Psychology Commons^™

The Effects Of Stimulant Medication On The Social Behavior Of Children With Adhd During Times Of Play, Robert, Jr. H. Larue

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Psychomotor stimulants are the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of ADHD in children and adults. A vast literature has evolved concerning the efficacy and potential side effects of these drugs. Although stimulants are generally regarded as safe and effective, there is concern that potential problems may have been overlooked. Specifically, there is some literature indicating that, at least in some cases, stimulant medications may produce significant disruptions in social behavior. To investigate these effects, a number of different measurements were employed with preschool children, including direct observations during times of play, a social reinforcer assessment and a number …

Relationship Between Neuropsychological Deficits And Cerebral Perfusion Abnormalities In Cocaine Abusers, Karen A. Tucker

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the severity of cocaine/alcohol use, neuropsychological functioning, and cerebral blood flow abnormalities. Cocaine users (n = 60) and control subjects (n = 13) were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests that yielded the following factors: Attention/Executive Functioning, Memory, Simple Motor, and Sensorimotor. Participants were assessed for decreased cerebral blood flow with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Examination of group differences indicated that cocaine users performed significantly worse than controls on the Memory and Sensorimotor factors. The frequency/duration of cocaine use, alcohol use, and a combination of both substances were …

In Defense Of Malingering: A Cautionary Note, Dennis R. Dixon

LSU Master's Theses

The simulation and exaggeration of job related injury symptoms is a significant problem in the Workers' Compensation system. The result of simulation and exaggeration is the inappropriate allotment of financial resources to workers whose actual injuries do not warrant such compensation. Psychology as a field has done much research in the past years to address the detection of malingering. Most of that focus has viewed malingering behavior as a personal choice, as well as being indicative of a character flaw. However, the degree to which external factors such as work conditions increase the likelihood of an individual malingering has received …

Television And Video Game Violence: Age Differences And The Combined Effects Of Passive And Interactive Violent Media, Kelly Stephen Meyers

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The present research examined the combined effects of violent video games and violent TV programs on third and sixth-grade boys’ thoughts and behavior. In individual sessions, demographic information about the children’s television viewing and video game playing habits was collected. Participants were exposed to one of six following media conditions for 15 minutes; a) watch a violent (wrestling) or a non-violent video segment (basketball), b) play a violent or a non-violent game, or c) watch a violent or non-violent video segment and then play a video game containing the same characters and content. The potential for violent media to prime …

Social Exchange And Customer Service: The Relationship Between Perceived Organizational Support, Leader-Member Exchange, And Customer Service Behavior, Lisa Michelle Polly

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As the economy continues to shift from the production of goods to the delivery of services, one way in which an organization might set itself apart from its competition is through the delivery of high quality customer service. Therefore, a critical question for organizations becomes how to elicit the appropriate level of service from its employees. The purpose of the current study was to propose and test a social exchange based model of customer service. Specifically, it was suggested that the quality of the organization-service employee and manager-service employee relationships would be related to employee customer service behavior through their …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Figural Memory Performance In Persons With Epilepsy, Deborah Schrager Hoffnung

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined nonverbal memory in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) on a figural reproduction task, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF). The Boston Qualitative Scoring System (BQSS) was used to examine whether qualitative features of ROCF performance could discriminate between those with right and left TLE. As predicted, seizure groups did not differ on a standard quantitative scoring system for the ROCF. Contrary to prediction, the right TLE group did not perform more poorly on BQSS measures of quality or organization, and they did not have greater difficulty recalling the figure after a delay. There was a trend …

The Genesis Of Generativity: Looking For Signs Of The Seventh Stage In Adolescence, Heather Leigh Lawford

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of the present study was to investigate Erikson’s construct of generativity, defined as care and concern for the next generation and usually viewed as important for midlife adults, in a late adolescent sample using a developmental perspective. Generativity was studied using the seven component model developed by McAdams and de St. Aubain (1992). The current study examined the presence of four components of the generativity model at age 22: generative concern (concern for future generations), generative commitment (commitment to leave a lasting contribution to future generations), generative acts (actions or behaviours that benefit future generations), and generative narration …

Lifestyle, Medical, And Socio-Structural Content In The Portrayal Of Heart Disease In The Print Media, Christina Jane Fuller

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this thesis, l examined how cardiovascular disease (CVD) is portrayed in magazines. Analyses of health in the mass media provide insight into the messages that society receives on areas such as disease, wellness, medicine, illness prevention, and health-promoting and health-damaging lifestyles. In this thesis, l reviewed literature on health promotion, population health, and mass media. Through content analysis I examined quantitative and qualitative differences in the portrayal of CVD in terms of lifestyle, medical, and socio-structural content. I compared articles from magazines that are associated with different socio-economic statuses (SE8), ages, and genders (n = 104). The findings illustrate …

Community Partnerships: A Case Study Of The Hamilton-Wentworth Supported Housing Coordination Network (Ontario), Jonathan S. Lomotey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Community partnerships are growing in importance as means of improving social service delivery (Boudreau, 1991; MacGillivary & Nelson, 1998; McCann & Gray, 1986; Nelson, Prilletensky & MacGillivary, 2001; Wolff, 2001). Several research studies have identified them as effective means of intervention and for strengthening society (Nelson et al., 2001; Wandersman et al., 1996; Wolff, 2001). In this case study of the Hamilton-Wentworth Supported Housing Coordination Network, information was gathered from the participants in the partnership, documents and participant observation to reconstruct and analyze the partnership story. Current mental health housing policy in Ontario was also analyzed to determine its nature …

Voices From Immigrant Youth: Perceptions Of Their Involvement With The Canadian Justice System. A Qualitative Study, Elba C. Martell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The development of the thesis project “Voices from Immigrant Youth: Perceptions of their Involvement with the Canadian Justice System. A Qualitative Study” satisfies two purposes. First, it fulfills an academic requirement that I have to meet in order to obtain the Masters of Arts in Community Psychology, and, second, it explores an issue that was identifies as a social concern by members of the Latin American community in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The study explores the issues faced by Latin American immigrant youth in their process of adapting to Canadian society, and highlights their experiences and perceptions regarding their involvement with …

Investigating Interactions Between Search Mechanisms In The Control Of Visual Attention, Brian J. White

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Olds, Cowan and Jolicoeur (2000) showed that although the mechanisms underlying visual search have traditionally been assumed to be independent. in fact they interact. Using coloured disk stimuli, they interrupted pop-out search (target plus Dl distractors) by adding more distractors (D2s) of a different colour to the display before pop-out processes were able to find the target. In short, partially completed pop-out processes facilitated subsequent difficult search processes (“search assistance"). The present study investigated hypotheses for this interaction. In Experiments 1 and 2, we used methods aimed at determining where the bulk of attentional resources are allocated during search of …

Employment Experiences Of People With Developmental Challenges: A Participatory Approach, Roslyn J. Shields

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

No abstract provided.

'Skippers Of The Shore Crew': Women And A Fish Plant Closure (Labrador), Sheila M. Keefe

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The closure of the east coast cod fishery in 1992 resulted in the largest industry lay-off in the country, stripping 35,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians of their source of livelihood--l2,000 of whom were women, employed predominately in the processing sector. While the impacts upon Newfoundland women have been the subject of considerable research (e.g., CMHA, 1994), little to no information has been gathered about Labrador women displaced by the closure of fishery. This is a serious gap in the literature--one which the present study attempts to address. The present study examined how senior women fish plant workers in the Labrador Métis …

The Struggle For Community-Based Health Care: A Case Study Of The Rainbow Valley Community Health Centre (Ontario), Suzanne Galloway

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Rural communities are particularly disadvantaged in terms of access and control of their health care. Community based health care settings have the potential to provide the collaborative and integrated wellness care espoused in government declarations and reports. In this ethnographic case study, I relate the real life struggle of a citizens’ group trying to establish the Rainbow Valley Community Health Centre (RVCHC), in the small rural town of Killaloe in Northeastem Ontario. My objectives in this research were threefold: to contribute to the setting and document its development process; to reflect on my role in this process; and to inform …

The Planning Fallacy And Group Predictions: Are Groups More Or Less Biased Than Individuals?, Deanna L. Messervey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Research on the “planning fallacy" shows that people tend to make overly optimistic predictions about the time it will take to complete a task,despite knowing that similar tasks in the past have exceeded predicted completion times. Although the planning fallacy has been well documented in individuals, few researchers have examined how groups make predictions interactively. The main purposes of this thesis are to examine whether people make overly optimistic predictions for group projects and whether group discussion exacerbates this optimistic bias. In three studies, participants were asked to make predictions for an upcoming collaborative task alter engaging in group discussion …

The Internet And Youth Engagement: An Exploration Of How Youth Spend Their Time Online And Its Relation To Civic Involvement, Trevor P.D. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between Internet use and civic involvement in youth. Participants consisted of 378 youth between the ages of 16 and 25 from across Canada. Participants completed an online questionnaire consisting of a measure called the Youth Inventory of Involvement, designed to assess civic involvement in youth. Brief measures of introversion/extraversion and depression were also completed. Participants then completed questions designed to assess the amount of time they spend online in an average week, as well as for what they use the Internet. Results indicate that there may be a non-linear relationship between amount …

Follow-Up Evaluation Of A Transition To University Intervention Program For First-Year Students, Evelina Julia Rog

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Although the transition to university can be a time of great opportunity and personal growth, many students find this period to be very challenging and stressful. Universities across North America report that up to 40% of entering students fail to complete their degree. Many universities attempt to enhance their rates of retention through programs that familiarize students with campus and academic life. Most of these programs, however, are brief and few studies report rigorous evaluations, particularly in the longer term. This thesis evaluates a social support-based, long-term intervention program that attempted to ease first-year students’ adjustment to university. 110 incoming …

Is There Such A Thing As "Christian" Sex?, John M. Berecz

Faculty Publications

It is challenging for Christian pastors and counselors to discuss human sexuality in ways which do not alienate liberals on the left, conservatives on the right, or biologists in the middle. Feminists frequently see males as dominating or insensitive, and conservative Christians sometimes feed into this by emphasizing patriarchal models of marriage as if this were the biblical paradigm for all time. Evolutionary biologists view sexuality primarily as a means of propagating the species. Into this cacophony of strident voices the Christian seeks to inject a calm but clear message: Christian sexuality is primarily a search for intimacy. In a …

From Consumerism And Stereotypes To Pasta Sauce: A Study Of The Barriers Facing Stay-At-Home Fathers, Nastinia (Nina) Bailey-Dick

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In the following thesis I describe and analyze the experiences of stay-at-home fathers by focussing on understanding, analyzing, and changing the barriers that discourage fathers from choosing the role of primary caregiver of their children. In this study, 19 stay-at-home fathers in Ontario (defined as fathers who are or have been the primary caregivers of their children for over 30 hours a week for at least a year) shared their experiences and perspectives regarding their roles as full-time parents through a written survey. Three of these fathers also shared their experiences through qualitative interviews. I found that full-time fathers face …

The Effects Of A Mother's Incarceration On Her Children, Jane Elizabeth Mayer

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the effects of a mother's incarceration on her children. Benefits, as well as problems, associated with facilitating a mother-child visitation program were discussed. Guidelines were presented for parents, caregivers, children, and prison staff on a successful mother-child visitation program. Conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for the future facilitation of a mother-child visitation program.

A School Psychologist's Role In Decreasing Eating Disorder Prevalence In School-Aged Children, Natalie Muth

Graduate Research Papers

Eating disorders have dramatically increased over the last 20 years, resulting in prevalence rates exceeding other high-incidence medical conditions treated in the educational setting. Chapter 2 presents a review of literature covering eating disorder identification, history, prevalence and epidemiological data. Theoretical perspectives, risk and protective factors, symptoms, and medical complications are also reviewed. Current assessment measures used for screening and diagnosing anorexia and bulimia is additionally presented along with a summary of school-based primary prevention programs. The second chapter concludes with a brief overview of eating disorder treatment.

A summary is presented in chapter 3 along with implications for school …

Preventing Childhood Depression By Building Resiliency In Children, Sarah Carroll

Graduate Research Papers

This review of literature is a report of the success of programs designed to prevent childhood depression by building resiliency. Research results indicate that prevention programs focused on teaching children and parents coping skills, changing negative thought patterns, social problem solving, teaching the symptoms of childhood depression and how to discuss it with children, and fostering resiliency have reduced the incidence of depression in children (Comer, 1985; Gladstone & Beardslee, 2000; Seligman, 1995).

Additional research needs to address the following questions: a) How does building resilience differ for children from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds? b) . What are the …

The Importance Of Behavioral Interventions And Stimulant Medication Effects On Reducing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Elizabeth Alvarez

Graduate Research Papers

Overall, various avenues of research state that ADHD is a complex disorder that requires treatment by multiple modalities. Most research states that a combination of medication and behavior therapy is necessary to resolve the symptoms. It should be noted that the dose of stimulant medication prescribed to a child with ADHD should be adjusted based on the child's response to a behavioral intervention, as well as the combination of the behavioral and pharmacological treatments. Rapport et al. (1982), as well as others, have found that medication alone will not "cure" ADHD. But with multiple methods of treatment the symptoms will …

An Overview Of Bibliotherapy As An Intervention For Young Children, Lisa Ludwig

Graduate Research Papers

Young children can benefit from therapy to deal with disabilities, abuse, normal developmental issues such as famiily problems, and social-emotional issues. One approach to helping children manage psychological issues is bibliotherapy. In its simplest form, bibliotherapy can be described as the practice of using books in treatment, or helping with books (Pardeck & Pardeck, 1993; Pardeck & Pardeck, 1987). The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on bibliotherapy and to examine its possible applications, its effectiveness, and best practices in carrying out the intervention.

Estudio Piloto De Metilfenidato Y Entrenamiento A Padres En El Tratamiento De Niños Con Trastorno Por Déficit De Atención Hiperactividad [A Pilot Study Of Methylphenidate And Parent Training In The Treatment Of Children With Attention-Deficit Hiperactivity Disorder], Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Joaquín A. Peña, G. Espina-Mariñes, M. E. Ferrer-Hernández, A. Lopez-Rubio, S. Puertas-Sánchez, J. J. Cardozo

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Objetivo. Este estudio comunica la eficacia de un programa de entrenamiento a padres y un ensayo clínico con medicación estimulante (metilfenidato), en la disminución de síntomas de trastorno por déficit de atención-hiperactividad (TDAH) en una muestra de niños venezolanos.
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/="/">Pacientes y métodos. 24 niños, con edades entre 6 y 10 años, con diagnóstico de TDAH, identificados en unas jornadas de cribado de TDAH, se asignaron aleatoriamente a los dos grupos de tratamiento: entrenamiento a padres y medicación estimulante (metilfenidato).
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/="/">Resultados. Ambos grupos mostraron reducción de síntomas al finalizar la fase de intervención terapéutica en diferentes grados. …

Encefalomielitis Aguda Diseminada En Niños [Disseminated Acute Encephalomyelitis In Children], Joaquín A. Peña, Cecilia Montiel-Nava, F. Hernández, Enoe Medrano, O. Valbuena, J. J. Cardozo

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Introducción. La encefalomielitis aguda diseminada (EAD) representa un trastorno inflamatorio autoinmune, habitualmente monofásico con resolución gradual, polisintomático, habitualmente relacionado con virus, bacterias o inmunizaciones, el cual también puede ocurrir en ausencia de un fenómeno infeccioso precedente aparente.
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/="/">Objetivo. Describir la EAD, su etiología, manifestaciones clínicas, proceso diagnóstico y tratamiento. Asimismo analizar estos aspectos a través de la presentación de una serie de 13 niños con EAD.
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/="/">Resultados. El cuadro clínico se inició con fiebre en el 61% de los pacientes. Las manifestaciones neurológicas más frecuentes fueron el deterioro del sensorio, convulsiones y trastornos motores (paresias). El …

Locus Of Control And The Intention Of Being An Entrepreneur Among Managers Of Federal Development Authority Malaysia, Razaili Haji Gapor

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study examines the relationship between Locus of Control and the intention of being an entrepreneur among Federal Development Authority Malaysia (FDAM ) managers. This study first investigate the effect of Locus of Control on the intention to become an entrepreneur among 100 respondents, as measured by statistical testing on answered survey questionnaire. Further, this study extends the analysis by examining the relationship between ethnic group and the intention of being an entrepreneur among FDAM managers. The results showed a significant relationship between ethnic group and income level with the intention of being an entrepreneur among FDAM managers. This study …