Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Examining The Impact Of Standardized Fine Motor Activity Selection On Various Fine Motor Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cheyenne Lee Dong

Theses and Dissertations

Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) demonstrate deficits in fine motor skills, requiring therapies to help improve their performance of a variety of self-care, daily living, and academic skills. Research in the occupational therapy literature suggests several methods of assessing and teaching fine motor skills and represents an area that is understudied in the applied behavior analysis research. The two disciplines may offer a complementary approach to targeting emerging skills, shaping desired responses in naturalistic contexts, and reinforcing participation. This study aimed to examine the impact of occupational therapy-recommended activities on fine motor skills by blending the occupational therapy …

Effect Of Multiple Operant Training Across Similar And Different Response Topographies, Ashley Anna Felde

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared skill acquisition rates during multiple operants training across similar responses and different responses in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Secondary measures included functional independence of verbal operants and children’s teaching condition preference. Discrete-trial instruction was used during both teaching conditions. An adapted alternating treatment design embedded in a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants was used to examine rates of skill acquisition. Results showed that two of the three participants acquired skills in fewer sessions during the multiple operants training across similar responses when compared to multiple operant training across different responses. Two of the three participants …

Implementing An Abbreviated Assessment To Compare Error-Correction Procedures For Teaching Intraverbal Behavior To Children, Victoria Ryan

Theses and Dissertations

Young children with Autism (ASD) often have difficulty responding appropriately to questions asked by their peers, parents, or teachers. Teaching intraverbal behavior using Discrete Trial Instruction (DTI) has shown effective results with the use of specific stimulus-transfer procedures (e.g., vocal, textual, or pictures). Previous research has suggested using an abbreviated assessment for error correction procedures as a tool to determine the most effective and efficient procedures when teaching children. In addition, such tools have been shown to not only be effective at predicting a child’s most effective error-correction, but also in less time, allowing practitioners to make data-based decisions and …

The Effects Of The High Probability Instructional Sequence On Compliance With Multiple Low Probability Instructions, Ma Krishna Francisco Rosales

Theses and Dissertations

The high-probability (high-p) instructional sequence is an antecedent intervention often used to improve compliance with instructions. It typically consists of multiple high-p instructions followed by a single low-probability (low-p) instruction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the high-p instructional sequence on compliance with multiple low-p instructions and the first low-p instruction in the sequence. More specifically, this study investigated the effects of three to five high-p instructions on compliance with 1, 2, and 3 low-p instructions. Three individuals diagnosed with ASD participated. Results showed that the high-p instructional sequence was only effective for 1 out …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Errors During Conditional Discriminations: Changing Sample-Stimuli Disparity In Delayed Matching-To-Sample Task With Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tiara Rahadian Putri

Theses and Dissertations

Conditional discrimination skill is foundational in teaching many other functional skills in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and error occur during training. Antecedent- and consequence-based intervention are commonly used without the understanding of underlying behavioral mechanism responsible for these errors. A quantitative framework based on choice- and signal-detection analyses (Davison & Tustin, 1978) was used to quantify and categorize errors. Three children diagnosed with ASD participated. The current study used an automated 0-s delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) procedure on an iPad Pro® 9.7”. Four experimental conditions were arranged successively, wherein each corresponded with a level of sample stimuli disparity: …

The Effects Of Lag Reinforcement Schedules And Differential Reinforcement Of Alternative Responding On Reinforced Variability And Resurgence, Weizhi Wu

Theses and Dissertations

Differential reinforcement of an alternative responding (DRA) is a commonly used procedure to teach children with ASD more functionally and socially appropriate skills and decrease problem behavior. However, resurgence of problem behavior could occur when treatment integrity errors appearing while implementing DRA procedure. In research, one approach to mitigating resurgence is to reinforce varied alternative responses using a lag schedule. A lag schedule of reinforcement is a method to increase variability in which a reinforcer will be delivered contingently if the response differs from a certain number of previous responses. The present laboratory study evaluated whether reinforced behavioral variability could …

The Effects Of Reinforcement Magnitude On Unprompted Intraverbal Responses To Mands For Personal Information In Adolescents With Disabilities, Rachel Ruthann Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of reinforcement magnitude plus praise on correct, unprompted responding during Discrete Trial Training (DTT) among adolescents with an intellectual disability. Participants were teenaged individuals with an intellectual disability who are able to engage in vocal-verbal responding and can read independently. An alternating treatments design with generalization probes to novel environments and people (using confederates within the research lab) was used to evaluate intervention effects. During baseline, participants were asked each intraverbal question but were not given any prompting or feedback. During treatment, edible items were delivered contingent upon correct, …

The Effect Of Social Comparison Feedback On Task Completion In A Human-Service Setting, Curtis Thomas Phillabaum

Theses and Dissertations

There has been much debate over the most successful types of feedback, but little research has examined the use of social comparison feedback. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of social comparison feedback on the percentage of end-of-shift cleaning tasks completed by three behavior technicians identified as exhibiting lower performance. The social comparison feedback consisted of a bar graph depicting the percentage of tasks completed by the individual participant in relation to two behavior technicians identified as high performers. Following the client shift, the researcher shared the graph and delivered vocal social comparison feedback during …

Integrated Perspective Of Low Self-Control And Lifestyle-Exposure: Gender Differences In Victimization Risk Among South Korean Youth, Hyounggon Kwak

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the link between low self-control, risky lifestyles, and victimization, using data from 1,057 South Korean adolescents included in the Study on Childhood Delinquency. Specifically, this study explores a full mediation model to test whether risky lifestyles (unstructured activity, association with deviant peers, and delinquency) account for the effect of low self-control on victimization. The results indicated that low self-control only had an indirect effect on victimization primarily through unstructured time and one’s own delinquency. In addition, this study explored whether variations in the adolescent routine activities foster engagement in delinquency via association with deviant peers. Advancing prior …

Visual Illusion Susceptibility In Dogs Using The Ebbinghaus-Titchener Illusion In A Spontaneous Choice Task, Nicolette Becker

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, dogs have been a popular test subject when studying visual illusion susceptibility. Multiple studies have investigated whether animals perceive illusions as humans do, but few studies have evaluated dogs’ perception of illusory stimuli. In this thesis, we studied if dogs are visually susceptible to the Ebbinghaus-Titchener illusion when presented in a spontaneous choice task. Subjects were presented two visual images on a board, which had bologna pieces embedded in the stimuli. In control trials, two different sized bologna pieces were placed in the center of the images. In these control conditions, dogs were expected to choose the …

Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Lake Water Quality Indicators On Small Lakes, Lake Bloomington And Evergreen Lake In Central Illinois, Using Satellite Remote Sensing, Gare Ambrose-Igho

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the use of Sentinel-2 satellite to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of lake water quality indicators (e.g. chlorophyll a) in Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake. Lake water quality issues related to algal blooms is a serious problem in basins with abundant agricultural lands causing harmful effects to freshwater ecosystems such as pollution of beaches, taste and odor problems in drinking water, depletion of oxygen levels causing fish kills and the issue of water exceeding safe drinking water standards. Developing monitoring techniques using various water quality indicators of algal blooms is crucial. In this project, remote sensing and field …

Prominence Of Slut Shaming Connected With Sexual Objectification: Boys Will Be Boys And Girls Will Be Sluts, Christina M. Whitaker

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this research was to develop a psychometric for slut shaming that would serve as a reliable and valid measure. The secondary purpose was to look at the relation between slut shaming and sexual objectification as it pertains to gender and race. Participants (n = 200) were recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and asked to complete survey questions. Research analyses found the Slut Shaming Scale to be a reliable and valid measure without having to exclude any of the original items on the psychometric. Additional analyses showed that men reported victim blaming significantly more often than …

Politikat Lokale – Bashkëpunimi Ndërkomunal Në Kosovë, Muhamet Bytyçi

Theses and Dissertations

Politikat lokale dhe mekanizmat e vendim-marrjes komunale janë pjesë përbërëse e institucioneve politike publike të çdo vendi demokratik. Përveç karakteristikave lokale tradicionale të detyrave që kanë komunat, janë edhe disa aspekte të tjera që i japin dinamikë zhvillimit lokal të politikave komunale.

Një nga politikat që ka dhënë rezultate duke ndihmuar në shkëmbimin e përvojave, në punët e përbashkëta, në krijimin e besimit shumëpalësh dhe në uljen e dallimeve partiake, etnike dhe ideologjike në përpjekjen për një sistem komunikimi të drejtë e progresiv në mes të komunave në Kosovë është edhe politika e bashkëpunimin ndërkomunal.

Ky punim ofron një qasje …

Mediat Online Dhe Viktimat – Çështje Etike Dhe Profesionale, Flamur Gajtani

Theses and Dissertations

Qëllimi i këtij punimi është nxjerrja në pah e gabimeve dhe defekteve në raportim, që i bënë mediat online kur trajtuan rastet apo ngjarjet e veçanta gjatë vitit 2019 (periudha janar- tetor), në një fushë të veçantë të gazetarisë, që njihet si rubrika e Kronikës së Zezë. Me theks të veçantë, analizimi i shkrimeve apo artikujve specifikë,të cilët disa media në Kosovë i publikuan gjatë kësaj periudhe, si dhe shkeljet etike që bënë gjatë këtij procesi. Po ashtu, punimi përmban edhe rastet kur është dëmtuar personaliteti dhe integriteti i personave, është shkelur privatësia e tyre, si edhe kur ka pasur …

“Rreziku Dhe Mbrojtja Nga Fake News Dhe Deep Fake”, Erza Brahushi

Theses and Dissertations

Informimi është nevojë esenciale e çdo njeriu, pjesën më të madhe të kësaj nevoje njerëzit e plotësojnë përmes medias. Andaj tendencat e personave apo grupeve të caktuara, për të përhapur një ide ose propagandë tek një masë sa me e madhe e njerëzve, më së lehti mund të arrihet përmes kanaleve informative. Viteve të fundit shoqërisë globale po i bije të ballafaqohet edhe me një problem shumë të madh, me “Lajmet e Rreme”, fenomen ky i cili me anë të interneti ka përfshirë pothuajse gjithë botë. Prandaj secili prej nesh ndonjë herë kemi rënë pre e këtyre lajmeve. Prodhimi i …

Njoftueshmëria E Titujve Në Mediat E Shkruara Elektronike, Laura Rudari

Theses and Dissertations

Objekt i studimit të këtij punimi është pikërisht hulumtimi i veçorive të strukturës së gjuhës që paraqet njoftueshmërinë. Synimi i këtij hulumtimi është që në mënyrë të gjithanshme ta nxjerr në shesh se qfarë është infomativiteti (njoftueshmëria) dhe si shtrohet ky në titujt e gazetave të Kosovës. Në kuptimin më të gjerë të fjalës, përkufizimi i hulumtimit përfshinë mbledhjen e të dhënave, informatave dhe fakteve. Hulumtimi kishte të bënte me një proces të hapave të përdorura për të mbledhur dhe analizuar informata, për të rritur të kuptuarit tonë rreth njoftueshmërisë së titujve të lajmeve. Hulumtimi kaloi nëpër tri etapa. Duke …

Sfida E Integrimit Europian Të Kosovës, Gentiana Sahiti

Theses and Dissertations

Ky studim ka për qëllim të paraqesë disa sfida që pengojnë ecjen përpara të integrimit europian të e Ballkanit Perëndimor duke e vendosur theksin në sfidat që ka Kosova. Integrimi Evropian është një fushë mjaft e re për Kosovën në veprimtarinë e saj politike në fushën e marrëdhënieve ndërkombëtare e cila ka mbështetetje shumë të madhe popullore. Disa prej pengesave kryesore të Kosovës në rrugën e integrimit në Bashkimin Eurpian janë lufta kundër korrupsionit, vendosja e sundimit të ligjit të barabartë për të gjithë dhe vazhdimi i reformave të gjithanëshme në shoqëri dhe institucionet demokratike.

Shtetet e Ballkanit Perëndimor ndodhen …

Outsourcing, Vendimi Për Nënkontraktimin E Specialiteteve Nga Jashtë Dhe Impakti Në Burime Njerëzore, Leonora Shala

Theses and Dissertations

Vendimet që merr organizata janë të shumta dhe shpesh duhet një analizë komplekse për të arritur në vendime të duhura. Në dy dekadat e fundit, një fenomen ekonomik mori zhvillim, ky fenomen karakterizohet nga transferimi i prodhimit ose i aktiviteteve. Shfrytëzimi i burimeve të jashtëm (outsourcing) është kur kompania, disa nga funksionet, proceset e saj i’a beson një kompanie të specializuar për kryerjen e një shërbimi të caktuar. Organizatat mund të presin që të arrijnë përfitime të ndryshme përmes një nënkontraktimi të suksesshëm edhe pse ka rreziqe të konsiderueshme që mund të realizohen në qoftë se ndjekja e strategjisë së …

Kosova Në Vitet 89-90, Ibadete Ramadani

Theses and Dissertations

Jugosllavia si shteti Sllav i Jugut, fillimisht i formuar në vitin 1918, nën emrin e Mbretërisë së tre popujve sllavë: sllovenët, Kroatët dhe serbët, dhe më pas si vend komunist, i krijuar pas Luftës së Dytë Botërore, ka luajtur një rol të rëndësishëm në rajon dhe politikën ndërkombëtare. Federata e re përbëhej nga gjashtë republika dhe dy krahina autonome, të cilat ishin elemente përbërëse të federatës që kanë të drejtën e vetos. Shteti Jugosllav luajti një rol të rëndësishëm në skenën ndërkombëtare, sidomos nëpërmjet Lëvizjes Jo të Aligned e cila u themelua me Indinë dhe Egjiptin. Udhëheqësi i saj, Josip …

“Korrupsioni Si Dukuri Negative E Administratës Publike Në Republikën E Kosovës ”, Vildane Xhemajli

Theses and Dissertations

Korrupsioni ekziston, prej që ekziston njerëzimi, në të gjitha mjediset, në të gjitha sistemet dhe regjimet e mundshme. Ai u përshtatet të gjitha situatave dhe mbijeton edhe gjatë fushatave më të organizuara kundër tij. Nënkupton çdo shkelje të detyrës së personave zyrtarë ose përgjegjës në subjektet juridike dhe çdo veprimtari e iniciatorëve apo përfituesve të kësaj sjelljeje, e drejtuar si përgjigje ndaj një shpërblimi që drejtpërdrejt apo indirekt është premtuar, ofruar, dhënë, kërkuar, pranuar apo është pritur për t'u marrë për veten apo për një person tjetër.

Korrupsioni është i pranishëm pothuajse në të gjitha institucionet, duke përfshinë si shërbyes …

Exploring The Relationship Between Members Of Lifelong Learning Institutes And Host Institutions, Jon Charles Neidy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between an individual’s involvement in Lifelong Learning Institutes (LLIs) and his or her propensity for philanthropic giving to the institute or its hosting college or university. The dataset was acquired through a survey administered to eleven Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLIs) in the United States. Data analysis was conducted on seven research questions which explored how the length, type, and frequency of participation, as well as the level satisfaction, commitment, and feelings of community may relate to an LLI participant’s inclination to donate. The findings of this study reveal these …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Ohio's Certificate Of Relief, Peter Leasure

Theses and Dissertations

Employment has been cited as a factor that can aid one's desistance from criminal activity. However, research has consistently demonstrated that those with criminal history face significant barriers to securing employment. In recognition of this problem, most states have implemented various rights restoration mechanisms aimed to increase employment opportunities for ex-offenders. One of these mechanisms, the certificate of relief, aims to aid ex-offenders in their job search by ensuring employers that certificate holders are not a safety risk, providing employers with negligent hiring immunity, and removing occupational licensing bans. A handful of studies have examined whether this mechanism improved hiring …

Media Në Kosovë Në Kohën E Internetit, Bleronë Hoxha

Theses and Dissertations

Zhvillimi i teknologjisë dhe i internetit kanë ndryshuar rrënjësisht formën e komunikimit dhe informimit kudo në botë. Zhvillimi i tyre sot ka sjellë shumë përparësi në gazetari, duke konsideruar kështu shpejtësinë e informimit, qasjen kurdo, kudo dhe në çfarëdo informacione. Lajmi sot arrin te lexuesi në kohë reale. Pra, sot gazetaria online ka shumë karakteristika të reja në sajë të këtij zhvillimi. Megjithatë, përveç ndikimit pozitiv, sigurisht se ky zhvillim i hovshëm ka edhe anët negative që po ndikojnë dhe rrezikojnë zhvillimin e mirëfilltë të gazetarisë profesionale, kjo sepse lufta e portaleve për klikime dhe shpejtësi të publikimit të lajmit …

Predicting Change In Autism Symptomatology In Young Children At Risk For Autism Spectrum Disorder: Fragile X Syndrome, Down Syndrome And Non-Syndromic Asd, Kelly Elizabeth Caravella

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is comprised of two manuscripts which examine the longitudinal development of autism symptomatology in young children at risk for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD); individuals with Fragile x syndrome (FXS) and Down syndrome (DS). The first study is a within group analysis of the longitudinal development of ASD symptomatology in young children with FXS, and how diagnostic stability, language and non-verbal cognitive functioning may predict these trajectories. This paper provides insight into ASD diagnostic stability patterns within FXS, and how symptoms change over time across these groups. The second paper will extend this work by presenting a pilot …

The Relations Between Adherence To Behavioral Treatments And Parent Stress In Families Of Children With Asd, Aimee Rovane

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies suggest that parent involvement with behavior treatment for associated challenging behaviors (ACBs) may reduce parent stress in families with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is not known whether high treatment adherence to protocols is associated with reduced parent stress, or which factors that may moderate this relation. The current study examined the relation between parents’ adherence to behavioral treatments and parent stress, and whether parents’ perceptions toward treatment moderate this association. Participants were 190 mothers, fathers, or caregivers of a child with ASD. A bivariate correlation matrix examined associations between each variable, and 3 separate linear regression …

Early Behavioral And Physiological Markers Of Social Anxiety In Fragile X Syndrome, Conner J. Black

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Social Anxiety is diagnosed in approximately 10% of neurotypical children. If left untreated, negative outcomes are highly prevalent later in life. Thus, understanding the earliest features of social anxiety can help to mitigate detrimental outcomes. Fragile X Syndrome, which has a high prevalence of social anxiety, is a genetic syndrome which creates a unique opportunity to study the earliest predictors of social anxiety before formal diagnosis. Fragile X Syndrome presents with intellectual disability and an increased prevalence of maladaptive behaviors. The current study utilized a bio-behavioral approach to study the earliest marker of social anxiety in 12- month-old infants …

Planning For Healthcare Quality Using Procurement As A Strategy: A Case Study Exploring An Outcomes-Oriented Approach To Healthcare Procurement, Kassandra A. Alia

Theses and Dissertations

The United States has one of the most costly healthcare systems in the world, yet also ranks lower in patient outcomes in comparison with many other developed countries. A focus on quality implementation may help accelerate ongoing efforts to improve healthcare quality. The overall purpose of this study was to explore outcomes-oriented contracting as a mechanism for embedding quality implementation planning proactively into the process for procuring healthcare services. A single case study methodology was utilized to examine changes in procurements over time following implementation of an outcomes-oriented contracting approach within an organization that provides funding for behavioral health and …

A Foundation For Understanding The Neurocognitive Processes That Underlie Mathematics Performance In Children, Christopher Anzalone

Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated the prognostic utility of resting state EEG coherence in the prediction of standardized mathematics scores. Quantitative EEG analyses were performed for 60 school-aged children (ages 7 to 12 years) with and without math learning disabilities (MLD). Analyses assessing intrahemispheric coherence at rest were performed across the entire sample and several coherence networks were extracted.

Specifically, networks that included Brodmann area 40 (BA 40) -- a region of the brain heavily involved in the cognitive processes responsible for mathematics performance (Anderson, Betts, Ferris, & Fincham, 2011; Cohen, Dehaene, Chochon, Lehericy, & Naccache, 2000; Kroger, Nystrom, Cohen, & …

Achievement Motivation In Emerging Adulthood: An Examination Of Overparenting, Need Satisfaction And Frustration, And Goal Complexes, Erin D. Turner Carson

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, helicopter parenting, or overparenting, has become an increasing concern on college campuses. Research has linked overparenting to a variety of maladaptive characteristics and outcomes among emerging adults, but little is known about how overparenting predicts achievement goals. This study used an integrated framework of self-determination theory (SDT) and the hierarchical model of achievement motivation from the achievement goal approach (AGA) to examine how overparenting and the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness predict the endorsement of achievement goal complexes. Participants were 176 emerging adult college students who completed an online survey. Data were analyzed using …

Implications Of Social Networks On Medication Information- Seeking Among Middle Eastern International Students: An Exploratory Study, Esra Abdoh

Theses and Dissertations

The study examined how international students use their social networks to seek medication information, how their social networks provide social support, and how perceived social support is related to seeking medication information online. While there has been a paucity of research on the way international students seek information in their day-to-day lives (Sin and Kim, 2013), there is still a gap in the literature regarding how social networks employed by international students have a positive impact on building bridges toward home. In particular, no studies on the use of social support in social networks to retrieve medication information exist.

This …