Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Preliminary Studies Of A Measure Of Conscientiousness, Braddon M. Garner Ma

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Psychologists have been interested in personality characteristics for decades. One characteristic of personality studied by researchers is that of conscientiousness. Conscientiousness can de defined as a "degree of organization, persistence, and motivation in goal-directed behavior" (Costa & McCrae, 1985, p.2) This study divided the terms defining conscientiousness into three categories for purpose of item development: organization, persistence, and motivation. Organization incudes, but is not limited to, being organized, reliable, and practical. Persistence includes concepts of responsibleness, thoroughness, and commitment to hard-work. Motivation involves characteristics of enthusiasm, morality, cautiousness, and seriousness. The purpose of this study was to develop a measure …

The Effectiveness Of Behavioral Activation Group Therapy: Treating Comorbid Depression On A Specialized Inpatient Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Unit For Combat Veterans, Theodore P. Wright

Dissertations

The comorbidity of depression and PTSD has been shown to be relatively prevalent. Researchers have found a 70% lifetime prevalence o f comorbid PTSD and depression among combat veterans. This study examined the effectiveness of a behavioral activation (BA) group treatment when administered to combat veterans with comorbid depression and PTSD in the residential treatment program at the Battle Creek Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Forty-five veterans participated in the study. Twenty-four veterans participated in a BA treatment group while in the treatment program. Twenty-one veterans attended the treatment program, but did not participate in the BA treatment group and served …

The Effects Of Wilderness Therapy On The Perceived Psychosocial Stressors, Defense Styles, Dysfunctional Personality Patterns, Clinical Syndromes, And Maladaptive Behaviors Of Troubled Adolescents, Jeffrey P. Clark

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study was fourfold: (a) to empirically evaluate the correlation between perceived psychosocial stressors (expressed concerns), immature defense styles, dysfunctional personality patterns, clinical syndromes, and maladaptive behaviors, as measured by the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI), Defense Style Questionnaire-40 (DSQ-40), and Youth Outcome Questionnaire-2.0 (YOQ); (b) to look at how wilderness therapy affects the expressed concerns, immature defense styles, clinical syndromes, dysfunctional personality patterns, and maladaptive behaviors of troubled adolescents; (c) to see if subjects whose post-test defense styles change improve more than subjects whose defense styles remain the same or get worse; and (d) to begin …

Social Information-Processing In Adolescent Girls: A Comparison Of Sex Offending Girls, Delinquent Girls, And Girls From The Community, Elizabeth Knapp Kubik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Various lines of evidence suggest that sex offenders exhibit "thinking errors" or cognitive distortions about their sexually offensive behaviors (e.g., blaming the victim). Numerous clinical reports have documented cognitive distortions among adolescent male sex offenders; empirical research consistently finds evidence of cognitive distortions among adult male sex offenders; sex offender treatments that focus on cognitive distortions as a primary target of treatment have been shown to be the most effective type of treatment for sexual offending; and research on general aggression in adolescent boys and girls consistently demonstrates that aggressive children tend to have distorted beliefs about their aggressive behavior. …

Assessment N>E Discriminative Stimulus Effects Of (±)-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Mdma, "Ecstasy") And (+Lysergic Add Diethylamide (Lsd) In A Three-Lever Drug Discrimination Procedure, Amy K. Goodwin

Dissertations

(±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a common drug of abuse known as "ecstasy." Currently, MDMA is classified into the traditional drug classes as both a "stimulant" and a "hallucinogen" because it is reported to share both subjective and physiological properties of both classes. MDMA is thought to produce its psychoactive effects by acting as both a serotonin and a dopamine agonist. However, the relative importance of the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems in mediating the stimulus properties of MDMA remains unclear.

The drug discrimination assay is used to classify drugs as "similar" or "dissimilar," as well as to examine underlying neurochemical changes …

Content Validity And Internal Consistency Reliability Of A New Scale On Violence Potential, Samuel Pierce

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The differential prediction of violence potential in adolescents m juvenile corrections and the mental health fields continues to garner concern. The result of this inability to predict ;md therefore prevent these aces of violence has resulted in an increased incarceration of adolescents in the criminal justice system. Two previous studies (Criminal Justice Association, 1993; Dembo. Hughes, Jackson & Mieczkowski, 1993) have noted similar results. While no system is 100% accurate. there arc known risk factors of violent behavior (Flannery. 1998: Monahan. 1981: Webster & fackson. 1997). This study examined many of these known indicators of violent behavior: and, identified other …

The Effects Of Acculturation Level On Boston Naming Test And Controlled Oral Word Association Test In A Sample Ofhisparrics Ofmexican-American Extraction, Megan D. Nicoloff

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This research investigated in the relationship between acculturation and performance on verbal fluency tasks in a sample of 57 Hispanics of Mexican-American extraction. It was hypothesized that as acculturation to Anglo-American culture approaches assimilation, facilitation of word fluency on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWA) will increase. As the independent variable, acculturation was examined on three levels: Mexican·oriented, balanced, and Anglo-oriented using Scale One of the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans· Second Edition (ARSMA·II). The dependent variables were verbal fluency scores on the BNT and COWA. A 3 x 2 (acculturation group …

Assessment Of Child Abuse Potential In Spouse Abusive Men, Lisa Marie Estelle

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

This study investigated potential for child physical abuse in a sample of men participating in mandated violence intervention programs in Oregon. Utility of the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory, history of personal child abuse, time-in-treatment, and personal ratings of parenting were explored. Voluntary, anonymous participation of 136 men yielded 110 valid, interpretable CAP Inventory profiles. As predicted, results are similar to Milner and Gold's (1986) study with approximately one third (33.6%) of the sample demonstrating elevated abuse scores and consequently, significant potential for child physical abuse. Results extend Milner and Gold's ( 1986) preliminary support for the utility of the …

Attitudinal And Behavioral Changes Demonstrated By Expectant Fathers As Measured By The Index Of Self Esteem, Terry G. Savage

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Thirty married men who were expecting their first child were tested in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy with the Index of Self Esteem to see if the subjects experienced a significant drop in self esteem during the course of pregnancy. The current study focused on the attitudinal and behavioral changes in the subjects as measured by the index of self-esteem. A decrease in self-esteem of the expectant fathers was not found, however the lack of diversity within the sample may account for the results. It would be necessary to conduct more extensive research to be more representative …

Non-Physical Abuse Behavioral Changes In First Time Expectant Fathers, Sheila Tarr-Stiglich

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The nine months of a pregnancy produce monumental physical and psychological changes in the pregnant woman. Past research has indicated that intimate partner abuse can occur during this time. The objective of the current study was to determine if a change in non-physical abusive behavior occurred in men as they experienced the first pregnancy of the wives, and if so, could it be measured by a particular instrument. Thirty-three men were given the Non-Physical Abuse of Partner Scale, along with a battery of other instruments throughout the course of the pregnancy, in attempt to measure change. Results indicated no significant …

Psychometric Investigation Of The Validity And Reliability Of The Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire-Revised In A Sample Of Psychotic Outpatients, John James Blue

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Refractory auditory hallucinations are a continuing problem in the treatment of schizophrenic, schizoaffective and psychotically depressed patient populations as well as patients with psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified. To date, little is known about the assessment of such hallucinatory states. Currently there are only a few instruments designed to examine the characteristics of auditory hallucinations. The study examined the reliability and validity of the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire-Revised (BAVQ-R) in a sample of psychotic outpatients experiencing refractory auditory hallucinations. The present study consisted of 91 subjects; 57 men and 34 women selected from four separate community outpatient settings, who experienced …

Becoming Visible : A Qualitative Analysis Of Female To Male Transsexuals' Coming Out Experiences, Emily R. Chernicoff

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This research explores the coming-out processes of 11 transgendered individuals who underwent female-to-male sex reassignment. Its purpose is to expand upon the cultural literacy of clinicians called upon to support transgendered clients who present with the intent to transition. The thesis is predicated on the argument that the differently-gendered constitute an understudied and discrete cultural minority, similar to ethnic, racial and sexual minorities, for whom identity formation is similarly impacted by socio-cultural influences. Qualitative content analysis of transcribed semi-structured interviews was conducted. Phase analysis was found to parallel both Cass's 1979 stage-model theory of sexual minority identity formation, and Devor's …

Comprehensive Profile Of Adult Outpatient Psychotherapy Treatment Responders, Nonresponders, And Negative Responders In A Naturalistic Treatment Setting , Anya Genieser-Derosa

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Since its inception, the effectiveness of psychotherapy as a treatment for psychological distress has been challenged vigorously. During the past 5 decades, increasingly sophisticated research studies have demonstrated psychotherapy effective in treating a variety ofpsychological disorders in the majority of individuals who avail themselves of treatment. Moreover, despite fierce competition among proponents of various psychotherapy models attempting to prove their model of choice most effective, research findings suggest the major models of psychotherapy are all equally effective in treating most individuals. Some have therefore shifted their research focus to determining the factors common to major psychotherapies that promote treatment success. …

Comparison Of Self- And Significant Other-Rated Expression Of Anger Using The Mad-As And The So-Mad-As, Donna Marie Martin

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study proposed to advance the treatment of anger disorders by exploring the psychometric properties of the MAD-AS scale, an anger assessment tool. Research sought to build on prior investigation of the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the MAD-AS in an inpatient setting by examining this measure using outpatient subjects. Several important findings were obtained in this study. Research results suggest that the MAD-AS represents a significant improvement over some existing anger measures in terms of its brevity, ease of administration, and standardization of scoring. The MAD-AS appears to possess sound psychometric properties in terms of its reliability …

Concurrent Deficits In Behavior Inhibition, Non-Verbal Working Memory And Psychological Sense Of Time In Adhd, Roya D. Mccloskey

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

According to the Hybrid Model of Executive Function for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), hyperactive and combined types, a delay in behavior inhibition causes secondary deficits in four executive function; non-verbal working memory, verbal working memory, reconstitution and self-regulation of affect/motivation/arousal. The deficit in non-verbal working memory causes a deficit in psychological sense of time, which in tum impairs self-regulation in those with ADHD. This single case study investigated concurrent deficits in behavior inhibition, non-verbal working memory and psychological sense of time in a 1O-year-old male with ADHD, combined type. Three interrelated components of behavior inhibition were measured by the …

The Distress Thermometer: Validity In A General Cancer Population, Carole S. Moretz

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This work reports on the psychometric properties of a new measure designed to screen for distress in large populations of cancer patients. The Distress Thermometer (Holland et al., 2000) was tested in a group of 239 heterogeneously diagnosed cancer patients. It was found to be internally consistent (a= 0.86) and to exhibit a reliable eight-factor solution. It displayed acceptable concurrent validity (p ≤ 0.0001) when compared to the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (deHaes et al., 1994), the Functional Living Index Cancer (Schipper et al., 1984) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1993). It was also found to be a sensitive measure …

Structured Multifaceted Cognitive Behaviorally Oriented Assessment And Treatment Of Nonadherence To Medical Advice : A Case Study, Cheryl A. Patchin

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The incidence of nonadherence to medical advice is estimated to be as high as 98%, with a typical range of 30% to 60%. This case study focused on the assessment and treatment of a patient suffering from uncontrolled essential hypertension, who was inconsistent in her adherence to the prescribed medical regimen and who demonstrated a significant health risk as a result. From baseline (pretreatment) to termination (followup), the patient attended a total of 9 sessions over a 12-week period. Assessment involved clinical interviews and an original self-administered instrument, the Health Behavior Profiling Questionnaire (HBPQ). The HBPQ was designed to assess …

Validity Of The Mizes Anorectic Cognitions Questionnaire-Revised With A Racially Mixed, Nonclinical Population Of 14- To 19-Year-Old Adolescents, Robert P. Guillard, Jr.

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Acts Of Misconduct And Perception Of Internal, Powerful Others, And Chance Locus Of Control, Jodi L. Henry

Masters Theses

With the growing numbers of acts of misconduct that are committed in our country each year, it is important to find possible predictors of these behaviors. Because locus of control is a stable characteristic that is central to how an individual perceives causes of action, it is one construct that shows promise for predicting acts of misconduct. One hundred and forty college students answered two questionnaires: a locus of control scale called the Internality, Powerful Others, and Chance Scales and a Self Report Acts of Misconduct Index which was created for this study. A Pearson's Correlation was conducted comparing scores …

Adult Attachment Disturbances In Panic Disorder : A Comparison With Social Phobia And Specific Phobia , Jesus A. Salas

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study used attachment theory as a framework to explore the role of attachment related constructs as potential risk factors for panic disorder. A group of panic disordered participants were compared with a group of social phobics, a group of specific phobics (fearful flyers), and a group of nonclinical controls. The groups were compared on attachment dimensions, fear of emotions, fear of bodily changes, death attitudes, information processing style and self-efficacy. Results indicated that the panic disorder group and control group differed in a number ofways. Panic disordered participants evidenced higher levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance than …

Defining The Personality Characteristics Of Delinquent Adolescent Recividists, Barbara J. Sulik

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study was done to provide basic empirical data on the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory with the focus on establishing a personality profile for recidivistic juvenile offenders. The subjects of this study consisted of four groups of male and female adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 years. The control group (n = 50) consisted of adolescents not adjudicated either delinquent or dependent. The dependent group (n = 50) consisted of adolescents not adjudicated delinquent and fitting the diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder. The delinquent group (n = 50) consisted of adolescents that were diagnosed as conduct disordered and …

Non-Directive Play Therapy: Past, Present And Future, Jeslina Jayanti Raj

Masters Theses

The paper focuses on the history, research and future directions of non-directive play therapy. According to the history of play therapy, the first person to advocate studying the play of children in order to understand and educate them was Henry Rousseau. The history of play therapy is discussed with further details. Few studies have been done that empirically support the effectiveness of non-directive play therapy and there have been no investigations of therapeutic processes. From a behavioral perspective, it is understood that non-contingent attention in the form of attention, the absence of demands and the environmental richness of the playroom …

Depression And Social Support As Moderators Of Withon-Person Relationships Between Daily Events And Daily Adjustments During Adolescence, Rebecca M. Plesko

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Everyday for 2 weeks, adolescents described the events that occurred each day and provided measures of their daily self-esteem and depressogenic adjustment. Adolescents also provided trait measures of depression and social support. Within-person relationships were found between social and achievement, positive and negative daily events and daily adjustment. Depression and social support moderated specific within-person relationships. Less well-adjusted adolescents were more reactive to social positive events than better-adjusted adolescents, but surprisingly, better-adjusted adolescents were more reactive to social negative events than less well-adjusted adolescents. Better-adjusted adolescents were also more reactive to achievement positive events than less well-adjusted adolescents. Girls were …