Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of The Integrated Symple Readers Curriculum On Expressive Vocabulary Acquisition In Elementary Students With Developmental Disabilities, Loralene Edvalson

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the emphasis society places on literacy, most students with developmental disabilities remain illiterate. One cause for this illiteracy may be that these students lack foundational language skills that contribute to being able to read. Research has shown that, among other contributions, multiple exposures across time increase students' abilities to acquire knowledge. The Symple Readers integrated curriculum plans for multiple exposures to novel picture vocabulary words by building them into all activities across the students' day and week. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the Symple Readers integrated curriculum on expressive vocabulary development. During the …

Understanding Chinese Language And Culture: A Guidebook For Teachers Of English In China, Austin Cody Pack

Theses and Dissertations

Many experts on English teaching in China argue that native-English-speaking teachers are too unfamiliar with Chinese culture and the Chinese language. Many of the resources available for these teachers do not address these issues and are not adequately tailored to the native-English-speaking teachers' specific needs. This 35 page guidebook in printable pdf form addresses three key issues with English teaching in China. First, the guidebook helps teachers understand how to bridge the gap that exists between their teaching styles and their Chinese students' learning styles. Second, the guidebook provides explanations of common errors Chinese students make in English because of …

The Relationship Between Video Game Use And Couple Attachment Behaviors In Committed Romantic Relationships, Jamie Mcclellan Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines whether the single or shared leisure activity of video gaming or a report of it as a problem is negatively related to couple attachment behaviors (accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement). The model suggests that individual frequency of violent video game use, individual frequency of nonviolent video game use, and couple video game use frequency predict negative couple attachment behaviors. In addition, video game playing that is perceived as a problem in the relationship serves as a mediator variable in the model. Data were collected using the Relationship Evaluation questionnaire (RELATE). The sample includes 2,112 couples who reported seriously …

Evaluating A Social And Emotional Learning Curriculum, Strong Kids, Implemented School-Wide, Thomas Jonathan Kramer

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to explore whether Strong Kids could result in improved social and emotional competence when implemented as a school-wide universal intervention. No prior studies have examined this question. This study also evaluated whether teachers could implement Strong Kids as it was designed and whether they viewed it as socially valid. It used a non-equivalent control group design. The treatment school in the study involved 348 students and 17 teachers from a Title I school. School demographics indicated that 61% of students were Hispanic, 37% White, and 2% of other ethnicities. Approximately 82% of the students …

Couples' Experience Of Attachment-Related Change In Context Of Couple-Centered, Enactment-Based Therapy Process And Therapist-Centered Therapy Process: A Qualitative Study, James Waid Ballard

Theses and Dissertations

Enactments consist of episodes of direct couple engagement being carefully monitored and coached by the therapist. Enactments have been identified and studied as a potential common factor in marriage and family therapy. Attachment security is considered to be a foundational marker of marital health. This study explored what role enactments play in promoting attachment-related outcomes in therapy. A qualitative group hermeneutic approach was used to analyze the interviews of twelve participants (six couples) who had participated in six experimental sessions: three sessions with a preponderance of therapist-centered process and three of enactment-based process. The results of this analysis provide a …

Psychotherapy Outcome For Eating Disorders: A Meta-Analysis, Julia Bryn Hubbard

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to summarize psychotherapy outcomes for eating disorders using meta-analysis. Psychotherapy was defined as any psychosocial treatment including face-to-face therapy, self-help, and Internet approaches. All primary studies, meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria from 1980 to 2010, were included. Results suggested that individuals treated with active treatments demonstrate better outcomes than those in control conditions (d= 0.33, p <.01, 95% CI [0.19-0.46]). CBT was the most often occurring treatment in the primary studies and a small effect, favoring CBT, was found when the treatment was compared to all other active treatments (d = 0.16, p = .02, 95% CI [0.03-0.28]). Internet and self-help approaches continue to show promise with Internet treatments demonstrating superior outcomes to control conditions (d = 0.54, p <.01, 95% CI [0.19-0.90]). More research is needed to determine whether these approaches can suffice as stand-alone treatments or if they are best used in addition to already well-established approaches (i.e., individual CBT). The meta-analysis also explored whether treatment type, outcome measure, diagnosis, attrition, and diagnostic severity moderate treatment effect. Finally, the meta-analysis updated and improved upon previous meta-analyses by focusing on randomized controlled trials, including all diagnoses of eating disorder, only combining effect sizes from similar conditions, including all possible studies that meet inclusion criteria, computing and comparing effect sizes for outcome measures beyond those considered primary to eating disorder treatment, and also addressing outcomes for all brands of psychotherapy including traditional talk therapy, self-help, and Internet approaches.

Six Principles Of Self-Regulated Learning: Developing Self-Regulated Language Learners, Andrea Michelle Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Self-regulation is an important aspect of learning, and all teachers want to instill this ability in their students. However, students often feel confused or inadequate when it comes to being in charge of their own learning. This is especially true in intensive English programs where students expect the teacher to provide them with the information they need to pass tests and advance to higher levels. While the teacher's role cannot be overlooked, encouraging self-regulated learning is also vital to students' success in learning. The author saw a need for this in the intensive English program where she is teaching. She …

Attachment Behaviors As Mediators Between Family-Of-Origin Quality And Couple Communication Quality In Marriage: Implications For Couples Therapy, Darin Justin Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the mediating impact of couples' attachment behaviors on the relationship between poor quality family-of-origin experiences and marital communication quality. The couple data for this study was collected from the Relationship Evaluation (RELATE) database (see www.relate-institute.org). An Actor Partner Interdependence Model using structural equation modeling was used to evaluate 261 marriage relationships. Results indicated that the relationships between family-of-origin experiences and communication quality are significantly related, with more family-of-origin problems associated with poorer positive communication skills. When attachment behaviors (accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement) were added to the model, it significantly mediated the relationship. Implications for clinicians treating couples …

Adaptation To The U.S. And Religion/Spirituality: Experiences Of Indian International Students, Kirti Potkar

Theses and Dissertations

Religion and spirituality are deemed an important aspect of human diversity, found to be important to people, and have significant impact on different aspects of functioning. Given the rising numbers of international students on U.S. campuses, it becomes important to examine how religion/spirituality impacts their sojourn in the U.S. This study explored the religious/spiritual experiences of Indian international students here in the U.S. using a qualitative approach. Thirteen Indian international students pursuing graduate degrees in the U.S. were interviewed. The interviews were then transcribed and analyzed using a synthesis of hermeneutic methods informed by Kvale (1996). The following themes emerged …

Shame Not The Same For Different Styles Of Blame: Shame As A Mediating Variable For Severity Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And Trauma Symptoms In Three Attribution Of Blame Groups, Tabitha Nicole Webster

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the role of internalized shame in mediating the relationship between severity of childhood sexual abuse and adult symptoms in three groups based on attribution of blame. The random community sample of 318 female survivors completed the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (Briere, 1996), Internalized Shame Scale (Cook, 2001), questions about frequency of abuse, duration, and specific characteristics (no physical contact to vaginal/anal intercourse with force) and the degree to which they blamed self, fate, or perpetrator. It was hypothesized that severity (measured by abuse characteristics, frequency, and duration) would predict symptoms (measured by subscales of dissociation, anxiety, sexual problems, …

Qeeg Correlates Of Cognitive Deficits In Multiple Sclerosis During Targeted Cognitive Tasks, Robert B. Frost

Theses and Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disorder of young adulthood and is often associated with cognitive impairment and emotional dysfunction. Due to the nature of the disease, the cognitive deficits in MS are often variable in their presentation, and consist of deficits in processing speed, attention, working memory, and executive functioning. The purpose of the present study was to explore common methods of documenting MS-related cognitive deficits, to elucidate the relationship between the cognitive deficits seen in MS and physiological markers of cognitive functioning (i.e., quantitative EEG), and to analyze the relationship between cognitive deficits and mood dysfunction …

Adapt, Adopt Or Create New Approaches? Albania And The Question Of An Emerging Country In The Field Of Public Relations, Jetmira Karanxha

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a description of the emerging state of the public relations field in Albania under the framework and influence of four main public relations worldviews including persuasive/marketing, relationship management, community building, and personal influence. This study seeks to give insights into how an emerging country in the field of public relations approaches the development of the field; whether it adapts, adopts or creates new practices. The research design proposed by the author aims to shed some light on possible theoretical meanings and themes that could be developing in countries where the field of …

Herbert Hoover And Belgian Relief, Albert Winkler

Faculty Publications

Herbert Hoover was an orphan, who retained great empathy for the weak and hungry his entire life. Working without pay, he organized and administered Belgian Relief starting in 1914 to get food to ten million Belgians and Frenchmen behind German lines. His efforts doubtlessly saved hundreds of thousands from starvation. This was only the starting point in his career as the "Great Humanitarian." He got food to Germany at the end of both world wars, aided Russia in their great famine, and reportedly got food to hundreds of millions of people in his lengthy career. No one has ever done …

Educational Services For Tibetan Students With Disabilities In India: A Case Study, Britany Anne Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

This case study describes services for students with disabilities at Karuna Home in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India. Karuna Home is a residential rehabilitation center for students with cognitive or physical disabilities whose parents are Tibetan refugees. The study triangulated data from interviews, observations, and school documents to describe educational policies and procedures, and cultural attitudes toward disability. Results show that the Karuna Home program is undergirded by Buddhist thought and theology regarding care and concern for those in difficult circumstances. The school serves students with a range of mild to severe disabilities and is fully staffed, but teachers and other service …

Error Processing And Naturalistic Actions Following Moderate-To-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Daniel A. Good

Theses and Dissertations

Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (M/S TBI) can affect an individual's ability to perform daily tasks. For example, individuals with M/S TBI are more likely to commit errors on tasks such as making a meal or wrapping a present. The neural processes involved in such errors are poorly understood. Studies suggest that neurophysiologic markers of cognitive control and error processing may be helpful in gaining additional insight into errors on naturalistic action tasks. Unfortunately, previous experimental methods left a methodological gap which limited the use of neurophysiological markers in the study of naturalistic action. Several recent studies in healthy adults have …

A Novice Teacher's Shoebox: A Volunteer Efl Teacher Training Curriculum, Piret Luik

Theses and Dissertations

This MA thesis presents the development of an online Pre-Missionary Training Centre (MTC) Teacher Training curriculum for missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints going to Mongolia to teach English. The thesis summarizes relevant literature on curriculum development and teacher preparation including a comparison of three prevalent curriculum development models - the ADDIE, Richards' principles, and Nation and Macalister. Thereafter, the process through which the online Pre-MTC Teacher Training was developed is outlined followed by the presentation of the curriculum. The implications, limitations and suggestions for improvement are then discussed.

Scheduled Healing: The Relationship Between Session Frequency And Psychotherapy Outcome In A Naturalistic Setting, David Mcconkie Erekson

Theses and Dissertations

The dose-effect relationship in psychotherapy has been examined extensively, but few studies have included session frequency as a component of psychotherapy "dose." Those studies that have examined the effects of session frequency have indicated that it may affect both the total amount of recovery and the speed of recovery. No studies were found examining the clinical significance of this construct in a naturalistic setting. The change trajectories of 16,003 clients were examined using multi-level modeling and including session frequency as a fixed effect. Of these clients, subgroups were identified that were scheduled approximately once a week or approximately once every …

The State Of The Research: Meta-Analysis And Conceptual Critique Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Ryan Lance Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers studying the long-term cognitive sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have produced disparate results. Some studies have shown little to no long-term cognitive effects while others have shown that persistent cognitive sequelae continue to affect a subgroup of patients. Meta-analysis has been used to try to integrate these contrasting results to foster a coherent understanding of the cognitive outcomes following mTBI. However, previous meta-analyses of long-term cognitive sequelae have used studies from a period of mTBI research where methodological rigor has been called into question (Carroll, Cassidy, Holm, Kraus, & Coronado, 2004). Using studies from this period, meta-analysts …

Facilitating Language Learner Motivation: Teacher Motivational Practice And Teacher Motivational Training, Shelby Werner Thayne

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the connection between teacher use of motivational strategies and observable learner motivated behavior in an adult Intensive English Program (IEP) in the United States. The question of whether teachers would find value in being specifically trained in the use of motivational strategies as part of teacher educations programs was examined. Eight teachers and 117 students were observed over the course of 24 classes using a classroom observation instrument, the motivation orientation of language teaching (MOLT), originally developed by Guilloteaux and Dörnyei (2008) and modified by the current researchers. The MOLT observation scheme allowed for real-time coding of …

Does Killing Drug Cartel Leaders Increase Violence In Mexico?, Alex Wilson, Jay Goodliffe

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Soon after Felipe Calderon became president of Mexico, he drastically changed the country's policy concerning drug cartels and drug trade. The policy moved from destroying production of drugs, such as burning poppy and marijuana fields, to an attack on the organization of the Drug Cartels. Opponents of this action, argue that the policy has been ineffective in reducing drug flow, but has only increased violence. One argument made for the increasing violence is that the killing of drug cartel leaders leads to fractionalization and competition within the cartel. This fractionalization then leads to violence as different members of the cartel …

Perceptual Influences For Potential Hoarders, Sam Hardy, Marie Ricks, Brian Appel, Alex Dresden

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Hoarding is defined as "(1) the acquisition of, and failure to, discard a large number of possessions that appear to be ... of limited value, (2) living spaces sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities for which these spaces were designed, (3) significant ... impairment in functioning caused by the hoarding, and (4) reluctance ... to return borrowed items." The average age of onset for hoarders is 11-15 years of age, with most hoarders reporting symptoms before age 20. Our research sought to find correlations regarding public perceptions of hoarding, including demographic, personal, and socioeconomic factors. Using a 55-question online …

Measuring Maladaptive Perfectionism, Joanna Burton, Amber Veazey, Melissa Tingey, Kat Green

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Perfectionism is a personality trait in which individuals set high standards for themselves that are in line with an ideal image of how they should look, act, and perform. Perfectionism can be both adaptive and maladaptive. Identifying maladaptive perfectionism may aid individuals in consciously overcoming the negative side effects associated with maladaptive perfectionism and help individuals practice an adaptive perfectionism. We hypothesized that our measure, the Maladaptive or Adaptive Personality Scale (MAPS) would reliably and validly indicate and measure the presence of maladaptive perfectionism. Our measure used ten 4-point Likert scale questions measuring behavioral and emotional manifestations of perfectionism. MAPS …

Sexual Desire Discrepancy: A Dyadic Longitudinal Study, Anthony A. Hughes, James Harper

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Using questionnaires, self-report, and partner report of spouse, this five year longitudinal investigation examined the growth trajectory of the sexual desire discrepancy (SDD) of married partners within midlife, with insecure attachment at time 1 as a predictor. Findings showed that insecure attachment was a significant predictor of wives intercept but not for husbands. Insecure attachment wasn't a significant predictor of either partner's slope. As husbands SDD score changed, their growth across time had an inverse change. Husband slope and intercept had an inverse correlation. Wives intercept and husband intercept correlated or changed together. Wife slope and husband intercept had an …

The Best Way To Select State Court Judges, Curtis Thomas, Sven Wilson

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Due to the spending increase in campaigns for state court judges and to the controversial positions taken by state court judges on high-profile issues, research has increased into the methods state use to select their judges. This poster highlights research into the best method for selecting state court judges. By comparing the different methods for selecting state court judges currently in use according to goals considered to be relevant to this issue, I conclude that the best method for selecting state court judges is a combination of appointment for a state's highest court judges and non-partisan elections for a state's …

Book Reviews, Laina Farhat-Holzman, Bertil Haggman, Pedro Geiger, Michael Andregg

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Children, Spouses, And Attitudes: Impact On Women's Work Status, Mengxi Li Seeley, James B. Mcdonald

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Women face unique challenges in their balancing of career and family. Some questions women consider include children and childcare, spouses' earning potential and relationship stability, and their own attitudes on family relationships and gender roles. This study uses probit and probit with instrumental variables to examine the effects of these considerations on women's fulltime work status, the dependent variable. Under the assumption of traditional social views regarding men as breadwinners and women as nurturers, increased childcare pressures and spousal potential to provide are expected to decrease the incentive for women to work fulltime. The results of this study are mostly …

The Hispanic Mortality Paradox: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Longitudinal Literature, J. Ruiz, P. Steffen, Timothy B. Smith

Faculty Publications

Objectives: The current objective was to compare Hispanic mortality rates to those of other racial/ethnic groups in order to investigate the possibility of a Hispanic mortality advantage.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published longitudinal literature reporting Hispanic individuals’ mortality of any cause compared with that of any other racial/ethnic group.

Results: Across 58 studies (4,615,747 participants), the random effects weighted average effect size was OR = 0.825 (P < .001, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.91), corresponding to a 17.5% lower risk of mortality among Hispanic populations compared to other racial groups. The difference in mortality risk tended to be greater among older populations and varied as a function of pre-existing health condition, with effects apparent for initially healthy samples and for those with cardiovascular diseases. The results also differed by racial group comparison: Hispanics had lower overall risk for mortality than non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks, but overall higher risk for mortality than Asian Americans.

Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of a small Hispanic mortality advantage, with implications for conceptualizing and addressing racial/ethnic health disparities.

Barriers To Accommodation Use For Students With Disabilities In Postsecondary Education, Michael James Lyman

Theses and Dissertations

Students with disabilities at the postsecondary level face a number of different barriers to accommodation use. Past research has shown that students with disabilities that use accommodations obtain greater academic achievement and higher graduation rates. Limited research has been conducted to identify barriers to accommodation use, and the research that has been conducted has not sampled a population that was specifically identified as having faced barriers to accommodation use. By interviewing students with disabilities, who had been identified as having faced barriers, this study identified seven themes. Four of the identified themes were considered complex as they contained sub-themes, while …

Predictors Of Perfectionism In Latter-Day Saint Students, Preston V. Tenney

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into the prevalence, nature and etiology of perfectionism in a sample of devout Latter-day Saint college students at Brigham Young University. A number of variables-including self-conscious emotions, mental health, interpersonal/cognitive style, and religious orientation-were entered into multiple regression models to determine the strongest predictors of perfectionism. Participants were 245 students studying at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT in the spring of 1995. The self-conscious construct of shame demonstrated to be the strongest predictor of perfectionism followed by depression and religious fundamentalism. In addition to these findings, it was found …

Effects Of Teacher Gender On Screening For Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Concerns For A Middle School Population, Susan E. Hardman

Theses and Dissertations

Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) often experience serious educational difficulties and negative outcomes (Gresham, MacMillan, & Bocian, 1996; Landrum, Tankersley, & Kauffman, 2003; Rock, Fessler, & Church, 1997). School-wide screening to identify students with social, emotional, and behavioral concerns (SEB) allows school personnel to identify at-risk students and connect them with needed resources. Some students appear to be identified disproportionally, with male students identified as at-risk more frequently then female students (Young, Sabbah, Young, Reiser, & Richardson, 2009). There are many possible factors that could contribute to this disproportionate identification. Since screening for EBD is often based on …