Psychology Commons^™

Lexical Influence In Phoneme Perception With Non-Degraded And Spectrally-Degraded Speech, Jane Bradley Smart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In speech perception tasks with ambiguous bottom-up information, lexical processes have been shown to influence listener responses, such as in phoneme categorization tasks (Ganong, 1980). Proponents of interactive theories of speech perception and spoken word recognition assert this influence is a top-down feedback mechanism that can affect bottom-up perceptual processes (e.g., McClelland & Elman, 1986). While robust influences on phoneme perception have been reported in multiple studies (Connine & Clifton, 1987; Ganong, 1980; Gow, Segawa, Ahlfors, & Lin, 2008; Pitt & Samuel, 1993; among others), some phonetic contrasts, particularly those that distinguish place of articulation, have been tested in very …

Cognitivism In School Psychologists’ Talk About Cultural Responsiveness: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Sujay Sabnis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although there is an increase in publications on the topic of cultural responsiveness in school psychology, the research literature does not interrogate the discourse around cultural responsiveness and the modes of practices it enables. Using a preexisting dataset featuring interviews with 15 school psychologists, I analyzed the discursive formations characterizing the talk about cultural responsiveness. Data analysis using the critical discursive psychology framework illuminated the presence of cognitivism in participant talk. Critical discourse analysis drawing on Foucauldian theory of power effects revealed the ways in which cognitivism both enabled and constrained the discursive production of ‘culture’ and ‘cultural responsiveness’. Culture …

What’S In A Name? Measuring Potential Influence Of Medical Cannabis Labels On Attitudes Towards Its Use, Dylan Pieper

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

In this study, I hypothesize that participants who read a vignette summarizing a scientific article on using cannabis to treat cancer pain will report significantly different approval of the treatment if they are randomly assigned to see either the label marijuana, cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), or nabiximols (a pharmaceutical cannabis derivative). Specifically, I predict that participants will report significantly lower approval when reading marijuana compared to nabiximols. I also hypothesize that reported stigma will mediate the relationship between the noun condition and reported approval and that reported political orientation will mediate the relationship between noun condition and reported stigma. I plan …

Pre-Test Processing Differences Of Test-Anxious Students, Michelle Garcia

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in persons with test anxiety (TA) compared to those without test anxiety to examine pre-test processing differences, specifically in terms of test preparation and study methods. This research is important to many individuals, as testing is a large part of education, and performance may affect a person's future opportunities. Further understanding of pre-testing differences in study methods of test-anxious students may lead to possible interventions to improve performance of those who experience TA. The research will collect data from 30 participants who will be administered the Cognitive Test Anxiety Inventory …

Permeating Presence: Examining The Effects Of Mindfulness-Trained Supervisors On Employee Performance, Pearl Marquez

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Mindfulness is a process that uses sustained attention (Bishop et al., 2004) to be aware of the surrounding environment (Langer & Moldoveanu, 2000) while holding a nonjudgmental orientation towards one’s self and others (Bergomi, et al., 2012). Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) teach mindfulness through different exercises, like breathing techniques to increase mindfulness. MBIs are becoming of interest to organizations due to the possibility of increasing job performance amongst employees (Shonin et al., 2014). MBIs have also been used to demonstrate the effects of trained mindfulness on intrapersonal relationships; however, these possible effects on interpersonal relationships have not been examined in an …

Conquering Math Anxiety, Kendra Ellett

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Mathematics is often perceived as a vigorous and demanding subject, and many students treat it as such, developing high affective filters that inhibit the process of learning math. This adverse reaction is the origin of math anxiety, a critical issue that plagues fifty percent of the U.S. population (Boaler, 2012). Much of the research on math anxiety suggests low test scores and feelings of disenchantment are direct consequences of math anxiety, and other literature goes further in asserting that students’ futures are put on the line (Boaler, 2012). There are a variety of innovative pedagogical methods designed to assuage the …

The Relationship Between Food Addiction & Self-Worth, Madison Buhre

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Disordered eating behaviors are defined as obsessive actions surrounding a person’s eating patterns, body shape, and weight (National Institute of Mental Health) and impact an estimated 21.5 million people (American Addiction Centers) in the United States. Food addiction is a phenomenon closely tied with disordered eating behaviors (Russell, 2013), where little research has examined the role of intrapsychological factors, particularly self-worth, in both the development of food addictive behaviors and the efficacy of treatment. Current research evaluates the role of self-esteem in individuals with food addiction; however, studies have found it as a less accurate portrayal of the self-concept due …

Does Political Orientation Cause Us To See Things Differently?, Matthew Sedlacek

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Individuals’ perspectives and stances on an issue will often cause them to perceive information in a way that agrees with their beliefs. Biased assimilation refers to individuals’ tendencies to perceive information consistent with their beliefs as more positive than information inconsistent with their beliefs. It is related to the hostile media effect, which refers to individuals’ tendencies to view balanced news coverage as biased against their stance. Both Liberals and Conservatives tend to show these biases by perceiving some news coverage as biased. In this study, 250 participants will read a news article about a recent bill that was passed. …

Perceptions Of Microaggressions And Consequences Differ By Political Orientation, Christina Fortuna, Jordan Newburg, Bre Kirpes

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Microaggressions are subtle forms of discriminatory behavior. Women are more likely than men to perceive gender microaggressions (Basford, Offermann, & Behrend, 2014), and political orientation can affect perceptions of microaggressions (Harper, 2018). In this study, we hypothesized that politically liberal women would perceive discriminatory behavior and anticipate negative outcomes for another woman more than politically conservative women, especially when microaggressions were subtler. In a pre-registered experiment, 248 female participants read one of four workplace interaction vignettes depicting microassault, microinsult, microinvalidation, or no microaggression (Basford et al., 2014). Participants rated whether the interaction was discriminatory and if it would result in …

The Roles Of Race And Gender In Contagious Yawning, Daroon Jalil

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

Social psychologists often consider race to be a marker of in- or out-group status. When looking at race, implicit bias can take more subtle forms than outward racism. This study asked two research questions to better understand the psychology behind racial issues. The first question was whether the number of contagious yawns (CY) a person experiences depends on the race of the stimuli being viewed. Yawning more in response to in-group members is a phenomenon seen in chimpanzees, but it has not been studied in humans in a racial context. Black and white males and females were recruited to view …

Won't You Be My Neighbor, Christian Campbell, Elizabeth Sullivan

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

Social identity is a person’s sense of who they are based on their group membership(s). The groups which people belong are an important source of pride and self-esteem. Groups give us a sense of belonging to the social world. Neighborhood communities like Pittsburgh’s Hill District can foster social identity for members. However, when the group we belong to is heavily judged and scrutinized our sense of identity can be affected. The current study aims to understand how personal attitudes and perceived external attitudes of one's community effects the same individual’s communal identity and personal identity. …

Generating Civically-Engaged Undergraduate Student Scientists In General Education Classrooms, Tara T. Lineweaver, Tonya R. Bergeson

Scholarship and Professional Work - Communication

No abstract provided.

Perceived Partner Responsiveness, Sleep And Pain: A Dyadic Study Of Military-Connected Couples, Annamarie Sophia O'Neill

Dissertations and Theses

The health-promoting influence of high-quality, supportive close relationships has been extensively documented, yet the mechanisms of this effect are less well-understood. Leading researchers have galvanized the field to test particular relationship processes and the mediating psychological processes they facilitate to pinpoint how close relationships exert their salutary effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the intimacy process on health outcomes of sleep and pain and if this effect depends on the facilitation of psychological processes in a sample of veterans and spouses (collectively called military-connected couples; N=147). Sleep problems are highly prevalent among military-connected couples …

The Relation Between Disordered Eating, Stress, And Anxiety In First-Year College Women [Poster], Jenna K. Anderson

Research in the Capitol

Research has shown that there is an increase in rates of stress and disordered eating for students transitioning to college. The current study examined this connection by determining the relation between disordered eating, stress, and anxiety in first-year college women. To this end, 99 college-enrolled women completed paper-and-pencil surveys in a psychology lab, such as the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). According to the results, the DASS-21 stress sum was significantly correlated with the EDE-Q total disordered eating sum (r(92) =.330, p = .001), but the DASS-21 anxiety sum was not (r(92) …

Decision Experience In Hyperchoice: The Effect Of Age, Numeracy, And Mental Fatigue, Natasha Peterson, Jiuqing Cheng

Research in the Capitol

With the world’s older adult population expanding rapidly, it is important to understand how decision-making abilities change across the lifespan. The objective of this research is to study the effects of age, numeracy, and mental fatigue when faced with a consumer or gamble choice situation, in which many options are available (hyperchoice). Due to the development of technology, the scenario of hyperchoice is common. While people have more options to choose from, they may also feel overwhelmed. A total of 114 older adults and 112 younger adults were surveyed. Results of this study indicate that too many options may deteriorate …

The Effects Of Stress Mindset Interventions On University Students' Health And Functioning, Abigail Fate

Undergraduate Honors Papers

In modern society, the overwhelming cultural narrative proclaims that stress is detrimental to health and should be limited and avoided at all costs. However, recent research has demonstrated that it is one’s stress mindset, rather than their stress level, that determines the psychological and physiological outcomes. Mindsets are lenses that simplify and order the world, and have been proven to influence daily behavioral and physiological responses to create cascading effects. Recent research has demonstrated that one’s mindset about stress is the demining factor in health, performance, and productivity in response to stressful conditions, and that these mindsets can be manipulated …

Gender Discrepancy In The Weight Room, Colby Norris

Honors Projects in Applied Psychology

This paper proposed that despite the benefits of weightlifting, especially for women, that an uneven gender divide still exists in the weight room. It was also proposed that the masculine culture of the gym deters women from lifting. It was found through an observational study that there were four times more men than women in the weights areas of gyms. It was also found that women are more uncomfortable than men when their physique is being examined and that lifting women identify more strongly with traditionally "masculine" personality terms than non-lifting women do. Women cite a lack of knowledge, a …

The Unheard Cries And Unseen Tears Of The Middle East, Adina Shabe

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Student Projects

No abstract provided.

Children With Disabilities In The Foster Care System, Shayla Stogsdill

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Student Projects

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Hiv/Aids On Orphans In A South African Context, Meghan Burkholder

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Student Projects

No abstract provided.

Adverse Child Experiences: An Overview With A Focus On Indiana, Meghan Burkholder, Grace Zander

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Student Projects

No abstract provided.

Don't Shoot: Race-Based Trauma And Police Brutality, Leah Metzger

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Student Projects

With the growing conversation on police brutality against black Americans, there is an increasing need to understand the consequences this has on black children. Research is now showing that children and adults can experience race-based trauma, which can have profound effects on psychological and physical well-being, and can also impact communities as a whole. The threat and experience of police brutality and discrimination can be experienced individually or vicariously, and traumatic symptoms can vary depending on the individual. Children are especially vulnerable to the psychological and physical effects of police brutality and the threat thereof because of their developmental stages. …

Prevalence, Nature, And Prevention Of Ptsd In Refugee Children, Leah Metzger

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Student Projects

The world today has the highest number of refugees ever recorded in history. At the end of 2017, there were 68.5 million individuals who were displaced across the globe due to persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations. There are three main categories of individuals within this statistic: refugees, internally displaced people, and asylum-seekers. By the end of 2017, there were 25.4 million refugees in the world (the highest ever), 40 million internally displaced people, and 3.1 million asylum seekers (UNHCR). It is currently estimated that over half of the worlds refugees are children, and 28 million children have been …

Professional Impressions And Experiences Of The Complex Needs Of Human Trafficking Survivors, Jackie Klock, Kelsey Haynes

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Abstract Human trafficking is a monumental and pervasive human rights issue, and one that carries immense physical, psychological, and psychosocial repercussions to its survivors. This project explores the complex needs and service gaps that exist for survivors of human trafficking. Through a qualitative study, with six in-person interviews of professional providers in Maine, we gain access to important information regarding complex needs of human trafficking survivors. Using thematic analysis we analyze common themes throughout the interviews in relation to previous literature. Recommendations for practice are also presented.

Child Poverty, Physical & Mental Health In Maine, Katelyn Malloy

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Children who live below the national poverty line account for nearly one fifth of Maine’s overall population. Child poverty is a determinant of health that can lead to negative health outcomes that affect childhood development, educational achievement, as well as physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to identify five Maine counties with the highest rates of child poverty according to the national average. Comparison of poverty rates between counties were analyzed along with two leading health indicators – mental and physical distress. This study used 2016 county-level childhood poverty estimates, assessed by the American Community Survey …

Lending A Hand: Healthcare Cost And Treatment Impact Of Peer Recovery Services, A Review Of The Literature, Nicholas J. Bush

Senior Honors Projects

Background: In the United States, the need for mental health and substance misuse treatment has been on the rise leading to an increase in healthcare costs and a reduction in barriers to care. Recently, there has been a growing interest in implementing peer support services (PSS) to increase access to care, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce healthcare related costs, such as emergency room visits, psychiatric hospitalization, and crisis stabilization.

Aims: This Honors project reports on a systematic review of the literature on treatment outcomes associated with PSS in mental health and/or substance misuse populations. It reviews the evidence that PSS …

Anxiety, Depression And Academic Performance, Megan Taylor, Kimberly Ruhl, Hyejoon Park

Posters

Anxiety and depression are common mental health issues among college students and can affect how a student will perform in school. Students with anxiety or depression have poorer academic performance when compared to students who do not. The method being used is a quantitative method of random sampling to ask college students if they have ever experienced anxiety and depression, and if it has affected their academic perfor­mance. The college students can vary in age, gender, race, and majors. The survey consists of ten multiple choice questions that will measure if the student has experienced anxiety or depression, how often, …

Ted Bundy: The Development Of A Serial Murderer, Danielle Rakestraw, Brad Cameron

Posters

Who is Ted Bundy, and why did he commit the crimes that he did? This study was devised to assess the life of Ted Bundy, one of the most prolific murderers in the United States. This secondary research study was conduct­ed using interviews from Bundy, biopsychosocial analyses conducted of him post-arrest, testimonials from people who knew him, and research regarding serial killer typologies and motivations. This information has been com­plied in the form of a poster board presentation, complete with the researcher’s own biopsychosocial assessment of Bundy, an analysis of the motivations for his crimes, and a timeline of his …

Participation In Extracurricular Activities And Academic Achievement: A Comprehensive Review, Erin Morris,

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

At school, students are provided numerous opportunities to use their skills and abilities to complete tasks or solve problems. Students are considered to have academic success when they meet specific criteria on outcomes such as grade point averages (GPA), scores on standardized tests, and skill acquisition across areas like reading and math. Given the importance of academic achievement (AA) as an outcome measure, researchers have attempted to study certain variables that may relate to or predict AA. Extracurricular activities (EAs) are defined as school-sanctioned activities that students can participate in outside of the traditional school day. Participation in EAs has …

Evolutionary And Social Manifestations Of Misled Fear: How Fear Motivates And Manipulates, Meghan Sink 19

Honor Scholar Theses

This thesis emphasizes the negative outcomes associated with misled fear. It begins by examining the evolutionary basis of human and animal fear, and then applies the fear learning process as well as evolutionarily innate fears to maladaptive cognitive and behavioral outcomes that manifest today. One example of such a maladaptive manifestation is a behavior based in racial prejudice, occurring from an act based in the evolutionary fear of an out-group. Finally, this paper presents how human fear is further misled and manipulated by the media--intentionally and unintentionally. Overall, the present argument is that humans must increase their conscious awareness of …