Psychology Commons^™

Factor Analysis Of The Borderline Personality Inventory Using Item Response Theory, Courtney Mozo

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The current study used a sample of 251 undergraduate females &om Old Dominion University to assess the item properties of the Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI). The BPI is a true/false self-report instrument used to measure borderline personality disorder. The BPI was created using classical test theory techniques, and traditional methods were used to assess the scale's properties (Leichsenring, 1999). Due to the dichotomous nature of the BPI, traditional classical test theory techniques are not ideal. The current study used Item Response Theory (IRT) to characterize the scale and item properties. The study was conducted using an online survey that also …

Mediators Of The Leader-Member Exchange And Performance Relationship, Kurt L. Oborn

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The relationship of leader-member exchange (LMX) to task and contextual performance was examined using a sample of teleworkers. Path analysis results show evidence for mediation of the LMX and task performance and LMX and contextual performance relationships. Mediators and partial-mediators included self-management, telework satisfaction, affective commitment, and turnover intentions. LMX is not related to work-family conflict, and work-family conflict is not related to either task or contextual performance. Additional relationships among the mediating variables were also found. This study shows the importance of the leader-member relationship when leading teleworkers. More research is required to further understand differences between teleworkers and …

College Students Online: An Exploration Of The Benefits And Risks Of Social Networking Sites, Catherine Blair Parker Butler

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits and risks of social networking sites. College students' general use of social networking sites was described and the relationship between social networking sites and friendship development, disclosure, social intimacy, and cyberstalking was explored. Also, whether or not university personnel discussed the sites with students was determined. Of the 612 participants, 498 students were social networking site members. Frequency data showed that students' most often logged onto the sites from a personal home computer and typically logged onto the sites multiple times a day. Frequency data also revealed that the number …

The A-B Signal Detection Theory Model, Ernesto A. Bustamante

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was threefold: (1) Present the a-b SDT model as an alternative framework to overcome the limitations of the underlying SDT model and the traditional measures of sensitivity and criterion setting, (2) Provide empirical support to validate the adequacy of the a-b SDT model, and (3) Conduct a Monte Carlo Study to compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of both the traditional and the a-b SDT models across the full spectrum of response values with the goal of providing researchers and practitioners with recommendations regarding the adequacy of each model. The results from this research …

College Athletes’ Human Figure Drawings, Kaitlin Taggart

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The demands of both lean and non-lean sports upon male athletes can lead to body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. This study explored whether the Human Figure Drawing (HFD) is a valid method for assessing male college athletes’ body image. A total of 86 male athletes who were competitive on a lean (cross-country or wrestling) or non-lean (football or ice hockey) sport participated in the study. The score recorded on the Male Body Attitude Scale (MBAS) (Tylka, Bergeron, & Schwartz, 2005), a 24-question survey administered to each participant, focused specifically on assessing muscularity, body fat, and height attitudes of these …

Authoritarianism, Hostility Toward Women, Attitudes Toward Violence, Rape Myth Acceptance, And Sexual Aggression, Gina M. Bondi

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Almost one out of every five women has been, or will have been, the victim of sexual aggression and/or rape in their lives (National Institute of Justice, 2000). This staggering statistic exemplifies the importance of speculating which traits are related to, or are predictive of, sexually aggressive behavior. Based on previous research, the current study investigated relationships between authoritarianism, hostility toward women, attitudes toward violence, and rape myth acceptance, as related sexual aggression in undergraduate men It was projected that authoritarianism, hostility toward women, attitudes toward violence, and rape myth acceptance would significantly and positively predict all dimensions of sexual …

An Identity Approach To Understanding Diversity, Inclusion And The Work-Family Interface, Rebekah A. Cardenas

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The salience of one's ethnic identity, the subjective importance of that identity in one's life, was hypothesized to impact the extent to which inclusion predicts work-related outcomes (i.e., strain-based work-family conflict, work-family enrichment, job satisfaction and job stress) among 225 working women. Women who felt included at work (i.e., those who can participate, have influence and can "be themselves") were predicted to experience positive work-related outcomes. Further, belongingness at work was predicted to interact with ethnic identity salience to impact work-related outcomes for working women. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that inclusion was significantly associated with positive work-related outcomes; yet, …

Influences Of The Family Environment And Parent-Child Relationships On The Executive Functioning Of Children With Adhd, Valarie M. Schroeder

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the relationships between executive functions, family environment, and parent-child relationships in ADHD diagnosed children as compared to non-ADHD diagnosed children. Participants were parents (N = 134) of children diagnosed with ADHD and children not diagnosed with ADHD. As hypothesized, as compared to reports from parents of children not diagnosed with ADHD, parents of children diagnosed with ADHD reported their children as exhibiting greater problems with behavioral control and metacognitive abilities. Compared to control parents, parents of children with ADHD also reported their family environments as less organized and reported more conflict in their homes. In addition, …

Psychological Distress As Related To Social Support In Single Enlisted Navy Mothers, Michelle M. Tucker

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The primary focus of this study was to examine how psychological distress relates to social support among single enlisted United States Navy mothers. Participants were 50 single active duty enlisted Navy mothers. Participants completed an online survey that assessed social support. life events stressors, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and maternal guilt. It was hypothesized that respondents who reported higher levels of social support (i.e., work support. Family support, friend support, and community support) and fewer negative life events stressors would report lower psychological distress (i.e., fewer depressive symptoms, less anxiety, lower maternal guilt).

Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine how …

College Students' Concerns Regarding Prison Rape, Laura A. Rapp

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Abstract unavailable.

Masculine Ideology And High-Risk Behavior Among Disabled Veterans, Abby L. Braitman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

There may be predictors for high-risk behaviors, such as alcohol abuse, aggression, and risky sexual behavior, that can help identify susceptible men. Previous research has shown that masculine ideology is linked to engaging in such high-risk behaviors (Jakupcak, Tull, & Roemer, 2005; Moore & Stuart, 2005). In addition, having a physical disability may threaten male masculinity and increase the probability of this behavior (Good, Thomson, & Brathwaite, 2005). This issue is especially important to investigate in the military population. Military personnel and veterans engage in more high-risk behaviors (Bray et al., 2006; Bray, Marsden, & Peterson, 1991). Furthermore, the number …

Work-Family Predictors Of Parenting Outcomes, Marian L. Troutman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine the direct relationship between stress (i.e., economic strain and work-family conflict) and parenting outcomes (i.e., parenting satisfaction, authoritative parenting and authoritarian parenting), and how social support moderates the relationship between the two predictors (i.e., work-family conflict and economic strain) and the three parenting outcomes. Participants included 135 parents who were workers. They completed questionnaires that assessed work-family conflict, economic strain, social support, parenting satisfaction and parenting style. The researcher hypothesized that for participants who face multiple demanding roles (i.e., worker and parent), work-family conflict and economic pressure would be negatively related …

Methods Of Detecting Differential Item Functioning: A Comparison Of Confirmatory Factor Analysis Methods, Jenny Chia Yi Kuang

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present Monte Carlo study compared four confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) methods for detecting differential item functioning (DIF). The four methods were the noniterative and iterative mean and covariance structure analysis (MACS) methods, the modification index (MI) method, and the modification index-divided sample (MI-divided) method. Reference and focal groups responded to 12 items with 3 of the 12 items designed to exhibit DIF. Sample sizes of 250 and 500 were examined. In addition, three types of DIF were examined: DIF on loadings, DIF on thresholds, and DIF on both loadings and thresholds. Results indicated that for sample size 250, all …

Review Of Cursed From Birth: The Short, Unhappy Life Of William S. Burroughs Jr., By William S. Burroughs, Jr., Alan Clinton

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

William S. Burroughs Jr. was the son of the author of Naked Lunch and Joan Vollmer, whom his father accidentally (at least consciously speaking) shot in a "William Tell act" in Mexico City. He was also, in his own words, "the author of two novels [Speed and Kentucky Ham] published in seven languages, and numerous articles in national magazines." The title of this latest incarnation from Soft Skull Press casts Burroughs Jr. in the tradition of the poètes maudites and, interestingly, in relation to a short story by Ernest Hemingway about a woman who "accidentally" shoots …

Towards A Diagnostic Framework For Understanding Complex Situations, José J. Padilla, Andres Sousa-Poza, Arturo Tejada, Samuel Kovacic

VMASC Publications

This paper presents a theoretical framework for the concept of understanding and how it can be used for assessing complex situations. Understanding is presented as a cognitive process on how an individual perceives and represents a complex domain based on his/her own predispositions, and how he/she selects knowledge or what may not be knowledge based on the same predispositions towards finding a set of solutions for the situation. Predispositions, in this case, are based on his/her epistemological, ontological and teleological biases while the domain is represented by irreducible and transient conditions. The final outcome is the match or mismatch of …

Fatigue's Influence On Workload, Situation Awareness, And Performance In A Military Simulation Of Combat, Carlotta M. Boone

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Military operations routinely require military personnel to consistently perform their duties over several hours or days. Tasks that require prolonged work can lead to mental fatigue and decreased performance. The transactional model proposes that individuals cope with changes in the environment and maintain performance. This ability to cope is determined by factors of the environment and the individual's personality. One environmental factor that can influence coping is extended task performance. This study examined the effect of extended task performance and its interaction with task difficulty. Participants interacted with the military simulation game Command and Conquer: Generals™ for three hours. They …

Cognitive Implications Of Facilitating Echoic Persistence, Carryl L. Baldwin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Seventeen participants performed a tone-pattern-matching task at different presentation levels while concurrently engaged in a simulated-driving task. Presentation levels of 60, 65, and 70 dBC (SPL) were combined factorially with tone-matching delays of 2, 3, and 4 sec. Intensity had no effect on performance in single-task conditions and short-delay conditions. However, when the participants were engaged concurrently in the driving task, a significant interaction between presentation level and delay was observed. In the longest delay condition, the participants performed the tone-patten-matching task more efficiently (more quickly and without additional errors) as presentation intensity increased. These findings demonstrate the interaction between …

The Role Of Expectation And Memory In The Hindsight Bias Effect: A Test Of Cognitive Reconstruction Models, Ivan K. Ash, Clinton S. Comer

Psychology Faculty Publications

(First Paragraph) The Hindsight Bias Effect (HBE) describes the observation that once people are aware of an outcome to a situation, they have a tendency to falsely believe that they would have predicted the true outcome (see Guibault et al., 2004) Historically, the most popular explanations for this effect can be described as Cognitive Reconstruction Models of retrospective judgment formation (Hawkins & Hastie, 1990). These theories propose the hindsight bias occurs when people do not or cannot directly recall their initial judgment at the point of retrospection. Therefore, people attempt to reconstruct their original predictive judgment by re-judging the situation …

Istart 2: Improvements For Efficiency And Effectiveness, Irwin B. Levinstein, Chutima Boonthum, Srinivasa P. Pillarisetti, Courtney Bell, Danielle S. Mcnamara

Computer Science Faculty Publications

iSTART (interactive strategy training for active reading and thinking) is a Web-based reading strategy trainer that develops students' ability to self-explain difficult text as a means to improving reading comprehension. Its curriculum consists of modules presented interactively by pedagogical agents: an introduction to the basics of using reading strategies in the context of self-explanation, a demonstration of self-explanation, and a practice module in which the trainee generates self-explanations with feedback on the quality of reading strategies contained in the self-explanations. We discuss the objectives that guided the development of the second version of iSTART toward the goals of increased efficiency …

Assessing The Format Of The Presentation Of Text In Developing A Reading Strategy Assessment Tool (R-Sat), Sara Gilliam, Joseph P. Magliano, Keith K. Millis, Irwin Levinstein, Chutima Boonthum

Computer Science Faculty Publications

We are constructing a new computerized test of reading comprehension called the Reading Strategy Assessment Tool (R-SAT). R-SAT elicits and analyzes verbal protocols that readers generate in response to questions as they read texts. We examined whether the amount of information available to the reader when reading and answering questions influenced the extent to which R-SAT accounts for comprehension. We found that R-SAT was most predictive of comprehension when the readers did not have access to the text as they answered questions.

Reverse Decision Making And Goal Attainment A Proof Of Concept As A New Approach To The Decision Making Process Under Uncertainty, Shitalkumar S. Sabne

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Decision making occurs when one must choose among alternatives. However, in uncertain environments where problems are complex and decision makers lack complete knowledge of the situation as well as decision alternatives, it's not possible for them to select an optimal decision outcome by 'Traditional Decision Approaches'. At present Reverse Decision Making is the central, although new and unproved, approach of Old Dominion University's Engineering Management and Systems Engineering research on decision making process for uncertain and complex situations. Even though research in decision making spans over one hundred years, there are still important problems which remain to be addressed.

There …

Psychometric Controversy Involving Job Performance Ratings, Anne Scaduto

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Job performance ratings by supervisors and peers are very often the procedure for performance appraisal. The reliability of performance ratings is an important issue, because performance appraisal serves several purposes in the context of human resource management. Unfortunately, there are performance rating biases connected with raters, ratees, the interaction of raters and ratees, and situational and organizational characteristics. Interrater correlations are frequently interpreted as estimates of the reliability of performance ratings, and are also used to correct the correlations between ratings and other measures for attenuation. Some researchers (Murphy & DeShon, 2000a; 2000b) argue that interrater correlations are not reliability …

The Effect Of Sonification Pulse Rate And System Reliability On Perceived Workload Urgency Trust And Monitoring Performance, Randal D. Spain

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of sonification pulse rate and system reliability on subjective workload, urgency, trust, and monitoring performance of a dual task simulation of patient monitoring. Fifty-eight students performed a compensatory tracking and resource management task while simultaneously engaging in a patient monitoring task. Sonification pulse rate contained three levels (40ppm, 60ppm, 80ppm) and was manipulated within groups by varying the inter-pulse interval of the auditory signal. System reliability contained two levels (40%, 60%) and was manipulated between groups by varying the number of true and false problems presented by the sonification …

Teamwork In Chinese Organizations: A New Concept And Framework, Ying Liu

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Teamwork has always been a challenge in China, and the importance of teamwork has not been well recognized. This study was designed to explore the underlying definition of teamwork that Chinese people use to describe their teams, to identify variables related to teamwork, to develop a new framework and measure of teamwork in Chinese organizations, and to test the psychometric properties of the measure as well as the structural relationships of the new framework of teamwork in Chinese teams. This study also examines the influence of guanxi---an important Chinese cultural value that emphasizes exchange and reciprocity in relationships---on teamwork in …

Development Of A Theoretical Framework Of Distributed Cognition Phenomena In Control Centers During Crisis Conditions, Christopher J. West

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to develop and partially validate a theoretical framework describing distributed cognition phenomena occurring in organizational control centers functioning in crisis environments. Using a systems approach, the work synthesizes existing constructs relating to distributed cognition then supplements this knowledge with review of crisis management literature. The goal of this effort is the development of a framework for understanding the impact of crisis conditions on such phenomena occurring within the specified setting. An exploratory case study approach was used to partially validate and refine the framework by gauging its ability to interpret the impact of crisis …

An Examination Of The Social And Political Attitudes Of College Student-Athletes, Melissa Cotter Smasal

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

As the prominence of sport in our culture continues to increase, athletes increasingly possess a platform from which to influence the attitudes and opinions of others. In recent years, athletes have used such platforms to make social and political statements and have garnered much attention in doing so. With these instances in mind, the goal of this study was to gain an understanding of some of the social and political attitudes of college athletes. College athletes are a unique peer group of college students and have not yet been studied in regards to social and political attitudes.

The survey instrument …

Measurement Of Valuing Diversity: A Multidimensional Conception And Confirmatory Analysis, Rebekka A. Althouse

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the construct validity of the Attitudes Toward Diversity Scale (ATDS; Montei et al., 1996) in relation to the Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy (SEE; Wang et al., 2003) and the Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale (M-GUDS; Miville et al., 1999) in a sample of 157 undergraduate and graduate students at Old Dominion University. Because there was no precedent in the literature, a purely theoretical relationship was hypothesized. The relationship between the SEE and the ATDS v as hypothesized to be stronger than between the M-GUDS and the ATDS. A multivariate structural model tested the hypothesized pattern of relationships emanating from …

Testing Social Disorganization As It Pertains To Prostitution, Wynter Leighanne Edwards

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The impact of crime on the community has gained notoriety within the sociological field over the last twenty years. With growing citizen concern it is important to understand the impact of crimes rates on communities. Social disorganization theory focuses on the relationship between crime and the community, however, little research has been done on social disorganization theory as it relates to victimless crimes such as prostitution. It is important to understand how variables derived from social disorganization theory explain levels of prostitution across neighborhoods. This is important because victimless crimes such as prostitution often act as precursors to greater crime …

Teacher Factors That Influence Student Achievement: A Study Of Third And Fifth Grade Teachers, Jewelle L. Harmon

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Student achievement is of the highest concern for the government, educational administrators and parents. Researchers have looked at several possible student factors that affect student achievement. However, very little research has been done on teacher factors and their relationship with student achievement. The current study looked at the relationships among teacher absence, teacher job satisfaction, work-family conflict, family/work conflict, teachers' attitudes towards achievement measures, and their correlation with Virginia's standardized measure of student achievement; the Standards of Learning (SOLs). District differences in student achievement were also examined. Three school districts in southeastern Virginia accepted the invitation to participate. …

The Healing Potential Of Art: A Psychobiographical Study Of Three Artists, Amy Reahard

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The statement that art in itself is healing may not always be true as demonstrated by the destructive, often short lives of many artists. This may appear to contradict the fundamental belief, held by many art therapists, that art is healing. Studying the fields of creativity and art history could help understand this apparent contradiction.

One way to combine the studies of creativity, the healing power of art, and art history is through the practice of psychobiography. The psychobiographer who studies the life of a prominent artist combines various psychological approaches with the literary records, art history, and visual evidence …