Psychology Commons^™

Genetic And Environmental Contributions To Body Mass Index: Comparative Analysis Of Monozygotic Twins, Dizygotic Twins And Same-Age Unrelated Siblings, Nancy Segal, R. Feng, Shirley Mcguire, D. Allison, S. Miller

Psychology

Background—Earlier studies have established that a substantial percentage of variance in obesity-related phenotypes is explained by genetic components. However, only one study has used both virtual twins (VTs) and biological twins and was able to simultaneously estimate additive genetic, non-additive genetic, shared environmental and unshared environmental components in body mass index (BMI). Our current goal was to re-estimate four components of variance in BMI, applying a more rigorous model to biological and virtual multiples with additional data. Virtual multiples share the same family environment, offering unique opportunities to estimate common environmental influence on phenotypes that cannot be separated from …

Best Practices In Using Student Response Systems (Srs), Sarah Grison, Robert Bartsch

Psychology Faculty

These slides are from a workshop describing the various types of student response systems, the benefits of using SRS over other response methods, and the best practices for SRS to improve student learning. Guidance on implementing SRS and supporting resources for improving pedagogy are also included.

A Longitudinal Investigation Of The Relationships Amongst Antibody Response To Influenza Vaccination, Affect, And Stress In The Elderly, Joanne Hash-Converse

Psychology

We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships amongst affect, stress exposure, and antibody (Ab) response to influenza inoculation in a healthy, elderly sample. We explored both efferent (CNS on immune activity) and afferent (immune activity on CNS function) pathways. Negative (NA) and positive (PA) affective states were examined in relation to Ab response, positing that high baseline NA (State, SNA, but not Trait, TNA) would predict reduced Ab response and that PA would predict enhanced response, and that the reduced Ab response in individuals displaying high baseline SNA would associate with decreases in NA. Moderator (for psychogenic and systemic stress) …

A Longitudinal Approach To Understanding Individual Differences Affecting The Drinking Behavior Change Process, Mariam Dum

Theses and Dissertations

Most studies examining predictors of treatment outcomes among problem drinkers have used a traditional statistical approach that examines group outcomes (e.g. analysis of variance, multiple regression analysis). Contrary to traditional methods, a person-centered approach identifies commonalities among clusters of individuals and provides the opportunity to examine the relationship between multiple individual differences and outcomes in a longitudinal manner. Specifically, the person-centered approach makes it possible to cluster individuals into subgroups based on their change patterns, and to examine the relationship between those subgroups and other variables of interest (e.g., drinking problem severity). This approach allows the inclusion of a relatively …

The Promise Of Sustainable Happiness, Julia K. Boehm, Sonja Lyubomirsky

Psychology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

From ancient history to recent times, philosophers, writers, self-help gurus, and now scientists have taken up the challenge of how to foster greater happiness. This chapter discusses why some people are happier than others, focusing on the distinctive ways that happy and unhappy individuals construe themselves and others, respond to social comparisons, make decisions, and self-reflect. We suggest that, despite several barriers to increased well-being, less happy people can strive successfully to be happier by learning a variety of effortful strategies and practicing them with determination and commitment. The sustainable happiness model (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, & Schkade, 2005) provides a theoretical …

The Effect Of Priming A Thin Ideal On The Subsequent Perception Of Conceptually Related Body Image Words, Teresa A. Markis

ETD Archive

There is a substantial amount of empirical evidence in support of the claim that the thin ideal portrayed by the mass media leads to body image dissatisfaction. Furthermore, a disturbance in the perception of body image is an essential feature of eating disorders. The Stroop task has been adapted to provide a measure of selective processing for body image related words in eating disordered individuals. Building upon this previous work, the present study was designed to examine the effect of priming the thin ideal on the subsequent perception of body image related words in participants without an eating disorder. In …

The Impact Of A Mindful State On Ego-Salience And Self-Control, Robert J. Goodman

ETD Archive

Convergent findings among several distinct lines of research have revealed that mindfulness, an open and receptive form of present-centered awareness, is positively associated with numerous indices of well-being. Much of this research has focused on dispositional mindfulness, the frequency with which one enters into mindful states over time. However, state mindfulness, the degree to which one is mindful at a specific point in time, has been left relatively unexplored. Current theories suggest that many beneficial effects attributable to mindfulness are due to changes in the way one relates to thoughts about the self. In this study we hypothesized that a …

Parental Perceptions Of Weight In Their Own Children And In Other Children, Tammy Corbett-Alderman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Childhood obesity rates have risen dramatically in the past 50 years. Interest in the issue of obesity in the United States has grown significantly as our population has become increasingly heavier and our obesity associated health issues have become ever more apparent. Childhood obesity is a persistent problem as 80% of obese children grow up to be obese adults. Despite the alarming increase in childhood obesity little has been done to reverse this epidemic. The purpose of the present study was to determine if parents are able to identify excess weight in children other than their own. It was hypothesized …

The Status Of Violence Prevention In West Virginia Elementary Schools : A Case Study, Kristal Gayle Pentasuglia-Filipek

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

While there is no absolute deterrent of school violence, West Virginia has taken definitive steps to try to ensure safety in our public schools. Since the launch of the Safe School initiative in 1995, training for principals, teachers and school personnel on crisis intervention and management plans have been ongoing. Students have undergone training in programs such as Peer Mediation, Natural Helpers, Life Skills, Bullying Prevention, Positive Behavior Support (PBS), and Respect to Protect. In addition, encouragement, mandating and providing funds for school safety and violence/crime prevention and intervention programs have been enacted legislatively. With the school security hardware, safety …

Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills (Dibels): A Comparison Of Scoring Systems, Ashley E. Barr

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to compare scoring systems of the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, commonly known as DIBELS. Currently, there are two systems for scoring the DIBELS assessments. The first system is a paper and pencil approach and the second system is electronic and utilizes a handheld palm-pilot. This study determined whether the electronically scored DIBELS produces the same scores as the hand-scored DIBELS. It was hypothesized that the electronically scored DIBELS will yield significantly different scores than the hand-scored DIBELS. Median scores obtained from the electronic palm-pilot were compared to median scores obtained from …

Teacher Burnout: Special Education Versus Regular Education, Amanda Roach

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Teacher burnout is a serious problem in education today. Studies have been conducted on teacher burnout and the effect it has on regular education and special education teachers. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of teacher burnout between regular education and special education teachers. One-hundred-and-two surveys were distributed to kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in two school districts in Ohio. Thirty-two surveys were randomly chosen for the study. Regular education teachers had higher scores on the Teacher Burnout Scale than special education teachers. There was no difference concerning job satisfaction between regular or special education teachers. …

Autobiographical Memory Specificity, Negative Mood State, And Executive Control: Implications For Clinical Depression, Billy J. Rutherford

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Reduced autobiographical memory specificity and executive control have been associated with clinical depression; however, evidence is inconclusive as to whether these impairments represent trait-like qualities of individuals with clinical depression or are associated with changes in mood state. The present study employed a mood induction procedure and a digit-recall task derived to interfere with working memory to test the role of current mood and executive functioning in the autobiographical memory of nondepressed college students. Non-depressed subjects recalled significantly fewer specific memories on an autobiographical memory test following an induced, negative mood state and also with a concurrent digit-recall task. Thus, …

Portraits Of Resiliency : A Qualitative Study Of Appalachian Christian Women, Joy A. Butcher-Winfree

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate how some women in Appalachia create meaning and purpose when faced with challenges, problems, and crises and how they make it through these difficult events. The following research questions informed this research: 1) What role does spirituality play in the process of resiliency; 2) How does a relationship with a higher power enhance a woman’s ability to bounce back from difficult situations; and 3) How do some Appalachian Christian women find meaning and purpose when faced with challenges, problems and crisis and how do they make it through? The study involved collection, …

Attitude Change Of Educators Utilizing Best Practices In Education, Sonya Christian

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

It is purported that educator attitudes are highly important in many areas of education. This study examined if educator attitude change occurred as a result of teaching in a six-week summer school enrichment program that implements research-supported best practices in education. Participants were predominantly white female education students enrolled in a graduate school in West Virginia. Sixty-seven of them responded to a pre-post Likert-type survey developed by professors at the institution. Data was collected over two summers. Analysis of the data included bar graph comparisons and a Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test (p<0.05). The conclusions from this study yielded changes in educator attitudes on three questions in the survey. Implications for future study in this area are discussed.

High Stakes Testing Effects On Graduation Rates, Karen Gail Cummings

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

With the inception of No Child Left Behind many states are now requiring students to pass a statewide exam in order to be promoted to the next grade or to graduate from high school. Opponents of these tests argue that high stakes testing decreases graduation rates among these students. They also argue that the tests are biased and unfair for minority students, students of low socioeconomic status, and students with disabilities who often fail the tests. The graduation rates for twenty-nine Appalachian counties in Ohio, a state that requires students to pass the Ohio Graduation Test in order to graduate, …

The Effect Of Character Education On Emotional Intelligence, Jennifer Doak

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Research has shown that children who fail to develop emotional intelligence are prone toward anti-social and self-destructive behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine if the book Sad, Mad, Glad and subsequent character education lesson plans have an effect on children’s emotional intelligence. Such results are important, because teaching children to be aware of their emotions helps them with self-regulation and social interaction. Also, it is important to determine if character education programs are effective before widespread implementation occurs in educational settings. Fifty-four students, ages 5-11, from the MUGC Summer Enrichment Program participated in the study. It was …

Differences In Scores Derived From Age-Based Norms Versus Grade-Based Norms On The Kaufman Test Of Educational Achievement, Second Edition And Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Second Edition, Carla Donahue

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Traditionally, standardized achievement measures have provided only age-based norms for deriving standard scores from obtained raw scores. In recent years, publications of normreferenced achievement test have begun to include norms based on grade level. With the addition of grade-based norms, test manuals and interpretation guides have not included clear guidelines indicating when it is advisable to use one type of norm over the other. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between standard scores obtained using age- and grade-based norms, using the same raw score, for students in the appropriate grade for their age, students who are …

Goal Attainment Scaling To Determine Effectiveness Of School Psychology Practicum Students, Kristen Frace

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is a system used by school psychologists and other professionals to evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions and services they provide by assessing student outcome data. The Marshall University Summer Enrichment Program (MUSEP) utilized the GAS to determine the effectiveness of the school psychology practicum students and its program. This study looks at the effectiveness of graduate students within seven teams and the services they provided to children during the 2008 MUSEP. Results of the t-test indicated that 74% of children made significant gains in their specified academic and behavior goals. A UNIANOVA and a …

Risk Behavior, Decision Making, And Music Genre In Adolescent Males, Joseph E. Hampton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The effects of music on risk behavior and decision-making are still unknown. Previous studies have linked music with risky behaviors such as drinking. Evidence shows that performance and decision-making on certain tasks can be altered by the presence of music. This study seeks to evaluate decision-making while in this "altered" state of mind. It is hypothesized that decisions made listening to rock music will be more risky than those made in other conditions. Participants were assessed using several questionnaires and the Iowa Gambling Task. Participants were randomly assigned to no music, classical music, or rock music. Results indicate several interesting …

Applications For Parent-Child Relationship Concerns, Christy A. F. Jenkins

Graduate Research Papers

The parent-child relationship is the foundation for formative life experiences and is a common diagnosable concern in the professional counseling and human service field. This work briefly addresses the DSM-IV-TR diagnosis V 61.20 Parent Child Relational Problem, providing prevalence rates, and related risks as well as two specific intervention strategics. Intervention strategies include the use of temperament traits and the communication of love between individuals. A handout follows the text of this work which may be used with clients.

Testing A Multiple Mediation Model Of Asian American College Students’ Willingness To See A Counselor, Paul Youngbin Kim, Irene J. K. Park

SPU Works

Adapting the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the present study examined help-seeking beliefs, attitudes, and intent among Asian American college students (N = 110). A multiple mediation model was tested to see if the relation between Asian values and willingness to see a counselor was mediated by attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help and subjective norm. A bootstrapping procedure was used to test the multiple mediation model. Results indicated that subjective norm was the sole significant mediator of the effect of Asian values on willingness to see a counselor. The findings highlight the importance of social influences on help-seeking …

Individual And Group Performance On Insight Problems: The Effects Of Experimentally Induced Fixation, Christine M. Smith, Emily Bushouse, Jennifer Lord

Peer Reviewed Articles

Recent research has shown that the benefits associated with incubation periods during individual problem solving can be explained in terms of forgetting the material or of any strategy that serves to block progress toward success (e.g., Smith & Blankenship, 1991). While interacting groups reliably outperform individuals on both problem-solving and recall tasks, groups’ superior memory capacity may serve to hinder problem solving, especially when fixation has occurred. In the present study, individuals and three-person groups attempted to solve a set of 20 rebus puzzles on two different occasions. In the first session rebuses were accompanied by “clues,” that were designed …

The Relationship Between Resilience And Body Image In College Women, Robert J. Mcgrath, Wiggin Julie, Rosemary M. Caron

Health Management & Policy

Possessing a negative body image is associated with unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders in college women and has been linked to depression and negative feelings of self worth. Limited research exists on protective factors that have the potential to mitigate body image dissatisfaction. This paper examines the relationship of resilience to body image dissatisfaction in college women. Female, undergraduate college students were studied using previously validated measures. Results indicate that increased resilience is associated with improved body image.

Trends In Arrests Of "Online Predators"., Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell

Crimes Against Children Research Center

No abstract provided.

A Proposed Program To Reduce Risk Of Recidivism For First Time Juvenile Sex Offenders, Lorna E. Grant

Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice

This proposed pilot project is intended for juvenile sex offenders and their parents. The program aims to guide juvenile sex offenders into successful reintegration into their communities, and prevent re-incarcera-tion/relapse of juveniles released from juvenile correctional facilities and the family court using a multi-sys-temic approach. A developmental evaluation is proposed to be conducted from the behavioral objectives approach to measure the effectiveness of a 12-months pilot program.

Training Collaboration In A Network-Assisted Environment, Brooke Schaab, J. Douglas Dressel, Mark A. Sabol, Andrea L. Lassiter

Psychology Department Publications

Technology enabled non-face-to-face collaboration has the potential to enhance information sharing and shared situational awareness (SSA) by providing near real-time information to a wide audience. Collaborators require an awareness of what critical information should be shared to develop this SSA. Previous research suggested that participants, while reporting that they shared relevant information, in actuality did not. To explore this issue, the previous research was repeated with the addition of having half of the participants exposed to a short training video on how to collaborate. Participants who received training on how to collaborate located significantly more SCUDs during each of the …

Su People, Paula Meseroll, David Marc, Amy Speach, Kathleen Haley

Syracuse University Magazine

No abstract provided.

Training In The Use Of Psychotherapy Outcome Assessment Measures At Psychology Internship Sites, James M. Mours, Clark D. Campbell, Kathleen Gathercoal, Mary K. Peterson

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

American Psychological Association accredited psychology internship training programs (N = 407) were surveyed concerning their attitudes, beliefs, and practices with regard to outcome assessment measures. Results indicated that 47% of surveyed sites use outcome measures for assessment, and 66% used these measures for diagnostic purposes. In addition, 79% of respondents supported using outcome assessment measures to evaluate client progress, 61% supported training interns in the use of outcome assessment measures, and 87% felt outcome assessment measures would increase in importance in the future. The discrepancy between support for outcome assessment measures and actual use is discussed and recommendations provided.

Role Of Enriched Representations In Collaborative Planning Processes, Elizabeth A. Lerner

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The current study addressed the function of representing constraints in a display that is used for the process of planning on a team level. The experimental task was a modification of a game entitled 10 Days in Africa in which the players must complete a journey through the continent of Africa. Dyads participated in the game by constructing their own planning representations, as well as collaborating with the other player. We augmented the standard Gantt chart representation of timeline events with representations for the constraints holding between adjacent events. To examine the function of constraint representation in planning, we examined …

Cue-Evoked Positive Affect, Depression Vulnerability And Smoking Years, Dennis E. Mcchargue, Neal Doran

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objectives—To evaluate whether cue-evoked affective response would moderate the relationship between depression-proneness and smoking years.

Methods—Depression-proneness profiles were derived using clinician diagnosed personal and family histories of major depression, recurrent depression, trait-anhedonia, and ruminative coping styles (n=70). Affective distress was produced by idiographic, guided negative mood imageries in the presence of an in vivo cigarette exposure.

Results—Contrary to expectations, results showed that individuals less vulnerable to depression reported longer smoking histories. Stress-induced decreases in positive affect bolstered the association between depression vulnerability and smoking years.

Conclusion—Depression-proneness assumptions are challenged and implications to affective influences on smoking behavior are discussed.