Psychology Commons^™

The Public Perception Of Enrichment For Captive Animals, Elizabeth Marie Webb

All Master's Theses

The effects of providing participants with educational information on enrichment as measured by the looking time at and ratings of zoo photographs were examined. One hundred and seventeen participants viewed photographs of zoo exhibits, 10 from each of the following categories: artificial exhibit with artificial enrichment, artificial exhibit with naturalistic enrichment, naturalistic exhibit with naturalistic enrichment, and naturalistic exhibit with artificial enrichment. Participants rated the photographs on exhibit aesthetic appeal, perceived animal happiness, and effectiveness of the enrichment. Pre- and posttest ratings of the importance of zoo roles were also collected. Results showed support for the hypothesis that participants provided …

Encoding Specificity: Applied To Communication Patterns In Recall Processes, Makandal P. Daaga

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

This study investigated the concept of encoding specificity and attempted to apply it to communication patterns and memory. The hypothesis stated that similar forms of communication during encoding and recall would lead to improved recall performance. Forty undergraduate students were recruited to participate in two free recall trials where the modality of communication (visual vs. auditory) was manipulated to test the hypothesis. Participants were presented with two word lists (15 words each) either via visually (visual) or via audio recording (auditory) and asked to recall either via writing (visual) or speaking (auditory).Trials involving similar forms of communication displayed significantly higher …

Interpersonal Conflict Resolution: Differences Across Sex And Socially Established Gender, Abby Ramon

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

The purpose of this study was to examine, compare, and contrast how men and women handle conflict in romantic interpersonal relationships. The purpose was also to examine the relationship between people’s particular ways of responding and their levels of masculinity and femininity, as measured by a modified version of the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Eighty-two participants between the ages of 18 and 55 were recruited for this study. They were all asked to fill out a personality inventory and two questionnaires, both of which consisted of a hypothetical conflict scenario and questions for the participant to answer. The data were …

A Lakota/Nakota/Dakota Model Of Oratory, Cheryl A. Long Feather

Theses and Dissertations

Lakota/Nakota/Dakota people, as well as other Native American tribal groups, did not traditionally use the established, conventional forms of oration to which most in contemporary mainstream society relate. Rather, Native-specific epistemology, ontology and axiology played a central role in forming and supporting the function of communication as well as the speaking conventions that continue to be used today. These culturally-based patterns and structures present both challenges and opportunities that have been only marginally explored in various disciplines such as education, social and behavioral science, and psychology. This body of work exists for the purpose of exploring a traditionally Native understanding …

Status Of Security Awareness In Business Organizations And Colleges Of Business: An Analyses Of Training And Education, Policies, And Social Engineering Testing, Glenda M. Rotvold

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is twofold. The first purpose of this study is to investigate the status of security awareness training, IT-related policies, and the use of social engineering testing in business organizations. A second purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which colleges and universities are offering security awareness topics as part of a student's coursework or daily activities, specifically in colleges of business, to help determine the level of students' security awareness exposure and preparedness for the work world.

The colleges of business study examined demographics, what topics were being covered, how often, to …

Reasons For Drinking In The College Student Context: The Differential Role And Risk Of The Social Motivator, Joseph W. Labrie, Justin F. Hummer, Eric R. Pedersen

Heads Up!

Objective

The present study examines the relationships among reasons for drinking, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related consequences in two college-aged samples. Personal motivators such as mood enhancement and coping (tension reduction) have consistently been shown to predict problematic alcohol use, but because of the salient nature of social drinking in college, we hypothesized that social reasons for drinking would be most frequently endorsed and, in turn, predict negative consequences.

Method

Two distinct samples—119 coed adjudicated students sanctioned by the university for violating campus alcohol policy and 106 co-ed volunteer students—completed measures assessing alcohol consumption, reasons for drinking, and consequences. Differential effects …

The Relationships Among Interracial Friendship, Personality, And Racial Attitudes, Paula A. Suchy

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Previous research indicates: that openness and agreeableness positively correlate with racial attitudes, and the importance of interracial friendship on reducing racial bias ( e.g.,Jackson & Poulsen, 2005). Hypotheses included: 1) individuals high on openness and/or agreeableness will report more positive racial attitudes, 2) positive racial attitudes will increase as the quantity and/or quality of interracial friendship increases, and 3) interracial friendship is a moderator between personality and racial attitudes. Participants (n = 217) completed an online survey containing the Big Five Inventory (2001 ), Brigham's ( 1993) Racial Attitudes Scale, a modified interracial contact questionnaire (Tropp and Pettigrew, 2005), Altemeyer's …

Nighttime Pedestrian Conspicuity: The Effects Of Pedestrian Movement, Orientation And The Configuration Of Retroreflective Material, Stacy Balk

All Theses

Most fatal collisions between vehicles and pedestrians occur at night; inadequate visibility is a key factor. Previous research has shown that positioning reflective markers on pedestrians in a manner that depicts biological motion greatly enhances conspicuity. This on-road experiment examined the conspicuity advantages of a full biological motion configuration relative to that provided by an ANSI class II safety vest. 120 healthy young participants were driven along a 3.5 mile route and pressed a button when they were confident they saw a pedestrian. A test pedestrian on the left shoulder of the roadway wore black clothing with either an ANSI …

Income, Scheduling Flexibility, And Diversity Policies: An Experimental Investigation Of Recruiting Older Workers, Holly Geldhauser

All Theses

A number of surveys have tapped the interests of older employees as a way to understand the factors that encourage extended employment (Bass, 1995; Sterns, 1998). The current research has two purposes. The first is an applied goal; to determine the organizational factors that are most attractive to older workers seeking employment. The second purpose is to investigate the predictive strength of these variables through a controlled experimental design rather than using survey methodology. We chose to examine the importance of pay, work flexibility, and diversity policies as determinants of interest in the return to work among white collar employees. …

The Effects Of Landmark Information On Navigation Performance, Attention To The Driving Environment, And Vehicle Control, Rachael Daniels

All Theses

Recent research has helped confirm that landmarks are used as strong navigational signals and assist with way-finding strategies. Current in-vehicle information systems however, use little information in the way of landmarks, and instead rely heavily on distance information in order to direct drivers to their destination. It has been suggested that our spatial knowledge of an environment rarely uses distance information accurately. Although, recent research has shown that landmarks are helpful, a deeper understanding of what specific types of landmarks help with navigation is lacking in the literature. The current study attempts to fill in this gap in the literature …

Child Sexual Abuse: Development Of Psychiatric Disorders And Interventions, Toshikazu Kuroda

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Child sexual abuse has become a serious social concern due to the recent report of its higher incidence rate than commonly believed. This form of child abuse has been proposed to bring about adverse effects on children's development since more than one century ago. However, research over past decades reveals that effects of sexual abuse are extremely complex and diverse. Particularly, there appear to be many unclear factors increasing the probability for the development of psychiatric disorders in sexually abused children. The present paper investigated how child sexual abuse creates diversity over the course of the victims' development from multiple …

Interpersonal Distance In Social Relationships And Mental Health Outcomes In A Glbt Sample, Kristina Mcdougal

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Ample research has been conducted on how heterosexuals distance themselves from gays and lesbians through lack of emotional attachment, job discrimination, and lack of familial support, yet there has been little research on how people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT) view this distancing. To examine the distancing from the point of view of people in a GLBT sample we surveyed 200 GLBT people at the Annual Pride Not Prejudice celebration in Salt Lake City. Participants were asked how they viewed their relationship with their parents, and how they perceived their parents religiosity. Participants also completed the Beck …

Measuring Empathy, Feedback, Therapeutic Alliance, And Outcome With Sexual Offenders, Adam G. Fenske

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Research has found the therapeutic alliance to be the strongest predictor of successful outcomes from treatment (Orlinsky, Ronnestad, & Willutzki, 2003) . While many populations have been studied to determine successful outcomes through the strengthening of the therapeutic alliance, psychological literature lacks research targeting the specific group of sexual offenders. The present research addressed this gap in psychological literature. Research focused upon three treatment groups involving 19 sexual offenders. The study investigated four hypotheses: (a) symptoms will be reduced as a result of treatment, (b) helping alliance will improve over time in treatment, (c) the strength of the helping alliance …

Rhode Island Family Court And The Best Interests Of Children, Alexandra Arnold

Senior Honors Projects

With the continuous rise of the divorce rate in America, there is also an increase in the number of children and adolescents who must suffer through the divorce along with their parents. For some, the divorce is a relief and can be a positive change in their lives. For others, it is difficult and devastating, filled with conflict and tension. Whatever the circumstances, there are permanent effects that children experience as a result of their parents’ divorce. These effects of divorce on children are becoming better known as generations of children grow up in a single parent home. The court …

Video Game Addiction: Truth Or Fiction, Lyles Thibodeaux-Harmony

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of A Treatment Approach For Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder And Borderline Personality Disorder: A Case Study, Jo Anne Esfahani

Theses and Dissertations

This case study evaluates the effectiveness of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the treatment of an adult female diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Comorbid Borderline Personality Disorder in a community based mental health agency. The client's psychosocial assessment is presented and the empirical treatment literature related to the client's diagnosis is reviewed. A variety of outcome measures were used. Results indicated the treatment was effective: the client experienced significant reduction in the severity of her symptoms. However, further treatment is needed to improve parenting skills, maintain healthy interpersonal relationships and to reduce residual …

The Relationship Between Uncertainty And Desire For Feedback: A Test Of Competing Hypotheses, Filip Anseel, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The relationship between uncertainty and desire for feedback was investigated in 2 studies. Results of Study 1 showed support for a curvilinear relationship. People were interested in feedback at high and low levels of uncertainty, as opposed to moderate levels of uncertainty, indicating the activation of both uncertainty reduction and self-verification motives. In Study 2, the curvilinear relationship with uncertainty was replicated for indirect feedback-seeking behavior. In contrast, we found a negative relationship between direct feedback seeking and uncertainty, moderated by certainty orientation. People seemed more motivated by self-verification vs. uncertainty reduction strivings, depending on their certainty orientation. These findings …

Does Teaching Problem-Solving Skills Matter?: An Evaluation Of Problem-Solving Skills Training For The Treatment Of Social And Behavioral Problems In Children, Bryan B. Bushman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Parent training combined with problem solving skills training has been proposed as a comprehensive treatment for childhood oppositional behaviors, poor child social skills, and parental stress. The current study compared Parent Training + Problem Solving Skills Training with a Parent Training + nondirective condition. Parents of 32 children first attended Parent Training. After the parents completed Parent Training, children were randomly assigned to individual therapy in either a Problem Solving Skills Training condition or a nondirective condition. Data comparisons between the groups were made at postindividual therapy and at 6-week follow-up. Results indicated that children in the Problem Solving Skills …

Psychosocial Variables And Their Relationship To Diabetic Outcome Among The Strong Heart Study Cohort, Brian D. O'Leary

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United Sates. Certain Native American groups have been harder hit than the mainstream population, both in prevalence of the disease and in rates of related complications. The highest known prevalence in the world is found among a Southwestern U.S. Tribe, and other Native American Tribes have demonstrated similar prevalence rates. It has been shown that certain psychological factors such as depression and hostility impact both the occurrence and outcome of certain diseases, including diabetes.

This study examined whether those individuals who have not met the criteria …

The Temporal Relationship Between Environmental Factors And Psychological Symptoms In Native American Adolescents, Georgia Lee Matt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Native American youth often experience high rates of environmental risk factors that may put them at increased risk for developing psychological problems, yet research within this high-risk population is severely limited.

The present study was designed to provide information on the rate of psychological symptoms in a sample of Native American youth, and evaluate the impact of environmental factors (risk, protective, and cultural) on psychological disorder symptoms over time. Data were collected with a sample of Native American youth using the Youth Self Report, the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory–Adolescent 2, and a researcher-designed Biodemographic Questionnaire.

Findings indicate that clinically …

An Examination Of The Structure Of Affect In A Sample Of Inpatient Adolescents, Marietta A. Veeder

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Multiple studies investigating the validity of the tripartite model of affect in youth have been supportive of the model; however, few studies have examined the model in narrow age bands or large clinical samples. The current study examined the structure of affect in a sample of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. Structural equation modeling was used to examine two-factor (negative affectivity [NA] and positive affectivity [PA]) and three-factor models (NA, PA, and physiological hyperarousal [PH]) with item level data from the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS) and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), and from the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI), RADS, …

Effects Of A Synthetic Cannabinoid On The Reinforcing Efficacy Of Ethanol In Rats, Ericka M. Bailey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The co-abuse of alcohol and marijuana is widespread, although the mechanisms underlying this behavior are unclear. There is some evidence of a relationship between the neural processes that mediate the effects of ethanol and marijuana. For example, research has shown that exposure to marijuana increases responding for, and intake of, ethanol. The alcohol deprivation effect is an anima l model of alcoholism that suggests that the reinforcing efficacy of ethanol, as measured by intake, increases following a period of deprivation. Recent research indicates that rats chronically exposed to marijuana during periods of alcohol deprivation consume ethanol above and beyond deprivation …

College Athletes’ Human Figure Drawings, Kaitlin Taggart

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The demands of both lean and non-lean sports upon male athletes can lead to body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. This study explored whether the Human Figure Drawing (HFD) is a valid method for assessing male college athletes’ body image. A total of 86 male athletes who were competitive on a lean (cross-country or wrestling) or non-lean (football or ice hockey) sport participated in the study. The score recorded on the Male Body Attitude Scale (MBAS) (Tylka, Bergeron, & Schwartz, 2005), a 24-question survey administered to each participant, focused specifically on assessing muscularity, body fat, and height attitudes of these …

Children’S Perceptions Of Mothers’ And Fathers’ Parental Rearing In White And Hispanic Families, Ariz Rojas-Cifredo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study compared children's perceptions of mothers' and fathers' parental rearing styles in White and Hispanic families. Participants included 173 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade children recruited from after-school care programs in the School District of Hillsborough County, Florida. Children completed measures of perceived parenting for both mothers and fathers and a self-report inventory of their own current psychological symptoms. No differences between perceptions of parental acceptance in Hispanic and White families were expected. However, perceptions of hostile control were predicted to be higher for Hispanic fathers than for White fathers. In contrast, perceptions of maternal inconsistent discipline were …

Interpreter Competency Exam In Mental Health, Sergiy Barsukov

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The issue of diversity has become one of the most salient among mental health professionals in the past few decades. As the American society becomes more and more diverse the need for professionals who can provide culturally competent services will continue to rise. One of the important aspects of culture is language. When serving clients who are monolingual it is not always possible to find a therapist who fluently speaks the client's language. Therefore, professionals often have to use interpreters in order to adequately serve their clients. Initial research on interpreter competence is concerning, with one study reporting an average …

Motivational Interviewing And Behavioral Compliance In Chronic Pain Patients: A Treatment Outcome Study, Jesse Frey

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Multimodal treatment of chronic pain is often met by patient resistance. Although patients seek a cure for pain, some patients are resistant to alternative therapies or nonpharmacological interventions that may help them to manage chronic pain. Motivational Interviewing is a therapeutic intervention that is known to work well with resistant behaviors often found in the addiction treatment setting. Until recently, few studies have examined the efficacy of a brief Motivational Interview within the chronic pain treatment setting. This study examined the effects of a single Motivational Interview on patient participation, prescription drug use, and responses on the Pain Stage of …

Choking Under Pressure: Environmental And Personality Variables, Danielle Ranney

Psychology Honors Theses

This experiment manipulated the level of environmental demand in a pressured dart-throwing task in order to investigate the effects of individual difference variables on performance. After performing baseline trials alone, the participant was told additional trials would occur with an audience and that they would have the chance to win $100 if they met 90%, 100%, or 110% of their baseline scores. This demand manipulation did not affect performances. However, across demand conditions, participants reported significant increases in ratings of pressure, motivation, and anxiety compared to their baseline trials. High adaptive narcissism scores predicted worse performance under pressure than low …

Phobias: The Evolutionary Trend, Grant Brown

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Relevance To Self: A Brief Review And Framework Of Neural Systems Underlying Appraisal, Taylor W. Schmitz, Sterling C. Johnson

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

We argue that many similar findings observed in cognitive, affective, and social neuroimaging research may compose larger processes central to generating self-relevance. In support of this, recent findings from these research domains were reviewed to identify common systemic activation patterns. Superimposition of these patterns revealed evidence for large-scale supramodal processes, which are argued to mediate appraisal of self-relevant content irrespective of specific stimulus types (e.g. words, pictures) and task domains (e.g. induction of reward, fear, pain, etc.). Furthermore, we distinguish between two top-down sub-systems involved in appraisal of self-relevance, one that orients pre-attentive biasing information (e.g. anticipatory or mnemonic) to …

Germ-Line Chimerism And Paternal Care In Marmosets (Callithrix Kuhlii), C. N. Ross, Jeffrey French, G. Ortí

Psychology Faculty Publications

The formation of viable genetic chimeras in mammals through the transfer of cells between siblings in utero is rare. Using microsatellite DNA markers, we show here that chimerism in marmoset (Callithrix kuhlii) twins is not limited to blood-derived hematopoietic tissues as was previously described. All somatic tissue types sampled were found to be chimeric. Notably, chimerism was demonstrated to be present in germ-line tissues, an event never before documented as naturally occurring in a primate. In fact, we found that chimeric marmosets often transmit sibling alleles acquired in utero to their own offspring. Thus, an individual that contributes gametes to …