Psychology Commons^™

The Relationship Between Need For Approval And Aspects Of Female Sexuality, Edward Jay Turner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The literature cited points to an increase in sexual permissiveness among females which may be a function of their need for approval. It was hypothesized that there is a relationship between need for approval and sexual liberalism. In addition, several other aspects of female sexual attitudes and their relationship to need for approval were examined in the present study. Specifically, need for approval was hypothesized to be related to sexual satisfaction, sexual libido (drive), and sexual prudishness.

In order to establish the relationship between need for approval and aspects of female sexuality the effects of religiosity must be considered. Previous …

The Effects Of Deprivation Techniques On Body Weight & Propensity To Perform An Operant, Herb Chapman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Eighteen rats were divided into equal groups which received three different food deprivation procedures: 23 hour deprivation, maintenance at 80% of pre-experimental weights, or fixed daily food allotments of 10 grams. The rats were then given two training sessions with an unearned food source and 15 training sessions earning an identical food source by pressing a lever. Training was followed by three days of choice testing. There were no significant differences between groups in preference for earned rewards during choice testing in degrees of weight loss. However, a correlation comparing propensity to work for pellets with body weight deficit over …

The Relationship Between Self-Actualization And Aspects Of Female Sexuality, Anne Paxton

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The study reported examined the relationship between self-actualization and aspects of female sexuality. Ninety-five white, single female undergraduates from a regional Southeastern state university volunteered to serve as subjects. Three questionnaires were administered to the subjects: the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), Eysenck’s Inventory of Attitudes to Sex, and a two-item religiosity measure. The data were analyzed via correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that when the effects of the covariates were controlled, there was a significant relationship between self-actualization and sexual permissiveness, sexual satisfaction and prudishness. Although self-actualization and sexual libido were significantly correlated, after the effects …

Race As A Moderator Variable In The Prediction Of Grade Point Average From Act Scores: Implications For Course Placement Guidelines, Robert Ungarean

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The problems focused on in this study are to determine (1) if racial differences exist when American College Testing Program (ACT) scores are used to predict Grade Point Average (GPA); (2) how placement decisions may be affected if differences do exist; (3) and what guidelines or recommendations can be formulated to avoid possible test bias and discrimination in placement procedures. Subjects consisted of the total population of 139 Black freshman students and a sample of 139 White freshman students entering a Southeastern regional university in the fall of 1970. Separate regression analyses were performed for Black, White and combined (total) …

Reduction Of Free-Floating Anxiety As A Function Of Emg Biofeedback Or Deep-Muscle Relaxation Training, Gregory Brown

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In an attempt to assess the effect of relaxation training on anxiety levels, a population of 350 students enrolled in Introduction to Psychology classes at Western Kentucky University were administered the Institute for Personality and Ability Testing (IPAT) 8- Parallel- Form Anxiety Battery to screen for 36 high anxiety subjects. These subjects were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: biofeedback, deep muscle relaxation, or control. The biofeedback group received electromyograph training over a three-week period, while the deep muscle relaxation group listened to relaxation tapes. Alternate forms of the IPAT were administered to all subjects at specified intervals to …

The Effect Of Reinforcers On The Verbal Behavior Of Headstart Children, Deloris Floyd

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study attempted to assess the effect of a speech contingency reinforcement, administered by an interacting adult, to increase the number of word units uttered during test administration. More specifically, the experiment attempted to see if lower class children when given a reinforcer would take more time in giving elaborated and scorable responses on specific items, thereby raising their score on those items. Their performance was compared to lower class children who were not given the reinforcer. Fifty children from the Warren County 1973 summer Headstart program were used as subjects. The treatment conditions included a control group given no …

Sex And Marital Status Differences In Death Anxiety, Michael Cole

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Previous research in death anxiety has suggested that marital roles, and especially the male’s role as the family provider, influence the sex differences in death attitudes (Diggory & Rothman, 1961; Tolor & Murphy, 1967). The present study attempted to directly investigate the effect of marital roles by comparing the sex differences in death anxiety scores (as measured by the Templer Death Anxiety Scale) of married persons, with and without children, and single persons. In addition, 20 demographic covariates were investigated to observe their possible effect on death anxiety. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that marital status was …

The Yiptis Common Belief Scale: A Psychometric Evaluation, John Linden

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The basic psychometric characteristics of the Common Belief Scale (CBS) of the YIPTIS, Your Irrational Personality Trait Inventory Score, were investigated. The CBS was formulated within Ellis's conceptual framework of Rational Behavior Therapy. Designed for use with adults of at least normal intelligence, its purpose is to evaluate the strength of identification with a specified set of common irrational beliefs which are hypothesized to lead to emotional disturbance.

Subjects taking part in this study were volunteers ranging in age from seventeen to twenty-seven. The total sample of 186 subjects was composed of 105 female- and 81 males. Approximately one half …

Ua35/11 Student Honors Bulletin, Vol. Iv, Wku Honors Program

WKU Administration Documents

The articles, all papers done for classes in the university honors program, are divided into three groups. The first group deals with science, especially the area of health care, one of the more practical applications of science in the modern age. The second group consists of three papers done for honor courses in which the major purpose was to expose the student to new areas of consciousness and have them respond orally and verbally to what they read, creative writing. The last group deals with the humanities, literature and religion, two of the more popular fields of the humanities today. …

The Effects Of A Drug-Induced Stress On The Contrafreeloading Phenomenon In Rats, Jeanne Bennett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this experiment was to determine if stress, induced by intraperitoneal (IP) injections of epinephrine, influenced rats' preference to freeload (drink sucrose solution from a drinking tube) or to work for a liquid reinforcer (obtain sucrose solution by barpressing). Furthermore, the order in which stress was introduced was investigated.

Following two weeks of water deprivation, 6 female and 6 male Hooded rats approximately 90 days old were divided into two experimental groups. The first group (S-N) was stressed the first and second experimental testing days in which a choice was presented between barpressing and freeloading for a 10% …

A Casual Analysis Of The Relationship Between Students' Expected Grades & Their Ratings Of An Instructor, Dianne Willoughby

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Is there a relationship between the grades students expect to receive in a course and the ratings they assign their course instructor? If a relationship does exist, do the students' grade expectations cause the ratings subsequently given the instructor? Data were collected at the beginning and end of a semester, and a cross -lagged panel correlational analysis was applied to two pairs of variables. The first pair of variables, a single -item assessment of instructor effectiveness and a single-item record of each student's expected grade, indicated a statistically significant relationship between expected grades and the measure of instructor performance. This …

A Study Of Five Factors Affecting Attitudes Of Educators Toward Career Education, Rushie Spear

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Educational practices appear to have failed in preparing many individuals to build productive, fulfilling lives. This is evident in the increasing number of dropouts and individuals who qualify neither for a job nor college. Career education has been selected as a Priority program in attempting to remedy such failures.

Theory implies that to successfully implement new educational programs, educators' attitudes and values need to be favorable toward such programs. At present, however, there is very little data available about attitude and the factors that affect attitude. An analysis of educators' attitudes appears to be a necessary first step in the …

Anxiety In Father-Absent College Males, Thomas Wilson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between father-absence and anxiety levels in male cohere students (N=59). A questionnaire was utilized to identify father-absence and four variables associated with father-absence: type or reason for father's absence, length of absence, age of onset, and availability of a father surrogate. Levels of anxiety were defined by scores on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (AS). A t test comparison of the MAS means of the father-absent students and the MAS means of a father-present control group was not significant. Chi square analyses of M1-3 scores in the father-absence group failed …

The Role Of The Concept Of Death In Existential Psychology: From Kierkegaard To Binswanger, Lennart Belfrage

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The meaning and importance of death in existential psychology are investigated. Four major theorists are presented, i.e. Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Rank, and Binswanger Their interpretation of death in man's personal development, although with different perspectives, nevertheless is seen as having a basic common theme: It is necessary for the person to free himself from the chains of conformity in order to become an individual. By realizing one's potentialities one also must realize and understand one's finitude. Thus by facing death one may actively and courageously move through the anxiety of this life in the shadow of death.

These theories are focused …

Client Preference For Psychotherapist: Authoritarianism Revisited, Lee Kraus

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The California F Scale served to distinguish among high-, medium-, and low-authoritarian graduate students who participated in a study of client preference for psychotherapist. The subjects viewed the film series, Three anproaches to psychotherapy, and were asked their personal preference for a psychotherapist (Carl Rorers or Albert Ellis) and their perceptions on and consideration given to 12 dimensions of therapist style and behavior. Comparison of the high-, medium-, and low- authoritarian groups indicated that their choice of therapist was significantly different. Authoritarian subjects preferred the directive therapist (Ellis) whereas the nonauthoritarians chose the nondirective therapist (Rogers) at a rate significantly …

The Relative Efficiency Of Traditional Wisc-R Iq’S And Wisc-R Factor Scores In Predicting Academic Achievement, Elizabeth Tulou

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative predictive efficiency of the WISC-R deviation IQ’s and the WISC-R factor scores in predicting academic achievement. Eighty-nine lower-middle to lower class fifth grade students were administered the WISC-R and the Stanford Achievement Test. WISC-R-IQ’s and WISC-R complete estimation factor scores were calculated for each student. Product Moment Correlations were calculated between the SAT stanines and the WISC-R factor scores. Of all of the predictor variable, the Verbal IQ was the most efficient. The results also indicated that two of the WISC-R factor variables. Verbal Comprehension and Freedom from Distractibility, were …

Predictive Correlates Of Adoption Behavior In A Social Context: A Multiple Discriminant Analysis, Robert Brady

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Working from a communication theory paradigm and from previous literature, the purpose of this study was to empirically examine significant receiver correlates which predict adoption behavior of Sigma Nu Fraternity on three campuses. Drawing from past research, the present study utilized a unique combination of social and communication variables as predictors of fraternity membership. A stepwise multiple discriminant analysis using five factors derived from the thirteen independent variables yielded a highly significant three factor discriminant function (p < .001) which explained 46.65 percent of the common variance in adoption/non-adoption behavior of Sigma Nu. The significant factors were labeled peer group behavior, parental economic support, and social attitudes. Based on intuitive interpretation features of the data, the researcher suspects that adopters are more socially oriented, have a wider variety o: friends, are less dependent on parental economic support, and exhibit higher scores on measures such as self-esteem, liberalism, conservatism, and the need for identification with groups.

Influence Of Sex Role Stereotypes On Ratings Of Male And Female Behavior, Constance Barclay

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An attempt was made to investigate the extent to which individuals are unknowingly influenced by a sex role stereotype in their evaluations of men and women. It was hypothesized that subjects would describe a character in more potency-related, “masculine” terms if that character had been identified as a male than if the character had been identified as a female. Subjects taking part in this study were an equal number of male and female students in introductory psychology classes. The semantic differential technique was employed as a descriptive tool for the subjects’ evaluations of a character they read about in a …

Secular & Ministerial Counseling In Bowling Green, Kentucky, Henry Darke

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Samples from two populations, community ministers and secular counselors, were surveyed to develop and analyze a description of the perceptions between and among these groups concerning their roles as counselors in the total community. Five questions were the focus of the research. The results of these questions may be summarized as follows: 1) both sample groups agreed that there seemed to be a need for additional ministerial counselors; 2) almost unanimously, the secular counselors indicated that they would welcome a more active ministerial counseling involvement within the total community setting, although a considerable portion (41%) of the ministers expressed doubts …

Cognitive Reflection-Impulsivity & Susceptibility To A Primary Illusion, Maureen Murphy

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The relationship between the reflection-impulsivity dimension of cognitive style and susceptibility to the Mueller Lyer illusion was investigated in nine year old children. Forty-four subjects, classified as either impulsive or reflective on the Matching Familiar Figures Test, were presented the Mueller Lyer figure under two viewing conditions, unrestricted exposure time and restricted exposure time of .1 second. It was expected that reflective children would be less susceptible to this illusion under the unrestricted condition than the impulsive children. Less difference between reflective and impulsive children was expected when exposure time was restricted. Results confirmed earlier studies that restricted exposure time …

Effects Of Intervention Programs On The Self Concept Of Rural Preschool Children, Virginia Miller

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The effects of intervention programs on the self concept of rural preschool children were examined using 86 children, ages 5 to 6 1/2 years, who had and had not had preschool experience. The relationships between the Total Self Concept and the subscales of Body Image, Competence, and Social Interactions to the variables of socio-economic level, sex, and preschool experience were determined. Significant differences (p <.001) were found between the different population variables and the Total Self Concept score, and the subscale scores of Body Image, Competence, and Social Interactions. The locations of these differences were determined by a Newman Kuel analysis. Significant effects (p<.05) on sex differences were found on Total Self Concept scale and on the Competence subscale. There were no significant (p <.05) interaction effects. Implications of these findings were discussed.

The Effects Of Manipulation Of Examination Results On Locus Of Control Beliefs, Douglas Doyle

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study investigated the effects of manipulated feedback concerning examination performance on locus of control beliefs. Brecher and Denmark (1972) found that students given manipulated feedback concerning results of a recent examination exhibited a significant increase in their I-E scores. In the present study, 84 students enrolled in one of three classes of a lower level, undergraduate Psychology course at Western Kentucky University, taught by the same instructor, were used as subjects. These subjects were administered the I-E Scale and about one month later took a regularly scheduled examination over course material. The first clans session after the exam, …

The Role Of Extraversion And Introversion In An Instrumental Avoidance Task, Steven Finkelstein

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An instrumental avoidance conditioning task was used to test Eysenck’s theory of personality and conditioning, which is based upon levels of cortical inhibition and expectation, characteristic of extraverts and introverts. Based upon Eysneck’s theoretical stance, it was hypothesized that introverts would condition more effectively than extraverts. Several criteria defined by Eysenck Personality Inventory was administered to 125 undergraduates at Western Kentucky University for purposes of separating personally types into classification groups of extraverts, introverts, and ambiverts. Thirty-six subjects were presented a series of 48 index cards on which were typed for pronouns and three verbs of neutral impression level. Each …

Relationship Of Elderly Subjects' Death Attitudes & Existential Meaning In Life, Thomas Sowder

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A study of 100 subjects over the ape of 60 was reported which investigated the correlation between purpose in life as defined by existential philosophy and death anxiety. It was designed to examine the effect of group affiliation and sex on subjective self-appraisal death anxiety and purpose in life questionnaires. The results indicated that: (a) the greater perceived purpose in life, the lower the death anxiety, (b) females in the socially oriented group had a greater negative correlation between death anxiety and purpose in life, (c) there were variables associated with the occurrence of both sex and group affiliation which …

Self Concept & Permanent Birth Control Choice, James Evans

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between an individual's self concept and his method of permanent birth control. The subjects consisted of two groups of males: (1) males who were seeking a vasectomy, and (2) males who were not seeking a vasectomy but who indicated that they had obtained their desired family size, or who indicated they would not consider a vasectomy. The subjects in grout, one were paired with subjects in group two according to select demographic variables such as age, race, education, and occupation. The Tennessee Self Concept Scale, TSCS, Total P Score was …

The Protestant Ethic Effect: Children In A Multi-Choice Situation, Patricia Anderson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Twelve kindergarten and 16 first grade children were placed in a four Protestant Ethic to obtain tokens choice situation in order to investigate the Effect (PLE). The task for each child was to trade for candy. These tokens were available from three black boxes (choice locations) which were rotated in a clockwise manner around the four corners of the testing room. These three choice locations were as follows: (B1) a location where the child was allowed the option to manipulate switches and/or obtain freely accessible tokens, (82) a location at which tokens were freely accessible, and (84) the work location …

A Comparison Of Time-Out & Response-Cost Conditions Within A Token Economy Using Trainable Mental Retardates, James Willis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An investigation was done on the relative effectivness of time-out and response-cost conditions in reducing inappropriate behaviors in a token-economy classroom using trainable mental retardates as subjects. A significant difference was found between baseline levels of inappropriate behaviors in each of the two conditions but no significance was indicated between time-out and response-cost conditions.

A Factor Analytic Study Of The Weschsler Intelligence Scale For Children-Revised, John Miller

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Since the original Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC, 1949) had recently undergone a major revision in content structure of the test and in the populations utilized for standardization, the present study sought to examine the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R, 1974) using test data from 126 white and black fifth graders from a predominantly lower middle class socioeconomic background. The analysis of data was performed by a principal components method of factor analysis utilizing Varimax rotation. The results of the data analysis indicated the presence of three primary group factors, and these factors closely …

The Influence Of Work History On The Protestant Ethic Effect, Kathy Nau

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

For 10 days, seven female and five male albino rats were given a choice between barpressing for water or drinking it freely without having to perform. Prior to the choice sessions, the animals had to earn their total water intake for either 0, 5, 15, or 25 days. All 12 animals worked for a part of their total reinforcement intake during testing. However, an analysis of variance showed that work preference increased as the amount of time the animals spent earning their total water intake increased (p<.05). These results were discussed in terms of White's (1959) competency hypothesis.

The Effect Of Gun Handling On Aggression As A Function Of Cue Saliency, Arousal & Gender, Arthur Camplone

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The traditional construct of aggression as postulated by Miller (1941) has as its basis a frustration-aggression model in which frustration is a necessary antecedent condition to and the primary causative factor of aggression. The literature is replete with studies supporting and expounding on this theme. The construct has assumed a longevity and stature rarely enjoyed in psychological experimentation.

Many recent social and learning theorists contend, however, that the research on aggression has concentrated on the displacement and satisfaction of an instinctual aggressive drive to the exclusion of environmental and learning cues which may influence aggressive and violent reactions. The recent …