Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Gender Differences In Levels Of Suggestibility, Tara Godino

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined differences in levels of suggestibility with regard to gender and three personality characteristics (self-esteem, self-monitoring, and social desirability) and how these differences apply to matters of eyewitness testimony. A total of 70 undergraduates (37 male, 33 female) completed a memory task followed by three personality inventories (the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Self-Monitoring Scale, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale) and then a questionnaire relating to the memory task. The dependent variable was number wrong for factual vs. leading questions. More leading questions were answered incorrectly than factual which was a significant difference. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed …

Attentional Biases And Ptsd Symptomology In Victims Of Sexual Assault And Motor Vehicle Accidents, Orin R. Redmond

Theses and Dissertations

While the field of change detection and attentional biases has become an increasingly popular area of study and much is already known about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), very little research has been done integrating these two areas. In the present study, we chose to investigate two types of traumatic experiences prevalent in the college population, motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and sexual assaults. The flicker paradigm, used to measure change detection, was utilized to examine hypersensitivity to environments with threatening stimuli in individuals whom experienced either of these traumas. The paradigm monitored reaction times to identifying changes that took place in …

Diet-Related Changes In Sensitivity To The Pharmacological Effects Of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Mayo Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence suggests that sustained consumption of a high-fat diet is associated with reduced CB1 receptor expression in some brain areas. Many of the neuromodulatory functions of endogenous cannabinoids are mediated by the CB1 receptor. The CB1 receptor also mediates the behavioral and physiological effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC), the primary psychoactive constituent of marijuana. While high-fat diets are associated with region-specific changes in CB1 receptor expression, it is not clear whether such changes are behaviorally relevant. To that end, separate groups of male and female rats were placed on either a high-fat diet or a standard diet. Cannabinoid function was …

The Relationship Between Library Professional Development And Technology In School Media Centers, Crystal L. O'Malley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between how school media specialists learn about new technologies and the implementation of those technologies into their school media centers. The researcher expected that the more hours media specialists spent in professional development activities, the more likely it would be that the technologies learned in the professional development activities would be implemented in their media centers. The survey was prepared and sent to 126 media specialists throughout New Jersey. Sixty-one media specialists responded. The results of the survey indicated that there was some correlation between certain types …

Early Maladaptive Schemas Mediating The Relationship Between Perceptions Of Early Parenting And Depression And Anxiety, Monique Schatzman

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how EMS's mediate the relationship between perceptions of early parenting and depressive and anxious symptoms. The overall hypothesis was that EMS's based on the total score of YSQ-S3 would mediate the relationship between parental styles based on the YPI and depressive and anxious symptoms. Results indicated support for the mediating effects of EMS's in the relationship between perceptions of early parenting and depressive and anxious symptoms. EMS's mediated the overprotective, belittling, pessimistic/fearful, and punitive mother with depression. EMS's mediated the emotionally depriving, overprotective, belittling, pessimistic/fearful, controlling, and emotionally inhibited father with depression. EMS's also mediated the emotionally …

Examining Campus Crime At Virginia’S Colleges And Universities, Christina M. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines reported campus crime at Virginia’s institutions of higher education. Utilizing secondary data and content analysis, the research seeks to determine the amount and types of crime occurring on Virginia campuses and which correlates explain such crimes. Three sources of campus crime statistics are included and scrutinized in detail, including the Clery Act statistics, Virginia Incident-Based Reporting statistics and campus crime logs. Regardless of data source, findings indicate that the vast majority of reported campus crime is comprised of property offenses. The research argues to separate analyses by campus police departments versus campus security departments for more meaningful …

Pediatric Feeding Problems Related To Tactile Defensiveness: A Case Study, Lauren Maguire

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory, single-subject design study was to introduce to a child with a severe feeding disorder and tactile sensitivity different activities related to food in an attempt to increase the child's acceptance of new foods. After a baseline assessment, the child and his parents participated in a 12-week intervention that included at least one new tactile activity and a selection of new foods the parents identified that they wanted their child to eat. In the process of conducting this study, an underlying medical problem was identified; therefore, halfway through the study, the child began to take medication …

Impact Of Student Achievement Through The Use Of The Six Traits Of Writing Model, Michael G. Nygaard

Theses and Dissertations

This study had two purposes; the first was to study 12 English teachers' scoring of 30 randomly selected student writing samples gathered in the years of 2005, 2006, and 2007 in the Fargo Public School District. The 12 teachers were separated into three groups. Group A (four teachers) served as the control group, as they have been trained and currently score student writing samples. Group B (four teachers) were teachers who have been trained in the use of the Six Traits of Writing Model, but have not scored student writing samples. Group C (four teachers) were teachers who have neither …

Parent, Student, And Teacher Perceptions Of School Climate At Suburban High, Cory J. Steiner

Theses and Dissertations

School climate has a major impact on the school setting. In order to manage climate, it is essential to assess and understand the perceptions of teachers, students, and parents.

This study identified the differences between teachers, students, and parents relative to their perceptions concerning school climate at Suburban High. The instrument was the Organizational Climate Descriptive Questionnaire-RS (OCDQ-RS), a revision by Hoy and Clover (1986) of the original OCDQ by Halpin and Croft.

Data were used to develop an action plan for managing school climate at Suburban High. Data gained from this study were utilized to develop a practical plan …

Characterization Of Pem Electrolyzer And Pem Fuel Cell Stacks Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Nilesh V. Dale

Theses and Dissertations

In order to compete with currently available hydrogen production technologies, proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis must be cost effective and efficient. Characterization of the PEM electrolyzer stack can provide better understanding of the processes at the electrode level and losses during the operation to help improve its energy efficiency, important understanding to shape future research and the optimization of stack designs.

PEM fuel cells have seen significant developments in recent years due to their capability as an efficient and environment friendly solution for energy conversion. Understanding the behavior of the PEM fuel cell stack at varying loads is vital …

Alterations Of High-Energy Brain Metabolites Across Multiple Neurodegenerative Disorders, Jeremy W. Gawryluk

Theses and Dissertations

Brain energy metabolism is vital for many cellular processes including homeostasis and thus disturbances to metabolism can be the cause or consequence of neurodegeneration. Metabolic discrepancies have been hypothesized to be involved but less frequently demonstrated to be manipulated by acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy. I hypothesized that cerebral energy levels are decreased in my model systems for Alzheimer's disease, Autism, Down syndrome, and HIV-1 dementia and that dietary treatments could enhance energy reserves and protect against neurodegenerative disease. For rodent studies, I utlilized a high-energy head focused microwave irradiation system to …

Interpersonal And Shared Decision Making Models Of Communication Applied To Simulated Requests For Organ Donation, Daniel Baughn

Theses and Dissertations

Using an analogue format, the present study evaluated the viability of relationship and interactional concepts that have been applied to the physician-patient interaction to the field of organ donation by examining the donation request process between procurement coordinators and simulated families. Interpersonal processes were assessed using behavioral ratings by independent observers. Procurement coordinators were viewed as being more submissive than dominant and more friendly than hostile. Family members were viewed as being more hostile than friendly, more dominant and hostile than submissive or friendly, disclosing slightly more personal information than medical information, and engaging in slightly more shared decision making …

The Impact Of Ethnic Identity And Group Support On Hiv Intervention Outcomes, Kristina Hood

Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated if condom outcomes vary as a function of perceived group support (from members of the group) and ethnic identity among participants in an HIV prevention intervention. The peer-led intervention consisted of an empirically supported curriculum, Sisters Informing Sisters on Topics about AIDS (SISTA) with an additional component that addressed the role of alcohol/drugs in risky sexual behavior. Participants included 263 unmarried, heterosexual, African American women who were recruited from three universities. At post-test, perception of a supportive group environment was associated with positive attitudes towards condom use. In addition, ethnic identity was associated with positive attitudes …

The New College Institute: An Institutional Analysis Of The Creation Of An Organization Of Higher Education In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Edward Bowman

Theses and Dissertations

On June 6, 2006 Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine ceremonially signed legislation creating the New College Institute in Martinsville, Virginia. Since achieving statehood in 1788, Virginia has directly created only three four-year colleges; the University of Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia State University. With the exception of the College of William and Mary, created in 1693, all of Virginia’s other public four-year institutions began as branch campuses, state normal schools for women, or as acquisitions of independent institutions. In addition to the extraordinary occurrence of creating a new public college in the Commonwealth of Virginia, evidence preceding the enacting legislation …

Experiences Of Post-Processing In Group Psychotherapy, Karen Muehl

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological research approach (Moustakas, 1994) to examine the question How do group psychotherapy clients experience post-processing? The conceptual framework for the study was Yalom’s interpersonal process approach to group psychotherapy (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Participants were 12 university counseling center clients who were members of an interpersonal process-oriented psychotherapy group at a large urban university. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews. Data analysis procedures followed recommendations by Smith and Osborn (2003) and Creswell (2007). In order to increase the trustworthiness and rigor of the study, the researcher engaged in reflexive journaling, member checking, and the …

Relative Sensitivity To Change Of Psychotherapy Outcome Measures For Children And Adolescents: A Comparison Using Parent- And Self-Report Versions Of The Cbcl/6-18, Basc-2, And Y-Oq-2.01, Debra Theobald Mcclendon

Theses and Dissertations

This repeated-measures study evaluated the relative sensitivity to change of the Child Behavior Checklist/6-18 (CBCL/6-18), the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2), and the Youth Outcome Questionnaire-2.01 (Y-OQ-2.01). Participants were recruited from Valley Mental Health, a community outpatient clinic in Salt Lake City, UT. There were 178 participants for 136 cases, with 134 adults and 44 adolescents. Participants provided two through five data points for a total of 548 data points. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was conducted for three major comparisons: adult informants, adult and adolescent dyads, and adolescents. Results indicated the Y-OQ-2.01 was the most change sensitive, while the …

From Mass Consumer Society To A Society Of Consumers: Consumption And Community In Late Modernity, Matthew Russell Colling

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a late-modernity model of society where consumption is the conduit through which individuals meet society. This model is contrasted with Wilkinson's (1991) model that sees the community as the place where individuals make contact with society. Using Brown et al.'s (1996) Outshopping Index, residents of two rural Mississippi Delta communities were asked how often they shopped for 30 consumable items outside of their communities both in 1996 and again in 2007. Logistic regression demonstrates a significant interaction effect between year and outshopping such that outshopping was significantly and positively associated with community sentiment in 1996 but not …

A Comparison Of The Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of The Atypical Antipsychotic Clozapine And The Glutamate Agonist N-Methyl D-Aspartate In C57bl/6 Mice., Sarah A. Vunck

Theses and Dissertations

The glutamate system dysfunctions present in schizophrenia raise new questions about possible glutamatergic actions of the atypical antipsychotic clozapine. While clozapine has been shown to partially substitute for the discriminative stimulus of the glutamate agonist N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) in rats, NMDA discrimination has not previously been established in mice. The present study was designed to explore the possible role of NMDA activity in clozapine’s discriminative stimulus. Two groups of C57BL/6 mice were trained to discriminate either 2.5 mg/kg CLZ from vehicle or 30 mg/kg NMDA from vehicle in a standard two-lever drug discrimination task. NMDA drug discrimination was successfully established …

Examination Of The Discriminative Stimulus And Cross-Tolerance Inducing Properties Of N-Desmethylclozapine In C57bl/6 Mice., Jason Wiebelhaus

Theses and Dissertations

Due to its unique receptor binding profile and its relationship to clozapine, N-desmethylclozapine (NDMC) has been examined as a possible antipsychotic drug (APD). Clozapine has been trained as discriminative stimulus in our lab, but NDMC has not yet been established as a discriminative stimulus. In experiment 1, 12 C57BL/6 mice were trained to discriminate 10.0 mg/kg NDMC from VEH using a standard-two lever operant procedure to assess antipsychotic substitution. The typical APD clozapine fully substituted for NDMC at 2 doses tested (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg), while typical APD haloperidol failed to substitute for NDMC. In Experiment 2, 11 mice were …

Swaying The Masses: The Effect Of Argument Strength And Linguistic Abstractness On Attitudes, Jessica Barber

Theses and Dissertations

Two studies were conducted to investigate how the use of different types of language affects attitudes. Participants scrutinized arguments supporting a hypothetical toothpaste that differed in terms of argument strength (strong versus weak) and linguistic abstractness (abstract versus concrete) and subsequently evaluated the toothpaste. In addition, half of the participants in the second study were subjected to a cognitive load manipulation (i.e., rehearsing a ten-digit number) in order to limit their level of cognitive elaboration. Results indicated that strong arguments and those containing concrete descriptions led to more positive attitudes about the toothpaste, whereas weak messages comprised of abstract terms …

Screams, Vampires, Werewolves, And Autographs: An Exploration Of The Twilight Phenomenon, Emily Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the pop culture phenomenon of Twilight. Using a qualitative method of grounded theory, meanings and constructs were developed from the data. Data was gathered at three events centered around the release of the Twilight the film adaptation, and the release of the fourth and final book in the Twilight saga. A survey was administered to willing participants. After the surveys were gathered they were read and then coded. After the coding process a follow up interview was conducted with ten nominated and willing Twilight fans. The results had theoretical roots in …

Developing A Teachers' Handbook For Content-Based Instruction At Brigham Young University's English Language Center, Melinda Clement Hardman

Theses and Dissertations

In Winter semester of 2005 the English Language Center (ELC) began plans to implement a content-based program for students at its highest proficiency level in order to provide them with more effective preparation for academic studies in English. Since that time, the program has undergone various changes to provide a more stable, cohesive, and responsive curriculum. There is a need, however, for greater teacher support and training. This paper outlines the process I underwent to create a handbook that would provide needed guidance and training for teachers in this program. This project involved an in-depth needs analysis of teachers and …

Distribution, Function, And Value Of Parowan Valley Projectile Points, Aaron R. Woods

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis primarily addresses the quantities and distributions of Fremont projectile points in the Parowan Valley. First, I review previous research performed in Parowan Valley and outline currently accepted projectile point analysis and typology methods. I also review ethnographic data surrounding the function and value of projectile points. Then, I provide the results of an analysis of all projectile points in the Parowan Valley Archaeological Project collection. I note the large amount of projectile points in this collection and compare it to projectile point counts from other large Fremont sites.I also note chronological patterns in Parowan Valley using projectile points …

Perceptions Of Spirituality And Perceptions Of God Image: A Qualitative Study, Christopher Elson Peck

Theses and Dissertations

The vast majority of people living in the U.S. report that spirituality is an important part of their life. Ironically, the field of psychology has largely ignored the spiritual beliefs and experiences that so many people see as central to their well-being. Empirical study of spirituality, along with people's differing perceptions of their relationship to God, is a viable area of study for psychologists. This dissertation examines both spirituality and God image and the relationship between these two constructs using qualitative hermeneutic analysis. Findings showed a difficulty defining spirituality among other themes. Findings also showed that individuals' experiences with God …

Paleoindian Lifeways Of Paleoarchaic Peoples: A Faunal Analysis Of Early Occupations At North Creek Shelter, Utah, Bradley A. Newbold

Theses and Dissertations

Recent archaeological research within the American west, especially the Great Basin (e.g., Graf and Schmitt 2007), has perpetuated the notion of decreased residential mobility accompanied by increased diet breadth of hunter-gatherer groups during the Early Holocene. The earliest occupations at North Creek Shelter (NCS), a multicomponent site in south-central Utah, date to this time, specifically the Paleoarchaic (~10,000-9000 BP) and Early Archaic (~9000-7500 BP) periods. The zooarchaeological data from these levels were analyzed to determine whether Paleoarchaic occupations on the Colorado Plateau possessed greater residential mobility and narrower diet breadth than those of the Early Archaic, as they do in …

Disordered Eating And Substance Use: A Multivariate Longitudinal Twin Desigh, Jessica Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disorders and substance use disorders both exhibit a clear sex-difference in prevalence. Eating disorders are more common in females while substance use disorders are more common in males. Previous research has also established a strong association between these two disorders, especially within females. Much less research has examined comorbity in males. The etiology and reasons for these sex-differences and for the comorbidity of eating and substance use disorders remain unclear. The present report aimed to examine disordered eating (DE), substance use (SU), and their comorbidity further, in both sexes, using disorder eating attitudes and behaviors and substance use rather …

Efficacy Of A Brief Intervention For Insomnia Among Psychiatric Outpatients, James Nile Wagley

Theses and Dissertations

Psychiatric patients are particularly affected by symptoms of insomnia. Because insomnia is often secondary to other conditions and was once thought to be less treatable, this condition has received little attention in terms of treatment and research. Additionally, psychiatric patients have typically fewer resources to seek treatment. Generally, insomnia is treated with medications that may have biological side effects and offer little restorative sleep. Behavioral or cognitive interventions have often been overlooked. This experiment uses profile analysis to test the hypothesis that psychiatric outpatients randomized to a treatment group would have decreased levels of sleep difficulties (measured by PSQI) when …

An Evaluation Of The Virginia 2002 Child Passenger Safety Law: Determining If The Law Reduced Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries And Fatalities, Petra Connell

Theses and Dissertations

In 2002, Virginia increased the age that children needed to be restrained in a child safety seat from age three to age five. Employing a pre and post intervention analysis, this study evaluated the 2002 Virginia child safety restraint law and determined if the number and severity of motor vehicle crash injuries to children ages four and five changed significantly post-law. Two groups of children, children under age four and children ages six and seven, were utilized as control groups. Motor vehicle crash injury and death data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles police crash report file, Virginia Health …

Stratified Neighborhoods, Stratified Schools: Intradistrict Transfer And Racial And Socioeconomic Stratification, Elisabeth Stuart Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

Intra-district transfer policies allow students to attend any school within a district and thus may have unique consequences for stratification within a district. If parents make choices based on common academic interests, this policy can create racial and socioeconomic integration across the schools in a district. However, socially motivated choices may lead to the creation of increasingly stratified zones. This study examines one urban school district with an intra-district transfer policy to examine if the schools in the district become more racially and economically stratified under the choice policy and if the level of stratification at family's zoned schools is …

School Board Taxing Authority In Virginia, Leon Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT SCHOOL BOARD TAXING AUTHORITY IN VIRGINIA By Leon T. Johnson, Ph.D. A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009 Dr. William C. Bosher, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Education The purpose of this study is to determine to what degree local government officials in Virginia support fiscal autonomy for locally elected School Boards in the state. Currently School Boards in Virginia do not have the ability to raise their own revenues and must depend on the …