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All Master's Theses

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Frontal Alpha Wave Asymmetry In Regard To Affect, Monica Leigh Sewell Jan 2021

Frontal Alpha Wave Asymmetry In Regard To Affect, Monica Leigh Sewell

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This study examines frontal alpha brain wave asymmetry (FAA) in relation to emotion processing. Previous research has shown that differences between left versus right FAA could exhibit a neurological marker for emotional intelligence (EI), mental health, and stress. Behavioral data were collected using Profile of Emotional Competence Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. This was followed by a series of resting EEG recordings. This study hypothesizes that participants who are mentally healthy, have higher EI scores and lower stress will display greater left FAA. The hypothesis is partially supported; participants with depression had greater …

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Critically Evaluating Website Credibility: Factors That Influence Perceptions Of Online Mental Health Information, Mikayla Kimery Jan 2021

Critically Evaluating Website Credibility: Factors That Influence Perceptions Of Online Mental Health Information, Mikayla Kimery

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Research on the use of online information has suggested that general users of the internet do not critically evaluate the information they consume. In addition, specific elements of online information, such as the presence of advertisements, has been shown to affect perceptions of that information, resulting in less favorable ratings of websites. In contrast, communication studies have shown that perceptions of the presented information increased favorably when an image of a brain was included even when the actual information was considered insufficient in quality by experts. To date, the combined effects of brain images and advertisements on evaluations of online …

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The Effect Of A Lag Schedule Of Reinforcement On Variability In Toy Play In Children With Autism, Cloie Cornell Jan 2019

The Effect Of A Lag Schedule Of Reinforcement On Variability In Toy Play In Children With Autism, Cloie Cornell

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Variability is a dimension of behavior that is altered and learned through reinforcement contingencies (Neuringer, 2002). The lag schedule of reinforcement is one way to establish contingencies in order to increase variability in block formations built by children diagnosed with autism. Napolitano, Smith, Zarcone, Goodkin and McAdam (2010), and Miller (1012) found that a lag schedule of reinforcement increased the variety of block formations built by children diagnosed with autism, both studies used the discriminative stimulus (SD) “build differently,” during intervention phases. The current study used a lag schedule of reinforcement along with the SD “build something,” throughout each phase. …

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Music, Video And Perception: An Investigation Into Shaping Attitudes Toward Fish And Their Natural Habitat, Kayla-Ann Hemmings Jan 2019

Music, Video And Perception: An Investigation Into Shaping Attitudes Toward Fish And Their Natural Habitat, Kayla-Ann Hemmings

All Master's Theses

The current study investigated the influence of music and video on perceptions of fish, willingness to help aquatic conservation efforts, and attitudes about the marine environment. Participants were randomly distributed to one of six groups which varied by presenting information about marine life in a video format or through printed text (i.e., video or pamphlet) and on the background music that played during the presentation of that information (i.e., ominous, uplifting, or no sound). Participants, then, completed several counterbalanced measures, including rating how much six different words (i.e., three positive and three negative) applied to fish, Willingness to Conserve questions …

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Confidence In Academic Testing: The Effect Of Induced Checking And Anxiety On University Students' Emotional Responses To, And Performance In, Academic Challenge, Elijah Bruner Jan 2018

Confidence In Academic Testing: The Effect Of Induced Checking And Anxiety On University Students' Emotional Responses To, And Performance In, Academic Challenge, Elijah Bruner

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Academic tests such as the American College Testing (ACT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), and National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) have been used to assess academic aptitude. Research suggests that both test anxiety and test emotions (positive and negative) influence academic performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of test anxiety and uncertainty (i.e., re-checking items) on performance and test emotions. It was hypothesized that induced checking and participant anxiety would negatively predict performance and positive testing emotions, and positively predict negative testing emotions. It was also hypothesized that induced checking and anxiety would interact, with …

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A Cultural Comparison Of The Facial Inference Process, Janine Swiney Jan 2017

A Cultural Comparison Of The Facial Inference Process, Janine Swiney

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The purpose of this study was to compare emotion and personality trait attributions to facial expressions between American and Asian Indian samples. Data were collected using Amazon.com’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Participants in this study were asked to infer the emotions and personality traits shown in three facial expressions (scowling, frowning, and smiling) of young white females and males in six photographs. Each picture was randomly presented for 10 seconds followed by four randomized questions about the individual in the picture. The first question asked participants to identify the emotion shown from a list of six emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, …

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Measuring Self-Reported Exercise, Motivation To Exercise, And Sexism In Women, Sydney C. Jensen Jan 2016

Measuring Self-Reported Exercise, Motivation To Exercise, And Sexism In Women, Sydney C. Jensen

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The harmfulness and pervasiveness of benevolent sexism is not a well disseminated issue, despite the belief that women are treated with equality in today’s society. The current study was designed to investigate whether exercise type and motivation to exercise would predict participants’ self-reported benevolent and hostile sexism, particularly in light of gender-related stereotypes about physical activity. A sample of 79 females completed an online survey that included questions about demographic characteristics, primary exercise type (i.e., cardiovascular exercise, weight-lifting, or hobbies), average number hours spent engaging in their primary exercise weekly, exercise motivations, and finally the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory which served …

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Peer Tutoring To Teach Children To Seek Help When Lost, Andrew J. Arellano Jan 2015

Peer Tutoring To Teach Children To Seek Help When Lost, Andrew J. Arellano

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There are many programs that are designed to teach children safety skills. Skills such as gun safety, first aid, and abduction prevention have all been taught using a method called Behavioral Skills Training (BST). However, BST only teaches a few children at a time and is often taught by an expert. This study aimed to test whether young children (5 year olds) can learn from older peer trainers (11 & 12 year olds) who have been taught to use BST. The safety skill targeted for the current study was the behavior of seeking help when lost in a store because …

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A Punishment-Free, Toilet-Training Protocol For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Chelsea Lynn Pearsall Jan 2012

A Punishment-Free, Toilet-Training Protocol For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Chelsea Lynn Pearsall

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The present investigation adapted a behaviorally-based toilet-training protocol for use with two male children with developmental disabilities. Positive practice and verbal reprimands were eliminated, and reinforcement, scheduled sits, and a urine alarm were utilized. Data were collected on the number of intoilet urinations, urinary accidents, and self-initiations. Results show that both participants exhibited significant improvement in their toileting skills and met the final success criteria rapidly. These results were maintained through follow-up. Implications for the elimination of punishment procedures in future toilet training protocols are discussed.

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Introversion, Extraversion, And Humor, Tanna Marlane Boucher Jan 1995

Introversion, Extraversion, And Humor, Tanna Marlane Boucher

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The differences in behavioral expression of humor for introverts and extroverts was investigated, as well as the behavioral expression of humor and humor ratings of video clips containing sound versus those with no sound. Subjects were videotaped as they watched humorous clips in a room alone. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between introverts and extroverts in terms of their behavioral expression of humor. These findings are consistent with the literature on social aspects of humor in that people tend to express more humor in social groups than when alone. However, subjects did show significantly more behavioral …

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State-Dependent Learning As A Function Of The Temporal Relationship Between Noncontingent Footshock And Electroconvulsive Shock, T. Scott Shutt Oct 1971

State-Dependent Learning As A Function Of The Temporal Relationship Between Noncontingent Footshock And Electroconvulsive Shock, T. Scott Shutt

All Master's Theses

Rats were given a noncontingent footshock followed at various intervals by electroconvulsive shock. Twentyfour hours later they were trained on a non-shock passive avoidance task and tested for retention 72 hours later. When the interval between NCFS and ECS was short the animals showed an amnesia which reduced as the interval was lengthened. An interval of .5 seconds produced the most pronounced amnesia and intervals greater than 10 seconds produced virtually no amnesia. The results were consistent with a state dependent retrieval failure hypothesis.

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The Relationship Of Dogmatism And Internal-External Control To Psychological Reactance, Edward J. Schau Aug 1971

The Relationship Of Dogmatism And Internal-External Control To Psychological Reactance, Edward J. Schau

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One hundred ninety-two Introductory Psychology students volunteered for credit to complete the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale and the Rotter I/E Scale. The students were also asked to fill out a questionnaire, obstensibly from the administration, asking them to rate the favorability of the first five periods of the day on a scale of 1-100. Two weeks later 94 of the above students, serving as controls, were asked to fill out the identical questionnaire again. They were told that the previous ones had been lost. The 98 remaining students, serving as experimental subjects, received additional information. E said that he had heard …

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The Cathartic Effects Of Aggressive Responses Directed Toward An Inanimate Object, Timothy William Creston Aug 1971

The Cathartic Effects Of Aggressive Responses Directed Toward An Inanimate Object, Timothy William Creston

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This study was intended to test the catharsis of aggression hypothesis which in part holds that aggressive responses directed towards an inanimate object will have a tension reducing effect and result in a lowering of residual hostility.

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Effects Of Volition And Justification On The Arousal Of Dissonance During Performance Of A Dull Task, George Roger Schoenhals Jun 1971

Effects Of Volition And Justification On The Arousal Of Dissonance During Performance Of A Dull Task, George Roger Schoenhals

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The present study seeks to add a modest degree of clarification to the present condition of dissonance theory. More specifically, its main purpose is to help define certain conditions for the arousal of cognitive dissonance.

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Sub-Aversive Response Contingent Foot Shock As A Positive Reinforcer, Robert Lea Fulwiler May 1971

Sub-Aversive Response Contingent Foot Shock As A Positive Reinforcer, Robert Lea Fulwiler

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Forty-eight rats were divided into 8 groups; four were maintained under normal conditions and the other four under sensory deprivation and tested at o, 3, 6, and 9 days after condition institution. The response was placing the head through a hole in the operant chamber and the stimulus (0, 1.2, 4, or 12 Vac) was contingent upon the response. Analysis ot variance disclosed significant differences (p<.01) between the deprived and the non-deprived groups at days 6 and 9; and a significant interaction between deprivation condition and time of test. No differences were shown between the stimulus intensities indicating that the stimulus did not have a reinforcing effect.

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Modification Of Deviant Behavior By Parents, Jeanne M. Gabourie Jan 1971

Modification Of Deviant Behavior By Parents, Jeanne M. Gabourie

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It is the purpose of this study (1) to determine if a child's deviant social behaviors can be effectively modified by his own parents; and (2) to determine if parents can be trained to use behavior modification techniques in the home.

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The Effects Of Free And Forced Choice With A Time Gradient And Monetary Incentive In A Serial Learning Task, Ernest Joseph Lucier Jr. Nov 1970

The Effects Of Free And Forced Choice With A Time Gradient And Monetary Incentive In A Serial Learning Task, Ernest Joseph Lucier Jr.

All Master's Theses

This experiment was designed to determine the effects of free and forced choice within time gradients of five and eight seconds using monetary incentive on a serial learning task. A series of nonsense symbols were successively presented to thirty-six subjects whose task was to learn the serial with the least number of exposures.

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Philosophy Of Human Nature As A Function Of Political Preference, Political Involvement, And Age, Ralph L. Anderson Aug 1969

Philosophy Of Human Nature As A Function Of Political Preference, Political Involvement, And Age, Ralph L. Anderson

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The present study used the Philosophy of Human Nature (PHN) Scale and a 2X2X2 factorial design with party preference, level of political involvement, and age as the three main effects to test twelve specific hypotheses. One hundred twenty subjects were randomly selected from among the Democratic and Republican parties of Kittitas County and students from Central Washington State College, and the PHN Scale was administered to them.

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An Experimental Analysis Of Superstitious Behavior In College Males, Nancy Alice Metzler Jun 1968

An Experimental Analysis Of Superstitious Behavior In College Males, Nancy Alice Metzler

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The possibility that superstitious responses would occur when aversive stimulation was randomly presented was investigated. There were three groups of 20 male introductory psychology students each. The Shock Group (SG) was given 45 unavoidable shocks. The Reinforcement Shock Group {RSG) was given 100 positive reinforcements and then 45 unavoidable shocks. The Reinforcement Punishment Group received 100 positive reinforcements and then 45 response contingent shocks and served to test the effectiveness of the shock as a punishing stimulus. Superstitious responses seemed to occur, but Ss of SG showed response patterns typical of punishment, while Ss of RSG showed increases in rates …

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The Effect Of Shifts In Reward Magnitude And Changes Of Schedule Of Reinforcement On Resistance To Extinction, Richard James Boylan Aug 1967

The Effect Of Shifts In Reward Magnitude And Changes Of Schedule Of Reinforcement On Resistance To Extinction, Richard James Boylan

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The problem concerned the resistance to extinction of an alley running response as a function of various combinations of reward sizes (l or 10 pellets) and schedules of reinforcement (50 or 100%). Three experimental phases were used (acquisition, shift of reward, and extinction). Three measures were taken in the alley (start, alley, and goal speed). Animals trained under partial reinforcement (PRF) showed no significant differences in acquisition running speed over animals trained on continuous reinforcement (CRF). Depression effects (decreases in running speed) were observed for both CRF and PRF trained animals during the shift phase. Overall tests between PRF and …

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Bayes’ Theorem: A Model For Human Probability Estimate Revision, William H. Hickok Aug 1967

Bayes’ Theorem: A Model For Human Probability Estimate Revision, William H. Hickok

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The purpose of this study was to examine Bayes' Theorem as a model for the description of how humans utilize information based on uncertain (probabilistic) relationships between the relevant cues and the outcome-classes.

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Revision Of Subjective Probabilities Under A Bayesian Model, Gary A. Sterner Aug 1966

Revision Of Subjective Probabilities Under A Bayesian Model, Gary A. Sterner

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The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which subjective probability judgments conform to the Bayesian model of mathematical probability theory; more specifically, the degree to which subjective probability estimates for intersections of events approximate the product of the subjective judgments for component events.

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A Comparison Of Estimates Of Relative Frequency Vs. Subjective Probability, Duncan Muir Mcquarrie Aug 1966

A Comparison Of Estimates Of Relative Frequency Vs. Subjective Probability, Duncan Muir Mcquarrie

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The purpose of this study is to extend the investigation of the general area of subjective probability by exploring three methods of asking for estimates. Inasmuch as this area has not been a major focus of interest for experimental studies, a brief review of the kinds of studies emanating from subjective probability notions will be given.

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