Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons^™

Effects Of Experimenter Behaviors On Participants' Mood, Jackson Everett

Honors Theses

This study investigated whether experimenter behaviors affected self-reported levels of state and trait anxiety, emotional valence memory, and projective interpretations of ambiguous stimuli. I hypothesized that participants exposed to anxious experimenters would report higher levels of state anxiety, recall more negative words, and render more negative interpretations while warm experimenters would lead participants to report lower levels of state anxiety, recall more positive words, and produce more positive interpretations. Participants (N = 98) were randomly assigned to either an anxious, flat, or warm experimenter condition and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger et al., 1983), heard a list of …

Influence Of Head Sway On The Availability Of Visual Information In An Affordance Task, Ron Dickson Jr.

Honors Theses

This thesis investigated how varying postural conditions and environmental challenges influence human affordance perception in virtual environments, focusing specifically on participants’ judgments about whether they could stand upright on sloped surfaces. Using virtual reality (VR) to simulate ramps at various inclines, participants assessed their ability to stand on these slopes under different postural constraints (unaided standing, leaning, and touch-supported). Data was collected on head movement dynamics, including movement magnitude, variability, and complexity, using measures such as Euclidean distance and effort-to-compress (ETC). Logistic and linear regression analyses revealed that slope angle and stance significantly impacted participants' affordance judgments and movement patterns, …

An Overview Of Borderline Personality Disorder: Etiology, Stigma, And Treatment Approaches, Sofia A. Fernandez

Selected Student Publications

This review of borderline personality disorder (BPD) literature aims to evaluate current clinical and research-based knowledge on the etiology, symptoms, treatment approaches, interpersonal impacts, and stigma that surround the disorder. As borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder that affects a notable percentage of the adult population and is marked by high suicidality, it is a disorder where accurate education and understanding are crucial for clinicians and researchers. By exploring the interaction of biological and environmental factors that may contribute to the development of BPD, this paper highlights the importance of raising awareness and combatting the negative stigma that is …

Effects Of Simultaneous Alarms On Resolution Heuristics, Amanda C. Allen

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Automated signaling systems are frequently used to direct operator attention to potential hazards. Although these automated systems can lead to enhanced human performance, factors such as degraded alarm signal reliability and lack of trust can undermine the potential benefits of automation (Breznitz, 1984; Rice, 2009, Wickens & 2007). Additionally, work by Gilson, Mouloua, Graft, and McDonald (2001), as well as Keller and Rice (2009), suggest that an alarm contained within a larger array of alarms should not be evaluated individually. Due to the increasing use of multiple alarms in complex environments such as operating rooms and cockpits (Konkani, Oakley, & …

An Interaction Between Mental Integration And Levels Of Automation: An Analytic Approach Applying Systems Factorial Technology, Shelby Kate Scarbrough Long

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Automation has become nearly ubiquitous in modern society, supporting human performance in personal and professional tasks. Recent works have begun to focus on human-automation performance in speeded perceptual-cognitive tasks using workload capacity analysis, a novel mathematical analysis to measure efficiency of a human-automation team. The present dissertation examined how level of automation and demand for mental integration of information influence human-automation efficiency. Participants performed a multi-element probabilistic decision task with or without the assistance of an automated aid where level of automation and task demand were manipulated. Experiment 1 employed a mixed design with Automation (present vs. absent) and Task …

Motivating Physical Activity With Fitness Tracking And The Interpersonal Context, Sapphire H. Lin, Sonny Rosenthal, Rich Ling

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Many societies have aging populations. Getting older people to exercise can help them achieve a higher quality of life. Fitness tracking and social support can buttress that goal. This study tested the effects of fitness tracking and spousal influence on the physical activity of older adults. In a 2 (blinded vs. feedback) × 2 (individual vs. dyad) between-group experiment, 240 participants received a fitness tracker with a visible or blinded display. They participated in the three-month experiment either individually or with their spouses. Participants who received feedback met daily step counts of 7500 and 10,000 more frequently than those without …

Revolutionizing Public Safety And Criminal Justice Through Ai, Alan Saquella

Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming public safety, criminal justice and security by fundamentally changing how crimes are committed, investigated and prevented. As AI tools become increasingly sophisticated, law enforcement and corporate security professionals are utilizing these advancements to enhance their capabilities. However, integrating AI into these sectors also brings significant challenges, including ethical concerns, recruitment difficulties, and the surge in crime rates. This article examines the transformative impact of AI, the ongoing efforts to unify AI applications across public safety and security sectors, and expert advice on overcoming the associated challenges.

A Laboratory Evaluation Of The Effects Of Empathy Training On Racial Bias, Victoria D. Suarez, Adel C. Najdowski, Angela Persicke, Jonathan Tarbox

Psychology Division Scholarship

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efects of behavioral procedures, including relational training and multiple exemplar training on empathic responding of individuals who display racial bias. In particular, this study used a multielement design with fve adult participants to evaluate whether the presentation of relational frames of coordination and distinction between the participants’ values and the values of a person belonging to a group for which a bias existed altered empathic responses toward people belonging to such groups. The results showed empathic responding was higher when relational frames of coordination were presented and lower when relational …

Social Change Requires More Justification Than Maintaining The Status Quo, John C. Blanchar, Scott Eidelman, Eric Allen

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Three studies demonstrate that, all else being equal, the threshold for justifying social change is higher than the threshold for maintaining the status quo. Higher standards for justifying change were observed across institutional requirements (Study 1), political candidates (Study 2), and city ordinances (Study 3). In all studies, lopsided standards increased as status quo preference increased. Study 1 revealed higher standards for novel entities lacking precedence, Study 2 demonstrated increased information-seeking about non-status quo alternatives to scrutinize them, and Study 3 showed biased interpretation of evidence toward maintaining the status quo, even when evidence skewed toward advocating change. The robustness …

Examining The Effects Of Post-Traumatic Self-Blame And Shame On Response To Laboratory-Induced Pain, Adi Rosenthal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Extant research has made clear the link between self-criticism and engagement in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). As posited by the Defective Self Model of NSSI, individuals who experience feelings of self-hatred may perceive pain as deserved and engage in NSSI (Burke et al., 2021). Individuals exposed to interpersonal trauma are at higher risk of engaging in NSSI, and also frequently experience trauma-related self criticism, namely shame and self-blame. More work is needed; however, to understand how self-critical post-traumatic cognitions contribute to risk for NSSI engagement for interpersonal trauma survivors. The current study uses a combination of lab-induced pain and self-report measures …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Mental Health- A Comparison Between Gender & Race, Taliyah Quinn

Theses and Dissertations

My study will focus on the rise of mental health toward the African American, Latinx and Asian Americans communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of the virus, the high percentage rate of infections among minorities, isolation, quarantining and socio economic disadvantages played a major role in the increase of mental disparities.

Exploring Healthcare Chatbot Information Presentation: Applying Hierarchical Bayesian Regression And Inductive Thematic Analysis In A Mixed Methods Study, Samuel Nelson Koscelny

All Theses

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. While contributing to over 691,000 deaths in 2021 alone in the United States (U.S.), it also imposes immense economic burden on the healthcare system, costing approximately $131 billion annually. One way to address this issue is for increased self-care behaviors and medication adherence, both of which require sufficient health literacy. Despite the importance of health literacy, 90% of U.S. adults struggle with health-related subjects. Overcoming the issues associated with health literacy requires addressing the …

The Association Between Social Media, Toxic Masculinity, And Depression In Young Adult Males, Anthony Warren

Dissertations

The world is shaped by diverse influences that significantly affect individuals’ internal landscapes, leading to both positive and negative effects with profound implications for society. Role models play a pivotal role in shaping the aspirations of young adult males by providing direct and indirect lessons that leave lasting impressions and influence their worldview. In recent years, social media use, toxic masculinity, and mental health have garnered significant attention in understanding the experiences of young adult males. The focus in this study was to examine the relationships between social media use, toxic masculinity, and depression in young adult males ranging in …

High Fat Diet & Social Isolation: Interactive Effects On Pain, Cognition, & Neuroinflammation, Ian M. Campuzano

Research Psychology Theses

Prior research has established a role for both social isolation and exposure to high fat Western diets in altering a range of behaviors from reduced memory performance to increased depression-like behaviors. The present study scrutinizes the interplay among these variables during the peri-adolescent developmental phase, utilizing Long-Evans rats as the experimental model. Our overarching hypothesis is that rats exposed to either social isolation, a high-fat diet, or both will result in heightened pain sensitivity, diminished cognitive flexibility, and increased neuroinflammatory responses within brain regions implicated in sociability, cognition, memory, and pain processing. Behavioral flexibility will be assessed using a maze-based …

The Role Of 5-Ht6 Receptor Activation In Learning Consolidation, Jasmine Alyssa Robinson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus on serotonergic dysfunction as a contributor to cognitive deficits in disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia drives researchers to investigate the functional impact of specific serotonin receptor types on executive functioning. By discerning the potential enhancement or impairment effects, this endeavor seeks to unravel the complex interplay between serotonin receptors and cognitive abilities. Specifically, within the three domains of learning, acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval, we find serotonergic modulation to be pivotal. Recent studies have highlighted the 5-HT6 receptor as a novel target for cognitive enhancement. However, the majority of the research investigates the effects …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence And Augmented Reality For Enhanced Task Performance In The Construction Industry, Aasish Chandrika Bhanu

All Dissertations

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector, characterized by its complex tasks, often faces challenges in adopting cutting-edge technologies, a trend that can significantly hinder productivity improvements compared to other industries. This dissertation explores the emerging integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) within the AEC domain, investigating how effectively this can be implemented to potentially revolutionize industry practices. AI could be used in the AEC domain for advanced analytical and decision-making processes, while AR could be used for training, visualization, and remote collaboration.

In scenarios where construction site workers require expert guidance, these technologies could be helpful. …

Gender Stereotyping In An Agricultural Sample, Andrea Fink-Armold

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A vast wealth of social psychological research conducted over half a century has demonstrated the consequences of gender stereotypes. However, this research has significant limitations. Namely, generalizability outside of academia and the effects of social change. This study examined a non-academic population that has recently experienced significant gender role redistribution to overcome these limitations. Utilizing a full-cycle research approach consisting of both ethnographic and experimental methods, I examined three research questions: 1) how do gender stereotypes manifest within rural agricultural communities? 2) how is women’s increased participation in agriculture related to changes in gender stereotype use? and 3) how do …

Under The Neon Lights: Examining The Memories Of Las Vegas' Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, William B. Ridgway

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The aim of the current study was to identify patterns of meaning in the trauma narratives of Route 91 Harvest survivors. We undertook a thematic analysis to examine survivors’ narratives collected shortly after the event (i.e., within one month), allowing for a more in-depth understanding of what survivors tended to emphasize or gravitate toward when recalling the episode of mass violence that resulted in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. From the rich thematic content emerged a dominant theme of memory for contextual details—specifically, sensory-perceptual features, time, and space. Specifically, Route 91 Harvest survivors reported vivid sensory experiences, …

Serotonin 1a Receptor Modulation On Behavioral Flexibility In Btbr And C57bl/6j Mice, Cassandra Cavazos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by a subset of symptoms known as restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs). RRBs are categorized into both lower order and higher order RRBs, where the latter can be described as behavioral inflexibility. The BTBR T+ tf/J (BTBR) mouse strain has been an extensively used animal model that demonstrate the behavioral symptoms of these individuals, including inflexible behavior. Currently, there are few effective treatments for individuals with ASD that express RRBs. Past research has investigated treatments that target serotonin due its historic involvement in ASD. 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamine) tetralin) is a research …

Teaching Staff Mathematics University: Catalyst Of The Emotional-Techno-Ontological Logic, Derling Jose Mendoza Velazco Dr, Magda Francisca Cejas Martínez Phd, Carmen Siavil Varguillas Carmona Phd, Mercedes Carolina Navarro Cejas Phd, Gina Silvana Venegas Álvarez M.Sc.

The Qualitative Report

The relevance of the study lies in the necessity to investigate the psycho-emotional state of teachers during the transition to remote teaching in universities and its impact on academic performance and emotional state of students. The aim of the research was to develop a theoretical approach to describe the emotional and techno-ontological logic of mathematics teachers during distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of their emotional state on the learning process. The study involved teachers and students from universities in Ecuador, both private and public. The study observed the behavior of teachers and students, analyzed the use …