Psychology Commons^™

Violence In Schools: Expanding The Dialogue, Stephanie Urso Spina

Publications and Research

Introductory chapter to Smoke and Mirrors: The Hidden Context of Violence in Schools and Society, edited by Stephanie Urso Spina, Ph.D., published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2000 and is, unfortunately, still timely today.

The Lived Experience Of People Receiving Assertive Community Treatment: A Phenomenological Study, Salinda A. Horgon

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In recent years the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model of service delivery, which has held considerable influence in policy and decision making in the mental health field over the past 30 years, has recently been promoted at the provincial policy level in Ontario. Previous studies on ACT have been primarily quantitative in nature and have contributed greatly to the body of knowledge that we now possess regarding the clinical outcomes produced by the ACT model. However, with the Ontario government’s financial plan to significantly increase the number of ACT programs in this province, the mental health field would benefit from …

The Ties That Bind: Jamaican Elders' Testimonies Of Community Life, Jacqueline Ann Russell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study explores the meanings of community, participation, activism and being old with eight older Jamaicans. The roles of culture and religion are examined in reference to the participants’ community and social aging experiences. The researcher used a culturally relevant research paradigm [Diasporic African] incorporating indigenous methods [testifying] grounded in the participants’ cultural and religious identifies and experiences as older Christian Jamaicans of African descent. The use of testimonies is described in Stanfield’s (1998) work on ethic modeling in qualitative research design. Demographic information and life histories focussing on community roles, sites for participation across the life span, and the …

Changing Landscapes: Stories Of Five Women Farming Ecologically, Sherri Joy Van De Hoef

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Community and the natural environment have always played an important role in my life. I have had the opportunity in the past few years to explore these areas in more depth. My introduction to Community Psychology during my undergraduate degree exposed me to agricultural initiatives that emphasized community and respect for the environment. I explore these initiatives further by conducting a study (van de Hoef, 1998) of Ontario couples who live self-reliantly (that is, they grow their own food, build their own homes, live off the electricity grid, and find supports in their local communities). Subsequent to that study I …

Partner Abuse In Gay Male Relationships: Challenging 'We Are Family', Jeffrey Aguinaldo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purposes of this study are twofold: a) to explore the material experience of partner abuse among gay male relationships and b) to explore the discursive conditions from which gay men must draw to negotiate the experience of relationship violence. I incorporated Standpoint epistemology and Queer theory to inform the theoretical basis of this thesis. To achieve the research objectives, I conducted a total of seven interviews with gay men. The findings from the interview data are presented in two phases. First, I presented three stories of gay men who had experienced violence and abuse at the hands of their …

Emergency Shelters As Empowering Settings For Young Women: A Study Of Process And Outcomes, Theresa Bailey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study used a participatory approach to examine the process and outcomes for young women who entered an emergency shelter. The purpose of this study was to explore differences and similarities between young women from family of origin and young women with child welfare placement experience when they entered the shelter and then again three months later. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. In the quantitative component a series of two factor mixed ANOVA’ s, t-tests, and regressions were conducted on 40 initial interviews and 30 follow-up interviews. The results of these statistical analyses demonstrated that young women from …

Developmental Precursors Of Men's Relationships, Shirliana Bruce

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Research drawn from both the sexuality and relationship literatures largely omits the experiences, attitudes, and issues of adult men. In addition, the information we have about males is typically generalized from either adolescent or university populations. Although existing research provides substantial information about the precursors to both adolescent males’ and females’ sexual activities, it is limited in its presentation of adult male experiences. The present study surveyed 190 men, ages 19 to 82, who completed questionnaires assessing their parents’ sexual views and communication, peer influences on sexuality, gender composition of friendship networks, and sexual and relationship histories. Descriptive information and …

Two Views Of Identity Development In Adolescence: An Empirical Comparison Of The Narrative And Status Approaches, Kathleen Mackey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationships among personal life stories, identity status development and family climate during late adolescence. The current study examines the parallels between two conceptions of identity: Marcia's interview assessment of identity status development, and McAdams’ narrative conception of identity development as revealed through the life story. A sample of 131 high school students, 51 males and 80 females, were asked to recall and discuss a critical incident that had a crucial impact on their beliefs and values. Marcia's interview assessment of identity status was also administered for vocational and religious domains. …

Psychological Mechanisms Responsible For The Moderating Effects Of Need For Cognition On Attractiveness Stereotyping, Samantha D. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis focuses on the psychological mechanisms responsible for the moderating role of need for cognition (NFC) in attractiveness stereotyping. Attractiveness stereotyping refers to the tendency to attribute more positive characteristics to attractive than to unattractive individuals. Recent research has found that people high in NFC show less of this attractiveness bias. The present research used two approaches to test the hypothesis that NFC moderates the bias because persons higher in NFC have greater motivation and ability to engage in systematic thought processes. First it included measures to assess the types of thoughts that participants high and low in NFC …

Coping With Loss: A Qualitative Study Of The Experience Of Sibling Bereavement In Young Adulthood, Purnima Sundar

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Existing literature in the area of bereavement as it pertains to young persons focuses primarily upon the death of a parent, and the age groups most studied are either children or adolescents. The goal of this thesis project, therefore, has been to develop an in-depth understanding of the experience of sibling bereavement in young adulthood, looking at factors that both helped and hindered effective coping. Specifically, in-depth interviews with 7 young women who had suffered the loss of a sister or brother while between the ages of 18 and 30 were conducted in an effort to shed light on this …

The Relationship Of Social Dominance Orientation And Political Efficacy To Political Participation Of Women, Cherie D. Werhun

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Two studies were conducted to examine the factors that influence women’s choices of political participation. In the first study 600 University students were asked their likelihood of engaging in 35 traditional and non-traditional political activities to create social change (the Political Activity Scale). Factor analysis identified 5 factors, one of which represented traditional and political activities, one of which represented non-traditional political activities and three of which represented a mix of traditional and non-traditional. In the second study, 80 University students read a social issue concerning poverty or the environment, and completed a revised political activity scale. They also completed …

Wheel Running, Feeding, And Body Weight In Adult Male Rats: Generalizations To Adult Females And Younger Animals, Veronica Marie Afonso

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

For adult male rats, initial access to a running wheel results in a pronounced suppression of feeding with a subsequent disruption of weight gain, but results with female and younger rats are not as clear. The present experiments demonstrated that age may be a confounding factor in the conflicting reports. The effects of ad lib wheel access on feeding and body weight were investigated in adult male, adult female, and weanling male rats using consistent procedures and recording data daily. For adult males and females, wheel access initially suppressed feeding and reduced weight relative to sedentary controls. These effects were …

Understanding Equity And Oppression From A Different Perspective: Students Evaluate Their Education, Kevin Black

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In 1993, the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training (MET) created a draft document on the topic of antiracism and ethnocultural equity in school boards. This document contained guidelines for anti-oppression policy and practice within schools. Many stakeholders within the education system and society debate whether or not an education for equity is being provided in schools. I chose to respond to this debate by listening to the voices of an unheard stakeholder group: students. Two methods of data collection, questionnaires and focus groups, were utilized in my study. Seventy-one students participated in the questionnaire section, and six students further …

Public Participation In A Government Land Decision In Prince Edward Island: The Case Of Tracadie Cross Waste Watch Facility, Billie-Jean Flynn

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Public participation is a comerstone of democracy and a central value of Community Psychology. The purpose of this participatory action research was to develop an understanding of public participation as through the experiences of Islanders engaged in land decision making in Prince Edward Island. In particular a case study of the Tracadie Cross Waste Watch Facility was developed through document analysis and in-depth interviews. A sketch of public participation in Prince Edward Island was grounded in in-depth interviews from case study participants. as well as additional in-depth interviews with Islanders who have been engaged in land decision making independent of …

Listening To The Voices Of The Land: Stories Of Prince Edward Island Organic Farmers Sowing Hope In The Struggle For Survival, Kara L. Griffin

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Changes within agriculture towards an industrialized approach to farming have had detrimental effects on people, communities, and the environment. There is a need for methods of farming that preserve and protect the natural and social ecology. In this thesis, I explored the experiences and stories of a small group of PEI organic farmers, who have an important role in preserving the Island's natural and social ecology. Informed mainly by the narrative theory of Rappaport (1995), I conducted qualitative interviews with seven farmers, in an effort to hear their stories as organic farmers on PEI and leam from their experiences. While …

Perceived Personal And Societal Control Of Events And Millennial Irrationalism, Angela Nicole Dennis

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among millennial irrationalism and the degree to which people believe they have control over the events in their lives as reflected by performance on a locus of control scale. This belief is referred to in this study as internal or external locus of control. It was hypothesized that individuals who feel that they have considerable control over the things that happen to them would express less irrationalism than those who tend to ascribe the course of their lives more to external factors. It was also predicted that there would …

Dating Behavior Of Latter-Day Saint Male Returned Missionaries: A Process Of Managing Desires, Nancy C. Mclaughlin

Theses and Dissertations

Each year thousands of Latter-day Saint males return to their homes after serving a two year religious mission. According to Latter-day Saint doctrine and cultural beliefs, these young men are expected to resume a normal life including dating and involvement in romantic relationships. Research and Latter-day Saint doctrine related to the dating behavior of returned missionaries (RMs) is reviewed. Most previous research has emphasized the quantitative analysis of single aspects of RMs dating behavior such as dating frequency and social status. In an attempt to add to this field of research, this qualitative analysis explored the attitudes and experiences of …

Gender, Self-Efficacy, Anxiety, Experience, And The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition, Short Form (Wais-Iii), Laura Jean Blalock

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships between gender, self-efficacy, anxiety, experience and the WAIS-III, short form. This study investigated the hypotheses that gender differences occur on select subtests of the WAISIII, short form, that math self-efficacy, math attitudes, and math experience affect Arithmetic scores, and that motor speed affects performance on the Digit Symbol subtest. The sample consisted of 93 undergraduate students from the University of Northern Iowa (36 males, 57 females). Students completed questionnaires and were administered the WAIS-III short form individually. Males scored higher on the Arithmetic, Information, and Digit Span subtests and …

The Effects Of A Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Intervention On Irrational Beliefs And Burnout Among Middle School Teachers In The State Of Iowa, Shirley Anderson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) bibliotherapy intervention on the level of burnout and irrational beliefs. This study specifically examined the impact of a REBT bibliotherapy intervention on middle school teachers' irrational beliefs and level of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (Maslach, Jackson, & Schwab, 1986) and the Irrational Beliefs Test (Jones, 1968).

The subjects in this study consisted of 167 middle school teachers in the State of Iowa. These teachers taught sixth, seventh, or eighth grade or a combination of these …

Approche Cognitive De La Dépression: Pensées Intrusives Et Contrôle De La Pensée, Paula T. Hertel

Psychology Faculty Research

II y a trente ans, l'intitule "une approche cognitive de la dépression" aurait suscité divers commentaires en relation avec l'importante approche clinique de la dépression proposée par Aaron T. Beck et ses collègues. C'est encore le cas aujourd'hui; Beck fut probablement le premier à souligner le rôle joué par les représentations de l’expérience vécue, et par les pensées concernant cette expérience, dans l’élaboration, le maintien et le traitement des états et des humeurs dépressifs. De nos jours, cependant, d'autres approches cognitives devraient également venir à l'esprit, car les progrès réalisés en psychologie cognitive expérimentale au cours des dix dernières années …

Strategies For Preventing Disruptive Behaviors Among Students With Autism, Tina Taylor

Faculty Publications

Help! What should I do with Michael? I can't control him! I often hear pleas of help similar to this one. What can a teacher do to help a student with autism learn and demonstrate appropriate behavior? The purpose of this article is provide a framework by which we can view behavior, and a description of a few strategies to help prevent challenging behaviors among students with autism. When I was a fresh out of college working under a provisional certificate, I was educated in the "current" methods of "behavior management." That is, I learned how to observe, count, graph …

Play Therapy For Children With Aggressive Behavior, Jennifer M. Brehm

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review was to investigate the effectiveness of various play therapy interventions for decreasing developmentally inappropriate aggression of children. Psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and person-centered approaches of play therapy were reviewed. Each of the three theoretical approaches to therapy was described in relation to the aggressive behaviors of children. Similarities and differences among the three therapies were discussed. Efficacy of the interventions was presented based on published literature only. More studies of the various types of play therapy, particularly in relation to the aggressive behaviors of children, need to be conducted and results disseminated.

Television Violence : The Impact And Influence On Children And Adolescents, Preston B. Hoskins

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will look at the history of violent youth, and the unique development of youth violence in our country. The author will examine the unique characteristics that make media such a powerful communicative source. The author will show how living in a media culture affects the way youth behave, and will explore the extent to which media messages have power over their lives. Information on the significance of television violence on the behaviors of youth will be included.

Ethnic Representation In A Sample Of The Literature Of Applied Psychology, Leslie Case, Timothy B. Smith

Faculty Publications

A number of authors have raised concerns over the external validity of psychological research. This study examined the extent to which empirical articles include human participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Articles published over a 5-year period in 14 selected journals representing 3 applied subdisciplines of psychology were examined. Of the 2,536 articles coded, only 61% indicated the ethnicity of the participants. For those articles, the ethnic compositions approximated U.S. Census estimates, with the exception of an over representation of African Americans and an under representation of Hispanic Americans. The results imply that although the field is apparently adequately recruiting English …

Effective Multidisciplinary Team Problem Solving : A Review Of Literature, Debra S. Meyer

Graduate Research Papers

The historical legislation mandating multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in schools is well known, yet relatively little attention has been directed toward either evaluating systematic processes that would lead to the desired outcome of better services to all students or educating team members in problem solving content and process. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors that influence problem solving outcomes and other aspects of service delivery in MDT settings, including the changing role of school psychologists.

Results indicated much variability and little consensus in several areas: clarity of role expectations, family involvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, continuing educational training, and …