Psychology Commons^™

Methods Of Detecting Differential Item Functioning: A Comparison Of Item Response Theory And Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Ratchaneewan Wanichtanom

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when an item performs statistically differently for a reference group than for a focal group. DIF is a threat to the validity of a test, and it can lead to illegal usage of a test in situations such as employee selection. Thus, DIF has important implications for test construction and practice. This research is a Monte Carlo study that compares Item Response Theory (IRT) and three Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) methods for detecting DIF. The three CFA methods were Model Comparison (MC), Modification Indexes (MI), and Modification Indexes-Divided sample (MI-Divided).

The research compared the detection …

Correlates Of Life Satisfaction After Retirement, Richard A. Tackett

Dissertations

Much of the literature on aging, retirement, and stages of life has focused on men. The changing role from productive members of society to that of being retired can be either viewed as an opportunity to experience new adventures or depressing for those who are unable to move successfully into the next developmental stage of life. This study examined factors that could contribute to life satisfaction in 144 individuals who were over 65 years of age. The factors that were included in this examination are self-esteem, morale, depression, and demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, marital status, income, …

African-American Women’S Emotional Responses To Historical Racial Events As A Function Of Socioeconomic Status, Melissa Ruth Stevenson

Dissertations

One hundred African-American women between the ages o f 18 years and 80 years who were born in the United States and for whom English was their primary language were exposed to video taped incidents o f historically accurate racist events from American history. Measures of emotional reactivity including heart rate, blood pressure and measures o f anger and anxiety were taken and the Hollingshead Four Factor Index o f Social Status was used to classify subjects into three socioeconomic levels. The experimental protocol required that subjects be exposed to a period of adaptation followed by a period of exposure …

Who Moved My Cheese? (Book Review), Matthew H. Roy

WCBT Faculty Publications

A book review by Matthew H. Roy.

Johnson, Spencer. Who Moved My Cheese? New York: Penguin Putnam, 1998. ISBN 9780399144462

Determinants Of Teachers' Intentions To Teach Physically Active Physical Education Classes, Jeffrey J. Martin, Pamela Hodges Kulinna, Robert C. Eklund, Brett Reed

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine determinants of teachers' intentions to teach physically active physical education classes (i.e., spend at least 50% of class time with the students engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity). Based on the theories of reasoned action, planned behavior, and self-efficacy, a model was examined hypothesizing that teachers' intentions were determined by subjective norm, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and self-efficacy. Using hierarchical regression analyses, the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior were supported by accounting for 65% of the variance in intention due to the main effects of attitude and subjective …

Pediatric Impedance Cardiography: Temporal Stability And Intertask Consistency, William H. O'Brien, Jennifer J. Mcgrath

Psychology Faculty Publications

The pathogenic processes responsible for cardiovascular disease have their origins in childhood. Although children's measures of heart rate and blood pressure have been found to be reliable, the reliability of impedance cardiography derived measures have not been evaluated. Thirty-three children, ages 8-11 participated in two sessions. Stressors included serial subtraction, isometric handgrip, and mirror-image tracing. Results indicated the impedance measures showed moderately high temporal stability (average scores r(avg) = 74; difference scores r(avg) = .53) and intertask consistency (average scores r(avg) = .78; difference scores r(avg) = .53). Blood pressure demonstrated the lowest reliability; Heather index, preejection period, and stroke …

Is Evolutionary Analysis Of Law Science Or Storytelling?, Jeffrey J. Rachlinski

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

In recent years, some legal scholars have argued that legal scholarship could benefit from a greater reliance on theories of human behavior that arise from biological evolution. These scholars contend that reliance on biological evolution would successfully combine the rigor of economics with the scientific aspects of psychology. Complex legal systems, however, are uniquely human. Law has always been the product of cognitive processes that are unique to humans and that developed as a response to an environment that no longer exists. Consequently, the evolutionary development of the cognitive mechanisms upon which law depends cannot be rigorously modeled or studied …

The Influence Of Race On Ethical Decision-Making Regarding Nonsexual Dual Relationships, Beatrice Antly Tatem

Dissertations

Ethical decision-making is a crucial part of the daily practice of psychologists. Psychologists are faced with the challenge of developing ethical decision-making strategies that effectively address the dilemmas associated with dual relationships. Nonsexual dual relationship is defined in this research as a clinical professional relationship that occurs simultaneously with a nonsexual professional and/or personal relationship. Psychologists, regardless of the environment in which they work or the client population with whom they work, can experience a nonsexual dual relationship.

The current study investigated whether ethnographic therapist characteristics influence the interpretation and application of the APA Ethical Guidelines and thus psychologists’ decision-making …

Promoting Healthy Behavior Change In Skin Cancer Risk Reduction Using The Transtheoretical Stages Of Change Model, Sherry L. Pagoto

Dissertations

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States with 20% of people developing some form of skin cancer in their lifetime (American Cancer Society, 1999). In spite of the high incidence of skin cancer, it is highly preventable. Approximately 90% of the cases are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun (Skin Cancer Foundation, 1992). The effect of an intervention aimed at reducing skin cancer risk was compared to a survey only control group in 99 Chicago beach-goers. The intervention was based on the Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model (TTM) and included sun sensitivity …

… But What Does 'Blue' Smell Like? Review Of J. Harrison, Synaesthesia: The Strangest Thing, Ilya Farber

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Reviews the book 'Synaesthesia: The Strangest Thing', by John Harrison.

Convergence And Divergence Of Themes In Successful Psychotherapy: An Assimilation Analysis, Lynne M. Knobloch-Fedders, Linda M. Endres, William B. Stiles, George Silberschatz

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Theme convergence is the linking of seemingly unrelated problem domains as they advance through assimilation stages-a developmental sequence of cognitive and affective changes through which problematic content is hypothesized to pass during successful psychotherapy. Theme divergence is the contradiction or conflict of solutions to different problems, so that progress in one domain leads to stagnation or regression in another domain. An intensive qualitative method called assimilation analysis was used to examine theme convergence and divergence in a successful psychodynamic psychotherapy with a 20–yr–old female patient. Because specific problems often fail to progress monotonically, even in successful psychotherapy cases, it is …

The Other Information Warfare: A Mind Full Of Macedonia, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article highlights ongoing aspects of psychological warfare in Macedonia between government and rebel forces.

Trends. Death Penalties For Purveyors Of Death? Not For Many Terrorists, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the nuances surrounding the use of the death penalty in terrorism cases.

More Spy Games: A Problem With Credibility Of Sources For Counterintelligence And Personnel Security, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article identifies implications of recent meta-evaluations of psychological assessment methods for attempts at identifying individuals who are committing treason or otherwise violating security policies.

Tit For Tat, Patty Cake, And Hide And Seek: The Psychology Of Spy Games, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article explores the psychology of tit-for-tat reactions in the context of espionage and counterespionage.

Drugged: Research And Policymakers Confronting Illicit And Illegal Drugs, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article explores the application of research on policies towards illicit and illegal drugs.

Trends. Spinning Buddhas, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the March 2001 destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Facilitating Communications And Murder: Operation Condor And United States Complicity, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article explores levels of United States Government (USG) complicity during the late 1970s in the murder of individuals alleged to have been left-wing opponents of South American, right-wing, authoritarian governments.

Falling Dominoes In 2001: Nuclear Weapons And Weapons Of Mass Destruction, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes psychologies of inevitability and their foundations pertaining to nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

A Case Study Analysis Of Serial Killers With Military Experience: Applying Learning Theory To Serial Murder, Tammy Castle

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Tammy Castle on March 21, 2001.

Sibling Effects In The Adjustment Of Children Exposed To Domestic Violence, Nicole L. Mccann

Theses and Dissertations

Many studies discuss how the emotional trauma experienced by children of divorcing parents is buffered by the presence of siblings. The present study examines whether there is a similar buffering sibling effect for child witnesses to domestic violence if there is an older sibling present in the household. This study examined the differences between first born children including only children and younger siblings who have witnessed domestic violence. The Trauma Symptom Checklist and the Child Behavior Checklist were administered to 102 children aged 3-11 whose parent received shelter or outreach counseling at a New Jersey battered women's shelter. Demographic information …

An Examination Of Racial Identity And Auitudes, Perceived Cultural Competence, And Level Of Academic Training Of European-American Graduate Studen!S With Culturally Diverse Clients, Justin Kyckelhann Crawford

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Crowd-Dispersal Weapons And The Psychology Of The Crowd, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes the peculiar psychology of popular reactions to the development and employment of technologies of military force.

From Norway: Research On Political Psychology And Humiliation, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article was written by Dr. Evelin Gerda Lindner, a cross-cultural social psychologist and physician at the University of Oslo, Institute of Psychology. Its focus on psychological research on humiliation is very relevant to political psychology given that this construct of emotion often may be salient in motivating insurgency movements, terrorism, war, low-intensity conflict, human rights violations, the breakdown of peacekeeping and peacemaking operations, and the incidence and prevalence of crime. Dr. Lindner can be reached at P.O.Box 1094 Blindern N-0317 Oslo, Norway…Tel no +47 91789296…[email protected]…http://www.uio.no/~evelinl

Trends. Nuclear Weapons Redux, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses rationales for reducing the number of nuclear weapons worldwide.

Trends. Psychology And False Consciousness: 2001 Update, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

A recent study in the prestigious Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reports that what makes people happy is not money, luxury, influence, or popularity. Instead, feelings of autonomy, competence, closeness to others, and self-esteem are the primary happiness pathways. Although one might applaud findings that suggest that material well-being is not a stairway to heaven, there is much in these findings that maintain exploitive relations in various social contexts.

Trends. The Idolatry Of Ignorance And Iconoclasm: Notes On The Taliban, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The New York Times has reported that at least some Taliban authorities have directed that all statues in Afghanistan--including those commonly viewed as priceless exemplars of cultural (largely Buddhist) heritage and as treasures--be destroyed. The Taliban's rationale--that these statues have been used as idols and deities by non-Islamic believers and may be turned into idols in the future--is largely discussed in the context of leading to a global cultural catastrophe, as an unacceptable decision, as gratuitous vandalism, as exemplifying a rigid ignorance deserving unique contempt and disgust.

Will An Online Court System Go Off The Tracks?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article identifies psychological concerns with the development of cybercourts for the adjudication of civil and criminal Issues.

Sanctions That Work: The Bush Perspective On Iraq, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes some implications of United States (US) President Bush's comments on "sanctions that work" in the context of US foreign policy towards Iraq.

Poorer European Countries Are Less Concerned About Biotechnology Than Richer Countries, Michael Siegrist

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

The author examines the relationship between GNP, media coverage, and public perceptions of the utility, risk, and acceptability of medical and food-related applications of biotechnology.