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Articles 3631 - 3660 of 5786

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Privatization Of Florida Juvenile Residential Facilities, Katherine Hancock Jan 2014

Privatization Of Florida Juvenile Residential Facilities, Katherine Hancock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Privatization of juvenile facilities and services has been the norm since the inception of the juvenile justice system. However, little research has been performed examining the impact of privatization on juvenile justice, despite the possible repercussions of this policy for the juveniles served. Prior research on privatization in other fields has tended to find a connection between privatization and outcomes; however, very little research has examined how privatization impacts operations, how operations impact recidivism, and how privatization and operations interact to produce juvenile justice outcomes. This exploratory study, informed by cybernetic systems theory and principal-agent theory, examined the mechanism by …

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Pinning Motherhood: The Construction Of Mothering Identities On Pinterest, Kate Griffin Jan 2014

Pinning Motherhood: The Construction Of Mothering Identities On Pinterest, Kate Griffin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the new social media site, Pinterest, to uncover the processes through which mothers construct self- and public-identities. Despite being valued at over $3.8 billion dollars (Perez 2013), having an impressive user retention rate (Moore 2014), and having a highly gendered user base (Tekobbe 2013), Pinterest has been the site of limited sociological inquiry. Seventeen semi-structured qualitative interviews on mothering and Pinterest use were conducted with central Florida mothers who have a Pinterest account and at least one child between 6 months and 10 years old. Through analysis based in a grounded theory approach, three central themes emerged …

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Perceptions Of Corruption & External Political Efficacy: Regime Stability & Democratic Legitimacy, Sean Stanley Bentzen Jan 2014

Perceptions Of Corruption & External Political Efficacy: Regime Stability & Democratic Legitimacy, Sean Stanley Bentzen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Do perceptions of corruption affect external political efficacy? If so, how? This paper investigates whether perceptions of corruption contribute to external efficacy on the aggregate, country level, and on the individual level. This paper seeks to expand the scope of the current corruption and efficacy literatures by examining, on the aggregate level, ninety five countries, and on the individual level, all available barometer surveys from the period of 2000-2012. Methods of analysis include time series, standard OLS, and hierarchical, or multilevel, modeling. In addition to the primary research question, this paper investigates the potential interactions between perceptions of corruption and …

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Toward A Conceptualization Of Emetophobia: Examining Intolerance Of Uncertainty As A Unique Predictor Of Symptoms, Mimi Zhao Jan 2014

Toward A Conceptualization Of Emetophobia: Examining Intolerance Of Uncertainty As A Unique Predictor Of Symptoms, Mimi Zhao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emetophobia, a poorly understood disorder, is a specific phobia characterized by an irrational and persistent fear of oneself vomiting or others vomiting. Though research on the disorder is sparse, previous investigations have reported interference in social, occupational, and health domains in the lives of individuals with emetophobia (Lipsitz et al., 2001; McFayden & Wyness, 1983; Veale & Lambrou, 2006). To this end, the current study examined whether individual differences in Anxiety Sensitivity (AS), Disgust Sensitivity (DS), and Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) are associated with symptoms of emetophobia, whether AS predicts symptoms of emetophobia above and beyond DS, IU, and expected …

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Work Stress, Meaning, And Values: A Study Of Intellectual Disability Support Staff, Jennifer Marie Ladner-Graham Jan 2014

Work Stress, Meaning, And Values: A Study Of Intellectual Disability Support Staff, Jennifer Marie Ladner-Graham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Employees who work with individuals with intellectual disabilities report high levels of work-related stress. Staff stress is associated with a variety of negative outcomes, such as poor psychological health, job burnout, and high turnover rates. The current study investigated the relationship between staff stress and negative outcomes. Specifically, this study examined whether positive psychology concepts such as perceived meaning in life and values moderated the relationship between staff stress and poor psychological health, job search/intention to leave the job, and use of sick leave. Participants included staff members from an inpatient facility for people with intellectual disabilities located in North …

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Diagnostic Accuracy Of Self-Report Instruments In A Non-Clinical Sample: A Receiver And Operating Characteristics (Roc) Analysis, Lindsay Trent Jan 2014

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Self-Report Instruments In A Non-Clinical Sample: A Receiver And Operating Characteristics (Roc) Analysis, Lindsay Trent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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Sexual Assertiveness As A Predictor Of Differential Vulnerability In Sexual Victimization Between Sorority- And Non-Affiliated College Women, Mary Ashton Phillips Jan 2014

Sexual Assertiveness As A Predictor Of Differential Vulnerability In Sexual Victimization Between Sorority- And Non-Affiliated College Women, Mary Ashton Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since Koss' seminal research in 1985, it has been clear that college women are especially vulnerable to sexual victimization; more than 30% of her sample had experienced the legal definition of rape, which includes completed as well as attempted rape. Since then, several studies have found similar findings. Koss, Gidycz, and Wisniewski (1987) reported that 15.4% of a sample of college women had experienced rape and 12.1% had experienced attempted rape since the age of 14. Gross, Winslett, Roberts, and Gohm (2006) also found in their college sample that 13.3% of women had experienced rape and 18.2% had experienced attempted …

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Evaluating Values, Mindfulness, And Working Alliance: Exploring The Effects Of Short, Specific Techniques, Regan Slater Jan 2014

Evaluating Values, Mindfulness, And Working Alliance: Exploring The Effects Of Short, Specific Techniques, Regan Slater

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Comfactors research indicates that there is a positive relationship between therapeutic relationship and improved client outcomes. However, little research has been done to examine the nature of this relationship. The current study examined the relationship among values, mindfulness, and working alliance. This study used different specific interventions and examined the interventions' impact on values and mindfulness. The study also examined whether changes in values and mindfulness led to differences in working alliance ratings. Participants were 66 undergraduate students and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: mindfulness plus values, mindfulness, or control. The participants were then led in a …

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Stop Making Sense: Exploring Basic Properties And Clinical Applications Of Coherence, Michael James Bordieri Jan 2014

Stop Making Sense: Exploring Basic Properties And Clinical Applications Of Coherence, Michael James Bordieri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the ways in which people make sense of ambiguous tasks and the degree to which people prefer contexts where coherent responding is possible. Relational frame theory contains a foundational assumption that coherence (i.e., making sense) is reinforcing for verbally competent humans. That is, it is assumed that humans relate ambiguous stimuli in ways that go together because they have an extensive learning history where others have given praise, positive attention, and other reinforcement for this behavior. This study was designed to empirically investigate this core assumption of relational frame theory by analyzing response patterns to ambiguous stimuli …

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Childhood Growth In An Oneota Community: Examining Long Bone Growth Differences In The The Juveniles At Norris Farms 36, Whitney Broughton Jan 2014

Childhood Growth In An Oneota Community: Examining Long Bone Growth Differences In The The Juveniles At Norris Farms 36, Whitney Broughton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oneota migration into the central Illinois River valley around ad 1300 resulted in a number of different interactions with Mississippian groups. Milner and colleagues (1991) identified significant numbers of perimortem injuries at the Norris farms 36 cemetery, along with biological markers for poor health, such as cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis. They suggested that the threat of violence may have forced the Oneonta at Morton village to limit subsistence activities to circumscribed areas close to the settlement, thereby reducing the resource base and negatively impacting the health of the community. However, recent research (Bengtson et al. 2012; Bengtson and O'Gorman …

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Cohonina Social Organization And The Role Of Forts In Integration And Interaction: A View From The Pittsberg Community., Travis Brent Cureton Jan 2014

Cohonina Social Organization And The Role Of Forts In Integration And Interaction: A View From The Pittsberg Community., Travis Brent Cureton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the role of "forts" in the sociopolitical organization of a prehistoric people known as the Cohonina through the application of settlement systems analysis and functional studies. The primary objective of this thesis is to test ideas of Cohonina sociopolitical organization through an examination of the functional characteristics of forts and their positions on the landscape using a combination of theory derived from settlement and landscape archaeology, deployed in a geographic information system work environment. A Cohonina fort site known as the Pittsberg Fort Complex, was placed in its community context through broad scale survey. Artifact, architectural, and …

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From The Mouths Of Mississippian: Determining Biological Affinity Between The Oliver Site (22-Co-503) And The Hollywood Site (22-Tu-500), Hanna Stewart Jan 2014

From The Mouths Of Mississippian: Determining Biological Affinity Between The Oliver Site (22-Co-503) And The Hollywood Site (22-Tu-500), Hanna Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippian period in the American Southeast was a period of immense interaction between polities as a result of vast trade networks, regional mating networks which included spousal exchange, chiefdom collapse, and endemic warfare. This constant interaction is reflected not only in the cultural materials but also in the genetic composition of the inhabitants of this area. Despite constant interaction, cultural restrictions prevented polities from intermixing and coalescent groups under the same polity formed subgroups grounded in their own identity as a result unique histories (Harle 2010; Milner 2006). As a result, phenetic similarities and differences are not homogenized. In …

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Exploring The Influence Of Adult Attachment On Stress Coping Resources And Career Adaptabillity, Laith Mazahreh Jan 2014

Exploring The Influence Of Adult Attachment On Stress Coping Resources And Career Adaptabillity, Laith Mazahreh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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The Adult Scale Of Parental Attachment-Short Form: Item Selection, Factor Structure, And Psychometric Properties, Anthony Aron Michael Jan 2014

The Adult Scale Of Parental Attachment-Short Form: Item Selection, Factor Structure, And Psychometric Properties, Anthony Aron Michael

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine if an abbreviated version of the Adult Scale of Parental Attachment (ASPA; Snow, Sullivan, Martin, & Helm, 2005) could be developed with an emphasis on the instrument's item selection, factor structure, and psychometric properties. The ASPA, building upon attachment theory, is a self-report measure that assesses individuals' patterns of relating based on their relationships with both mother and father figures in childhood. Utilizing the conceptual underpinnings of Classical Test Theory and factor analysis, a 40-item version of the ASPA (called the ASPA-SF) was created from 1,075 archived responses through a test construction …

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Monetary Policy And The Housing Market During The Last Decade, Jing Zhang Jan 2014

Monetary Policy And The Housing Market During The Last Decade, Jing Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines how monetary policy influences the housing market in U.S. with a special emphasis on the recent financial crisis dating from 2007, which started from the burst of bubbles in the housing market. Using monthly U.S. data spanning over the period from January 2000 to July 2011, I estimate Vector Auto-regressive(VAR) models using data for each metropolitan statistical area (MSA) to analyze the interaction between local housing markets and monetary policy. Aggregate responses of housing variables to monetary policy are also estimated by adopting composite data. Empirical results show that employment and housing price index both respond negatively …

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The Middle Class Tax Relief And Job Creation Act Of 2012 And Its Impact On Television Broadcasting And Future Broadband Wireless Communications, David H. Cole Jan 2014

The Middle Class Tax Relief And Job Creation Act Of 2012 And Its Impact On Television Broadcasting And Future Broadband Wireless Communications, David H. Cole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The upcoming Incentive Auction for the 600 MHz band will cause the relocation of hundreds of UHF television stations while potentially freeing up as much as 120 MHz of valuable electromagnetic spectrum for utilization by wireless communications providers. This "new" wireless spectrum will allow wireless providers to increase their wireless broadband capabilities and feed the ever-growing demand by consumers for more wireless broadband capacity. This thesis addresses the mechanics of the proposed auction platforms, the impact the auction will have on existing television broadcasters, and explores some of the possible future opportunities the repurposing of the 600 MHz band presents …

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Cognitive Effects And Academic Consequences Of Video Game Playing, Sean Hollis Jan 2014

Cognitive Effects And Academic Consequences Of Video Game Playing, Sean Hollis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: prior video game playing (vgp) research has generated mixed empirical findings. Recent studies suggested positive effects vgp may have on cognitive skills, particularly improvements in visuospatial skills, processing speed, working memory, multitasking, and problem solving skills. By contrast, other studies have suggested that vgp leads to lower academic performance - indicating further research on vgp effects is needed. This study investigated the effects of vgp on cognitive skills and academic performance. Methods: 208 participants were recruited from the University of Mississippi psychology department in exchange for research participation credit. The sample was 68.9% female and 31.1% male. Ages ranged …

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Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role Of Ethnicity And Culture In Parent Interpretation And Service Utilization, Corinn Nicole Johnson Jan 2014

Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role Of Ethnicity And Culture In Parent Interpretation And Service Utilization, Corinn Nicole Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence rates for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) suggest rates continue to increase, with recent data indicating 1 in 68 children diagnosed with the disorder. Interventions may prove beneficial for both the core symptoms of the disorder and related deficits, although data indicate that effects are stronger with early intervention (e.g., prior to four years old). Unfortunately, many children are undiagnosed until they are school age. Additionally, a number of findings indicate that in comparison to Caucasian children, African American children receive an ASD diagnosis later and less often. The current study examined the role of race/ethnicity on 119 mothers' knowledge …

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Direct-To-Consumer Advertising Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For The Treatment Of Depression, Lauren B. Flegle Jan 2014

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For The Treatment Of Depression, Lauren B. Flegle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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Effects Of Narrative Writing And Post-Writing Processing Instructions On Ptsd, Laura Mcintire Jan 2014

Effects Of Narrative Writing And Post-Writing Processing Instructions On Ptsd, Laura Mcintire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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Blogging Through The Fog: Examining Possible Effects Of Blog Tasks On Culture Acquisition, Katherine Carr Jan 2014

Blogging Through The Fog: Examining Possible Effects Of Blog Tasks On Culture Acquisition, Katherine Carr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the internationalization of the English language and the rise of the internet and other computer-mediated forms of communication (CMC), researchers have examined what the culture surrounding the English language includes, the literacy and language that is used in CMC interaction, and how the above come together in the language classroom. This paper examines performances on quizzes of two beginner ESL classrooms (one used a blog and one did not) to see if using supplemental blog tasks affects culture acquisition. The cultural readings in the textbook as well as the characteristics of blogs not present in textbooks were examined to …

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Un Peacekeeping Impacts On Human Rights, Elise Durant Jan 2014

Un Peacekeeping Impacts On Human Rights, Elise Durant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper seeks to explore the impacts of peacekeeping operations by the United Nations on the human rights abuses associated with civil wars. Previous research has consistently found evidence that civil wars increase human rights abuses; however, the literature has not adequately analyzed possible factors that could decrease this violence or the affects peacekeeping could have on human rights performances. The UN has four types of peacekeeping operations: observer, traditional, multidimensional, and enforcement. The results of a Heckman selection model for 57 countries that have experienced a civil war between 1976 and 2012 suggest peacekeeping does impact human rights performances, …

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The Impact Of Black Political Representation On The Racial Attitudes, Policy Preferences, And Vote Choice Of Whites In Minority Majority Congressional Districts, Emmitt Y. Riley Jan 2014

The Impact Of Black Political Representation On The Racial Attitudes, Policy Preferences, And Vote Choice Of Whites In Minority Majority Congressional Districts, Emmitt Y. Riley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Scholars examining black political representation have focused on the degree to which African American politicians can impact the everyday living conditions of African Americans. Despite years of African American political representation within the United States House of Representatives, political scientists have devoted very little scholarship to examining how whites react to African American leadership. Given that African Americans remain under represented in government and current legal challenges threaten the future of minority majority districts, it is important to gain better insight into how black representation might impact the white community. Prior studies that do examine how whites react to African …

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How We Teach Psychology: A National Survey Of Empirically Supported Teaching Techniques In Undergraduate Instruction, Joshua C. Fulwiler Jan 2014

How We Teach Psychology: A National Survey Of Empirically Supported Teaching Techniques In Undergraduate Instruction, Joshua C. Fulwiler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research from a wide range of psychological disciplines has focused on understanding the teaching methods that most effectively promote learning. Despite a wealth of literature demonstrating the effectiveness of various teaching methods, the prevalence of these methods in contemporary college psychology courses has not yet been examined. To fill this gap, the current study surveyed undergraduate psychology instructors on methods implemented in their classrooms. Distributed to 448 institutions of higher learning, this online survey sought to provide a preliminary picture of the modern teaching landscape. In order to provide the most objective standard of comparison among these different institutions, frequency …

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The Role Of Acceptance In Headache-Related Variables, Joshua D. Hamer Jan 2014

The Role Of Acceptance In Headache-Related Variables, Joshua D. Hamer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Migraine is a neurologic disorder that causes impairment in many areas of functioning. Migraine sufferers frequently avoid environmental stimuli (triggers) they assume to be associated with migraine onset, which may inadvertently lead to an increase in the potency of some triggers and increase headache frequency over time. Headache patients who instead use acceptance strategies to limit their attempts to control or eliminate/avoid their pain may experience reduced distress and pain-related disability. Studies examining acceptance-based approaches in managing chronic pain conditions have shown favorable results of acceptance on pain intensity, reduced pain-related anxiety and avoidance, and less physical and psychological disability. …

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Exploring Developmental Assets And Strengths In Mississippi Youth, Umieca Nicolle Hankton Jan 2014

Exploring Developmental Assets And Strengths In Mississippi Youth, Umieca Nicolle Hankton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

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Measurement Of Anhedonia In The Chick Anxiety-Depression Model, Amy L. Salmeto-Johnson Jan 2014

Measurement Of Anhedonia In The Chick Anxiety-Depression Model, Amy L. Salmeto-Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anhedonia, the loss of pleasure in previously pleasurable activities, is one of the cardinal features of depression. To further validate the chick anxiety-depression model, the current study aimed at quantifying anhedonia as well its reversal with pharmaceuticals. The first goal was to identify a measure to quantify the display of anhedonia in chicks following exposure to an isolation stressor, the chick anxiety-depression model. All experiments involved a baseline and test measurement either after removal from the home cage (No Test) or exposure to the isolation apparatus with conspecifics and mirrors (Social) or individually (Isolated). Experiment 1 used a straight maze …

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Obesity Related Perturbations On Cardiovascular, Immune And Endocrine Response To Active And Passive Stress, Ashley Elizabeth Burch Jan 2014

Obesity Related Perturbations On Cardiovascular, Immune And Endocrine Response To Active And Passive Stress, Ashley Elizabeth Burch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the obesity epidemic increases, the prevalence of obesity-related diseases grows simultaneously. The internal environment of chronic low-grade inflammation, which characterizes obesity, leaves individuals vulnerable to disease. Cardiovascular dysfunction represents a consequential effect of obesity. An early indicator of cardiovascular disease is an impaired stress response. Further, the type of stress (active versus passive) may be differentially affected representing additional distinctions in impairment. In the present study, we have used two types of stress (active and passive) to investigate obesity-instigated alterations in cardiovascular, immune and endocrine response to stress. In addition, we have evaluated how these systems may overlap to …

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The Social Ecology Of Men's Sexual Self-Efficacy In The Mississippi Delta, Vanessa Ann Parks Jan 2014

The Social Ecology Of Men's Sexual Self-Efficacy In The Mississippi Delta, Vanessa Ann Parks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mississippi often has some of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and infections in the country. To combat this, the state uses abstinence-based sexual education in an attempt to discourage young people from having sex. I conducted 27 interviews and one focus group to talk with young men in the Mississippi Delta about their opinions on birth control. Using the social ecological model and self-efficacy framework, this thesis considers the influences on young men that shape their attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual health topics such as birth control. Primary findings include their learning from teachers, parents, …

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Why Aren't More Heathens Eco-Pagan Vegetarians? The Intersection Of Gender, Politics, And Spiritual Environmentalism, Kristen An Horton Jan 2014

Why Aren't More Heathens Eco-Pagan Vegetarians? The Intersection Of Gender, Politics, And Spiritual Environmentalism, Kristen An Horton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neo-Paganism, a nature-based new religious movement, provides a rich backdrop for the study of spiritual environmentalism. This ethnographic project analyzes the dynamic interconnectedness of neo-paganism and environmentalism, or "eco-paganism," and how Heathenry reframes the natural world using interpretations of Old Norse lore. A Heathen's connection to nature and how this connection is incorporated into his/her daily life supports the idea of environmentalism, yet their patriarchal and conservative political beliefs devalue environmentalism. My focus is on the feminization of the environment and vegetarianism to such a degree that Heathens view these movements as radicalized liberal tree hugging hobbies and how these …

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