Psychology Commons^™

Seriously Though... Is Positive Workplace Humor A Help Or A Hindrance?: The Impact Of Coworker-Employee Humor Interactions On Employee Well-Being And Effectiveness, Mary Sierra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence and importance of humor in the workplace has been well-documented over the past several decades, with research consistently revealing its significant impact on employee well-being and effectiveness. During this same time period, organizations worldwide have begun embracing team-based work designs as a means for achieving success. As a result, the degree to which employees are engaging in both frequent and intensive interactions with their coworkers is rapidly increasing. Despite these trends, little research has been dedicated to investigating the ways in which employees’ well-being and effectiveness are influenced by the humor of their coworkers or the ways in …

Life Longing In Older Adults, Tyler A. Gerdin

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Determining The Clinical Utility Of The Merrill-Palmer-Revised Scales Of Development In A Sample Of Children With Autistic Disorder, Meaghan E. Peters

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Psychology And Human Flourishing : Gaining Knowledge For Psychology Through Both Philosophy And Science, Chad A. Houchin

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Graduate Student Level Behavioral Health Consultation In A Primary Care Setting : An Outcome Study, Syrett Yvonne Torres

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Neurocognitive Performance In Youth With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Lisa A. Mccrea Jones

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Reaching Out, Crying Wolf, Or Feigning Fine : Identifying Over- And Under-Reporting Of Psychological Symptoms On The Mmpi-2 In A Military Population, Amanda Kruszewski

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Language Brokers: The Relationship Of Acculturation, Shame, Hope, And Resilience In Latinos Of Mexican Descent, Lilia E. U. Luna

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Daughters' Perception Of Parental Gender Disappointment In Relationship To Eating Disorders, Carolyn S. Bloye

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The impact of familial relationships, as both protective and risk factors, on the development and treatment of eating disorders (ED) is a frequent topic of research (Cordero & Israel, 2009 Enten & Golan, 2009). However, Parental Gender Disappointment (PGD) as related to ED is one family dynamic that has not been studied. PGD may occur when a child is not born the gender of their parent's prenatal preference and the negative impact it can have on the child has been demonstrated (Stattin, 1991). This study sought to examine the potential relationship between Perceived Parental Gender Disappointment (PPGD) and ED through …

Outcome Evaluation Of A Time Management Smartphone Application: A Pilot Study, Michael J. D. Irvine

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Twenty-Five percent of college students receiving disability services are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Psycho-stimulants are often the treatment of choice because these medications have a quick and specific effect on attention and concentration. However, they have limited impact on skills related to executive functioning including organization, planning and project management. The potential for abuse is another problem associated with stimulant use in the college population. Beyond what is known about psychostimulants, little research has been done to develop effective, non-pharmacological interventions for young adults with ADHD. Behavior Therapy has been shown to be one promising adjunctive treatment …

Research Practitioner Gap: Treatments For Anorexia Nervosa, Michelle M. Block

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Anorexia Nervosa can be a detrimental and severe disorder, as it results in death for 5- 10% of the patients who are in treatment. Practitioners and researchers have spent much effort researching treatments for Anorexia Nervosa, but the results lack effective outcomes. A common complaint among practitioners is that research does not apply to their clients. Evidence Based Practice states that treatment options for psychologists should not only include the research, but also the intuition of the psychologist and the diversity of the client. This study investigates the difference between practitioners' and researchers' values in the three domains of Evidence …

Effect Of Religiosity And Combat Exposure To Predict Combat Service Member Posttraumatic Growth, Kurt C. Webb

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this study is to investigate 2 research questions: Do pre-deployment religiosity among combat military service members and level of combat exposure predict posttraumatic growth? And, do the level of combat exposure and changes in religiosity predict posttraumatic growth in combat military service members? The sample was obtained from an archival data set (Orton, 2012) was a group of male National Guard infantry deployed to the war in Iraq (N = 75). Participants were given pre- and post-deployment measures 1 month before and 6 months after returning from the Iraq war. Four regression equations were used to predict …

Increasing Supervisors' Confidence In The Assessment Of Students' Religious And Spiritual Diversity Competence, Heather M. Ambroson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Since the 1980s, there has been a movement towards using a competency-based approach as a way to measure and evaluate the progress of students and trainees in professional psychology. A core competency that has been defined is individual and cultural diversity, which includes the areas of religious and spiritual diversity. Research has shown that the primary way graduate students learn about religious and spiritual diversity is through clinical experiences, especially supervision (Vogel, McMinn, Peterson, & Gathercoal, in press Worthington et al., 2009). Therefore, it is important for supervisors to be aware of the expected knowledge, skills and attitudes students should …

The Relationship Of Shame In The Treatment Of Antepartum Depression, Pennie F. Wilson

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the relationship between shame, Antepartum Depression, and treatment seeking. Research shows that shame plays a role in Major Depression and other disorders. For the present study, the first hypothesis was that shame is positively correlated with Antepartum Depression as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The second hypothesis was that shame would be negatively correlated with treatment seeking behaviors. The third hypothesis was that psychoeducation about Antepartum Depression could lower the level of shame and increase treatment seeking behavior. This study consisted of using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to …

Examining The Physical And Mental Health Effects Of An Obesity Prevention Program In High Risk Adolescent Females: A Pilot Study, Luann K. Foster

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Obesity is a growing concern in the United States as two-thirds of the population is clinically overweight or obese, a condition that carries with it a myriad of physical and mental health concerns. To address these concerns, many programs have been designed to incorporate evidence-based obesity prevention; however, few have addressed the needs of high risk middle school rural children. The current study examined the effectiveness of a specific obesity prevention program designed to decrease risk of obesity by helping female students increase daily physical activity to recommended levels. This program is designed to provide daily and weekly motivational incentives …

The Effect Of College Student Spirituality On Alcohol Use And Sexual Behaviors: A Comparison Of Faith-Based And Non Faith-Based Institutional Ncha Data, Kristen S. Miller

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

College-aged individuals have a significant impact on national health. People in this age group have the highest rates of engagement in many risky health behaviors, such as binge drinking, substance use, and engaging in unprotected sexual activity. The American College Health Association (ACHA) has been actively involved in the study of college health behavior and the initiation of information and services to college health care providers for the past decade. However, little research has been done in this area on sub-populations of the overall college population. This study aims to assess the sub-population of students who attend a faith-based institution. …

Dissociation Differences Between Human-Made Trauma And Natural Disaster Trauma, Heather Merrell

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Contemporary psychiatric nosology defines dissociation as "a disturbance or alteration in the normally integrative functions of identity, memory, or consciousness" (Ruiz, Poythress, Lilienfeld, & Douglas, 2008; p. 511). Dissociation as a reaction to a traumatic event remains a controversial issue. This study explored for differences in the extent and forms of dissociation, intrusion, and avoidance in human-made trauma and natural disaster trauma. A total of 232 participants were drawn from 6 samples. Natural trauma was experienced by 2 groups in Haiti (earthquake), and one in Japan (tsunami). Human trauma was experienced by samples in India (abandonment, rejection/ostracism), Southern Sudan (civil …

The Measurement Of Motivation: Examining The Measurement Properties Of The Motivation Assessment System, Daniel Schmerling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated the Pritchard-Ashwood (P-A) Theory of Motivation (Pritchard & Ashwood, 2008) by examining a measure of P-A Theory labeled the Motivation Assessment System (MAS). P-A Theory combines prior motivation theories such as expectancy theory, goal setting theory, justice theory, and needs theory and consolidates them into one integrated theory of motivation. In essence, P-A theory posits that one’s motivation is determined by four perceptions, including the extent to which one believes: (a) his/her actions will lead to results, (b) his/her results will lead to positive evaluations, (c) his/her evaluations will lead to positive outcomes, and (d) his/her …

International And Cross-Cultural Application Of The Good Behavior Game, Julene Douty Nolan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Disruptive classroom behavior is frequently cited as a critical component in teacher job dissatisfaction and burnout. As corporal punishment is eliminated in many classrooms worldwide, teachers report a perception of increased disruptive classroom behavior that many feel ill equipped to address. Teachers also often report a lack of training in evidence-based behavior management tools that have been studied with international populations and culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse populations. The Good Behavior Game offers teachers a classroom-wide behavior management tool that has been studied both in the United States and abroad with students from diverse backgrounds, primarily in developed countries or …

Prevent-Teach-Reinforce For Function-Based Behavior Intervention Planning In Positive Behavior Support, Brett William Dejager

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The present study assessed the effectiveness of Prevent-Teach-Reinforce (P-T-R), an assessment-based model for students with behavior problems, using an A-B-A-B design with follow-up. Participants included three students in grades kindergarten, fourth, and fifth in a rural Midwestern school district. Results indicated that PTR was effective in reducing disruptive behaviors and increasing academic engaged time across all three participants. The results also indicated that the teacher participants were able to implement the behavior interventions with fidelity and with high levels of perceived social validity.

Examining Generational Differences Across Organizational Factors That Relate To Turnover, Kimberly Asuncion

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Turnover continues to pose a problem for all organizations across industries. This study examines the complex nature of turnover, by examining the relationship of turnover intentions with perceptions of distributive justice, procedural justice, growth opportunities, and recognition across age groups. Age groups will be used as a proxy for generational cohort membership. Results of the study confirm previous research that generational differences do exist; however, those differences are fairly small. Perceptions of distributive justice, procedural justice, growth opportunities, and recognition were found to be significant predictors of turnover intentions regardless of the age group.

A Systematic Analysis Of Paraprofessional Job Expectations: Development Of The Paraprofessional Survey Of Expectations Tool (P-Set), Angela Maxine Christenson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With increased accountability due to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), the provision of services to children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment is necessary to ensuring an inclusive, free appropriate public education. Paraprofessionals are increasingly utilized as service providers for children with disabilities in the schools. In fact, there are over a million paraprofessionals jobs nationally according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010) and the upward trend is steadily rising. Yet, the role of the paraprofessional is not well defined, nor agreed upon by school personnel. The Paraprofessional Survey of Expectations …

Narrative Versus Nonnarrative: The Role Of Identification, Transportation And Emotion In Reducing Health Disparities, Sheila T. Murphy, Lauren B. Frank, Joyee S. Chatterjee, Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

This research empirically tests whether using a fictional narrative produces a greater impact on health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intention than presenting the identical information in a more traditional, nonfiction, non-narrative format. European American, Mexican American, and African American women (N = 758) were surveyed before and after viewing either a narrative or non-narrative cervical cancer-related film. The narrative was more effective in increasing cervical cancer-related knowledge and attitudes. Moreover, in response to the narrative featuring Latinas, Mexican Americans were most transported, identified most with the characters, and experienced the strongest emotions. Regressions revealed that transportation, identification with specific characters, …

Metaphor And Analogy: The Sun And Moon Of Legal Persuasion, Linda L. Berger

Scholarly Works

Drawing on recent studies of social cognition, decision making, and analogical processing, this article recommends that lawyers turn to novel characterizations and metaphors to solve a particular kind of persuasion problem that is created by the way judges and juries think and decide. According to social cognition researchers, we perceive and interpret new information by following a process of schematic cognition, analogizing the new data we encounter to the knowledge structures embedded in our memories. Decision-making researchers differentiate between intuitive and reflective processes (System 1 and System 2), and they agree that in System 1 decision making, only the most …

Prosecution Dilemmas And Challenges For Child Pornography Crimes: Thethird National Juvenile Onlinevictimization Study (Njov‐3), Wendy A. Walsh, Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor

Crimes Against Children Research Center

Abstract

Results from the National Juvenile Online Victimization (N‐ JOV) Prosecutor Study indicate that prosecutors use a mix of strategies to handle defendants who possess large amounts of child pornography (CP). Prosecutors reported difficulties with computer forensics and the police investigation, but not so much with defense strategies. One‐quarter of prosecutors who dealt with CP cases had one that went in front of a jury in the past 2 years. Nearly half of prosecutors would like clearer guidelines about the types of CP cases accepted for federal prosecution.

The Effects Of Parent Factors On Children's Separation Anxiety, Anna Catherine May

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Parental anxiety is a well-known factor that contributes to the development of anxiety in children. However, little is known about how specific parental factors influence the development and trajectory of childhood anxiety. There is also a paucity of research on separation anxiety disorder specifically. Complicating matters, children who suffer from clinically significant separation anxiety tend to be younger and thus it is harder to obtain accurate information from this age group. The purpose of the present study was to determine the mechanism through which parental factors such as somatization, anxiety sensitivity, and separation anxious behaviors might influence the development of …

What You Attend To Is What You Remember : Investigating The Unit Of Representation In Visual Working Memory, Amanda Elaine Van Lamsweerde

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The unit of representation in visual working memory (VWM) is a matter of some debate. The object benefit occurs when more features are remembered when they are combined into fewer objects. This has been used to support the perspective that objects are the unit of representation in VWM. However, the object benefit occurs only for two features from different dimensions (e.g., a blue circle: color and shape) but not two features from the same dimension (e.g., a red-and-blue bi-colored square: two colors). This suggests that both objects and features may be important in determining VWM capacity. The purpose of this …

Organization Benefits - The Panacea For All That Ails You? A Dyadic, Dual-Earner Investigation Of Organization-Offered Benefits And Their Effect On Individuals And Their Partners, Suzanne Marie Booth-Ledoux

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In an effort to attract and retain top talent, organizations often offer and implement various organization benefits. The focus of this dissertation is on the outcomes of those offered organization benefits on employees and their partners. Three types of organization benefits were assessed: family-friendly benefits, financial and compensation benefits, and health care and wellness benefits. Additionally, the connection between the offering of these benefits with family-supportive organization perceptions was also examined. Family-supportive organization perceptions was shown to directly and indirectly link to individual-level outcomes including work-to-family conflict and psychological wellbeing. Moreover, because individuals do not exist in a vacuum (i.e., …

Sibling Closeness And Similarity And The Presence Of Perfectionism, Jennifer L. Crowe

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explored whether characteristics of the sibling relationship are related to the level of perfectionistic tendencies that an individual reports. The framework of this study was based on Tesser's Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model, which says that the effects of comparisons with a close other, such as a sibling, can be mediated in one of three ways: (a) by reducing the closeness of the relationship, (b) by improving one's performance/impeding on the other's performance, or (c) by decreasing the relevance of the performance to one's self-concept (pursuing different areas and interests). Several hypotheses were offered which were based on the presumption …

Effects Of Emotion Regulation Strategies On Sexual Risk-Taking, Monica Lackups

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Sexual risk-taking is a growing problem and an area where there are significant individual differences in behavior. One contributing factor to risky sexual behavior may be emotion regulation difficulties. For example, suppression has negative effects on emotion experience, while reappraisal leads to increased well-being. Previous research has demonstrated the use of sexual behavior as an emotion regulation strategy in victimized populations. This study investigated whether emotion regulation strategies influence sexual risk-taking in a non-clinical college population. Individuals with higher levels of emotion regulation difficulties and higher suppression use engaged in more frequent sexual risk-taking behavior, whereas individuals who used reappraisal …