Psychology Commons^™

Agreement Of Psychiatric Diagnoses Within And Between Groups Of Mental Health Clinicians From Different Disciplines, Wade Mcguire

Dissertations

The development of therapy as a treatment option for mental health problems has led to the creation of different disciplines. Each discipline has developed its own conceptualization of classification and treatment of mental health problems. These conceptualizations have led to different areas of focus for each of the disciplines, specifically counseling, psychology, and social work. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether these areas of focus influence how each discipline diagnoses. For this study, data was collected by having clinicians provide diagnoses for three fictitious clients. The vignettes for the clients were taken from a psychopathology textbook to …

Through The Looking Glass: Investigating Incivility Through A Cognitive Process Lens, Melissa Sorenson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Experiencing incivility at work is a common phenomenon that individuals encounter. The effects of experiencing incivility are not bound to the workplace and continue to negatively impact individuals after they leave work. However, little is known about the mechanisms which transmit the experience of incivility at work to a person’s non-work domain. One such mechanisms that may be associated with the negative impact of incivility at work in the nonwork domain is depletion, which represents a reduced state of cognitive impact. Additionally, the use of active coping mechanisms may buffer the effects of experienced incivility on depletion. In this study, …

A Systematic Review Of Cultural Adaptations Of School-Based Social, Emotional & Behavioral Interventions For Students Of Color: A Replication & Update Of Brown Et Al, 2018, Courtney Coleman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Underrepresented minority students are excluded from schools for disciplinary reasons at a higher rate than majority students. School-based positive social, emotional, and behavioral interventions could be implemented to support URM students who have behavioral needs. These interventions might need adaptations to meet the needs of diverse students in K-12 schools. However, there have been limited syntheses of these adaptations. The purpose of this review is to update Brown et al.’s (2018) systematic review of culture adaptations to social, emotional, and behavioral interventions. The current article pool consisted of seven articles from 2016 to 2021. The seven articles for the current …

Opinion & The Insanity Plea: What Can A Little Education Do?, Anna Raker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The misconceptions regarding the insanity defense have often left bias rampant within the court room. Within this study, the goal was to understand the relationship between education via an expert witness and how it changes one’s verdict on a case where the insanity defense is used. Participants were given a vignette regarding the circumstances of an NGRI defense case, and then randomly assigned to a control video and a myth video. The control video talked about the circumstances around assessment, and insignificant details of the case, while the myth version discussed the common myths and misconceptions regarding the insanity defense. …

A Systematic Review Of The Relation Of Restorative Justice Principles & Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports In K-12 Schools, Katherine Richardson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Alternatives to punitive punishment and discipline have gained popularity as research has supported the advances towards safer and more positive school communities. This includes multi-tiered service models, such as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Additionally, a restorative justice (RJ) approach can offer non-punitive, relationship-centered practices for avoiding and addressing harm, responding to violations of legal and human rights, and collaboratively solving problems. However, limited research has been conducted looking at the connection between RJ practices and frameworks such as PBIS, which are already implemented in a many schools. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to review the …

Applying Functional Analysis In A School Setting, Elizabeth Young

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Literature has implied that the use of functional analysis (FA) procedure within the school setting can be beneficial in determining the function of problem behavior. However, conducting an FA in a school setting can be challenging due to the expertise, resources, and experimental control needed to complete such an evaluation. The purpose of the current study was to examine the feasibility of conducting a FA within the school setting to determine the function(s) of severe problem behavior. The research questions are: (1) Can a multielement FA be used to infer the function of a student’s problem behavior in a public …

Leaders' Virtual & In-Person Communication: The Impact Of Employee Preference On Job Satisfaction, Adalin Mcdaniel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Communication between supervisors and subordinates has consistently been viewed as a primary element of leadership, and a factor that is important in the leader-subordinate relationship via Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory. Recently, with the massive shift to virtual working, leadership communication has gained greater prominence in research and practical settings. Therefore, examining the role that virtual leadership communication plays in employee job satisfaction is an important first step in beginning to understand the shift to predominant work settings from home. I examined the influence of employee perceptions and preferences of leadership communication on job satisfaction via a panel design in which …

A Review Of Traumatic Brain Injury In School Psychology Journals, Casey Gillispie

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

TBI is the leading cause of childhood injury, death, and disability. School psychologists play a key role in providing students with TBI services within the school setting; therefore, it is essential for school psychologists to be familiar with TBI research. Previous research indicates a lack of TBI literature within school psychology journals. The current review examined TBI publications in school psychology journals over the past 38 years to provide an update on issues raised by Smith and Canto (2015). Eight school psychology journals were examined to gather data about the frequency of articles related to TBI, types of TBI articles, …

Minority Stress Through Time: Sexual Minority Stress & Suicidality Across Generations, Jenessa Canen

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research suggests that sexual minority populations are at a much higher risk for suicide than their heterosexual peers. The primary explanation for this disparity is minority stress theory. The theory of minority stress proposes that in addition to everyday stressors experienced by most people, sexual minorities experience additional unique stressors related to their sexual minority identity. Since minority stress theory was proposed in 2003, much has changed about how the United States understands and views sexual minorities. Theoretically, this should impact the way minority stress is being experienced, which may be seen by examining minority stress across sexual minorities of …

Adolescent Acceptability Of Mental Health Interventions: A Systematic Review, Norah Bufford

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Many children and adolescents experience a mental health problem, and of those that do, a significant percentage will only receive interventions in the schools. One important part of intervention research is measuring stakeholder acceptability. Research demonstrates that collecting data on student acceptability for mental health interventions in schools helps to understand student satisfaction, level of understanding, and if they would recommend the interventions to peers. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine measures used in assessing student acceptability when receiving mental health interventions in schools. Results suggest that most studies that …

Hand-Written Versus Typed Student Responses: A Study On We-Cbm & Alternate-Form Reliability, Joseph Mulaski

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Writing is an important skill for school, work, and life. However, many students fail to demonstrate proficiency in writing by the time they graduate high school. While schools have some systems in place to identify struggling writers, many fail to use written-expression curriculum-based measures because they are not viewed as user friendly. Many state writing assessments are now typed on computers. This project examined the utility of typed WE-CBM by finding the alternate form reliability for two administration forms of WE-CBM (hand-written and typed). Results suggest that reliability is variable across time, grade, and WE-CBM score type, and very few …

A Monte Carlo Analysis Of Nonprobability Sampling & Post Hoc Corrections, Julia Hong

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Nonprobability samples are often used in place of probability samples because the former are less trouble and less expensive. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine how well a sample represents population parameters when using nonprobability samples. Researchers attempt to mitigate the disadvantages of nonprobability sampling by performing post hoc corrections, but this adjustment may not successfully undo the effects of nonprobability sampling. To examine these effects, a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to create a pseudo-population from which samples were drawn. Forty-one conditions were replicated 10,000 times each, with each sample consisting of 100 observations. A post-stratification adjustment was made …

School Climate Research In Elementary Schools: A Systematic Review, Jessica Lafleur

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research demonstrates that schools that cultivate a positive school climate see growth in student’s academic performance and improvements in behavior. However, a majority of the research focuses on either solely middle and high school or a district-wide view of school climate including K-12. There is a lack of research dedicated to school climate of elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature surrounding school climate in elementary schools. A systematic search of the literature yielded thirteen studies that focused on the elementary setting. Most studies examined the teaching and learning or institutional …

The Reality Of Bipolar Disorder: A Dance Film To Bring Awareness To The Misconceptions Of Mental Health, Julia Woolums

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

For my project, I researched bipolar disorder to create a dance film highlighting the associated symptoms and emotions of hypomanic and depressive episodes. The purpose of this research is to bring awareness to and educate on the reality of these mental health symptoms to reduce mental health stereotypes and stigma. I researched academic texts and peer-reviewed articles about bipolar disorder written from the perspective of those diagnosed with it and used the symptom criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to compose, choreograph, film, and edit my dance film. The completed film showcases what daily life could …

Terror Management Theory And Legislation: An Analysis Of How Patterns Evolve And Change, Elizabeth Roth

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Recent legislation passed in states including Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky have included clauses that govern “divisive” material and the manner in which this material is discussed, particularly in schools. The term “divisive” is never truly defined beyond content that is “patently offensive to prevailing standards.” The emphasis has been placed on the fact that students should not be biased by the information that they are taught or allowed to access, but definitions are lax as to what constitutes inappropriate information. The loose criteria as to what counts as “unsuitable” opens up divisive material to easy censorship based on partisan and …

A Study Of Public Opinion: The Importance Of Mental Illness Diagnosis And Perceptions Of Recidivism On Parole Eligibility, Emily Pedigo

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The present study examined the impact a mental illness diagnosis has on parole eligibility mediated by the participants’ perceptions of whether the prospective parolee would commit future crimes if released. Participants watched a video vignette of an individual charged with second degree manslaughter and diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or bipolar disorder while incarcerated. Results indicated that a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder indirectly reduced parole success compared to bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder when mediated by participants’ perceptions of whether the convict would recommit a crime following release.

Bibliography, Aaron Wichman

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Bibliography of publications by Aaron Wichman.

Masculinity, Femininity, & Dignity: Examining The Relationship Between Gender Expression And Respect, Ashton Lyvers

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The concepts of masculinity and femininity fall into the category of gender, thus making the character qualities we associate with these traits psychological perceptions, rather than biological qualities (Gentile, 1993). Gender roles are not the way one acts, but the way one is expected to act based on their sex (Deaux, 1985). There is a lack of research on how these expectations can create complications in various aspects of our lives, such as feeling respected in our familial or platonic relationships, education, and career. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between gender expression and respect. It …

Associations Between Childhood Sexual Abuse And Binge Eating, Kristen Krogh

Psychology Capstone Projects

Childhood sexual abuse is the subject of many studies and analyses. Eating disorders, specifically bulimia nervosa, are also frequently studied to help clinicians gain an understanding of how they develop and the risk factors that make a person more susceptible than their peers. However, binge-eating disorder and its relationship to childhood sexual abuse is not as commonly researched. This paper seeks to investigate the literature available on the overlap between the two topics, childhood sexual abuse and binge-eating disorder. Then articles examining the relationship between the two will be identified and reviewed to determine the state of the literature. Finally, …

Factors Associated With Eating Disorders In Men: A Systematic Review, Zoe Alsup

Psychology Capstone Projects

This systematic review sought to identify factors that are associated with men who experience anorexia or bulimia nervosa or symptoms of these disorders. Articles were included in this review if they were peer reviewed, published in or translated to English, published from 2010 to 2021, had full text accessible, included male participants, and included male participants diagnosed with anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa or who displayed symptoms of anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa. Articles were excluded if they did not meet the inclusion criteria, were a case study, interview, or literature review, or focused on a topic outside of the outcomes of …

The Effects Of True Crime Media Consumption On Jurors’ Criminal Justice Orientations, Kendall Miller

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study sought to determine the relationship between True Crime Media (TCM) or pretrial publicity (PTP) consumption and jurors' criminal justice orientations. This study also looked at dispositional empathy, right-wing authoritarianism, the need for affect, and the need for cognition as potential moderators. It was hypothesized that the more TCM and PTP consumed, the more participants will lean toward crime control ideologies. It was also hypothesized that the more TCM and PTP consumed, the higher participants would score on right-wing authoritarian viewpoints, on dispositional empathy, and on need for cognition. Participants were presented with a screening question of, "Do you …

Lifetime Cannabis Use Is Associated With Suicidal Ideation And Non-Suicidal Self Injury, Diamonde Mccollum, Katie Moskal, Jenni Teeters

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

Poster regarding cannabis use.

The current study hypothesized lifetime cannabis use frequency would be linked to greater risk of lifetime suicidal ideation, lifetime suicide attempts and lifetime non-suicidal self injury.

The Prevalence Of Mirror Gazing Behaviors In Men, Rutuja Pramod Chinchankar

Dissertations

Muscle Dysmorphia is when the individual is preoccupied with the idea that his or her body build is too small or insufficiently muscular. This study looked at the distinct criteria of MD, which is persistently and obsessively checking one’s appearance in the mirror and being dissatisfied with it. It studied the reasons behind these repetitive mirror-gazing behaviors. This study also attempted to understand the effect of an individual’s age, educational background, religious orientation, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status on his predisposition to MD via mirror-gazing behaviors. This study used a qualitative research design. Part I of the study included participants …

Associations Between Parental Efficacy, Parental Involvement And Infant Temperament, Jenna Mayes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A parent’s efficacy can be associated with several other characteristics within parenting such as parental involvement, as well as infant behavior (Johnson & Marsh, 1989; Leerkes & Burney, 2007). Parents who are more involved with their children tend to be higher in their efficacy (Leerkes & Burney, 2007). Child negative temperamental reactivity is negatively associated with parental efficacy (Coleman & Karraker, 2003). Associations might vary based on parent gender; with maternal efficacy being associated with temperament and paternal efficacy being associated with involvement (Leerkes & Burney, 2007). However, the extent to which these associations vary by parent gender across early …

Anxiety Patterns In Gifted Adolescents From Parents' Perspectives, Felicia Moreschi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explores the connection between giftedness and anxiety. Families of gifted adolescents were invited to participate in a survey to identify themes of anxiety within the school and home settings. The Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, parent report (Spence, 1999) was used as the survey instrument. A total of 18 participants responded. Several themes were revealed based on the responses to questions on the survey. The themes that emerged have been identified as patterns of anxiety, including separation anxiety, physical injury fears, and social anxiety.

The Impact Of Cultural Moderators On The Relationship Between Work-Life Balance And Outcome Variables, Joanna Chang

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Presently, there is some evidence within the literature to support that cultural dimensions serve as moderators of the relationship between work-life balance and outcome variables (e.g., job satisfaction, life satisfaction, mental wellness). However, there are few studies examining individualism-collectivism and gender egalitarianism as moderators. Furthermore, there is no found extant research to date examining intra-country or utilizing organizational-level culture measures. The following study assessed individual perceptions of collectivism and gender egalitarianism using Project GLOBE’s organizational practices scales as moderators of the relationships between work-life balance and job satisfaction as well as life satisfaction. All constructions were measured in a sample …

School Psychologists & Crisis Response: How Are We Doing?, Abigail Roush

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

School psychologists are well positioned to be involved in crisis response at their schools, but little is known about how prepared they are to respond or how accurately they would respond to various crisis events. This project examined school psychologists’ rated levels of preparedness and experience, and how well or accurately they responded to hypothetical crisis vignettes across small-, moderate-, and large-scale events. Results showed that self-rated preparedness and experience were not related to accuracy of response, as measured by a rubric. When using a rubric that included elements of the PREPaRE model to score how accurately participants responded to …

Behavioral Response To Intervention And Adhd: What Is Working, Christina Sacca

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to review the literature around behavioral response to intervention. In recent years, there has been little research conducted on behavioral response to intervention and, furthermore, little research conducted on interventions with respect to ADHD symptoms. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and all available literature on behavioral RTI in the schools with students diagnosed with ADHD since 2005 was identified and reviewed. Demographics of participants included in these studies were reviewed to analyze the population samples being referred for behavioral symptoms of ADHD. Remaining gaps in the literature were discussed in addition …

The Impact Of Teacher Perception Of Gifted Individuals On The Instruction Of Gifted Students, Justin Moreschi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explores the impact of teacher perception on the instruction and identification of gifted students. All certified teachers in a local elementary school were invited to complete a survey addressing the state of gifted training opportunities and personal perceptions of giftedness in multiple capacities. Results from the survey led to the discussion of four themes: the support for gifted students in the traditional classroom, the amount of professional training for teachers, the identification of gifted students, and the fact that all teachers impact gifted students and their instruction.

Running Head: Ses, Food Literacy And Security, And Eating Disorders, Kendra Rigney

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates among all mental health conditions in terms of suicide rate and overall mortality rate, with college students reporting higher rates than the general population (Arcelus et al., 2011; Badrasawi & Zidan, 2019; Eisenberg et al., 2013; Perryman et al., 2018). The current literature has shown a relationship between binge-eating and bulimia symptoms and socioeconomic status, food literacy, and food security (Becker et al., 2017; Darling et al., 2017; Ferreira et al., 2021; Knesebeck et al., 2012; Rogers et al., 1997). The goal of the current study was to examine how perceived …