Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Intersection Of Multiple Oppressed Identities: Implications For Identity Development, Angela Marie Enno

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Understanding the experiences and identity development of ethnic minority LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning) individuals presents a challenge because the theories of identity development that exist to date may not take into account their unique perspectives. Theories of identity development that are not specific to ethnic minority or LGBTQ identities may not represent their experiences well. At the same time, theories of ethnic identity development may not fit for individuals who are LGBTQ; and theories of LGBTQ identity development may not fit for ethnic minorities. No theory of identity development to date takes into account all …

Exploring A Stable Aspen Niche Within Aspen-Conifer Forests Of Utah, Cody M. Mittanck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study addresses a critical issue faced by resource managers confronting aspen restoration projects in the Intermountain West. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests have received a large amount of popular and academic attention over the last decade due to concerns over decline. As a result, both private and public forest resource managers have focused attention on actively restoring aspen communities through treatments such as prescribed burning, logging, and grazing exclosures to name a few. There is increasing evidence suggesting the existence of "stable" aspen communities. This community type undergoes processes entirely different from successional aspen communities and …

This Was The Place: Apostasy From The Lds Church, Traci K. Burnett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As with every religion, the LDS (Mormon) Church suffers from attrition of membership. This study looks at the experiences of 21 individuals who have left the LDS church, asking about the reasons for leaving the church and about the consequences of making such a decision.

Unlike many other studies concerning religious apostasy, this research takes a strictly qualitative approach to examining the causes and consequences for leaving the LDS Church. Instead of focusing on demographic characteristics such as race, class, or gender as indicators for apostasy, this research asks a small group of individuals in-depth questions to gain a deeper …

A Multi-Phase, Mixed-Method Regional Analysis Of Lake And Reservoir Based Recreational Opportunities In Utah, William S. Spain

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Managing and planning for human use at lakes and reservoirs creates challenges for land and water management agencies in Utah and the country as a whole. In spite of increased attention and research, management problems such as conflicts, accidents, and site impacts continue to occur. These problems have been exasperated by an 800% increase in the number of registered boats statewide over the past 50 years. As such, developing new strategies to address the broad array of management challenges could be beneficial to the recreation management of lakes and reservoirs. This study, conducted in collaboration with Utah State Parks, considers …

The Development And Exploratory Validation Of The Awareness Of Social Justice For Individuals With Disabilities Scale, Daniel J. Kelsey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Individuals with disabilities (IWDs) continue to experience stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that result in social injustice. Counselors of all specialties and theoretic orientations provide services to IWDs. However, there is little discussion about disability-related social justice in the counseling and psychology literature. Counselors, psychology professionals, rehabilitation counselors, and society as a whole, must first be aware of the social injustices that IWDs experience and the role that society has in maintaining them; otherwise, counselors risk perpetuating these social injustices. However, there are no instruments that measure the awareness of social justice issues as they relate to IWDs. By creating and …

Social Implications Of Adolescent Text Messaging, Sarah S. Tulane

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the social impacts of adolescent text messaging. A sample of high school students was used to examine texting behaviors and practices, face-to-face communication preferences, and adolescent opinions about the use of text messaging in common social situations.

Perceptions of texting in social situations and actual texting behaviors were positively related. Teens indicated they pretend to text in social situations for various reasons. For some adolescents, texting was a way to avoid different people and situations, for others pretending to text gave them a favorable appearance, and others felt safe …

The United States Credit Rating Downgrade: European Reaction, Brian Scott Roseman

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The purpose of this paper is to answer the important question of how investors viewed the debt obligations from European countries in reaction to the United States credit rating downgrade by Standard and Poor’s on August 5 2011. During this period there were a handful of countries in Europe that still had AAA ratings. This paper looks at the reaction of investors towards Europe, through the medium of Credit Default Swaps (CDSs). By analyzing the changes in CDS spreads, I am able to determine the perceptions of investors regarding the risk of European Sovereigns during the timeframe surrounding the U.S …

Is Analyst Over Optimism Creating Price Inefficiency In The Stock Market?, Juan Mauricio Guiliani

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This study aims to uncover the relationship between market frictions, measured by price delay, and consensus analyst recommendations on stocks. Analyst recommendations are publicly available to investors, and under the framework of the Efficient Market Hypothesis, should contribute to the efficiency of a stock’s pricing mechanism by providing information to the market that would otherwise not be available. We find evidence that the more favorable recommended stocks in our sample command a higher price delay than less favorably recommended stocks. In other words, the most optimistically recommended stocks are priced less efficiently than other less favorably recommended stocks. We also …

Opaqueness Of Financial Institutions, Todd G. Griffith

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Spectators and professionals have targeted financial institutions as being at the epicenter of recent markets crises The opaqueness of bank holding companies' assets has been assumed to have created additional volatility and inefficiency within the market. It appears that the capital structure of a bank is the actual driving force behind the inefficiency. I conduct multiple empirical analyses to measure whether the lack to financial institutions asset transparency negatively impacts the ability of the firms price to respond to informational innovations in a timely manner. Through additional econometric tests, I explore several economic theories to narrow in on the root …

Correspondence Between Teacher-Conducted Trial-Based Functional Analyses And Traditional Functional Analyses With High-School Aged Students, Tashina M. Meaker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Tashina Meaker, in conjunction with Utah State University aims to study the correspondence of results obtained from trial-based and standard functional analyses for identifying function of problem behavior with high school age students as well as to examine the feasibility of classroom personnel conducting trial-based functional analyses within the classroom environment with procedural integrity. Results from this study may be reviewed by practitioners who are in need of accessible methods of functional analyses and whom wish to conduct trial-based functional analyses in applied settings. Based on the limitations presented in this study, areas of future research needed regarding trial-based functional …

Designing For Problem-Based Learning: A Comparative Study Of Technology Professional Development, Lei Ye, Andrew Walker, Mimi Recker, M. Brooke Robertshaw, Linda Sellers, Heather Leary

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Despite of much focus on professional development aimed specifically at developing teachers' technology integration skills, rigorous studies of effective PD (professional development) are lacking. Evidence is also lacking on how these skills can best be integrated with pedagogical and content knowledge to improve student learning. The purpose of this article is to present two "design-oriented" TTPD (technology-related teacher professional development) designs and investigate the designs' impact on teachers. In one TTPD (tech-only), teachers learned technology skills to create activities using online learning resources. In the other (tech+PBL), teachers learned to create PBL (problem-based learning) activities using online resources. All teachers …

Hierarchical Structural Organizations Of State Political Parties, Isaac Mckay Higham

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

From August through November of 2011 I worked as an intern for the Utah Democratic state party at their state party headquarters. I started my internship around the same time as the newly elected chair of the state party, Jim Dabakis, assumed his new role as head of the party. Dabakis did not have the traditional resume of a party chair but rather had his background as an international art dealer and businessman. He had always been politically minded and involved in political causes, but he did not have the extensive partisan politics background that previous chairs had. In anticipation …

A Multiple Streams Approach To Bioterrorism Policy, Craig Reeder

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Bioterrorism is not a new phenomenon and the issues that surround bioterrorism are complex. This paper focuses on the history of bioterrorism, its current threat in public view, and then applying a theory in which explains how those problems became issues in government. The paper starts by examining a historical account of bioterrorism. The history serves a purpose to discuss the ongoing developments and struggles of drafting legislation for an ongoing problem.

After a discussion of bioterrorism from a historical perspective, the paper examines the current threat or state of bioterrorism. This will lead into a discussion about John Kingdon’s …

A Synthesis Of Math Interventions For Elementary Students, Stephanie Toone

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

One major concern when developing a Response to Intervention (RTI) multi-tier program is the procedural elements required to ensure effective instruction. Ten studies were reviewed to gain an understanding of the components that result in positive RTI outcomes in mathematics. Elements analyzed included RTI program procedures , tier administration and tier outcomes . Results suggest that several empirically-based math interventions are being used in RTI programs in the literature and the researchers are implementing options as part of the Classwide , Tier 2 and Tier 3 instructional programs. Intervention progress is monitored primarily using Curriculum Based Measurement procedures to evaluate …

The Effectiveness Of Campaign Contribution Limits In Judicial Elections, Camarie Tanesha Jones

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

State judicial elections are becoming increasingly more expensive in terms of overall spending. The growing visibilities of these elections are expectantly followed with the support of special interest groups as well as individual contributions. This article focuses on judicial campaign contribution limits and there effectiveness in accomplishing their original goals. My research will address a variety of state judicial elections as well as Supreme Court cases involving the effectiveness of judicial campaign contributions have in accomplishing there purpose of reducing overall spending and preventing corruption. My hypothesis states that judicial campaign contributions are not effective in limiting the overall spending …

Ethnic Disparities In Prenatal Care Utilization In Vietnam, Ha Ngoc Trinh

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Prenatal care is credited with reducing neonatal, perinatal, and maternal mortality and morbidity. The main purpose of the thesis is to examine the ethnic disparities between majority and ethnic minority women in prenatal care usage. The thesis also analyzes the effects of age, education attainment, female employment, and region on prenatal care utilization in Vietnam. I employ the Demographic and Health Survey 2002 in Vietnam. Descriptive statistic and logistic regression are the two statistical tests employed in this research. Results exhibit evidence of ethnic disparities in type of prenatal care utilization. Although ethnic minority women are likely to enter prenatal …

How Are Interest Rates Affecting Household Consumption And Savings?, Lacy Christensen

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This paper explores the optimal interest rates that could potentially maximize overall consumption and savings. I attempt to determine whether artificially low interest rates are positively or negatively affecting consumption. There has been speculation on whether the United States needs to raise the effective federal funds rate to provide financial institutions the incentive to lend money and increase household consumption. The Federal Reserve is currently keeping the effective funds rate between 0 and .25 in hopes of increasing consumption levels. This paper uses fifty years of interest rate data to narrow in on an optimal interest rate that leads to …

Problem Solving Communication And Interpersonal Power Among Latino Adolescent Couples, Annel Cordero

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Few studies exist that examine Latino romantic relationships; even fewer assess interpersonal power among romantically involved Latino adolescent couples. This observational study investigated interaction, negotiation of power, and communication styles of Latino adolescents in current romantic relationships. Twenty-nine participating couples (ages 14-21) were recruited from a small Rocky Mountain community; all identified as being of Latino decent. Couples were digitally videotaped during problem solving conversations and completed a video recall procedure administered directly following the recording. The Quality of Relationship Inventory (QRI) was completed by all couple members as a measure of their overall relationship quality. In addition to this, …

Preserving The Digital Past For The Next Hundred Years, Cheryl D. Walters, Tawnya Mosier Keller, Chris L. Erickson

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Digital resources in libraries are fragile, and without proper preservation, these valuable resources will become unusable. This preservation reviews the importance of digital preservation, the problem with preserving digital materials, and then discusses what libraries can do to create a plan for providing long term access to their digital resources.

Using Script-Fading Procedures To Teach Children With Autism To Initiate During Free Play, Kara Anne Reagon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Children with autism often display deficits in social interaction, communication, and play. Unlike typical peers during free play with a variety of games and toys, they often do not initiate to others or engage in interactive game play for sustained periods of time. Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of script-fading procedures in increasing initiations and conversational repertoires for children with autism. However, these procedures were examined in arranged environments using an activity schedule or in structured settings. In addition, the role of the conversation partner has not been studied. The use of activity schedules has also been effective in …

Evaluating Complementary And Alternative Medicine (Cam) Utilization In A College Sample: A Multisite Application Of The Sociobehavioral Model Of Healthcare Utilization, Kimberly M. Pratt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among U.S. college students and the general public is substantial and growing; however, research on the characteristics of college students who use CAM and the factors that influence their decision to use CAM is scarce. Even fewer studies have explored such factors within the framework of an empirically supported theory. The college years are seen as an important time for developing long-lasting health behaviors and in many ways college students play an important role in setting the foundation for future healthcare. Thus, it is important for healthcare practitioners to have a clear …

Assessment Of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition: Possible Effects On Alpine Ecosystems Above 9000 Feet In Grand Teton National Park, Jennifer Hansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Certain forms of nitrogen (N) in the atmosphere are pollutants with effects that mimic fertilizer application. If there is too much N, it can become a stressor, and the ecosystem may undergo drastic changes (e.g. certain plant species may decline or disappear). The N load at which a system starts exhibiting negative effects is dependent on the type and location of the ecosystem. Alpine ecosystems (i.e. above 9000 feet in Wyoming) may be particularly sensitive to low levels of atmospheric N input because of short growing seasons, sparse plant cover, and shallow soils that limit their ability to absorb the …

The Satisfaction Of Participants In Utah's Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, Lucas D. Martin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many low-income households have difficulty finding affordable housing. Some may turn to government housing programs for assistance. This study looks at the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, an affordable homeownership program offered by the USDA Rural Development and run by local nonprofit organizations. The program organizes groups of low-income families who help one another build their own homes. The loan payments are determined by the households’ income and the cost to build the home is usually less than if the family were to buy a comparable home new, helping them have some equity in the home. A survey was sent to …

The Use Of Progressive-Ratio Schedules To Assess Negative Reinforcers, Ryan Knighton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if negative reinforcers can be ranked from high- to low-quality using a progressive-ratio assessment. This area of research is important for individuals with disabilities: in behavioral treatments it may be important to use negative reinforcers of varying qualities to reduce or increase socially relevant behavior such as communicative responses.

This investigation was carried out by Ryan Knighton in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Utah State University under the supervision of Sarah E. Bloom in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. This research was …

Preventative Behavioral Parent Training: Demonstration Of The Immediacy Effects Of An Innovative Conduct Problem Prevention Program In Young At-Risk Children, Alexis Bolton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Researchers propose to administer preventative behavioral parent training (PBPT) to young children who are displaying developmentally typical conduct problems (i.e., noncompliance and tantrums), with the intent of contributing valuable knowledge for preventing the development of chronic conduct problems in children.

Preventative behavioral parent training is an innovative model designed for conduct problems prevention. The scope of this study will be limited to demonstrating the immediate effects of PBPT. Given the nature and origins of PBPT, immediacy effects are expected and should be relevant to the maintenance of effects over time.

It is predicted that participation in PBPT would yield positive …

An Exploration Of Aggregated Patterns Of Student Curriculum-Based-Measurement Outcome Data Within A Response To Intervention Program, Elizabeth Findlay

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Identifying and determining what a student needs in order to progress and succeed in school is an important aspect of education. One proposed model for doing so is called response to intervention (RTI). This model states that the degree to which a student does or does not respond to high-quality interventions can help predict future performance and provide needed insight into what skills a student does and does not have. A student receives more or less services based on his or her level of responding interventions provided. The standard RTI model indicates that 80% of a student population should respond …

Exploring The Reliability And Validity Of The Experiential Discounting Task, Rochelle R. Smits

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Delay discounting is the devaluation of rewards that are delayed in time. This phenomenon was first studied with animals in controlled laboratory environments and later translated to human procedures. Though the decrease in value of outcomes as the delay to receipt increases is the same across species (money for humans, food for animals), a number of methodological concerns have been raised about the procedures used to study delay discounting in humans.

The Experiential Discounting Task (EDT) was recently developed in order to study delay discounting in humans in a way that is more similar to that used with animals. That …

Young Children‘S Mathematics References During Free Play In Family Child Care Settings, Shawnee M. Hendershot

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was undertaken to determine how children use math in their everyday activities, which includes caregiving environments outside of their home. Audio recordings were taken of children while they played. The researcher typed transcripts of the audio recordings in order to search for references to math. The different types of math that the children used were: (a) classification, (b) magnitude, (c) enumeration, (d) patterns and shapes, (e) spatial reasons, and (f) part/whole. An example of classification would be a child sorting blocks into groups based on shape. Magnitude is used when a child uses phrases to compare two or …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Response Elimination And Resurgence Using Rich, Lean, And Thinning Schedules Of Alternative Reinforcement, Mary M. Sweeney

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mary M. Sweeney, graduate student in the Experimental and Applied Psychological Science graduate program, proposed and completed this thesis in partial fulfillment for the requirements of the degree of Master of Science of Psychology. This project was supported in part by the American Psychological Society of Graduate Students (APAGS) Basic Psychological Science Fall2010 Research Grant awarded by the members of the APAGS Science Committee.

Many problem behaviors, such as aggression or self-injury in persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) or drug abuse can be maintained by the consequences of those behaviors. For example, many instances of aggression in individuals …

Father-Child Interactions At 24 And 36 Months And Developmental Outcomes At Prekindergarten, Shareesa L. Mcmurdie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study looked at father teaching interactions and singing in toddlerhood as predictors of child cognitive and language outcomes at prekindergarten in a low-income, ethnically diverse sample. Results found that, overall, father teaching interactions in toddlerhood predicted child cognitive and language outcomes at prekindergarten and father singing in toddlerhood predicted language outcomes. Fathers provided slightly more teaching interactions at child age 24 months than at 36 months, and sang more frequently at 36 months.

Within ethnic groups, father teaching interactions were statistically significant in predicting cognitive and language development outcomes for children of African American (approached significance for language outcomes) …