Psychology Commons^™

Use Of Selected Mmpi-A Factors In The Prediction Of Clinical Outcomes In A Community-Based Treatment Program For Juvenile Sexual Offenders, Linda Marks Hunter

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study was designed to evaluate the use of MMPI-A factors to make predictions about clinical outcomes within a community-based treatment program for juvenile sexual offenders. Specifically, selected MMPI-A factors were used to predict client acceptance into the program and client compliance with program expectations over a 12-month period. Results showed that program acceptance was best predicted by the MMPI-A factor, “Immaturity.” No MMPI-A factors were found to be statistically significant in the prediction of program compliance. A high degree of collinearity was found between MMPI-A factors, raising questions about their discriminative utility. Results are discussed with regard to the …

A Comparison Of Cognitive Development Between Whites And African Americans Based On William Perry's Scheme Of Intellectual And Ethical Development, Joan Johnson

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This study compared cognitive complexity between student groups based on cultural background and academic class utilizing William Perry's (1970) cognitive theory of intellectual and ethical development. In addition, the study examined the influence of gender and socioeconomic status (SES) on cognitive development. The goal was to ascertain whether Perry's theory, developed from his research on a relatively homogeneous college student population without consideration of the impact of a culturally diverse environment, would be valid for culturally diverse students.

The research design employed to investigate cognitive development used a cross-sectional sample of entering freshmen and graduating seniors attending a predominantly White, …

Transgenerational Attachment, Life Stress, And The Development Of Disruptive Behavior In Preschool Children, Mary Jane Call

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

While a great deal of research focuses on representations of attachment, behavioral disorders, and life stress separately, research integrating these concepts has just recently begun (DeKlyen, 1996). The current study focuses on the links between transgenerational attachment, life stress, maternal psychopathology, and the development of behavior problems in preschool boys. Participants included 52 mothers of preschool boys (Mean Age = 56 months) who attended private preschool (N = 23) or a Head Start Program (N = 29). Participants completed a battery of assessment instruments including the Attachment Style Inventory (ASI) (Sperling & Berman, 1991), the Q-Set (Waters & Deane, 1985), …

The Physical Attractiveness Of One's Rival: A Self- Evaluation Maintenance Perspective, Robin Elizabeth Roy

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present experiment examined women's state body images and reactions of jealousy based on reading scenarios describing a party. The scenario described the woman watching her partner engaging in conversation with either a physically attractive or unattractive woman. Ninety heterosexual female college students completed a pretest packet containing measures that assessed body image evaluation and investment. After a week, they read one of the two scenarios and completed the state body image measure, experiential sampling assessment, jealousy questionnaire„manipulation check, and postexperimental inquiry. As expected, there was more jealousy toward the attractive woman, and more jealousy expressed by those dysfunctionafiy invested …

An Analysis Of Student Attitudes Toward Old Dominion University's Teletechnet: A Comparison Of Traditional And Non-Traditional Sites, Michael G. Bisciglia

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that shape a student's attitudes toward Old Dominion University's TELETECHNET system. This research utilizes a sample of 238 students enrolled in the TELETECHNET system. An analysis of student responses, based on location, was conducted, to see if a significant difference in the mean attitudes toward TELETECHNET exist between on-site and distance students. Analysis revealed a difference between studio and non-studio students on a variety of factors. This included the respondent's connection to other students, their attitude toward distance education, their willingness to take another TELETECHNET class and their attitude toward the …

The Application Of Role Theory To The Sexual Harassment Paradigm: A Policy Capturing Approach, Lora L. Jacobi

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This research utilized policy capturing techniques to analyze the different factors individuals use when determining sexual harassment. The importance of level of power, verbal behavior, and invasiveness of touch were examined. Additionally, role theory was applied to the sexual harassment paradigm in order to understand how context factors within an organization affect the perception of sexual harassment. Profile analysis was used to determine how the perception of what constitutes harassing behavior is mitigated by one's role in the organization.

Participants were one hundred and five males and one hundred and fifteen females who were either currently employed or employed within …

Psychological Influencers Of A Consumer's Innovative Propensity: A Cross-Cultural Examination, Angela D' Auria Stanton

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The purpose of this effort was to focus on measuring the psychological characteristics (specifically perceived risk, dogmatism, fatalism, self esteem, empathy, and cognitive complexity) of the innovative consumer. In order to assess the various relationships and interrelationships that exist in the psychological determinants of innovativeness, a structural modeling approach was employed. The model was also tested in a two country setting in order to determine its robustness cross-culturally. The innovative behavior measure focused on a single domain, the Internet, since innovativeness does not typically overlap across product categories (e.g. Gatignon and Robertson 1985).

Overall, the results of the test of …

When Officers Get The "Blues": Factors That May Determine Which Officer Is More Inclined To Feel Job Stress, Olivia Poppy Nelson

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate what factors may determine which officers may feel job stress. In today's law enforcement agencies stress is becoming an important topic to study. With the knowledge of what factors may determine stress in officers, stress can be reduced to avoid departmental loss. The data collection was conducted in 1998, during the Christmas season at a California law enforcement agency. This thesis looks at the impact of age, education, and job satisfaction on stress. It also looks at the relationship of age and education to job satisfaction. Multiple regression was run on all …

Needle Localization For Breast Biopsy: The Patient's Experience, Marian De Walt Morgan

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The needle localization procedure for breast biopsy (NLP) can be painful and distressing for some women. This study was carried out to learn what factors might increase or decrease NLP pain and distress, and to gain insight into possible interventions to make the procedure more comfortable for all patients. One hundred and thirty-eight women were surveyed following breast needle localization at two central Virginia hospitals. The influence of eight variables (lidocaine, self-regulation, anxiety, worry about breast cancer, breast tenderness, finding mammography painful, difficulty with surgery, and distress of blood drawing) on four outcome variables (pain incidence, pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, …

Does Personality Indicate A Proclivity Toward Negative Job Behaviors?, Victoria Leigh Cole

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study endeavored to show that negative job behaviors can be predicted from measures of personality. It was hypothesized that the measures of extroversion and neuroticism would be positively correlated with negative job behaviors. It was further hypothesized that the measures of agreeableness and conscientiousness would be negatively correlated with negative job behaviors. Participants responded to anonymous surveys. These surveys consisted of measures of personality, job behaviors and attitudes, a social desirability scale, and demographic questions. It was found that agreeableness and conscientiousness were both negatively related to negative job behaviors and that neuroticism was positively related to some negative …

The Influence Of Personality Cultural Values Social Support And Pre-Departure Training On Adjustment And Performance On International Students, Amy A. Fitzgibbons

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study addressed the impact of individual differences, situation characteristics, and pre-departure training on adjustment and performance among international students. Newly arrived foreign students were assessed during their first semester in an American university. Culture novelty, social support, neuroticism, and pre-departure training were significant predictors of adjustment. Additional findings included improved adjustment by those foreigners who spent more time speaking the host language and interacting with host nationals. Cultural distance was found to be a significant predictor of performance. Implications for future research are discussed.

Driving Simulation Performance And Eeg Evaluation Associated With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Matthew Richard Risser

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Sleepiness and driving are a dangerous combination that causes thousands of crashes each year resulting in injury and death. This problem not only jeopardizes the safety of the driver but passengers and other drivers as well. This study investigated driving performance and neurophysiological correlates of sleepiness during driving simulation in obstructive sleep apnea patients. The study included 15 obstructive sleep apnea patients and 15 normal subjects as a control group. After a practice drive through city conditions, participants completed a 60 minute driving simulation task designed to replicate a highway driving scenario. Driving performance and EEG data were continuously sampled …

Searching For The Presence And Absence Of Features In Sustained Attention: The Effect Of Discriminability And Display Size On Performance And Workload, Victoria Suzanne Schoenfeld

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of signal discriminability and display size when searching for the presence and absence of features on vigilance performance and mental workload. Specifically, two conflicting theories were investigated. Treisman and Souther (1985) contend that the presence of a feature is detected quickly and effortlessly while the absence of a feature requires slower, serial processing. Nagy and Sanchez (1990, 1992), on the other hand, argue that discriminability determines the type of processing employed such that easily discriminable signals pop out of the display while less discriminable signals require focused attention to detect. To test these ideas, …

Investigating The Effects Of Subtle Ratee Characteristics In Team Performance Appraisal: The Influence Of Personality And Cohesiveness, Jonathan Quinn Schroeder

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study extends the research into systematic bias in performance appraisal to include subtle (i.e., not overtly demographic) ratee characteristics. Specifically examined were the biasing effects of personality and group cohesiveness on performance ratings. It was hypothesized that raters' personality inferences regarding ratees' levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness would correlate with bias in performance ratings. Interpersonal group cohesiveness was also hypothesized to affect rating accuracy. Research participants (n = 90) rated the performance of two videotaped leaderless group discussions. Personality inferences correlated strongly with leniency in performance ratings. In addition, significant differences in accuracy were found between the more and …

The Influence Of Model Features On Goodness-Of-Fit Indices: Choosing Indices To Evaluate Your Model, Andrea E. Berndt

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Two studies were conducted to examine the performance of eight goodness-of-fit indices (i.e., the chi-square statistic, Comparative fit index, Critical N; Goodness-of-fit index, Normed fit index, Nonnormed fit index, Root mean square error of approximation, and Relative noncentrality index) used in structural equation applications. Study 1 consisted of (a) an empirical review in four journals (1986-1996) to determine the "typical" application, (b) a "recreation" of the goodness-of-fit indices from the published research, (c) a multiple regression analysis of the "recreated" indices to determine if values were predicted based on model and sample features, and (d) the development of a representative …

A Psychophysiological Assessment Of The Efficacy Of Event-Related Potentials And Electroencephalogram For Adaptive Task Allocation, Lawrence J. Prinzel Iii

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study was designed to test the efficacy of using Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) for making task allocations decisions. Thirty-six participants were randomly assigned to an experimental, yoked, or control group condition. Under the experimental condition, a compensatory tracking task was switched between manual and automatic task modes based upon the participant's EEG. ERPs were also gathered to an auditory, oddball task. Participants in the yoked condition performed the same tasks under the exact sequence of task allocations that participants in the experimental group experienced. The control condition consisted of a random sequence of task allocations that …

Factor Analysis Of The Mmpi-A Content Scales: Item-Level And Scale-Level Analyses, Lisa Kay Mccarthy

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This investigation identified and interpreted the overall factor structure of the MMPI-A content scales through the use of scale-level analyses, and examined the factor structure of each individual content scale through item-level analyses. The MMPI-A normative sample (805 males, 815 females) and a clinical sample (266 males, 92 females) were used in the analyses. Scale-level analyses yielded a two factor solution for the normative male and clinical groups and a one factor solution for the normative sample and normative female group. The factors were labeled General Maladjustment and Externalizing Tendencies. Item-level analyses provided one factor solutions for the majority of …

Does Wisdom Really Come With Age?: Cognitive Differences Between Traditional And Nontraditional Aged College Women, Kelli Jean England

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Nontraditional aged (age 25 and over) college women outperform traditional aged (age 18-24) college women academically. This research reviewed areas of differences in the two groups and proposed that differences in two main areas contribute to performance: motivation and cognitive maturation. One hundred and twelve female traditional and nontraditional aged students completed Mehrabian's Achieving Tendency Scale (MATS), the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA), and the Learning Environment Preferences measure (LEP). Students were identified as traditional aged (18-24 years), younger nontraditional aged (25-31 years), and older nontraditional aged (& 32 years). Grade point average (GPA) was used as a measure of …

The Effect Of Ethanol And Hypoglycemia On Rat Performance In The Radial Arm Maze, Monica Ann Gaffney

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Both hypoglycemia (HG) and ethanol (ETH) intoxication can cause serious impairment in physiological and psychological functioning. Their combination could cause more severe cognitive impairment than either condition alone. This experiment investigated the effects of hypoglycemia, ethanol intoxication, and their combination on rat radial arm maze performance. Eleven male rats were trained to a stable, low error rate performance in achieving food rewards in an eight arm radial arm-maze. Rats were then given either insulin (2 units/kg) or saline in combination with ETH doses of 250, 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg 20 minutes prior to the maze run. Treatment order was …

Cross-Racial Facial Identification: Black And White Oriented Elaborative Processing, Tonika E. Duren

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study was conducted to affect the own-race bias effect in facial recognition by using an elaboration process. According to method, 45 Black and 45 White college male and female participants completed the experiment. Participants were presented Black and White faces on a screen. Each face was rated using 1)Black-Oriented instructions which focused on features such as eye size, nose width, and lips, 2)White- Oriented instructions which focused on eye color, hair color, and hair texture, 3) Attitude- Oriented instructions which focused on intelligence, friendliness, and honesty. The primary dependent variable was a measure of discriminability using proportion of …

Analyzing The Effects Of Display Characteristics And Cognitive Variables On Performance Using Keystroke And Eye Movement Data, Orhan E. Beckman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Information about how operators use their eyes while interacting with visual displays is often an overlooked aspect of human-computer interaction. Such information is fundamental to assessing the quality of software interfaces and understanding the cognitive processes that underlie operator behavior. Other research evaluating information displays evolved from using reaction time and subjective data as dependent variables to using oculometric measures. In the current research conventional performance measures are coupled with oculometric measures to evaluate the influence display characteristics and cognitive variables have on performance.

Twelve subjects used a software program to complete a series of specified tasks. Subjects were asked …

The Relationship Of Antifat Attitudes To Other Prejudicial Attitudes: Construct Validation Of The Antifat Attitudes Test, Mark S. Perez-Lopez

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

There are many negative effects of obesity in our society. As a result, a new measure of antifat attitudes was developed. This study examined the construct, discriminant, and convergent validity of the Antifat Attitudes Test by relating antifat attitudes to racism, sexism, and homophobia.

Participants included 179 college undergraduate students. Multiple regression analyses revealed significant contributions of sex-role egalitarianism, racism, masculine ideology, body mass, and social desirability in the prediction of antifat attitudes. Several one-way analyses of variance revealed that men expressed stronger antifat attitudes than women and African-Americans were more accepting of fat individuals than were Whites. Additionally, androgynous …

Elements Affecting Disclosure Of Abusive Dating Relationships: Attachment Style Sex Of Research Participant And Importance Of Disclosure Target, Michael Alexander Keefer

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the influence of attachment style, sex of research participant, and relationship importance of disclosure target on the self-disclosure of abuse in dating relationships using a hypothetical dating aggression scenario. The two dependent variables were willingness to disclose and perceived helpfulness of self-disclosure. Research participants were classified according to Bartholomew's model of adult attachment (i.e., secure, preoccupied, dismissing, or fearful). Attachment style of research participants significantly affected perceived helpfulness of self-disclosure. Fearful participants perceived the most helpfulness from disclosure and were the most willing to self-disclose. Sex of research participant did not have a significant effect on willingness …

Two Views Of Physical Attractiveness: Informational Influences On Women's Body Images, Jennifer Lee Muth

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present experiment examined the impact of presenting information about the Advantages of Attractiveness or the Limitations of Attractiveness on women's body image experiences. One hundred and thirty-eight college students completed a pretest packet containing measures that assess state and trait body-image evaluation and appearance-related psychological investment. One week later they listened to audiotapes containing research-supported information about either the Advantages of Attractiveness or the Limitations of Attractiveness. Afterward, participants completed the measures of mood, state body image, and quality of life, manipulation check questions, and a post experimental inquiry. As expected, highly invested participants had a poorer body image …

Effects Of An Interview Guide On The Accuracy Of Ratings For Applicants With Disabilities, Catherine Quinn Greenwald Mergen

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The problem of bias in the employment interview for applicants with disabilities was addressed with research to identify if a decision aid can increase the decision making accuracy of interviewers. A survey designed to allow participants to rate applicants with five disabilities for three jobs (with three essential functions listed for each job) was used to assess rating accuracy of two groups. Participants who received the decision aid in the form of a Guide to Interviewing People with Selected Disabilities were expected to have more rating accuracy than those participants without access to the Guide. Accuracy was assessed by comparing …

Effects Of Chronic Cocaine Abuse On Verbal Learning And Memory, Elizabeth A. Kamin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the existence and nature of verbal memory deficits in a group of chronic cocaine abusers. Functional impairment in a control group of recovering alcoholics was also examined. Participants were selected from groups of volunteers enrolled in various drug treatment programs at the Veterans' Hospital in Hampton, Virginia. All participants were at least 30 days abstinent at the time of testing. Twelve cocaine abusers with a mean use time of 10 years served as the experimental group. Ten alcoholics with a mean use time of 25 years served as the control group. Participants …

Electrocortical Output And Hemispheric Contributions To The Alert State During A Sustained Attention Task, Treven Curtis Pickett

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the relative electrocortical contributions of specified cerebral locations and the potential motoric influence of handedness in a biocybernetic feedback environment. Thirty six right-handed subjects engaged in two sixteen minute trials of a compensatory tracking task by guiding (via a joystick) a circle over a stationary target presented on a computer screen, performing one trial with their preferred (right) and one using their non-preferred (left) hand.

For each subject, a Macintosh computer interpreted electrocortical activity through an engagement index (20*beta/(alpha+theta)) and changed the task mode, i.e. manual (subject guides the task) or automatic (computer guides the task) as …

Machiavellianism Achievement And Gender Roles, Kathleen M. Gibson

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The focus of the current study was to find a relationship between Machiavellianism and achievement motivation. Gender, gender-role orientation, and college major were also introduced as variables. Two-hundred and forty university students majoring in either business or psychology completed various self-report measures. Results based on correlations and an analysis of variance produced the following results: Women of both majors had higher Machiavellian scores than males of both majors; business majors had a higher desire to work hard and were more competitive than psychology majors (especially males); scores on the Machiavellian scale positively correlated with competitiveness for females. For males, Machiavellianism …

Men Who Batter: Personality Variables, Relationship Variables, And Treatment Outcome, Lisa M. Petrica

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between the personality characteristics of male batterers and treatment outcome. It also examined a pattern of communication found in violent couples where the male pursues the female and the female withdraws in an argument. The study also compared alcohol use with treatment outcome.

Twenty-one men who attended a group psychoeducational treatment program for batterers completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). The men were divided into three groups based on their scores: non-pathological (normal profile), narcissistic/antisocial (elevated psychopathic deviate scale), and severely disordered (elevations on several scales). Pre and post-test measures were completed: Dyadic Adjustment …

The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity, Self-Esteem, Emotional Well-Being And Depression Among Lakota/Dakota Sioux Adolescents, Susan M. Pittenger

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Despite conceptual support linking ethnic identity and psychological adjustment among Native Americans, empirical research examining this relationship remains limited. In light of recent developments in the area of ethnic identity research, including alternative conceptual models, improved methodologies, and more sophisticated measures, this study examined the relationship between ethnic identity, self-esteem, emotional well-being, and depression among Native American reservation youth.

The relationship between the predictor variables of American Indian ethnic identity, White-American identity and bicultural identity, and the criterion measures of self-esteem, emotional well-being, and depression were examined for 137 Lakota/Dakota Sioux reservation youth. Participants completed surveys including the Multigroup Ethnic …