-related traits as well as social status within the peer group. Interpersonal ratings demonstrated small but significant consensus as well as self-other agreement for narcissism-related traits. Individuals with relatively high levels of self-reported narcissism were perceived by peers as hostile, competitive, and likely to engage in future delinquent behaviors. Self-reported narcissism was also associated with …

Improving Reading Fluency And Comprehension In Elementary Students Using Read Naturally, Rebecca Arvans

Dissertations

Difficulty learning how to read is a risk factor for school failure, low grades, behavior problems, juvenile delinquency, truancy, unemployment, jail time, and substance abuse. Reading difficulties are common in the educational setting, afflicting anywhere from 20-40 percent of students. Read Naturally is a computer-based reading program which targets the third "big idea" (i.e„ accuracy and fluency with reading). The current study assessed the efficacy of the Read Naturally program in second through fourth grade elementary students in a public elementary school. Additionally, this study assessed whether improving reading abilities resulted in changes in classroom behavior problems or self-esteem. Eighty-two …

Selecting Effective Mathematics Interventions In The Rti Process Via Brief Experimental Analyses, Carmen Daniela Reisener

Dissertations

The treatment utility of brief experimental analyses (BEAs) for identifying effective treatments for individual students experiencing mathematics difficulties is a novel area of research; especially in a Response-to-intervention (Rtl) framework. One fourth and three sixth grade students served as participants in the current study. The effects of a variety of evidence-based mathematics computation fluency interventions were examined in a BEA format. Effective treatments identified from the BEA for each participant were alternated during an extended analysis. The results of the current investigation indicated variability within and across participants in response to a variety of evidence-based interventions. Visual analysis of the …

The Effects Of Differential Negative Reinforcement Of Task Engagement On Escape From Academic Tasks, Brett Vivian Mehrtens Prince

Dissertations

The effects of differential negative reinforcement of alternative behavior (DNRA) were examined on the escape behavior of four 1st and 2nd grade general education students. The alternative behavior that was negatively reinforced was task engagement during reading or math periods. The DNRA treatment was evaluated for its effects on task engagement in either a DNRA with access to a preferred activity condition or a DNRA without access to a preferred activity condition. In the preferred activity condition, the participants were allowed to engage in a high preferred activity when they had been engaged with an academic task for a certain …

Effects Of Spritual Well-Being, Religious Coping, And Hardiness On Parenting Behaviors In Low Socioeconomic Status Families, Jane Elizabeth Schenck Varner

Dissertations

Children from low socioeconomic status families are at risk for poor academic, emotional, and behavioral outcomes (Owens & Shaw, 2003). Multiple variables have been associated with resiliency in such families (Walsh, 2003). Spiritual and religious constructs have demonstrated positive effects on quality of life (Perrone, Webb, Wright, Jackson, & Ksiazak, 2006), emotional well-being (Davis, Kerr, & Kurpius, 2003; Calicchia & Graham, 2006), and positive health outcomes (Edmondson et al., 2005) in various populations. Previous research has not examined the relationship between spiritual and religious variables and resiliency, nor has previous research considered how the religious, spiritual, and resiliency variables affect …

A Psychometric Evaluation Of The Revised Optimism-Pessimism Scale Of The Mmpi-2, Ginger Burge Debrule

Dissertations

The present study tested the psychometric properties of the Revised Optimism-Pessimism Scale (PSM-R) of the MMPI-2. This scale purportedly measures the respondent's explanatory style on a dimension of optimism and pessimism. Participants included 92 college undergraduates and 2,729 participants from archived outpatient data. The PSM-R is a reliable measure, based on test-retest reliability and internal consistency. However, the construct validity of the measure is questionable. Evaluation of the PSM-R items suggests that the items are not all related to the optimism-pessimism construct. In addition, convergent validity of the PSM-R was assessed using measures of attributional style, dispositional optimism, hope, depression, …

The Relation Among Sleep, Routines, And Behavior In Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jill Angelique Henderson

Dissertations

Children with an ASD have a propensity for routines and reportedly have a greater incidence of sleep disturbance and externalizing behaviors than typical children. In addition, significant relations have been identified among routines, sleep behavior, and externalizing behavior in a community sample of children, suggesting that a lack of routines maybe related to sleep disturbance and externalizing behaviors. However, to date, no known studies have thoroughly examined the relation between these variables in children with an ASD. The primary purpose of the present investigation was to examine relations among routines, sleep, and behavior in children with an ASD. Primary caregivers …

How Selected Personality Factors Affect The Relationships Between Marital Satisfaction, Sexual Satisfaction, And Infidelity, Amanda Marie Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations

Although research has illuminated some differences between those who engage in sexual behavior outside of their marriage and those who do not, there is a lack of attention in the literature to complex interactions among variables in their relationships to infidelity. There is evidence that marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and personality are all related to infidelity but research has failed to investigate how personality may influence these other two variables in their relationship to infidelity. Thus, the proposed study explored possible effects that selected personality factors have on the relationships between marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and infidelity. The results revealed …

Effects Of An Educational And Support Program For Family And Friends Of A Substance Abuser, Amanda Jeffrey Platter

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Many family members are adversely affected by their loved ones drinking or drug problem. The aim of the present study was to explore changes in coping and enabling behaviors among family members who attended a community educational and psychosocial group for friends and family of a substance abuser, and to examine the concerns of these family members.

Participants were 32 family members (i.e., parents, spouses/romantic partners, and siblings) who attended one of four consecutive Family and Friend (FF) programs between fall and spring of 2008. Participants completed the Behavioral Enabling Scale (Rotunda & Doman, 2001) and Brief COPE Inventory (Carver, …

Implementing A Mastery Model Through Self Quizzing In An Online Learning Environment, Amy E. Scrima

Dissertations

Mastery learning has an extensive and long-standing research base as an efficacious instructional methodology. The use of mastery learning with current technological advances, however, is a new endeavor. The current study evaluated the effects of adding a mastery learning component to an introductory college course by using an online course management system to facilitate frequent, self-given, chapter review quizzes. Thirty-two first- and second-year college students of similar demographic makeup at a midsize community college were the participants for this study. An alternating treatment design was used to assign students to mastery and nonmastery conditions in two sections of an introductory …

Curriculum-Based Measures In Writing: A School-Based Evaluation Of Predictive Validity, Christina M. Terenzi

Dissertations

Recent research in the area of Curriculum-Based Measures (CBM) in writing has shown that traditionally used metrics, such as total words written and total words correct, may not be the best tools for measuring writing performance, for both secondary and elementary aged children (e.g., Gansle, Noell, VanDerHeyden, Naquin, & Slider, 2002; Tindal & Parker, 1989a; Watkinson & Lee, 1992). Evidence suggests that more advanced measures, such as production-independent measures (e.g., percentage of correct word sequences) may be stronger predictors of student skill level in the area of writing. The present study replicated portions of a recent seminal study and investigated …

Adult Estimation, Eye Movements And Math Anxiety, Robert T. Durette

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this experiment the estimation ability of college undergraduates was examined using a number line task, with lines numbered 0-to-100, 0-to1,000 and 0-to-723 presented on a computer monitor. Previous research on kindergarteners' through 6^th graders' ability to estimate showed a progression from a logarithmic mental representation of numbers to a linear mental number line. Children's ability to estimate was found to correlate strongly with math achievement. We used this task to examine the hypothesis that remnants of the underlying logarithmic number line representation persist into adulthood despite formal educational experience with the number system (e.g. Dehaene, 1997). 0 to …

Student-Athlete Worldview: A Qualitative Discovery Of Student-Athletes' Outlook Of The World Through Their Athletic Experiences, Lara Preacco

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore Athletic Identity (AI) by looking at its essence, and learn about how student-athletes perceive and experience themselves and the world through their athletic experiences; or Student Athlete Worldview (SAWV). A phenomenological study was conducted to investigate and describe the common and emerging themes of SAWV. Initial interviews, journaling, and follow-up interviews were conducted with nine student-athletes competing in NCAA Division I, non-revenue, individual and team sports. Student-athletes offered a revealing picture and identified three aspects of being a student-athlete: intrapersonal, interpersonal and restrictive/sacrificing aspects. These aspects were combined to develop an integrative …

Animals In The Classroom: Implications And Implementation, Christen Lynn Robinson

All Graduate Projects

The role of animals in the classroom through Animal Assisted Therapy is examined. The benefits and risks are outlined and discussed. Specific measures to decrease related risks are given. A look at Animal Assisted Therapy from the perspective of the animal itself is also explored. Does the practice exploit animals? The research suggests that it depends upon the type of animal used. A Power Point presentation explaining the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy is provided. The target audience for the presentation is educators interested in implementing an Animal Assisted Therapy program within the school setting. The presentation clearly outlines the …

The Status Of Violence Prevention In West Virginia Elementary Schools : A Case Study, Kristal Gayle Pentasuglia-Filipek

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

While there is no absolute deterrent of school violence, West Virginia has taken definitive steps to try to ensure safety in our public schools. Since the launch of the Safe School initiative in 1995, training for principals, teachers and school personnel on crisis intervention and management plans have been ongoing. Students have undergone training in programs such as Peer Mediation, Natural Helpers, Life Skills, Bullying Prevention, Positive Behavior Support (PBS), and Respect to Protect. In addition, encouragement, mandating and providing funds for school safety and violence/crime prevention and intervention programs have been enacted legislatively. With the school security hardware, safety …

Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills (Dibels): A Comparison Of Scoring Systems, Ashley E. Barr

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to compare scoring systems of the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, commonly known as DIBELS. Currently, there are two systems for scoring the DIBELS assessments. The first system is a paper and pencil approach and the second system is electronic and utilizes a handheld palm-pilot. This study determined whether the electronically scored DIBELS produces the same scores as the hand-scored DIBELS. It was hypothesized that the electronically scored DIBELS will yield significantly different scores than the hand-scored DIBELS. Median scores obtained from the electronic palm-pilot were compared to median scores obtained from …

Teacher Burnout: Special Education Versus Regular Education, Amanda Roach

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Teacher burnout is a serious problem in education today. Studies have been conducted on teacher burnout and the effect it has on regular education and special education teachers. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of teacher burnout between regular education and special education teachers. One-hundred-and-two surveys were distributed to kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in two school districts in Ohio. Thirty-two surveys were randomly chosen for the study. Regular education teachers had higher scores on the Teacher Burnout Scale than special education teachers. There was no difference concerning job satisfaction between regular or special education teachers. …

Effects Of Divorce On Age And Gender On Childhood Aggression, Ashley Stapleton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of divorce on children in regard to aggression. Specifically, the roles of age and gender in relation to the amount and type of aggression the children displayed were examined. The Aggression Questionnaire was administered to a nonclinical sample of 35 children ranging in age from 7 to 14 years old. The subjects consisted of a divorce and nondivorce group of 17 boys and 18 girls each. All subjects attended elementary school in middle-class Charleston, WV and/or Lanesville, IN. All subjects were tested individually using the Aggression Questionnaire. Subjects included age, …

Attitude Change Of Educators Utilizing Best Practices In Education, Sonya Christian

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

It is purported that educator attitudes are highly important in many areas of education. This study examined if educator attitude change occurred as a result of teaching in a six-week summer school enrichment program that implements research-supported best practices in education. Participants were predominantly white female education students enrolled in a graduate school in West Virginia. Sixty-seven of them responded to a pre-post Likert-type survey developed by professors at the institution. Data was collected over two summers. Analysis of the data included bar graph comparisons and a Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test (p<0.05). The conclusions from this study yielded changes in educator attitudes on three questions in the survey. Implications for future study in this area are discussed.

High Stakes Testing Effects On Graduation Rates, Karen Gail Cummings

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

With the inception of No Child Left Behind many states are now requiring students to pass a statewide exam in order to be promoted to the next grade or to graduate from high school. Opponents of these tests argue that high stakes testing decreases graduation rates among these students. They also argue that the tests are biased and unfair for minority students, students of low socioeconomic status, and students with disabilities who often fail the tests. The graduation rates for twenty-nine Appalachian counties in Ohio, a state that requires students to pass the Ohio Graduation Test in order to graduate, …

The Effect Of Character Education On Emotional Intelligence, Jennifer Doak

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Research has shown that children who fail to develop emotional intelligence are prone toward anti-social and self-destructive behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine if the book Sad, Mad, Glad and subsequent character education lesson plans have an effect on children’s emotional intelligence. Such results are important, because teaching children to be aware of their emotions helps them with self-regulation and social interaction. Also, it is important to determine if character education programs are effective before widespread implementation occurs in educational settings. Fifty-four students, ages 5-11, from the MUGC Summer Enrichment Program participated in the study. It was …

Differences In Scores Derived From Age-Based Norms Versus Grade-Based Norms On The Kaufman Test Of Educational Achievement, Second Edition And Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Second Edition, Carla Donahue

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Traditionally, standardized achievement measures have provided only age-based norms for deriving standard scores from obtained raw scores. In recent years, publications of normreferenced achievement test have begun to include norms based on grade level. With the addition of grade-based norms, test manuals and interpretation guides have not included clear guidelines indicating when it is advisable to use one type of norm over the other. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between standard scores obtained using age- and grade-based norms, using the same raw score, for students in the appropriate grade for their age, students who are …

Goal Attainment Scaling To Determine Effectiveness Of School Psychology Practicum Students, Kristen Frace

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is a system used by school psychologists and other professionals to evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions and services they provide by assessing student outcome data. The Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program (MUSEP) utilized the GAS to determine the effectiveness of the school psychology practicum students and its program. This study looks at the effectiveness of graduate students within seven teams and the services they provided to children during the 2008 MUSEP. Results of the t-test indicated that 74% of children made significant gains in their specified academic and behavior goals. A UNIANOVA and a …

School Refusal:Characteristics, Assessment, And Effective Treatment: A Child And Parent Perspective, Lydia D. Brill

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study, using shelf data, described a quantitative research project which attempted to propound and answer questions about the nature of school refusal in a Pennsylvania school district. The study analyzed shelf data that surveyed 40 students and parents in grades 2 through 11th who missed more than ten percent of 2007-2008 school year. Using shelf data collected by the GNA school district which consisted of parent and student surveys, this study investigated the different reasons why students refuse to attend school. Furthermore, this study also examined common characteristics found among school-refusing students in the Greater Nanticoke Area School …

Exploration Of Specific Learning Disability Subtypes Differentiated Across Cognitive, Achievement, And Emotional/Behavioral Variables, Lisa A. Hain

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The emphasis on the ability-achievement discrepancy approach for SLD identification diminished the importance of robust examination into patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses as related to achievement deficits. This approach directed attention away from related psychosocial deficits previously reported in this population by concentrating on the quantitative differences between standard scores. The cognitive and academic deficits of children with SLD have been well studied, but little is known about the emotionaVbehavioral functioning of children with SLD, and even less about the interconnections between the neurocognitive and emotional/behavioral systems. Children with disparate types of neurocognitive assets and deficits may experience learning …

Caretaker Ratings Of Attention Problems In Maltreated Children : The Effects Of Gender, Age, And Type Of Maltreatment, Dawn M. Mcdonald

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Child maltreatment is a severe stressor which is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes, including attention, learning, and behavior problems. Attention problems are common in maltreated children, with rates of ADHD in samples of abused and neglected children consistently higher than those found in the general population or in clinical samples of children without abuse histories. Despite the association between ADHD and maltreatment, attention problems in maltreated children remain poorly characterized and not well understood. In an attempt to better delineate the nature of attention problems in maltreated children, this study examined the effects of age, gender, type of …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Of Student Performance On The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test With Other Clinical Measures, Lisa A. Perkins

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is widely used for neuropsychological assessment of executive functions. Although the literature notes that the WCST is a measure of abstract reasoning and cognitive flexibility, there has been little data relative to the constructs that are assessed when the test is used with children or to the relationship between WCST performance and performance on other child assessment tools. This study of 94 children and adolescents referred for psychological evaluations investigated the relationship between scores obtained on the WCST and scores from child and adult versions of the Wechsler intelligence scales and the Delis-Kaplan Executive …

Teachers' Understanding Of Components Of Response To Intervention (Rti) In Pennsylvania, Gabrielle Wilcox

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Since recent regulations allow the use of response to intervention (RTI) for specific learning disability determination, many districts have implemented RTI. This study surveyed a stratified random sample of 2,000 teachers in Pennsylvania with 141 usable responses. The purpose of this study was to ascertain teacher understanding of components of RTI in districts using and not using RTI and to determine if district implementation procedures impacted perceived effectiveness. Overall, the groups were similar in understanding and perceived importance of RTI components; however, there were small but notable differences. Respondents with higher levels of perceived effectiveness indicated greater support from a …

Curriculum-Based Measures Of Reading And Student Performance On State-Wide Achievement Tests, Brian L. Dorshimer

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

With increasing pressure and accountability for schools to produce higher scores on statewide achievement tests, the use ofCurriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) methods for monitoring student progress, identifYing at-risk students for failing state tests, and providing appropriate interventions to increase student performance could prove to be very beneficial (McGlinchey & Hixson, 2004). Research has indicated that CBM can be an effective tool in predicting success on state-wide reading achievement tests (Shapiro, Keller, Lutz, Santoro, & Hintze, 2006; Wood, 2006; Hintze & Silberglitt, 2005; McGlinchey & Hixson, 2004; Barger, 2003; Shaw & Shaw, 2002; Stage & Jacobsen, 2001). Determining whether or not a …

A Study Of The Cognitive Profiles Of Medicated And Nonmedicated Children Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Amy E. Mclaughlin

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is among the most commonly diagnosed childhood disorders, with symptoms that can cause significant difficulties in the educational setting. Deficits related to working memory and processing speed are thought to be a core feature of ADHD. As such, research using traditional measures of cognitive functioning has shown that children diagnosed with ADHD tend to perform poorly on measures of processing speed and working memory, relative to non-ADHD individuals and relative to measures of other cognitive abilities. Psychostimulant medication is a common treatment for ADHD and research overwhelmingly supports its positive impact on behavior and concentration; however, …