Psychology Commons^™

The Effects Of Re-Framing And Respondent Personality On Psychometric Outcomes: A Replication And Extension Study, Meghan Joann Babcock

Psychology Dissertations - Archive

The present study investigated the effects of four item characteristics – context, direction, factor, and trait aspect switching – on inter-item correlations and participant misresponse rates for adjacent item pairs within a large set of personality scales. The responses to an online survey from 300 individuals recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk allowed for an investigation of these effects. The results of this study suggested that, across 16 different personality scales, adjacent item pairs that: (1) required higher levels context switching, (2) represented different factors, or (3) differed in trait aspect predicted both lower inter-item correlations and a greater percentage of …

Relation Between Sexual And Gender Minority Status And Suicide Attempts Among Veterans Seeking Treatment For Military Sexual Trauma, Minden B. Sexton, Margaret T. Davis, Raeann E. Anderson, Diana C. Bennett, Erin Sparapani, Katherine E. Porter

Psychology Faculty Publications

There is limited study of suicidal behaviors among veterans identifying as sexual and gender minorities (SGMs), despite previous research indicating rates of suicide attempts are high within civilian SGM populations. Further, some research incorporating military service members suggests those identifying as SGMs are disproportionately exposed to military sexual trauma (MST), an additional risk factor for negative psychiatric sequelae. To address health care research disparities among minority veterans (i.e., women, those endorsing MST, SGMs), we examined presentations of veterans (N = 277) who attended initial consultation appointments for MST-related treatment and completed a semistructured clinical interview including demographic characteristics, history of …

Video Prompting Delivered Via Augmented Reality To Teach Transition-Related Math Skills To Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Giulia Cacciatore

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a video-based instruction packet as a method of teaching math-based vocational skills delivered through augmented reality to three adults with intellectual disabilities. The dependent variable was the percentage of steps performed correctly to solve each selected type of math problem. The independent variable was the video-based math intervention delivered via augmented reality, which modeled the individual steps for solving three different multi-step math problems: (1) adjusting a recipe to serve a different number of people, (2) calculation of salary, (3) calculation of unit prices. Visual and statistical analysis demonstrated …

Exploring Predictors Of Information Exchange: A Behavioral Validation Of The Issie Scale, Ryan Thomas Gertner

Psychology Dissertations - Archive

A multitude of factors have been found to influence the prevalence of information exchange behaviors among team members. However, there are no scales that have measured individual motivational and cognitive differences and how these predict group processes and behaviors. This dissertation helps advance our understanding of how individual differences towards information sharing, information seeking, ideation, and elaboration in group settings can influence group processes. The Information Sharing, Seeking, Ideation, and Elaboration scale (ISSIE) was designed to measure these processes and serve as a predictor for those specific behaviors. This dissertation consisted of a two-part study, one survey and one in …

Does Perceived Angular Declination Contribute To Perceived Optical Slant On Level Ground?, Z. Li, Frank H. Durgin

Psychology Faculty Works

When one looks at a spot on level ground, the local optical slant (i.e., surface orientation relative to the line of sight) is geometrically equivalent to the angular declination (i.e., sagittal visual direction relative to horizontal). In theory, angular declination provides an unbiased proximal source of information for estimating optical slant on level ground. Two experiments were conducted to investigate whether human visual systems take advantage of this information. An aspect ratio task was used as an implicit measure for assessing perceived optical slant. Participants gave verbal estimates of the perceived aspect ratio of an L-shaped arrangement, formed by three …

Gene-Environment Interaction: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf) As A Moderating Factor For The Effects Of Exercise And Diet On Cognitive And Mental Health: The Cache County Study On Memory In Aging, Chelsea L. Sanders

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Cache County Study on Memory in Aging, funded by the National Institute on Aging, studied longitudinal changes in memory and aging over 12 years’ follow-up in a population-based sample of 5,092 older adults in semirural Cache County, UT. Among the extensive interview procedures, researchers collected information regarding the participants’ demographics, health, genetic factors, diet, physical activity, and cognitive abilities. This study has allowed researchers to investigate how genetic and modifiable lifestyle factors interact to predict health, cognitive function, and psychological wellbeing in older adults.

Diet and exercise are important lifestyle factors in maintaining cognitive health and psychological wellbeing throughout …

Understanding The Student Intern's Journey Through A Holistic Counseling Center: A Phenomenological Inquiry, John C. Harvey

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Eight Counselors in training (CITs) were followed through their professional counseling internships in a holistic outpatient counseling center. All participants were similarly exposed to mindfulness activities including yoga, qigong, meditation, and auricular acupuncture over the course of a semester, then asked to respond to the research question: How do student interns of the study site perceive and describe their lived experience of mindfulness phenomena? Phenomenological methodology was applied to the study and data was gathered through focus group discussion and face-to-face interviews. CITs registered descriptions of mindfulness phenomenon with insight, depth, and meaning. Their descriptions were recorded, transcribed, coded, themed, …

An Attachment-Based Group Intervention, Shannon Dillon

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed method study aimed to understand and describe the effectiveness of an intervention and the experiences of mothers raising their children in a transitional living home. This was achieved through interviewing four mothers in Gilead House. Initially, participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS-21), the Trauma History Screening (THS), the Adolescent Adult Parenting Inventory-2 (AAPI-2) and a demographics form. The first interview was also completed. Interview questions were based on the Working Model of the Child Interview (WCMI). Following this time 1 meeting an attachment-based group intervention was utilized for eight weeks. This intervention was based on …

Examining The Meaning Of Course Evaluation, Tyesha Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teaching evaluations significantly influence faculty members’ annual evaluations and progress toward tenure and promotion within academic programs in higher education. Those with consistently strong, positive, teaching evaluations have been deemed effective instructors and often validated with increases in salary, teaching awards, and promotion and tenure. This is especially the case when strong course evaluations are received in addition to documented scholarship and research activities and positively evaluated professional service. However, questions are being raised about the meaningfulness of students' ratings of course instruction. Do these measures effectively assess competence as instructors or do they measure other unknown processes in the …

The Relationship Between In-Session Commitment Language And Daily Self-Reported Commitment To Reduce Or Abstain From Drinking, Alexis Kuerbis, Jessica Houser, Paul Amrhein, Hayley Treloar Padovano, Jon Morgenstern

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Motivational interviewing is hypothesized to operate by enhancing a client's internal motivation to change. Past research operationalizes this process by measuring in-session statements for change (i.e., change talk), yet relationships between change talk and other measures of motivation have yet to be substantiated. This study tested whether in-session change talk predicted subsequent reports of commitment to abstain or moderate drinking assessed via ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and explored each of their contributions to drinking outcomes. Method: Secondary data analysis was performed on data from 48 study participants who received therapy within a randomized controlled trial testing mechanisms of actions …

To Act Justly, Elvin Gabriel

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Yes Means Yes But Does It Work?: An Empirical Investigation On The Performance Of Affirmative Consent Policies On Heterosexual Sexual Assault Scenarios, Kathryn Labore

Theses and Dissertations

Affirmative consent seeks to clarify when sexual assault occurs by framing consent in terms of agreement through positive verbal and non-verbal communication (Little, 2005). Affirmative consent can theoretically account for college students’ limited ability to identify sexual assault outside stereotypical rape scenarios (i.e. stranger rape) (Hammock & Richardson, 1997), thereby decreasing a common barrier to reporting confusion (Brubaker, 2009; McMahone, 2008). Fifteen states are currently considering passing a statewide mandate requiring affirmative consent (the affirmative consent project, 2015); however, universities lack agreement on whether or not affirmative consent should be required to include either verbal or behavioral affirmations, or both …

The Effect Of Dark Personality Traits And Cultural Logics On Counter-Productive Work Behaviors, Anastasia I. Angelbeck

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Social Exchange Theory postulates that individuals build relationships on the basis that the parties involved are mutually engaging in reciprocity of benefits or rewards. Social exchange theory implies certain belief systems and dispositions shift expected ways of relating to organizations, with some more willing to exploit co-workers and organizations. The following study compared the bivariate and incremental importance of the Dark Triad (Psychopathy, Narcissism, and Machiavellianism) in relation to the Triadic Cultural Codes (Face, Honor, and Dignity) in predicting counterproductive work behaviors, both globally and broken down by interpersonal (CWB-I) and organizationally (CWB-O) directed acts. We found significant associations for …

A Military Chronic Pain Interdisciplinary Outpatient Program’S (Iop) Approach To Reducing Pain And Disability And Increasing Functional Ability, Paris N. Mcdonald

USC Aiken Psychology Theses

The present study employed self-report measures to assess pain intensity, self-report perception of disability, and patient activation, and objective functional measures to explore the outcomes of a military interdisciplinary chronic pain intensive outpatient program. Seventy-three Active Duty Service Members (SM) with chronic pain completed baseline measures (pre-IOP) and graduation day measures, 60 SMs completed one-month follow-up measures, and 28 completed three-month follow-up measures. Results indicated that self-report pain levels decreased from pre-IOP to graduation day. The decrease was maintained; however, no additional significant decrease in pain occurred following program completion. Further, participant’s self-reported perception of disability due to back pain …

“Your Biological Clock Is Ticking”: Examining Stigma Of Childless Men And Women, Kayla Tamas

USC Aiken Psychology Theses

Prior research reveals that all childless individuals are negatively stigmatized, but voluntary and involuntary childless individuals are stigmatized to differing degrees. There is a little research investigating the differences in stigma associated with childless men and women. The current study examines the differences in stigma for voluntary and involuntary childless men and women by using a series of vignettes and having participants rate the childless individuals on fourteen general characteristics. Participants were recruited from psychology and sociology courses at the University of South Carolina Aiken as well as Psychological Research on the Net through Hanover College. It was hypothesized that …

Zero Textbook Cost Syllabus For Psy 3103/Pol 3101 (Political Psychology), Nicholas Juszczak

Open Educational Resources

This course is an exploration of political behavior from a psychological perspective, with special attention devoted to selected topics. What is Political behavior and what shapes it? Is it the situation in which we find ourselves, or our internal psychological makeup such as our beliefs and values? Perhaps neurology and physiology contribute as well? We will explore political psychology from within this situational-dispositional framework. Thus, we will look at behaviorism, obedience, personality, groupthink, cognition, affect, emotions and neuroscience as they relate to topics such as voting behavior, racism, terrorism, and more!

A Multimodal Assessment Of Disgust In Response To Traumatic Event Reminders Among Adolescents, Teah-Marie R. Bynion

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The majority of youth will report traumatic event exposure by the time they reach adulthood. Research suggests exposure to such events is linked to myriad negative outcomes. Not all traumatic events are alike, however; evidence suggests that, compared to non-interpersonal events, interpersonal events in which another person intentionally perpetrates harm are linked to elevations in the likelihood of negative outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One reason for this discrepancy is that interpersonal traumatic events may elicit greater levels of disgust. However, this is a very under-developed research base, no study has examined this question among youth. The current study …

Application Of A Three-Lever Drug Discrimination Method To Differentiate The Interoceptive Stimulus Effects Of 3, 4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone And 4-Methylmethcathinone In Male Sprague-Dawley Rats, Trent Bullock

Masters Theses

Psychoactive “bath salts” represent a continuing drug abuse problem. The synthetic cathinones, 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) are popular constituents of “bath salts” in the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively. Addiction to these substances has proven difficult to treat, possibly requiring targeted therapeutics. Drug discrimination is a preclinical assay that may aid in treatment development. Thus far, two-lever (drug vs no drug) discrimination studies have exhibited asymmetrical substitution patterns between 4-MMC and MDPV. Therefore, a three-lever discrimination method was employed in which 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate 0.5 mg/kg MDPV, 2.0 mg/kg 4-MMC, and …

Evaluation Of Generalized And Specific Token Reinforcement Using A Paired Stimulus Preference Assessment And Progressive Ratio Schedules, Haily K. Traxler

Masters Theses

Skinner (1953) stated that the effects of generalized conditioned reinforcers should maintain longer than specific conditioned reinforcers because their effects are not dependent on a particular motivating operation. Tokens easily model different levels of generality because tokens can be paired with one or more back-up reinforcers. In the current study, three types of tokens were assessed that could be exchanged for either salty snacks, food and drinks offered in a small marketplace, or money on a gift card. Token preferences were assessed using a Paired Stimulus preference assessment and a progressive ratio (PR) task. The results of the preference assessment …

The Effects Of Gateway Width On Driver Yielding To Pedestrians: A Systematic And Parametric Analysis, Jonathan M. Hochmuth

Masters Theses

The gateway in-street sign treatment has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective method for increasing driver yielding behavior at crosswalks. In the present study, wide and narrow gateway widths were compared at two sites to determine if there was a differential effect on driver yielding behavior. Then, the relationship between width and yielding was refined with a parametric analysis at one of these sites. Gateway width was varied in two-foot intervals from 12ft to 18ft. The results indicated an inverse relationship between gateway width and driver yielding behavior. There are likely two variables related to this effect. First, because drivers …

A Parametric Analysis Of Choice Under Risk, David W. Sottile

Masters Theses

Accurate assessment of risk propensity is important because risky choices underlie a broad range of behavioral problems. The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) is an assessment that measures propensity to engage in risky choice. While this is a useful assessment, the BART changes two variables that affect risky choice simultaneously, probability of an undesirable outcome and stake size, which cannot be separated within the context of the BART. The goal of this study was to evaluate the separate and combined effects of key factors that are likely to risky choice (Magnitude of payoff, probability of an undesirable outcome, and stake …

Contribution Of Monoaminergic Mechanisms To The Discriminative Stimulus Effects Of 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (Mdpv) In Sprague-Dawley Rats, Harmony I. Risca

Masters Theses

3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a popular synthetic cathinone reported to have a high abuse potential and comparable pharmacological actions to those of cocaine. The aim of this study was to evaluate a variety of monoaminergic agents for substitution, potentiation, or antagonism in rats trained to discriminate MDPV. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate 0.5 mg/kg MDPV and a variety of monoaminergic drugs were tested for substitution and/or potentiation of the MDPV cue. In separate experiments, stimulus antagonism tests were conducted with selected dopamine antagonists or serotonin antagonists in rats trained to discriminate 1 mg/kg MDPV. Full substitution for MDPV was …

Group Heterogeneity Influences Complex And Novel Outcomes, Belinda Williams

Psychology Dissertations - Archive

Research on diversity impacting group performance, especially creativity, has yielded varied, inconsistent outcomes. One initial issue that researchers face is identifying and measuring diversity within groups. Further, groups researchers have suggested that diversity is important when it is task-relevant; however, there is limited research on electronic groups working together over time to solve a creative problem. Additionally, the current body of research fails to address how specifically manipulated diversity impacts group performance over time. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by examining individuals assigned to heterogeneous or homogeneous groups. Participants were randomly assigned to these …

Sex Differences In Balance Measures And Chronic Low Back Pain In Older Adults, Kelley Bevers

Psychology Theses - Archive

The older adult population is growing at a rapid pace, with the US Census Bureau estimating older adults to comprise of 20% of the overall population by 2020. Now, more than ever, we must parse out differences within this group to target their specific needs, particularly those concerning potential injury and pain. Older adults face unique challenges surrounding their ability to manage pain conditions, such as increased fall risk, increased medication use, decreased physical ability, and multimorbidities. As such, uncovering the most effective and cost-effective strategies for mobility and maintenance are of vital importance. Previous research indicates there are sex …

Juvenile Hackers: An Empirical Test Of Self-Control Theory And Social Bonding Theory, Sinchul Back, Sadhika Soor, Jennifer Laprade

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

In accordance with a similar growth in information technology, computer hacking has become a pervasive issue as a form of crime worldwide in recent years. Self-control theory and social bonding theory have frequently been employed to explain various types of crimes, but rarely to explore computer hacking. Drawing from Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (1990) self-control theory and Hirschi’s (1969) social bonding theory, the purpose of this study is to empirically examine the suitability of these two theories in explaining juvenile computer hacking offenses. The self-report survey data utilized for the present study was derived from middle school and high school students …

Architecture Of Aggression In Cyberspace. Testing Cyber Aggression In Young Adults In Hungary, Katalin Parti, Tibor Kiss, Gergely Koplányi

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

In order to test whether and how violence is exacerbated in online social networking sites, we utilized the BryantSmith Aggression Scale (Bryant & Smith, 2001), and included examples in the questionnaire offering solutions for 7 different hypothetical cases occurring online (Kiss, 2017). The questionnaire was sent to social work and law school students in Hungary. Prevalence and levels of aggression and its manifestation as violence online proved to be not more severe than in offline social relations. Law students were more aware than students of social work that online hostile acts are discrediting. Students of social work were significantly more …

Multiculturalism, Colorblindness, And Prejudice: Examining How Diversity Ideologies Impact Intergroup Attitudes, David Sparkman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present research examined an underlying psychological process of the effect of diversity ideologies on prejudice among Whites. In one study, I tested whether colorblindness vs. multiculturalism affected perceptions of similarity vs. difference, outgroup perspective taking, and, in turn, prejudice. Using an experimental design, 341 total White participants from both an undergraduate (n = 151) and non-student adult sample (n = 190) were randomly assigned to a standard colorblind or multicultural condition. Participants then completed various measures of perceived similarities vs. differences (visual, interpersonal), outgroup perspective taking (egocentrism, perspective-taking scenario), and prejudice (explicit racial bias, symbolic racism). Results suggest the …

Influences Of Intrinsic And Extrinsic Hand-Feel Touch Cues On Sensory Perception And Emotional Responses Toward Beverage Products, Ragita Cantika Pramudya

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Consumer perception of and preference toward products are influenced by intrinsic product-specific (e.g., product temperature) and extrinsic non-product-specific (e.g., packaging or container) characteristics. Besides communicating information between products and consumers to create expectations toward the content at the point of sale, packaging also influences sensory perception of the content during consumption. Previous cross-modal studies on packaging effects on the content had largely overlooked hand-feel touch cues. Touch closely relates to consumers’ emotional responses to and their quality evaluation of products. One way to manipulate hand-feel touch cues in a beverage consumption setting is to vary materials of cup sleeve, which …

Gendered Racism And Risky Sexual Behavior Among African American College Women: A Moderated Mediation Study Of Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use, Safe Sex Practices, And Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies, Danielle P. Cottonham

Dissertations

Investigation of the effects of gender racism (i.e., discrimination based on race and gender) among African American college women is limited, which is concerning considering the impact this specific type of discrimination may have on mental health and coping behaviors among African American college women. African American students who have experienced racial discrimination and college women who have experienced sexual discrimination experience increased levels of psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of depression and anxiety). Further, harmful alcohol use is a common coping strategy for psychological distress among college students and has been linked to increased risky sexual behavior among African American …

Long-Term Focus Of Attentional Biases, Garrett Pollert

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prior research regarding attentional biases, or patterns of visual attention, have focused on attention over the initial second when exposed to pictoral food stimuli. This manuscript reviews the literature regarding attentional biases in overweight/obese individuals over this timeframe for the two previously defined components of attentional bias (attentional orientation and attentional maintenance). A new component is proposed, called “attentional re-engagement,” defined as the pattern of attentional shifts towards target stimulus types over longer periods of time. Overweight/Obese and Normal-weighted participants were recruited and engaged in an Extended Dot Probe task, wherein attentional orientation, maintenance, and re-engagement were assessed using the …