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38th Annual Wku Student Research Conference, Student Research Council, Western Kentucky University

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

Western Kentucky University 38th Annual Student Research Conference program and student abstracts. Saturday, April 12, 2008, Carroll Knicely Conference Center, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Searching For Binding Partners For The Novel Phkg1 Variant, Phkγ 181, Kishore Polireddy

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

Phopshorylase kinase (PhK) is a hexadecameric holoenzyme made up of four different subunits in the arrangement (αβγδ)4 and has total molecular mass of 1.3MDa. Alpha and β are regulatory subunits, γ is catalytic, and δ is an intrinsic molecule of calmodulin. PhK is a serine threonine kinase with glycogenolytic regulatory functions. Our lab has recently discovered that the γ subunit can be alternatively processed to produce a truncated form of 181 residues (γ-181). This variant of γ contains a phosphorylation site for PK-C, and its activity is influenced by this phosphorylation. We are using a LexA based yeast two hybrid …

Assessing Middle School Students’ Knowledge Of Conduct/Consequences And Their Behaviors Regarding The Use Of Social Networking Sites, Lawrence P. Filippelli, Stacey L. Kite, Robert K. Gable

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying, social networking sites (such as myspace and facebook), and instant messaging programs are initiating numerous problems for school administrators on a national level (McKenna, 2007). Franek (2005) defines a cyber bully as “anyone who repeatedly misuses technology to harass, intimidate, bully, or terrorize another person” (p.36). Students utilize cell phones, personal digital assistants, home computers, and laptop computers to access the internet and communicate with friends almost instantly.

Yes/No Recognition, Forced-Choice Recognition, And The Human Hippocampus, P. J. Bayley, J. T. Wixted, Ramona O. Hopkins, L. R. Squire

Faculty Publications

Two recent studies reported that yes/no recognition can be more impaired by hippocampal lesions than forced-choice recognition when the targets and foils are highly similar. This finding has been taken in support of two fundamental proposals: (1) yes/no recognition tests depend more on recollection than do forced-choice tests; and (2) the hippocampus selectively supports the recollection process. Using the same stimulus materials as in the earlier studies, we tested five memory-impaired patients with circumscribed hippocampal lesions and 15 controls. As in the earlier studies, participants studied 12 pictures of objects and then took either a 12-item forced-choice test with four …

Sport As The “Opiate Of The Masses”: College Football In The American South, Eric Bain-Selbo

Philosophy & Religion Faculty Publications

Karl Marx famously describes religion as the “opiate of the masses.” Marx argues that religion is an ideological tool that legitimates and defends the interests of the dominant, wealthy classes in the population. It does so in part by placating the poor and exploited classes. Faced with an arduous and seemingly unjust life in this world, the poor and exploited at least can look forward to a more perfect existence in the afterlife. To reach that afterlife, however, one must peacefully and quietly persevere through life’s tribulation—respecting the life, liberty, and (especially) private property of others. In this way, religion …

Predicting World Cup Results: Do Goals Seem More Likely When They Pay Off?, Maya Bar-Hillel, David V. Budescu, Moty Amar

Psychology Faculty Publications

Bar-Hillel and Budescu (1995) failed to find a desirability bias in probability estimation. The World Cup soccer tournament provided an opportunity to revisit the phenomenon in a context in which desirability biases are notoriously rampant. Participants estimated the probabilities of various teams’ winning their upcoming games. They were promised money if one team—randomly designated by the experimenter—won its upcoming game. Participants assigned a higher probability to a victory by their target team than did other participants, whose promised monetary reward was contingent on the victory of its opponent. Prima facie, this seems to be a desirability bias. However, in a …

Predicting Physical Activity In Arab American School Children, Jeffrey J. Martin, Nate Mccaughtry, Bo Shen

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

Theoretically grounded research on the determinants of Arab American children's physical activity is virtually nonexistent. Thus, the purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the ability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and social cognitive theory (SCT) to predict Arab American children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Children (N = 348, ages 10–14) completed questionnaires assessing the TPB and SCT constructs as well as MVPA. Using multiple regression analyses we were able to account for 9% of the variance in MVPA. Based on standardized beta-weights, variance accounted for, and the significance of F change, we concluded that SCT variables …

Race-Based Intelligence Assessment Among Southern Adventist University Students, Brienna R. Thompson

Capstone Research Projects

This study investigated levels of racial bias in peer to peer intelligence assessment using a sample of 26 students in a lower division psychology course at Southern Adventist University (SAU). Statistical analyses revealed no significant age, gender, ethnicity, or class standing differences in levels of racial bias and due to the small sample size, many results were inconclusive. Statistical significance was found in the relationship between academic discipline and racial bias. Results also show that college students tend to view both their Mrican American peers and their Caucasian peers with nearly equal levels ofbias. In fact, results revealed a generally …

Escape From Alcatraz : Finding Safety And Peace, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Article published in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 2008, Vol. 27, No. 1, 66-72

Issues In Religion And Psychotherapy, Volume 32, Issue 1, 2008, Issues In Religion And Psychotherapy

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

No abstract provided.

Wku Scholar, Office Of Sponsored Programs, Western Kentucky University

WKU Scholar

No abstract provided.

Validation Of A Parental Tolerance Measure: The Child Rearing Inventory, Sana Ayub

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research on child misbehavior has examined the influence of many factors, including the child’s typical behaviors and functioning, child temperament, parenting strategies, parental stress, parental attributions, perceptions of parenting, and parental tolerance.The concept of parental tolerance has recently been advocated as an important variable influencing child misbehavior by Brestan, Eyberg, Algina, Johnson, and Boggs (2003) who developed two parent report measures for it. The present study investigated the validity of one of these measures, the Child Rearing Inventory (CRI). In the present study, parental tolerance as measured by the CRI was compared to other standardized measures of parent and child …

When "Arbitrary" Decisions Aren't Arbitrary: Conventions And Design, Jeremiah Still, Veronica Dark

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Romancing Dahalo: The Social Environment Of Cattle Theft In Ihorombe, Madagascar, John Mcnair

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In 1990 a woman named Nancy, a Peace Corps worker in southern Madagascar, received a marriage proposal from a man she did not know. It was Easter Monday, a national holiday for the Malagasy, and the man had been drinking; his proposal included a dowry of a very substantial number of cattle, an animal of tremendous cultural and material wealth in this part of Madagascar. Nancy—not knowing the man—declined.

The man was what is known there as a dahalo, a cattle thief, and took this rejection as a serious blow, especially given the magnitude of his offer. It was known …

Meta-Analysis Of Alexithymia In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder., Paul A Frewen, David J A Dozois, Richard W J Neufeld, Ruth A Lanius

Psychology Publications

The authors present a meta-analysis investigating the prevalence of alexithymia in 12 studies encompassing 1,095 individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A large effect size was found associating PTSD with alexithymia. Effect sizes were higher in studies of male combat PTSD samples in comparison with studies of other PTSD samples. Clinical and research directions are discussed.

An Outcome Evaluation Of Marble Retreat’S Psychotherapy Program, Scott Koeneman, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

No abstract provided.

A Winning Mindset, Randy Borum

Mental Health Law & Policy Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Clinical Ethics And A Christian Worldview: Imago Dei In Clinical Practice, Rodger K. Bufford

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Worldviews address five questions of what exists, how we know it, how things work, right and wrong, and who we are. A Christian worldview can subtly or profoundly change our approach to ethical clinical practice. This presentation explores how each aspect of a Christian worldview may shape our practices.

Anxiety, In-Group Identification, And Depersonalized Trust, Jennifer Rae Jones

Psychology Theses - Archive

In a previous study, we (Kenworthy & Jones, 2008) examined the effect of induced anxiety on depersonalized in-group trust within low and high importance groups. We found that the anxiety induction increased depersonalized in-group trust within high importance groups, but did not do so within low importance groups. Further, self-reported anxiety scores mediated the relationship between the emotion induction and depersonalized trust in high importance groups. Taking a social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986) approach, I replicated Kenworthy and Jones (2008) with a different anxiety induction, and with the addition of risk-aversion as potentially mediating the relationship between anxiety …

What's The Personality Of A Blank? An Examination Of The Personality Differences Between Reporters And Nonreporters Of Demographics, Chloe J. Tatney

Psychology Theses - Archive

The current study examined the measurement equivalence of personality measures between those who report demographic variables (i.e., age, race, and gender) and those who do not report these variables. Measurement equivalence was not established between the two groups, so subsequent analyses of personality differences were interpreted with caution and efforts were made to restore equivalence between the two groups. The Dynamic Factors Survey and the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey (which were the personality inventories used in the analyses) were mapped onto the Big Five personality dimensions in an effort to generalize findings beyond these specific scales. Once measurement equivalence was restored, …

Effects Of Birth-Order Composition On The Intial, Same-Sex Interactions Of Young Adults, Colette Jacquot

Psychology Theses - Archive

Using both individual- and dyad-level analyses, this study investigated the effects of birth order on the initial, same-sex interactions of young adults. One hundred eighteen students (59 dyads) participated in initial, unstructured dyadic interactions while being unobtrusively audio- and videotaped. Following their interaction, the dyad members independently completed three self-report questionnaires about their interactions with their dyadic partner and about their familial and social relationships growing up. Three theories informed my predictions about birth order influences in these initial interactions: the Family Constellation Theory, the Observational Learning Theory, and the Trait Theory. In contrast to a previous study of mixed-sex …

Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effects On Rats In A Runway And Operant Chamber, Susan Annette Autrey

Psychology Theses - Archive

The partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE) is traditionally observed in rats when on a partial reinforcement schedule in a runway, that is, they are more resistant to extinction (persistent) than those on a continuous reinforcement schedule. Behavioral Momentum is observed when, in an operant chamber, rats on the most dense reinforcement schedule show more persistence in responding during extinction (or other response disrupting manipulation). The purpose of this experiment is to combine the runway and operant chamber and discuss the outcome in terms both theories. Subjects were either on a continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF) or a partial reinforcement schedule (PRF) …

Antecedents Of Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Contingency Approach, Laurent Stephane Josien

Doctoral Dissertations

This research was created in order to offer a better understanding of the entrepreneurial orientation construct. Based on the literature review several antecedents of the entrepreneurial orientation construct were identified: risk, achievement, innovation, locus of control, self-esteem, opportunity, autonomy, proactiveness, and competitive aggressiveness. Relying on the contingency theory developed by Burns and Stalker (1961), it was decided to use the Carland's trichotomy of entrepreneurs as a moderator variable between the antecedents and the entrepreneurial orientation construct. As a result, three main areas of research were identified. The first area deals with determining which dimensions are underpinning the entrepreneurial orientation construct, …

Proactive Behavior: A Selection Perspective, Laura Elizabeth Marler

Doctoral Dissertations

In the 15 years since Bateman and Crant (1993) formulated the construct of proactive personality, numerous researchers have devoted a significant amount of attention to proactive attributes and behaviors (e.g., Parker, Williams, & Turner, 2006; Crant, 2000; Frese & Fay, 2001; Parker, 2000; Erdogan & Bauer, 2005). Campbell's (1990) model of performance suggests that an organization's selection system may ultimately promote proactive behavior. Consequently, in this dissertation, I advocate a selection approach as the initial building block towards creating a workplace in which proactive behavior is a fundamental outcome.

One of the selection tools yet to be explored by researchers …

The Relation Between Attachment To Opposite Sex Parents And Attachment To Romantic Partners, Gary L. Grogan

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This study examined the relation between attachment to opposite sex parents and attachment to romantic partners. Previous research has indicated that attachments to parents closely resemble attachments to romantic partners (Hazan & Shaver, 1987). However, little research has examined whether attachment to the mother or father is more predictive of attachment to romantic partners, and whether this varies by gender. The present study surveyed 236 college students about their attachment to parents, as well as romantic partners. We hypothesized that attachment to opposite sex parents would be significantly related to attachment with romantic partners. Results indicated that those who exhibit …

Do Self-Esteem And Parental Authority Influence Self-Reported Aggressive Behaviors?, Nicole Svenkerud

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Aggression is a primary concern throughout the United States and over the last 40 years many researchers have tried to understand how aggression manifests (Tremblay, 2002). The present study examined the relations between self-esteem, perceived parental authority, and aggression. Two-hundred sixty participants were asked about their aggressive behaviors, self-esteem, and perceptions of parental authority. Results indicated that perceived authoritarian parenting was negatively correlated with hostility and physical aggression. Self-esteem was positively correlated with perceived authoritative parenting. Individuals’ who reported lower levels of self-esteem also reported higher levels of anger and hostility. The present study can contribute to understanding how an …

Using The Tools Of Crisis Intervention And Empowerment Counseling In The Reference Interview, Wendy S. Wilmoth

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article explores similarities between reference service and the concepts of empowerment counseling, as defined by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, and crisis intervention, as defined by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, in the hope of enabling academic librarians to provide assistance that is informative and relevant to patrons who may be survivors of sexual assault. It is inferred that reference interview is important to providing the best library service possible. The role of reference librarians in giving empowerment counseling and crisis intervention to sexual assault survivors is discussed.

Effect Of Household Structure On Family-Friendly Benefit Utilization: Implications For Organizational Attraction And Workplace Withdrawal Behaviors Of Federal Government Employees, Sharyn J. Aufenanger

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the effect of household structure on utilization of family-friendly benefits in organizations, as well as the impact that family-friendly benefit utilization has on organizational attraction and workplace withdrawal behaviors among Federal government employees with children. Results showed that alternative work arrangements (e.g., compressed and flexible schedules) were popular among all employees who have children. Family-friendly benefit utilization rates were highest among single parent employees and lowest among traditional family employees. Single parent employees were more likely to use flexible schedules, part-time, compressed schedules, telework, and sick and annual leave. Dual income employees were more likely to use …

Examination Of A Nomological Network Of Team Leadership: A Construct Validation Study, Kari R. Strobel

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the construct-related validity evidence for team leadership measurement within the United States Navy. Drawing on literature from industrial/organizational, sport, and military psychology, the current research specified one nomological network for officer team leadership appraisal. The proposed model tested the idea that Naval team leaders engaging in transformational behaviors would be more likely to use and encourage the use of teamwork processes, increase cohesion among team members, and maintain superior mission readiness. The hypotheses were tested with performance appraisal data from 900 Commanders, Lieutenant Commanders, and Lieutenants from aviation, surface, and subsurface warfare communities. The relationships between the …

Abuse Behind The Badge Intimate Partner Violence And Child Abuse In Police Families, Denicia M. Veroza

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This study analyzes the factors that may contribute to intimate partner violence and child abuse among police officers' families. Secondary data was obtained from the National Institute of Justice Data Resources Program, "Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-1999u (Gershon 2000). Surveys were distributed to 1577 Baltimore Police officers. The sample size for this study was 886, which included only those officers who were married, had live-in partners, or were divorced/separated or widowed. From this sample, it was found that 7.9% of the Baltimore Police officers admitted to committing intimate partner violence and 8.4% admitted …