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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Man Shall Not Live By Bread, At All: A Netnography Of The Key Characteristics And Purposes Of An Online Gluten-Free Community, Emily Anne Bean Jun 2014

Man Shall Not Live By Bread, At All: A Netnography Of The Key Characteristics And Purposes Of An Online Gluten-Free Community, Emily Anne Bean

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a netnography of an online gluten-free community through the scope of the Facebook group "Gluten Free." The objective of this qualitative inquiry is to investigate the key characteristics of this online gluten-free community and gain a deeper understanding of member purposes for participation. Employing the method of netnography allows for an unobtrusive exploration of the community by discreetly utilizing anthropological techniques in an online setting. Despite growing awareness, no academic research has yet been conducted on the social aspects of the online gluten-free community. The thematic findings that emerged from this study were two-fold. First, this investigation …

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Acceptance, Rejection, Or Somewhere In-Between: Family Communication Regarding Interracial Relationships, Lisa Martin Jun 2014

Acceptance, Rejection, Or Somewhere In-Between: Family Communication Regarding Interracial Relationships, Lisa Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The assumption that interracial families are neither as strong nor stable as same-race families is slowly becoming an archaic opinion. While it is difficult for some to admit that some mindsets are strongly rooted in prejudice, research shows that people are capable of changing. This study specifically seeks to explore the dynamics of family communication regarding interracial marriages. The findings spotlight those individuals who are actively working to alter misconceptions through their own interracial family.

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Patterns Of Student Curricular Experience In Psychology As Predictors Of Performance On The Ets Major Field Test, Jason J. Van Der Horst Jun 2014

Patterns Of Student Curricular Experience In Psychology As Predictors Of Performance On The Ets Major Field Test, Jason J. Van Der Horst

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate the relationship between student performance and their performance on the Major Field Test (MFT). The MFT purports to adequately assess student mastery and achievement in the college major, in this case psychology. The major advantages of the MFT over internally-created instruments are its standardized content, its established national norms, and its connection to the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The MFT is the most widely used standardized test for learning outcomes assessment within psychology departments. The first hypothesis, that MFT scores are reflective of summary curricular values (i.e. GPA), was not supported when …

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Error Awareness And Apathy In Moderate-To-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Dustin Michael Logan Jun 2014

Error Awareness And Apathy In Moderate-To-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Dustin Michael Logan

Theses and Dissertations

Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (M/S TBI) is a growing public health concern with significant impact on the cognitive functioning of survivors. Cognitive control and deficits in awareness have been linked to poor recovery and rehabilitation outcomes. One way to research cognitive control is through awareness of errors using electroencephalogram and event-related potentials (ERPs). Both the error-related negativity and the post-error positivity components of the ERP are linked to error awareness and cognitive control processes. Attentional capacity and levels of apathy influence error awareness in those with M/S TBI. There are strong links between awareness, attention, and apathy. However, limited research …

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The Effect Of Student Gender On Secondary School Teacher Perceptions Of Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Concerns, Erin Ann Williams Jun 2014

The Effect Of Student Gender On Secondary School Teacher Perceptions Of Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Concerns, Erin Ann Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Students at risk for social, emotional and behavioral concerns (SEBC) are likely to experience a variety of negative outcomes if not identified and provided with appropriate interventions in a timely manner. Males tend to be identified more frequently than females for SEBC (Young, Sabbah, Young, Reiser, & Richardson, 2010), and there are many variables that may contribute to this disproportionate identification. This study specifically examined the influence of student gender on secondary education teachers’ referral decisions for students at risk for SEBC. This study additionally examined the influence of teachers’ prior referral experience, confidence in the mental health services available …

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Attachment Changes Post-Conversion In Committed Converts Tothe Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Laura Jane Page Jun 2014

Attachment Changes Post-Conversion In Committed Converts Tothe Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Laura Jane Page

Theses and Dissertations

Religious conversion has been described as a “spiritual transformation” where converts experience an “intimate ‘union’ . . . [with] divine presence” (Sandage & Shults, 2007). To better understand motivators of conversion, several studies have examined how attachment patterns affect the likelihood, and speed of religious conversion (e.g., Granqvist & Hagekull, 1999; Granqvist & Kirkpatrick, 2004; Kirkpatrck, 1998; Kirkpatrick & Shaver, 1990; Schnitker, Porter, Emmons, & Barrett, 2012). Converts' changes in personality, self-definition, and meaningfulness following conversion have been noted (Halama and Lačná, 2011; Paloutzian, Richardson, & Rambo, 1999). However, little, if any research has been conducted examining changes in attachment …

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Social Referencing In Domestic Dogs: The Effects Of Human Affective Behavior On Canines Point Following, Peggy Janell Gartman Jun 2014

Social Referencing In Domestic Dogs: The Effects Of Human Affective Behavior On Canines Point Following, Peggy Janell Gartman

Theses and Dissertations

A number of studies have examined the ability of dogs (Canis Familiaris) to follow human given cues. Dogs have been shown to reliably follow pointing cues. To date, few studies have investigated whether emotional cues are a factor in these canine choices. We tested dogs using a two-way object choice food task. Sixty large and medium breed dogs were tested in one of four conditions (positive baited, silent baited, negative non-baited and negative baited). Results showed that dogs reliably followed human pointing cues over emotional cues in three of the four conditions. In the negative non-baited bowl, dogs did not …

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Predicting Youth Treatment Failure: An Investigation Of Clinical Versus Actuarial Judgment, Tessa Nicole Salisbury Jun 2014

Predicting Youth Treatment Failure: An Investigation Of Clinical Versus Actuarial Judgment, Tessa Nicole Salisbury

Theses and Dissertations

Research investigating clinical versus actuarial prediction and judgment has consistently demonstrated the superiority of actuarial (statistical) methods. Little research to date has directly compared clinical and actuarial predictions in the context of patient-focused psychotherapy outcomes. The most relevant study on this issue was completed with an adult population and results indicated that the actuarial method was significantly more accurate at predicting client treatment failure compared to clinician’s predictions. This study examined clinical versus actuarial prediction of client deterioration in a sample of children and adolescents receiving treatment in a managed care and community mental health setting. Predictions of treatment failure …

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Breaking Down Barriers Of Space: Correlations And Connections Between Online Social Capital, Offline Social Capital, Community Attachment, And Community Satisfaction, David B. Braudt Jun 2014

Breaking Down Barriers Of Space: Correlations And Connections Between Online Social Capital, Offline Social Capital, Community Attachment, And Community Satisfaction, David B. Braudt

Theses and Dissertations

With Internet access and use becoming nearly ubiquitous aspects of an individual’s experience of everyday life, sociologists must consider how the Internet is transforming an individual's experience of community. This study examines the connections between place-independent forms of social capital actuated online, place-dependent forms of social capital actuated face-to-face, and individuals' perceptions of community attachment and community satisfaction. Moving from a theoretical foundation to empirical evidence, I show the concepts of bonding and bridging social capital can and should be divided based upon the medium through which they are actuated. I then explore the effect of online and offline forms …

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The Impact Of Relationship Functioning On Cortisol In Married Couples: A Dyadic Exploration Of Sleep As A Potential Mediator, Benjamin D. Clark Jun 2014

The Impact Of Relationship Functioning On Cortisol In Married Couples: A Dyadic Exploration Of Sleep As A Potential Mediator, Benjamin D. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

Relationship functioning in couples has been linked to numerous health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between 1) marital functioning and sleep dimensions, 2) marital functioning and cortisol, and 3) sleep dimensions and cortisol. The sample consisted of 108 heterosexual, married couples and was part of a larger marital intervention study. As predicted, poor marital functioning was related to negative sleep outcomes. However, these effects were only significant for wives. There was also evidence to suggest that poor marital functioning was associated with increased cortisol levels in husbands. These effects were independent of age and …

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America's Heroes And Darlings: The Media Portrayal Of Male And Female Athletes During The 2014 Sochi Games, Matthew K. Curtis May 2014

America's Heroes And Darlings: The Media Portrayal Of Male And Female Athletes During The 2014 Sochi Games, Matthew K. Curtis

Theses and Dissertations

It has been well documented that female athletes receive much less media attention than male athletes, with estimates placing coverage of male athletes at 95% of all sport-related media (Coakley, 1986). While not to that extent, studies focusing on media portrayals of Olympic athletes also confirm that the media dedicates the majority of coverage to male athletes (Duncan, 1990; Duncan & Hasbrook, 1988; Hambrick, Simmons, Greenhalgh, & Greenwell, 2010; Higgs, Weiller, & Martin, 2003; Lee, 1992; Kinnick, 1998; Pfister, 1978). Some evidence suggests that media coverage of female athletes and the recognition of their achievements are slowly increasing (Higgs et …

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Covering Caraway: Arkansas Reports On Hattie Caraway's Ascent To The United States Senate, Kristin Hodges May 2014

Covering Caraway: Arkansas Reports On Hattie Caraway's Ascent To The United States Senate, Kristin Hodges

Theses and Dissertations

When the governor of Arkansas appointed Hattie W. Caraway to the United States Senate in December 1931, she was only the second woman to sit in the chamber. Within the next year, Caraway would become the first woman to be elected and reelected to the Senate. This study analyzes the framing used by the Arkansas Democrat and the Arkansas Gazette from November 1931 to November 1932. Using double binds and the essentialism theory, this historical case study sought to identify how the news coverage described the forces, persons, and narratives that surrounded Caraway along with Caraway herself as she made …

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Post-Secondary Transition And Follow-Up Services In Public Education For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disabilities, Nicole Haldeman May 2014

Post-Secondary Transition And Follow-Up Services In Public Education For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disabilities, Nicole Haldeman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to (a) examine the post-secondary transition services that are being utilized by students of differing disability categories, (b) determine if students with emotional and behavioral disabilities receive the same services as their other disabled peers, and (c) investigate if the profession of the participants impacts the services they utilize and the regularity in which they do so. In order to investigate the usage of post-secondary transition services, New Jersey child study team members completed the questionnaire, Post-Secondary Transition and Follow-up Services in Public Education, designed by the principal researcher. A one-way analysis of …

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The Consistency Of The Use Of The Polygraph Exam During The Selection Process Among Law Enforcement Agencies, Jessica Rachel Mark May 2014

The Consistency Of The Use Of The Polygraph Exam During The Selection Process Among Law Enforcement Agencies, Jessica Rachel Mark

Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the use of and the consistency of use of the polygraph exam by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States as part of the screening process to find suitable applicants for employment as police officers. The polygraph exam can be a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies to use in screening applicants, but research has shown that there are questions with regard to the validity and the reliability of the polygraph exam and that improvements in the consistency of use and standardization of practices would increase the validity and reliability of the polygraph exam as a …

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The Consistency Of The Use Of The Psychological Evaluation During The Selection Process Among Law Enforcement Agencies, Rebecca Sarah Mark May 2014

The Consistency Of The Use Of The Psychological Evaluation During The Selection Process Among Law Enforcement Agencies, Rebecca Sarah Mark

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine the consistency of the use of the psychological evaluation as part of the law enforcement candidate selection process. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) provides guidelines for the psychological evaluation, but research has found that law enforcement agencies use a variety of procedures with no consensus as to what should be used and why (Dantzker, 2011). Research has also found that very few applicants pass the psychological evaluations and that law enforcement agencies may be screening out candidates who would have been successful police officers (Chang-Bae, 2006; Dantzker, 2011). …

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Using Facebook As A Public Relations Tactic: A Look At How Hospitals Are Engaging With Fans, Lauren Alesha Farabough May 2014

Using Facebook As A Public Relations Tactic: A Look At How Hospitals Are Engaging With Fans, Lauren Alesha Farabough

Theses and Dissertations

Hospitals are recognizing the need to use social media with Facebook specifically being the most popular medium. This research examines how hospitals are using Facebook as a public relation tactic by looking at 12 hospitals' Facebook pages over four weeks. The research looks at the levels of engagement (likes, comments and shares) on Facebook posts and what types of post are getting the best engagement. This study also looks at posts made by others on the hospitals' Facebook timelines to see what people most posted about and how hospitals responded. All 12 hospitals had different approaches to how they used …

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Constructive Vs. Destructive Anger: A Model And Three Pathways For The Expression Of Anger, Kierea Chanelle Meloy May 2014

Constructive Vs. Destructive Anger: A Model And Three Pathways For The Expression Of Anger, Kierea Chanelle Meloy

Theses and Dissertations

Anger is a significant human emotion, the management of which has far reaching implications for individual and relationship well-being. Yet there is a deficit in the clinical literature regarding the best ways to conceptualize and respond to anger (Saini, 2009). We offer a model of anger which therapists can use to help discriminate healing from harmful manifestations of anger, and which therapists can use in developing interventions for reshaping destructive anger toward constructive anger. We are specifically addressing anger in response to offense, or transactional anger which arises at points of friction in the interface between two people in a …

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Reducing Infant Mortality To Reach Millennium Development Goal 4, Hayley Marie Pierce May 2014

Reducing Infant Mortality To Reach Millennium Development Goal 4, Hayley Marie Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

The World Health Organization (WHO) found that 6.6 million children under five died in 2012 (WHO 2013). Almost half of all of these child deaths take place in the first month of life, and 75% of all under five deaths occur within the child's first year of life (WHO 2013). The aim of this study is to compare the most influential factors that decrease infant and neonatal mortality in order to find where policy makers, governments, and international organizations need to focus their efforts in order to get all countries on track for Millennium Development Goal 4 to reduce child …

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Social Innovation And Innovation Champions: An Analysis Of Public And Private Processes, Alisia Daily May 2014

Social Innovation And Innovation Champions: An Analysis Of Public And Private Processes, Alisia Daily

Theses and Dissertations

This research intends to gain deeper insight into the social innovation processes within public and private organizations. The purpose of the study will be to determine if public and private organizations are influenced more by internal organizational factors or external organizational factors. Using Roger’s diffusion theory, Mohr’s internal determinants and Berry and Berry’s unified theory as a foundation, this research will endeavor to prove hypotheses which suggest that private organizations are influenced more by internal organizational factors and public organizations are influenced more by external organizational factors although not exclusively. The research method for this study will involve a mixed …

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Latino Emergent Bilingual Students' Experiences With The Middle School Transition, Kerry Pecho May 2014

Latino Emergent Bilingual Students' Experiences With The Middle School Transition, Kerry Pecho

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports the findings of a qualitative study that examined how Latino emergent bilingual students anticipate and experience the transition from a bilingual elementary school program to middle school. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who were native Spanish-speakers participated in focus group discussions. Overall, participants described positive transition experiences, and much of the content was not unique to these students (e.g., feeling nervous, looking forward to more activities). Other content, though, revealed transition experiences that may be unique to this population (e.g., dramatic shift in ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of peers). Participants' responses suggested that they experience a …

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Imitation Skill Development In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Teacher-Directed Versus Child-Directed Tasks, Claire Elizabeth Karlen May 2014

Imitation Skill Development In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Teacher-Directed Versus Child-Directed Tasks, Claire Elizabeth Karlen

Theses and Dissertations

Imitation, defined as a means by which individuals copy another person's behavior, serves as a natural method of learning for typically developing children (Sevlever & Gillis, 2010). For children with autism, imitation skills are often impaired, which may result in further social and language deficits (Ingersoll, 2008; Whiten & Brown, 1999). The current study directly examined the effectiveness of two imitation training interventions on the development of spontaneous imitation and expressive language skills in young children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Results indicated that no one intervention proved equally effective across participants; however, both interventions positively impacted expressive language development, …

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Clinician Interest In Working In Substance Abuse Treatment: The Role Of Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectancies, And Stigma, Genevieve Anne Covert May 2014

Clinician Interest In Working In Substance Abuse Treatment: The Role Of Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectancies, And Stigma, Genevieve Anne Covert

Theses and Dissertations

Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) was used to examine clinician career interest for working in substance abuse treatment. The study examined the impact that self-efficacy and outcome expectancies have while exploring stigma as a moderating variable. Participants (N = 153) with experience providing mental health treatment completed the study. A series of self-report surveys were administered electronically. A series of Likert scales were used to assess career interests, self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and stigma. A service-load measure and demographics survey were also completed. Correlation analyses and regression analyses revealed that self-efficacy significantly predicted career interest in substance abuse counseling. These analyses …

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Parental Perceptions And Experiences Of Physical And Emotional Violence Between Siblings: A Mixed-Methods, Comparative Case Study, Nathan Perkins May 2014

Parental Perceptions And Experiences Of Physical And Emotional Violence Between Siblings: A Mixed-Methods, Comparative Case Study, Nathan Perkins

Theses and Dissertations

Sibling violence is a common occurrence for many children yet this form of family violence has received minimal attention in research compared to other forms of child maltreatment. With parents as an integral component in the lives of many children, parental perceptions and experiences of violence between siblings are important to understand. Furthermore, with the increased variation in family structures within society, inclusion of multiple types of families in research is necessary to encompass a broad understanding of sibling violence. This case study included seven parents from four different family structures to examine their perceptions and experiences of physical and …

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In Search Of Ubuntu: An Examination Of Enslaved African Domestic And Labor Environments On St. Eustatius, Deanna Lynn Byrd May 2014

In Search Of Ubuntu: An Examination Of Enslaved African Domestic And Labor Environments On St. Eustatius, Deanna Lynn Byrd

Theses and Dissertations

The discovery of dry stone rock features in the northern hills on the Dutch island of St. Eustatius presented a unique opportunity to investigate an enslaved African environment during the time of enslavement. Abandoned after emancipation, the area has remained virtually undisturbed by eco-tourism, making it an archaeological gem. The intact nature of the sites held potential to add significantly to our understanding of choices enslaved Africans made in slave village design, orientation, and the construction of their dwellings, as well as the labor activities of daily life. In doing so, this investigation attempted to detect whether higher levels of …

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Poverty Deconcentration Priorities In Low-Income Housing Policy: A Content Analysis Of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Lihtc) Qualified Allocation Plans, Monique Johnson May 2014

Poverty Deconcentration Priorities In Low-Income Housing Policy: A Content Analysis Of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Lihtc) Qualified Allocation Plans, Monique Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Structural inequalities within the social and economic environment have wide reaching impacts on the housing conditions of the poor. These households are marginalized by swelling housing cost burdens, shelter insufficiency, and sociospatial restriction to the lowest income communities. Housing research has examined the correlation between policy and the social location of low-income individuals. However, very little research analyzes the intersection of low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) policy design and sociospatial trends among low-income households. Using content analysis, the purpose of this dissertation is to determine whether the policy documents that guide allocation of the LIHTC encourage poverty deconcentration. The research …

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Crossing Boundaries: Building A Model To Effectively Address Difference In Community Practice, Jason Sawyer May 2014

Crossing Boundaries: Building A Model To Effectively Address Difference In Community Practice, Jason Sawyer

Theses and Dissertations

Community organizing has a rich tradition within the field of social work. Prevailing community practice models, approaches, and frameworks remain primarily based on practice wisdom, experience, and intuition. Difference, pervasive in various contemporary contexts of practice, largely mediates interactions at the community level. Although difference is addressed at various levels of the practice continuum and within the IFSW and NASW codes of ethics, few methodologically driven tools exist within the literature to guide practitioners. This grounded theory study initiates early development of a community practice model based on forging alliances across boundaries of difference. The Critical Difference Engagement model is …

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Is ‘How’M I Doin’?’ A Universal Question? Unpackaging Cultural Differences In Feedback Seeking, Rana Gaby Moukarzel May 2014

Is ‘How’M I Doin’?’ A Universal Question? Unpackaging Cultural Differences In Feedback Seeking, Rana Gaby Moukarzel

Theses and Dissertations

The feedback literature is based on the premise that given a favorable context and a drive to reduce uncertainties, all individuals should seek self-relevant performance information. However, this framework has only been empirically examined using Western samples and has failed to consider the influence of the broader context, with the exclusion of Sully de Luque and Sommer’s (2000) cultural framework. The purpose of this project was to integrate extant culture theory into the feedback seeking literature for a more comprehensive framework, and a more global understanding of cultural contingencies surrounding the feedback seeking process. Findings revealed the universality of feedback …

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The Effect Of Group Level Factors On Affective Convergence In Teams: An Agent Based Model, Chaunette Marie Small May 2014

The Effect Of Group Level Factors On Affective Convergence In Teams: An Agent Based Model, Chaunette Marie Small

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research supports the idea that affective convergence occurs in teams. The phenomenon of group affect has been well documented, however the group level conditions through which affective convergence emerges has received very little research. The current study helps to fill this gap by using agent-based modeling to examine affective convergence under varying group conditions. Agent-based modeling is a recently developed approach to research that uses the power of computers to model individual level behaviors and examine group level emergent constructs. The current study examined display rule presence, display rule breadth, social influence, interdependence, and team size on affective convergence. …

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When It Feels Good To Be Bad: The Effect Of Guilt On Self-Enhancement, Jaclyn Moloney Apr 2014

When It Feels Good To Be Bad: The Effect Of Guilt On Self-Enhancement, Jaclyn Moloney

Theses and Dissertations

The present study aimed to expand on previous research that explains when affect can influence subsequent judgments in an incongruent way. It also investigated a context where a negative emotion may have been maintained in order to achieve a subsequent goal. Participants in a guilt, shame, and control condition visualized past events. Those in the guilt and shame condition wrote about a time when they committed a moral transgression and were instructed to write an apology letter to a person they hurt. They then rated themselves on a number of interpersonal traits as a way to measure self-enhancement. I hypothesized …

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The Division Of Family Work Among Fathers And Mothers Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications For Parents And Family Functioning, Paula L. Ogston-Nobile Apr 2014

The Division Of Family Work Among Fathers And Mothers Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications For Parents And Family Functioning, Paula L. Ogston-Nobile

Theses and Dissertations

n often ignored aspect of parenting and family work is the responsibility-related caregiving (i.e. the monitoring, arranging, and planning) that is done to ensure that a child is cared for. Among fathers and mothers who have a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the intensity of meeting these needs is greater than for a typically developing child (e.g. additional coordination of schooling, interventions, healthcare, recreation, respite, and after-school services). As is the case for all parents, they must also attend to the demands of household labor (e.g. car maintenance, groceries, laundry, yard care), nurture their relationships (e.g. partner, friends, …

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