Psychology Commons^™

Validating Internet Research: A Test Of The Psychometric Equivalence Of Internet And In-Person Samples, Paul Meyerson, Warren W. Tryon

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study evaluated the psychometric equivalency of Web-based research. The Sexual Boredom Scale was presented via the World-Wide Web along with five additional scales used to validate it. A subset of 533 participants that matched a previously published sample (Watt & Ewing, 1996) on age, gender, and race was identified. An 8 X 8 correlation matrix from the matched Internet sample was compared via structural equation modeling with a similar 8 X 8 correlation matrix from the previously published study. The Internet and previously published samples were psychometrically equivalent. Coefficient alpha values calculated on the matched Internet sample yielded reliability …

Fully Proportional Actigraphy: A New Instrument, Warren W. Tryon, Robert Williams

Psychology Faculty Publications

The relevance of activity measurement is reviewed. Technical information regarding a new, small, lightweight, fully proportional accelerometer-based activity monitor suited for a wide range of wrist, waist, and ankle activity measurements over extended time periods in free-ranging persons is presented. Calibration data demonstrating within- and between-device reliability and validity are presented. Field trial data are presented showing that wrist and waist actigraphs can predict kilocalories of energy expended. The issue of how activity monitors should be validated is discussed. Instrument reliability is distinguished from clinical repeatability. Recommendations are provided to assist investigators with instrument selection.

An Analysis Of The Relationships Between The Perceived Organizational Climate And Professional Burnout In Libraries And Computing Centers In West Virginia Public Higher Education Institutions, Arnold R. Miller

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between the perceived organizational climate and professional burnout in libraries and computing services units in West Virginia higher education. Research questions were defined to investigate the differences between libraries and computing services units in the perceived organizational climate, professional burnout, organizational climate vs. burnout, demographics vs. organizational climate, demographics vs. burnout, and the combined effects of demographics and organizational climate upon burnout. The Work Environment Scale (WES) Form R, third edition, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) HSS, third edition, and a demographic questionnaire measured the organizational climate, burnout, and demographics. …

A Comparison Of Traditional Versus Computerized Anxiety Assessment Using Personal Digital Assistants, Wesley Alan Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The usage of the personal computer has become more prevalent in the field of psychology. The advent of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) has opened a new area of possible clinical application. These pen-based devices allow for a more natural interface and more mobility. The feasibility and application of the PDA for personality assessment will be examined in this study. Does having a test administered by a PDA lead to a significant change in response patterns compared to a test administered by the traditional pen and paper method? The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the anxiety …

Stereotype Beliefs, Contextual Age, And Knowledge Of Aging In The Elderly, Angela Walker

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Stereotype beliefs, contextual ages, and knowledge on aging of independent and intervention-receiving elderly living in both rural and urban communities and institutions were examined in a convenience sample of 114 participants who were assigned to location and setting. Contextual age is defined as one’s quality of life in regard to environmental, social, and health factors. Participants’ acceptance of stereotypes about the elderly, contextual ages, and knowledge of aging was measured by questionnaires. Results indicated there were no significant differences regarding stereotype acceptance, contextual age, and knowledge of aging between rural and urban elderly. However, differences between community-dwelling and institutionalized elderly …

The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Individual Productivity, Sephra L. Snyder

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Being sleepy on the job can have a vital impact on how well workers can do their job. The study examines the effects of partial sleep deprivation on productivity. It included a nonrandom sample of thirty participants, of which, sixty percent were female and eighty percent were Caucasian. All participants were employed and possessed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

Participants were asked to keep a sleep journal recording behaviors that could possibly affect sleep. Participants were also asked to complete a demographic questionnaire and a task log sheet. The percent of tasks completed daily on the task log sheet …

Comparing Behavior Assessment Measures With Behavior Specific Responses To Assess Aggression In First-Time Expectant Fathers, Lynn Allen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Thirty- four randomly recruited first-time expectant fathers, ages 20 years to 40 years, were administered a battery of survey questions each trimester of their wives’ pregnancy. This study compared Behavior Assessment Measures (Clinical Anxiety Scale, Selfism-Scale, and the Index of Self-Esteem) to Behavior Specific Measures (Non-Physical Abuse of Partner Scale and the Aggression Inventory) to see if any correlations exist among the test data. The study is trying to identify specific test or survey questions that measure attitudinal or behavioral changes in first-time expectant fathers over the nine months of their spouse’s pregnancy. The results indicated a statistically significant correlation …

Analysis Of Impulsive Behaviors Among Prison Inmates Convicted Of Violent Crimes, Inmates Convicted Of Non-Violent Crimes And Undergraduate College Students, Lonnie Kishpaugh Sr.

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Sudden explosive episodes of rage and human aggression by individuals occur daily in our society. While impulsive aggressive behavior is included in several established psychological disorders, the etiology of such behavior has been widely debated.

This study tested the hypotheses that prison inmates who have committed violent crimes were no more likely to exhibit impulsive behavior, than like numbers of prison inmates who had committed non-violent crimes, or college students who have no criminal record. Groups of 20 each of the respective populations were randomly administered the Kipnis Impulsiveness Scale in accordance with instructions from the manual.

With an alpha …

The Relationship Between Student Achievement And Level Of Parent Satisfaction In A Summer Enrichment Program, Royna Faye Lattimore

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between parent satisfaction and student achievement in an activity based, multiage, inclusive, summer enrichment program. The researcher constructed a survey that was mailed to parents the first day of the last week of the program (n=139). Thirty five surveys were returned by mail and five surveys were conducted by phone for a total of forty surveys. The average score for this sample of parents on the whole survey was 3.98 (SD=1.41). The average parent satisfaction score on question fourteen was 4.40.

Multiple regression analysis on 40 parent surveys revealed that …

A Comparison Between Amount Of Television Viewing Time And Attentional Abilities, Gwendolyn Lawrence Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between television viewing time and auditory attention with the effects of development examined. The study used 64 females and 29 males who were in regular and special education classes (i.e., 24 third graders, 32 fourth graders and 37 fifth graders). The researcher constructed two instruments to obtain data about TV viewing time. The Stanford Achievement Test - Ninth Edition (SAT9) Listening Subtest raw score was used as a measure of attention, while the SAT9 Total Basic Skills (TBS) raw score was used as a measure of overall achievement. Data about …

Analysis Of Locus Of Control And Educational Level Utilizing The Internal Control Index, Valerie L. Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study is a comparison of Locus of Control as measured by the Internal Control Index (ICI) between adult subjects of high school education or less and adult subjects attending graduate school or of graduate school education or above. The study was conducted to determine if the Internal Control Index for the graduate level educated population was significantly different from that of the non-college-educated population. The Internal Control Index (ICI), by Patricia Duttweiler was used as the instrument for this study. A sample of 100 male and female subjects was used from the West Virginia and Ohio areas. Each participant …

The Fear Of Femininity Vs. The Fear Of Death And Attitudes Towards Lesbians And Gay Men, Timothy Andrew Caswell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Decades of research on attitudes toward non-heterosexuals has found that heterosexual males are significantly more negative towards gay men than lesbians, while females generally have similar attitudes toward both. Using a terror management research design, the current research investigates the influence of the fear of femininity and the fear of mortality on attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Two hundred forty-seven introductory psychology students were primed to fear their own mortality, their femininity or masculinity, or dental pain. Sexual prejudice scores were consistent with prior research, but the findings were not consistent with either a mortality salience effect or femininity …

Associations Of Test Anxiety And Selected Variables On The Performance Of Adult And Technical Education And Psychology Students, Claudia Coleman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The ADIQ was used to explore what, if any, attachment and clinical issues might be related to test anxiety. Furthermore, these variables were compared with age and size of city in which one was raised. The participants were 41 college students from a university located in Appalachia. It was found that a.) Ambivalent attachment patterns with the father had a significant negative effect on test anxiety b.) Age or gender was not significantly related to test anxiety. c.) Size of city in which a student was raised in resulted in no significant effect. d.) Negative attachment with a significant other …

Program Evaluation Of Practicum Iii: Marshall University's Summer Enrichment Program From A School Psychology Student's Perspective, Melissa L. Ferrebee

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The current study examined the School Psychology Practicum III Summer Enrichment Program at Marshall University Graduate College. This study investigated the expectation levels and perceptions in relation to the course goals and program objectives. The method of data collection included a questionnaire developed from the Practicum III goals and objectives. The questionnaire was designed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The close-ended data were analyzed by descriptive statistical measures for descriptives, frequencies, crosstabulation and correlations. Data were interpreted using a frequency analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Results indicated a positive correlation between the students' expectations of the …

Effect Of A Modified Lincs Learning Strategy On The Achievement Of 4th Grade Students With Learning Disabilities, Shelby Brooke Haines

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The LINCS learning strategy, published by Edwin S. Ellis (1992), University of Kansas Institute for Research of Learning Disabilities, is a starter strategy used as a memory devise for vocabulary. The goals' of the strategy were to increase independent learning, memorize key vocabulary, provide a sense of control over learning and to promote motivation about learning new strategies. It is also clearly defined in the instruction manual that for students to effectively utilize this strategy they must perform with a fourth grade reading level or above (Ellis, 1992). It was hypothesized that by making modifications to compensate for the students' …

Superior Haptic Perceptual Selectivity In Late-Blind And Very-Low-Vision Subjects, Morton Heller, Deneen Brackett

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Blindfolded sighted, congenitally blind, late-blind, and very-low-vision subjects were tested on a tangible version of the embedded-figures test. The results of ANOVAs on accuracy measures yielded superior performance by the very-low-vision and late-blind subjects compared with the blindfolded sighted and congenitally blind participants. Accuracy of the congenitally blind subjects was similar to that of the blindfolded sighted participants. However, all groups of blind subjects were significantly faster than the blindfolded sighted subjects. It is suggested that experience with pictures combined with haptic skill aid perceptual selectivity in touch.

Thirty Years Of Integrative Doctoral Training: Historic Developments, Assessment Of Outcomes, And Recommendations For The Future, W Brad Johnson, Mark R. Mcminn

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Integrative clinical psychology doctoral programs explicitly blend religious faith with professional training. During the past thirty years, there has been a steady increase in the number of integrative programs in the United States, yet the mission-relevant training outcomes of these programs remain largely unknown. In this article, we review published literature relative to integrative doctoral programs and offer an assessment of the training outcomes recently reported by those integrative programs currently accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). We briefly summarize the distinctive strengths and relative weaknesses of integrative programs and consider the primary challenges they now face. We conclude …

Spiritual Directors And Clinical Psychologists: A Comparison Of Mental Health And Spiritual Values (Taken From Chapter 3 Of Spiritual Formation, Counseling, And Psychotherapy), Mark R. Mcminn, Nicholas C. Howard, Leslie D. Bissell, Sally R. Faries, Jeffrey B. Van Meter

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

We surveyed a total of 315 spiritual directors, psychologist members of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS), and psychologist members of the American Psychological Association (APA) to determine their respective values on ten mental health themes derives from Jensen and Bergin (1988), and three spirituality scales drawn from the writings of John of the Cross. All three groups endorsed the value of expressing feelings, personal autonomy and maturity, and integrating work and leisure. CAPS psychologists and spiritual directors endorsed more than APA psychologists the values of spirituality, forgiveness, and the three John of the Cross scales. Spiritual directors reported …

Taking Inventory: The Science Of Happiness, Lawrence S. Krieger

Scholarly Publications

No abstract provided.

Maintaining Personal Resiliency: Lessons Learned From Evangelical Protestant Clergy, Katheryn Rhoads Meek, Mark R. Mcminn, Craig M. Brower, Todd D. Burnett, Barrett W. Mcray, Michael L. Ramey, David W. Swanson, Dennise D. Villa

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

Multiple Intelligences In The Efl Classroom: A Perspective In Context, Irena Vodopija- Krstanoviæ

MA TESOL Collection

This paper examines the implication of Multiple Intelligences Theory for learning styles in the EFL classroom. The multiple intelligence profiles of students and teachers at two secondary schools were obtained in order to determine their strengths and weaknesses in the different intelligences. In addition, the teachers’ and learner’s preferences for EFL activities catering for the intelligences were defined. Furthermore, the frequency of use of the EFL activities was examined in order to determine how the various intelligences were actually addressed in the teaching and learning processes. The research was conducted in Rijeka, Croatia, thus providing insights into a specific cultural …

The Development And Validation Of A Measure Of Identity Distress, Steven L. Berman, Marilyn J. Montgomery, William M. Kurtines

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

The most frequently used measures of identity development do not contain a scale to measure the distress that can sometimes be associated with the process. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Identity Distress Survey. The measure was found to have high internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Identity distress was related to the constructs of identity style and identity status. Identity distress was positively correlated with identity exploration and associated with the informational style and was negatively correlated with identity commitment. This measure could help identify those people who are having exceptional difficulties …

Recovery From Alcohol Or Drug Abuse: The Relationship Between Identity Styles And Recovery Behaviors, Joseph M. White, Marilyn J. Montgomery, Richard S. Wampler, Judith L. Fischer

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between identity styles and recovery from substance abuse. Consistent findings have established a relationship be- tween identity diffusion and substance misuse, but no research has explored the influence of identity styles on recovery processes. Participants (N = 252) from treatment and recovery-based facilities and groups using a 12-step recovery model were assessed with the Identity Style Inventory (White, Wampler, & Winn, 1998) and self-report measures of pretreatment addiction, length of continuous abstinence, quality of recovery, and recovery progress. Those with a diffuse/avoidant style had shorter lengths of continuous abstinence, fewer …

Impact Of A Brief Workshop On Stages Of Change Profiles In Athletes, Sam Zizzi, Frank M. Perna

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This report examines the impact of a psychoeducational workshop on athletes’ stages of change for use of mental skills training. Fourteen teams participated in a sport psychology workshop including seven women’s teams (n = 124) and seven men’s teams (n = 96). Teams were assessed on decisional balance (pros and cons) and stages of change variables before and after the workshop. As hypothesized, athletes reported significantly higher pros and contemplation scores after the workshop, with corresponding decreases in cons and precontemplation scores. Moderate effect sizes (.35 - .68) supported a positive impact of the workshop on athletes’ perceptions of mental …

The Usa Patriot Act: Civil Liberties, The Media, And Public Opinion, Lisa Finnegan Abdolian, Harold Takooshian

Psychology Faculty Publications

The new millennium was not yet one year old when it was rocked by the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. How does the public regard the continued protection of individual rights, after this greatest terrorist attack in U.S. history? This has naturally been a topic of intense and thorough media reporting in the United States, and worldwide. In the uneasy months following the WTC attack, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Fordham University designed and conducted a survey of public opinions on terrorism, with several distinct objectives: 1) to question a representative sample of adults in Greater New York, …

Grief Counseling With Children And Adolescents, Megan Funke

Graduate Research Papers

There are many causes for the grief children and adolescents suffer in their lives. No matter what the cause, they will need someone to help them deal with their grief and develop the necessary coping skills to live a normal live. This paper discusses how school counselors can help children and adolescents learn to deal with their grief in a healthy manner and develop strong and lasting coping skills.

Borderline Personality Disorder : A Comparison Of Linehan And Kernberg's Treatment Modalities, Janet M. Riley

Graduate Research Papers

About 30% of clients worldwide are diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (Bohus et al., 2000). BPD is a complex disorder and difficult to treat. Therefore, it is necessary for counselors to gain as much knowledge about treatment modalities and their effectiveness as possible. This paper attempts to define BPD by looking closely at its history.and describing the criteria for diagnosis. Linehan's Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Kernberg's Object Relational Theory (ORT) are compared as to their effectiveness in working with clients who exhibit symptoms of BPD.

The Relationship Between Person-Organization Fit, Attribution Theory, And Psychological Contract Violations Within Organizational Settings, Sarah Elizabeth Phillips

Theses Digitization Project

This study makes an attempt at bridging the theory between the constructs of person-organization (P-O) fit and psychological contract violations, through attribution theory.

A Correlation Analysis Of Parental Expectations, Mentoring, And Gender Socialization On Women's Self-Efficacy, Nancy Lillian Amarin, Norina Reis

Theses Digitization Project

This study investigated social influences believed to have an impact on the development of women's self-efficacy. The independent variables examined included parental expectations, gender role socialization, and mentoring. A questionnaire with both ordinal and nominal questions was administered to 196 female undergraduates attending California State University, San Bernardino and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The sample was predominantly Caucasian (35,2 percent) and Hispanic (33.7 percent), with a median age of 20. Participants answered 57 questions, consisting of demographic questions, measures of self-efficacy and three independent variables. Pearson r analysis found positive significant correlations between self-efficacy and all three variables. The …

The Impact Of Stressful Life Events And Exposure To Community Violence On Delinquency In Hispanic Pre-Adolescents, Nadine Valerie Perez Zamora

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the current study was to examine delinquent pre-adolecents. It was hypothesized that both predictor variable [exposure to community violence (number of events; preception of events) and stressful life events (number of events)] would impact delinquent behavior (violent thoughts, violent behaviors, and promiscuity).