Psychology Commons^™

Socio-Cultural Variations In Interactions: A Study Of Children With Disabilities And Their Mothers, Elina O. Alexandrova

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This investigation compared interaction behaviors of African-American and European-American mothers with children who had or were at medical risk for disabilities as measured by Maternal Behavior Rating Scale (MBRS; Mahoney, 1992). The relationships between these mothers' interaction ratings and three groups of independent variables (mother/family demographic characteristics, measures of family functioning, and child characteristics) were also examined. T-tests were used to examine the differences between the two groups. Significant differences were found on SES variables, particularly income. Samples were restricted to those with incomes of $32,500 or less. Analysis of covariance procedures were performed using race and family structure as …

Meta-Analysis Of Home Visiting Research With Low-Income Families: Client, Intervention, And Outcome Characteristics, Christopher H. Morris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Leaders in the field of home visiting and family support research have indicated that the inclusion of home visiting in comprehensive services for low-income families with young children can play a key role in improving a wide variety of outcomes for at-risk children and their families. These recommendations have been based in part on selected empirical findings from the home visiting literature. However, synthesis of empirical findings has proven difficult, due to the heterogeneity of this population and the diverse applications of home visiting as a service delivery strategy.

The present meta-analysis examined a representative sample of the peer-reviewed literature …

The Effects Of Therapist Gender On Group Therapy For Eating-Disordered Clients, Todd A. Soutor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This present study examined the session-by-session content of group therapy for eating-disordered clients. The main objective of this study was to identify how therapist-client gender match affects group therapy process , regarding the disclosure of important issues relevant to eating-disordered clients. It was hypothesized that the group therapy process for eating-disordered clients would be qualitatively different if therapy was facilitated by a female as opposed to a male therapist. The evaluation of the research question required using an alternating treatments single-subject research design, in which the presentation of treatment conditions was counterbalanced across two therapy groups. The treatments consisted of …

The Effects Of Critical Thinking Skills Training On Student Performance In An Educational Psychology Class, Eric J. Gee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Critical thinking skills have become an important part of current educational practices. However, there is little empirical evidence comparing the effectiveness of the programs teaching these skills. In addition, there are questions as to whether the skills should be taught within the class content or separate from the class content.

This study assigned students attending labs as part of an educational psychology class to two experimental conditions (content-based and content-free) and a control condition. Measures were scores on lab papers and test scores for the class. In addition, an attitude survey was used to assess student attitudes to each condition, …

The Efficacy Of A Self-Administered Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Program For Body Image Dissatisfaction In Women With Subclinical Bulimia Nervosa, Ellen N. Emerson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Subjects for this study were 40 women (N = 40) with subclinical bulimia nervosa who were randomly assigned to either a Cognitive Behavioral Treatment group (CBT) or to a waiting list control group. Treatment was provided for 8 weeks in an individual, self-administered format, using an audio-taped treatment package for Body Image Dissatisfaction (BID). Cognitive behavioral treatment focused on changing negative thoughts and feelings about one's body. No specific treatment focused on changing eating symptomatology or concomitant symptoms, although these were assessed. The waiting list control condition received assessment, followed by 8 weeks of no treatment. Treatment outcome measures …

Taxonomic Or Thematic : Categorization Of Familiar Objects By Preschool-Aged Children, David Owen Calhoun

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To acquire language, children must learn how to categorize objects on the basis of the meanings that cultures have assigned to the objects. A series of six experiments tested how preschool-aged children categorize familiar objects. Each experiment used a matching-to-sample format in which children matched pictures of familiar objects (comparisons) to a sample stimulus picture. The sample and one comparison related taxonomically (on the basis of similar features) and the other comparison related thematically (on the basis of function) from which the children were to find another stimulus that was the same as the sample. Each experiment was a systematic …

An Investigation Of The Construct Validity Of The Preschool And Kindergarten Behavior Scales, Clarice E. Jentzsch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A relatively recent measure, the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS), has been developed to measure both problem behavior and social competence in young children. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity of the PKBS through the application of several validation procedures. Results of the study support construct validity of the PKBS. In a discriminant analysis, the PKBS classified correctly 89.36% of the 94 subjects. A secondary purpose of this study was to examine social-emotional behavior differences between kindergarten students who were divided into different behavioral status groups based on a teacher nomination procedure: a …

Common Dimensions Of Social Skills Of Children And Adolescents: A Review And Analysis Of The Literature, Paul Caldarella

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Previous research in the area of social skills of children and adolescents has resulted in confusion over the number and name of empirically derived dimensions. While much work has been done to derive empirically based taxonomies of child and adolescent problem behaviors, such is not the case for positive social behaviors. The present study conducted an extensive review, analysis, and synthesis of over two decades of factor analytic research on child and adolescent social skills to derive an empirically based taxonomy.

Results suggest five dimensions that occurred in over one third of the studies: Peer Relations, Self-Management, Academic, Cooperation, and …

Establishing The Validity Of The College Adjustment Scales (Cas) As Outcome Measures In A University Counseling Center: A Test Of Construct And Convergent Validity, Denise K. Wiswell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The College Adjustment Scales (CAS) are a multidimensional psychological measure designed specifically for use in college and university settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of the College Adjustment Scales (CAS) to function as outcome measures in university counseling centers. Study 1 assessed the ability of the CAS to track change following brief therapy using a nonequivalent control group design. Study 2 assessed the convergent validity of the CAS by correlating two of the nine CAS scales with two established measures. The results of a three-factor MANOVA revealed that the CAS were able to track change …

The Relationship Between Depression And Anxiety, And The Personality Traits Of Dependency And Self-Criticism, Douglas E. Craig

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The relationships between depression and the traits of dependency and self-criticism are well documented in the research literature. However, relatively few studies have investigated anxiety in relation to the two traits. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship each trait has with general anxiety and with social anxiety. Also, because depression and anxiety overlap, a multivariate analysis examined the relationships among the trait and mood constructs while accounting for the overlap between constructs. Subjects completed the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (assessing dependency and self-criticism), the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Fear of Negative Evaluation …

The Predictive Validity Of The Battelle Developmental Inventory As A Measure Of Adaptive Behavior : A 2-3 Year, Longitudinal Comparison With The Scales Of Independent Behavior, Clarice E. Jentzsh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Within the last 5 years, researchers have given increased attention to preschool assessment. One test, the Battelle Developmental Inventory, has become increasingly popular for use with preschool-age children. Despite its frequent use by early intervention programs, few researchers have studied the technical adequacy of the Battelle. The predictive validity of the Battelle was examined, using 154 children with disabilities. Scores on the Battelle for children 3 to 5 years of age were compared with scores on the Scales of Independent Behavior administered to the same children 2 to 3 years later. Moderate to strong relationships were found between the scores. …

Family Perspectives Of The Professional-Paraprofessional Partnership Model Of Home-Based Early Intervention Service Delivery, Amy Sanford Walters

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Current legislation regarding early intervention services has focused on the family unit, rather than the individual child, as the recipient of services. A model of family-centered care has been adopted and as a result, new models for service delivery have been developed. The present study examined family perspectives of the professional-paraprofessional partnership model, and assessed the ecological validity of this model as it relates to the basic principles of family-centered care. Families who participated in an early intervention program that utilized the professional-paraprofessional partnership model were interviewed upon program completion. Families reported receiving a wide range of child and family …

Differential Parental Participation In A Comprehensive Early Intervention Project: Is More Active Better?, Gary Percival

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The current study examined the level of participation by families who have been involved between 1 and 3 years with the Community-Family Partnership (CFP) project. The CFP project is 1 of 34 Comprehensive Child Development Projects funded by the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families through the Head Start Bureau. The CFP makes available comprehensive, on-going services to enrolled families. Twenty-six families were identified as the Low Participation Group. Twenty-three families were identified as the High Participation Group. Children from each group were tested using the Battelle Developmental Inventory on a yearly basis. Results of a repeated measures ANOVA indicated …

Personality Factors Associated With Negative Affect: Application Of The "Big Five" Taxonomy To Depression And Anxiety, Kent W. Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns and discriminant utility of the five-factor model of personality ("Big Five," consisting of neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness factors) with depressed and anxious outpatients.

One hundred two outpatients seeking services at a community mental health center in a small western community participated in the study. Subjects were 41 clients with a depressive disorder, 31 with an anxiety disorder, and 30 in a mixed clinical control group. Subjects completed the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness to Experience Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI).

Results indicate that both depressed and anxious clients score in the "very …

Assessment Of Parental Expectations: A Preliminary Investigation Of The Expectation Sort For Parents, Jennifer J. Stepan

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The standards that parents set for their children and the expectations they hold are an important consideration in studying family dynamics, development of a child's self-esteem, quality of parental care, emotional responses to required and desired behavior, and virtually any other aspect of the parent-child relationship. Parents maintain expectations of their child's physical, socio-emotional, and intellectual development. Children's self-concept, self-esteem, and general emotional well-being are all affected by their ability to fulfill parents' expectations. Failure to live up to a standard that is important to the parent could lead to psychological distress for the child and disruption in the family. …

A Comparative Study Of The Effect Of Paper-And-Pencil Versus Computer Administration Of An Achievement Test, Perry Sailor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The study examined whether, under comparable testing conditions, second- and fourth-grade students who took a computer-administered (CA) achievement test in mathematics achieved the same mean score as comparable students who took the same test by paper and pencil (PP).

For number correct, the CA standardized mean difference effect size was - 0.28, which was larger than the expected effect size of zero, although not statistically significant at .05. It was noted that CA subjects completed the test more quickly, on the average, than PP subjects (CA effect size for time to completion = - 0.79). When time to completion was …

Do Prospective Ratings Correct Retrospective Distortions Based On Negative Social Stereotypes Of Premenstrual Syndrome?, Mary L. Stone

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Daily Assessment Form (OAF) retrospectively assessed symptoms of late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD), both at the beginning and at the end of a 2-month time interval. Ninety-four women between the ages of 18 and 45 entered the study. Half of the subjects viewed a negative-case, stereotypic presentation of LLPDD prior to the pretest. sixty-eight subjects qualified on the pretest to complete the study. Half of the remaining no-case subjects and half of the remaining negative-case subjects completed 8 weeks' prospective ratings via the OAF. Forty-eight subjects remained to complete the posttest at the end of that time interval. …

Factor Analytic Study Of Spatial Abilities In Second-Grade, English-Speaking Navajo And Non-Navajo Children, Laurie Sullivan-Sakaeda

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was conducted to continue the investigation of apparent differences in cognitive abilities between Navajo Indian children and non-Navajo children. Subjects were 248 second-grade students, ranging from 7 to 9 years old. The Navajo sample lived in the Shiprock, New Mexico, area of the Navajo Indian Reservation, and the non-Navajo sample lived on the east side of Salt Lake City, Utah. Data were collected using six tests designed to measure spatial abilities in primary grade children. Results indicated that the non-Navajo children scored significantly higher on two individual tests and on the total test score under timed conditions, with …

Alcohol, Abstinence, Efficacy, And Social Normative Expectancies: The Relationship To Alcoholics' Level Of Drinking Following Inpatient Treatment, Martin John Toohill

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It has been argued that individuals receiving traditional alcohol treatment do not necessarily perceive life-long abstinence from alcohol as a favorable treatment outcome, and that negative expectations associated with this abstinence goal may have an adverse effect on treatment outcome. However, "abstinence expectancies" have never been systematically explored. This study used the Theory of Planned Behavior to investigate the relationship between the abstinence outcome expectancies of alcoholics beginning treatment and subsequent alcohol consumption. The independent and combined effects of abstinence outcome expectancies, alcohol outcome expectancies, self-efficacy expectancies (to abstain from alcohol use), and the normative beliefs of individuals beginning inpatient …

Immune And Endocrine System Responses To Acute Skin-Temperature Reductions And Thermal Biofeedback, Kenneth E. Bell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the cold pressor test on skin temperature, natural killer cell activity, plasma concentrations of interleukin-1 and cortisol, and the numbers of white blood cells, CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and CD56+ cells in the peripheral blood. In addition, the study examined whether thermal biofeedback, when presented following the cold pressor tests, would mitigate the effects of the cold pressor tests.

Four male university students completed pretest psychological inventories and were pretrained during nine laboratory sessions to increase their skin temperature to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. During the experiment, blood …

The Predictive Validity Of The Battelle Developmental Inventory As A Measure Of Adaptive Behavior: A 2-3 Year, Longitudinal Comparison With The Scales Of Independent Behavior, Clarice E. Jentzsch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Within the last 5 years, researchers have given increased attention to preschool assessment. One test, the Battelle Developmental Inventory, has become increasingly popular for use with preschool-age children. Despite its frequent use by early intervention programs, few researchers have studied the technical adequacy of the Battelle. The predictive validity of the Battelle was examined, using 154 children with disabilities. Scores on the Battelle for children 3 to 5 years of age were compared with scores on the Scales of Independent Behavior administered to the same children 2 to 3 years later. Moderate to strong relationships were found between the scores. …

Perceived Control: Precursors To Achievement In Oglala Lakota Children, Stephen Blaine Cook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The discrepancy between American Indian and Caucasian children in academic achievement is well documented. Theorists suggest a connection between perceived locus of control and the level of educational performance. This study first sought to determine if the factor structure of a measure of the perception of lo cu s of control (Multidimensional Measure of Children's Perceptions of Control) was similar for Caucasian and American Indian (Oglala Lakota) children. Second, the study sought to determine if there were differences between the groups on the MMCPC subtest scores. Finally, the study sought to determine the relationship between locus of control and academic …

The Relationship Between Perceived Parenting Styles And Adolescent Locus Of Control And Self-Concept, Lisa Ann Mcclun

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Relationships between adolescents' perceptions of their parents' responsiveness and demandingness, adolescents' locus of control orientation, and adolescents' self-concept ratings were investigated. Subjects included 198 students from a middle school in northern Utah. Subjects were given the Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale for Children, the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, and the Perceived Parenting Style Survey.

Results indicated that subjects who perceived their parents as being authoritative had significantly (p < .001) more internal locus of control scores than subjects who reported either the permissive or authoritarian styles. Also, self-concept scores were significantly higher (p < .001) for the authoritative group than the authoritarian group on the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents subscales of Scholastic Competence, Social Acceptance, Physical Appearance, Behavioral Conduct, Close Friendship, and Global Self Worth. The permissive group reported significantly lower scores (p < .05) on the subscales of Scholastic Competence and Behavioral Conduct. There was also a significant negative correlation (p < .001) between locus of control scores and the subscale scores on the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents.

Although there were some limitations in the study methodology, the significant differences found between the groups indicated that the authoritative parenting style positively correlates with higher self-concept and …

The Prevalence Of Dual Diagnosis Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder And Alcoholism In The Literature: A Critical Meta-Analytic Review, Joseph B. Stone

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The relationship between alcoholism and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has been discussed in two research areas: research on the prevalence of GAD in alcoholics, and the prevalence of alcoholism in individuals diagnosed with GAD. Studies indicate that between 6 to 26% of alcoholics have a current diagnosis of GAD, with a lifetime prevalence rate of up 51%. In the general population, 4% would currently receive a diagnosis of GAD, with a lifetime prevalence of 8%.

This meta-analytic review of the empirical literature examines the relationship between GAD and alcoholism. The author used percentages to compare the results of various studies. …

The Significance Of Dispositional Optimism And Coping In Predicting Psychological Distress, Life Satisfaction, Health Perception, And Frequency Of Discharges In The Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (Aicd) Patient, Paul B. Damin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dispositional optimism, as a stable outcome expectancy, has been shown to predict health outcomes in several contexts. Research has demonstrated that health-impaired subjects with optimistic outlooks fared better than those with a pessimistic outlook. Choice of coping strategies has been theorized as the mediating factor through which optimism operates. However, the construct of dispositional optimism has been challenged as a polar opposite of neuroticism, thus contending that optimism is not an independent notion.

The present study was designed to evaluate further the theoretical underpinnings of dispositional optimism theory. Subjects were selected from a population of cardiac patients who received an …

Characteristics Of College Students Seeking Mental Health Services And Reasons Given For Choosing The Mental Health Service Provider, Ann Leslie Athorp

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The literature related to college mental health counseling suggested numerous possible factors which were hypothesized to play a significant role in choosing a mental health care agency. A questionnaire was constructed to measure demographics of students utilizing the Utah State University Counseling Center, spontaneous reasons for choosing the center as the preferred mental health agency, and literature-based reasons for the same. Subjects reported that they chose the university counseling center for practical reasons such as cost and location. However, factor analysis of the literature - based reasons endorsed by these subjects suggested that trust in the counseling center and its …

The Role Of Gender Differences In The Relationship Between Guilt- And Shame-Proneness And Depressive Symptomatology, Julie Bingham Shiffler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the role played by gender in the relationship between the degree of depressive symptomatology and levels of adaptive guilt-, maladaptive guilt-, and shame-proneness in a college population. A measure of depressive symptomatology (the Beck Depression Inventory) and a measure of guilt- and shame-proneness (the Self-Conscious Affect and Attribution Inventory - Revised) were administered to 299 college students (113 males and 186 females). Females reported higher total levels of depressive symptomatology than males. Statistically significant gender differences were found for nine BDI items. Females also had higher levels of adaptive guilt-, maladaptive guilt-, …

Modern Racism: A Cross-Cultural View Of Racial And Ethnic Attitudes, Timothy B. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The study and measurement of attitudes toward racial and ethnic groups are important parts of the field of cross-cultural psychology. The present study examined a theory of racial attitudes, that of symbolic racism, and several demographic variables. The sample population consisted of 575 Caucasians and 122 Far-East Asian college students. Results indicated that Symbolic Racism is a unique theoretical construct, that Caucasian students were less racially biased than their Asian peers, and that group differences in racial attitudes existed across religious affiliation, number of reported interracial friendships, and gender.

Lack Of Control As A Predictive Factor For Stress-Related Symptoms In Rape Victims, Chad Sombke

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Researchers have agreed that most rape victims experience stress-related symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. There have also been numerous studies that have tried to predict the severity of those stress-related symptoms, but the literature is inconclusive. Lack of perceived control is consistently mentioned in the rape research literature as being present in rape victims, but no study has empirically examined the relationship between perceived control and a rape victim's stress-related symptoms.

The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the relationship between perceived control and stress-related symptoms in rape victims. This was accomplished by comparing a group of …

Perfectionism In Social Anxiety: Cognitive And Behavioral Correlates, Douglas E. Craig

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perfectionism and social anxiety in general as well as social phobia, specifically. Subjects completed the Personal Standards Scale, the Fear of Negative Evaluation scale, and the Social Phobia and Agoraphobia Inventory. Results indicated that neurotic perfectionism is positively associated with both general social anxiety and social phobia. Moreover, the neurotic elements of perfectionism -- "concern over making mistakes" and "doubts about actions" -- appeared to be better predictors of social anxiety than high performance standards alone. Differences between social phobia and social anxiety secondary to agoraphobia as related to …