Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Competing Discourses Surrounding Primary Caregivers Of Hospice Patients, Paul Kozar

Communication Theses

The aging of the baby boomer generation has resulted in dynamic growth in end-of-life care. In the year 2030, 22% of Americans will be over the age of 65. Given this projection and the lack of communication research based practices for end-of life care, this study is a contribution that helps facilitate the layperson and health care professional's awareness of end-of-life communication. The researcher adopted relational dialectical theory to examine the discourse of twenty primary caregivers of hospice patients. The research questions guiding the study were what competing discourses do primary caregivers experience during end-of-life care and how do caregivers …

Cmc V/S Ftfc- Media Effect On Millennials' Self-Disclosure Behavior, Vidisha Vijaykumar Bhopatkar

Communication Theses

This study examines the effect that computer-mediated communication (CMC) and face-to-face communication (FTFC) have on Millennials' communication behaviors. The study specifically focuses on the self-disclosure aspect and attempts to analyze the possible effects that CMC and FTF communication may have on Millennials' self-disclosure behaviors. The methodology included a pre-test survey, followed by an experiment, and a post-test survey. Quantitative data analysis showed that for self-disclosure, Millennials do not exclusively consider one medium suitable over another. For them, the suitability of a medium is dependent on the task for which the medium is used.

Online Pharmacy Brand Name Medicine Price Differentials In The United States And Mexico, Francisco Javier Pallares

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this study is to further examine medicine price differences between the United States and Mexico. In particular, online pharmacy price differentials between the two countries have yet to be studied as closely as they have for other economies. The t-tests fail to reject the hypotheses of equal prices. However, the data is not normally distributed. A Wilcoxon test is performed to for the formal null hypothesis of price equality. The results indicate that medicines in online Mexican pharmacies are less expensive than their American competitors by a statistically significant margin.

Al-Shabaab's American Recruits: A Comparative Analysis Of Two Radicalization Pathways, Matthew Wade Richardson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

From 2005 to 2011, at least 41 Americans joined, or attempted to join, al-Shabaab, Somalia's preeminent terrorist organization. This thesis examines the radicalization process for al-Shabaab's American recruits by dividing the sample into two groups: non-Somali and Somali. The author employs causal flow diagramming as a means of visualizing each group's unique radicalization pathway. While most of the non-Somali recruits were motivated by political grievances and Salafism, most of the Somali recruits were motivated by identity conflict and nationalism. Considering al-Shabaab is both a religious and an ethno-nationalist terrorist organization, these results make sense. Radicalization within diaspora communities is a …

Writing Across Institutions: Studying The Curricular And Extracurricular Journeys Of Latina/O Students Transitioning From High School To College, Todd Ruecker

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation is based on a year and a half multi-institutional study of seven Mexican American students transitioning from high school to a community college or a university. It explores the differences between high school, community college, and university literacy environments, focusing on the following: the impact of standardized testing at the high school level, the role of rhetoric and composition disciplinary expertise in shaping first-year composition (FYC) curricula, writing in the disciplines, and the digital divide between institutions. Seven case studies examine students' literacy experiences across institutions as well as both challenges and sources of support in and beyond …

Employers' Perceptions Of Factors Related To The Workforce Development Of Community Health Workers In El Paso, Texas: A Descriptive Study, Aurora Aguirre Polanco

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Workforce studies are necessary for regional economic development and for having a diverse workforce that meets the communities' needs. Workforce studies explore the most salient factors of models aimed at balancing economic forces of supply and demand. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are frontline health workers recognized by both the United States (US) Department of Labor (DOL) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). CHWs' service is oriented towards health promotion and disease prevention; they deliver public health interventions.

External and internal factors to the US health care system such as health care and wealth disparities, changing …

Age, Attention, And Ots In A Constrained Vs Unconstrained Task, Courtney Leann Jensen

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

The discourse of older healthy adults is commonly described as lengthy and off-topic and thought to be associated with a general cognitive decline that occurs in healthy aging. This study investigated the overall decline in attention associated with healthy aging and its relationship to instances of off-topic speech (OTS) in a constrained and unconstrained language production task. Ninety cognitively healthy adults participated and comprised three age cohorts (40 – 75+). Participants completed cognitive measures of attention and two discourse tasks that included recounting personal events and describing a procedure. Older adults exhibited poorer scores on measures of selective and shifting …

Reproductive Health In India : An Empowerment Model, Fanghsun Wei

Social Work Dissertations

This study examined the effects of social and economic factors on women's reproductive health in India. Primarily, the study analyzed data from the India Human Development Survey I (IHDS-I 2004-2005). Several statistical methods were used to analyze the data, including descriptive analysis, regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and multinomial regression. The regression result suggests that social capital, spousal communication, region, autonomy, and accessibility all have significant positive effects on women's reproductive health in India. The SEM suggests that all independent variables have significant effects on women's reproductive health. Multinomial regression offers similar results as regression. Income has no effect on …

Women's Disclosure Of Hiv/Aids Status And It's Relationship To Intimate Partner Violence, Yasoda Sharma

Social Work Dissertations

The purpose of this cross-sectional survey study is to examine the frequency and severity of physical, sexual and emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by women before and after diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. This research also examines the effect of social support on the IPV experienced by these women. During the fall of 2011, women living with HIV/AIDS and receiving services from AIDS Outreach Center located in the southwestern part of the United States were recruited to participate in a study through the purposive sampling method. They were asked to complete surveys about their HIV/AIDS diagnosis, disclosure, level of IPV experienced, …

Inter-Ministerial Coordination And Collaboration In Social Programs: A Case Study Of The Human Development Program Oportunidades, Guillermina Benavides RincóN

Social Work Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to use the case study approach to determine how coordination is achieved in the Program for Human Development: Oportunidades (Opportunities). Oportunidades is the largest anti-poverty program in Mexico. The program has its origins in the Program for Education, Health and Nutrition (Programa de Educación, Salud y Alimentación, PROGRESA) implemented in 1997 under the administration of former President Ernesto Zedillo. In 2002 the new elected government change its name to Oportunidades without any substantial changes in its operation. The Program began in 1997 serving 300 thousand families; today 5 million people are enrolled. This means …

Posttraumatic Growth And Positive Macro-Level Outcomes, Patricia Dearman Moser

Social Work Dissertations

Common patterns and themes emerge from the unique experiences of individuals who have managed to turn personal tragedies into positive macro-level outcomes, such as societal change or agency creation. A number of research questions exploring the factors that influence an individual's decision and ability to create positive change from trauma, pain or suffering were explored throughout the study. Interviews and document reviews contributed to the study of why and how some individuals have been able to accomplish such commendable undertakings. A purposeful sample of nine individuals, both males and females, were interviewed. Purposeful and snowball methods of sampling were used …

Evaluating Drug Court Effectiveness And Exploring Racial Disparities In Drug Court Outcomes: A Mixed Methods Study, John R. Gallagher

Social Work Dissertations

Mixed methods were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Drug Impact Rehabilitation Enhanced Comprehensive Treatment (D.I.R.E.C.T.) program, and to explore the factors that may contribute to racial disparities in drug court outcomes. The D.I.R.E.C.T. program is an adult drug court located in Fort Worth, Texas. The most predictive variables of graduating the D.I.R.E.C.T. program were being employed or a student at time of admission into the program, having fewer positive drug tests, and being Caucasian. The most predictive variables of not recidivating were not having a violation within the first 30 days of the program and graduating the program. …

Reproductive Health Of Tribal Populations In India: A Sustainability Approach, Mashooq Azad Salehin

Social Work Dissertations

In the context of global climate change, the sustainability approach takes a holistic view of development through preservation of nature during the course of socioeconomic and human development. Reproductive health functions as an integral component of human development, enabling `continuity' of human species through successful `reproductive processes'. Prior studies on reproductive health are restricted to determinants such as fertility, family size, and infant mortality with limited focus on developing a holistic or comprehensive explanation of reproductive health. Although social and economic factors have been identified as reproductive health factor in prior studies, ecological component has been overlooked historically in understanding …

Individual, Family, School, And Community Predictors For Depression And Self-Esteem: A Comparative Study Between Asian And Latino Adolescents, Min Ju Kim

Social Work Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors within the family, school, and community environments of Hispanic and Asian adolescents' that may predict mental health (depression and self-esteem). Another aim was to compare the significant predictors of depression and self-esteem between Hispanic and Asian adolescents. This study used secondary data from Wave II of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS). The target population was 2,114 students (1,008 Hispanics and 1,106 Asians) who were about to graduate from high school and 1,213 parents. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between environmental variables and mental …

Urban-Rural Differences In The Use Of Modern Contraceptive Methods Among The People In The Republic Of Yemen-1997, Vivin Thomas

Social Work Theses

Population explosion is a major concern for many Middle Eastern countries. This study is aimed at exploring the urban-rural differences in the use of modern contraceptives in Yemen. The study also took into consideration the variable education that can influence the use of contraceptives among people of Yemen. This analysis utilized the secondary data from Yemen Demographic and Maternal Health Survey (YDMHS) of 1997. The YDMHS (1997) survey sample consisted of 10,414 women. The YDMHS survey was conducted with ever-married women in the age group of 15 to 49. This study is based on the ecosystem theory that states that …

Lifetime Alcohol Misuse Prevalence Rates Among Sexual Offenders Currently Enrolled In Outpatient Sex Offender Treatment, James P. Foster

Social Work Theses

Sex offenders' high prevalence of alcohol misuse augments their risk of reoffending. Identifying sexual offenders' alcohol misuse patterns and history is vital to effective treatment that lowers rates of recidivism. The present study seeks to determine the prevalence of lifetime alcohol misuse among individuals participating in court mandated outpatient sex offender treatment. Participants were administered the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). The participants' MAST scores were then separated into categories of, "No Problem (scores 0-5)," "Alcohol Problem (scores 6-8)," and "Alcohol Abuse/Dependence (scores 9+)" to compare with the participants' self-reported alcohol use during their intake assessments. The MAST score ranges …

Characterizing And Predicting Growth In Reading Skills In Children With Developmental Dyslexia Through Functional Neuroimaging, Emily A. Farris

Psychology Dissertations

Children with developmental dyslexia exhibit deficits in a wide variety of reading skills that are attributable to underlying deficits in phonological processing. Functional neuroimaging studies show that these children exhibit differences in the activation of a distributed network of brain regions during reading tasks when compared to children without reading impairments. It is anticipated that children with dyslexia who are enrolled in a reading intervention will exhibit significant growth in reading skills over the course of their intervention. Furthermore, research has shown that activation of a distributed network of brain regions during reading tasks can be used to predict changes …

The Antinociceptive Role Of The Anterior Interposed Nucleus Of The Cerebellum, Christopher E. Hagains

Psychology Dissertations

The cerebellum has been extensively studied for its role in pain. It is safe to say that the cerebellum has a modulatory role in pain. It is active during various types of pain, but it also plays a role in inhibiting pain. An overall contribution to pain has yet to be defined. This study was performed to contribute to knowledge pertaining to the cerebellum's role in pain. Specifically, the role of the interposed nucleus in descending inhibition was of interest.To test the role of the interposed nucleus in descending inhibition, single-unit extracellular electrophysiological recordings were collected to observe dorsal horn …

The Individual Approach To Contact: How Personality Predicts Intergroup Contact Behavior, Nicole Sharp

Psychology Theses

Personality has been shown to be associated with prejudice levels and intergroup contact has been shown to reduce negative outgroup attitudes and discrimination, but until now the motivating factors that encourage naturalistic contact have not been examined. Participants were recruited from undergraduate introductory psychology courses and partook in a two-part study. During phase 1 of the study, participants completed personality measures as well as intergroup contact and prejudice scales. In the second phase of the study participants rated and selected potential future interaction partners based on an evaluation of short profiles. Results indicated that the Cultural Empathy subscale of the …

Exergame Use As A Gateway To The Adoption Of And Adherence To Sport-Specific And General Physical Activity, Colin Jenney

Psychology Theses

Despite increasing the amount of information regarding the need for regular physical activity, rates of inactivity have not seen a corresponding decrease. The aim of the current study was to determine whether exergame use would serve as a gateway to the sport of racquetball, thereby providing a feasible and innovative way to influence behavior change regarding physical activity. The current study randomly assigned participants into one of three conditions for racquetball training: a no–exposure control group, a racquetball videogame (exergame) group, and a traditional training group. College aged adults (N = 103), who reported not being regular exercisers at recruitment …

Ratio Bias In Judgment Under Specific Emotions, Yanfei Liu

Psychology Theses

How does specific emotion influence the ratio bias phenomenon? Previous studies suggested that a more systematic and analytical reasoning with logical rationality seemed to be stimulated by negative emotions. However other studies regarding appraisal congruency effects have demonstrated that information processing is dependent on the certainty of emotion. To explore the effect of specific emotions on numeracy and ratio bias in judgment, I conducted a 2 (positive vs. negative emotion) ×2 (certainty vs. uncertainty emotion) between-participants design, contributing to four conditions: happy (positive, certainty), hope (positive, uncertainty), disgust (negative, certainty) and fear (negative, uncertainty). Four groups of participants were induced …

Perceived Fairness Of The Use Of Facebook In The Selection Process, Donielle Gustafson

Psychology Theses

Although research has examined applicant attitudes in the selection process regarding the use of a variety of assessments tools, no scholarly or empirical studies to date have examined attitudes towards the use of Facebook in the selection process. Nonetheless, organizations are using Facebook in the selection process and are asking applicants for Facebook usernames and passwords resulting in applicants withdrawing from the application process (Valdes & McFarland, 2012). This demonstrates why it is essential for research to examine applicant perceptions in regards to Facebook use in the selection process. The current study consisted of 422 participants of whom 92% indicated …

Physcial Symptoms In Patients With Acute Tmd: The Influence Of Emotional Distress, Kara Lorduy

Psychology Theses

The current study investigated symptoms of central sensitization syndrome (CSS), as well as, pain and pain-related interference among those with acute temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Additionally, the current project investigated the influence of emotional distress on the prevalence of physical symptoms and on self-reports of pain as indicated by the Characteristic Pain Inventory (CPI) and pain-related interference on the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS). Consistent with our expectations, those with an Axis I muscle disorder and those at high-risk for chronicity had more symptoms of central sensitization, and higher CPI and GCPS compared to those without an Axis I muscle disorder …

Does Fibromyalgia Resolve With Functional Restoration Treatment In Chronic Disabling Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders? Prevalence And Treatment Responsiveness, Meredith M. Hartzell

Psychology Theses

Fibromyalgia (FM), a musculoskeletal syndrome involving widespread pain and tenderness to palpation, is considered stable and chronic, with few researchers evaluating diagnosis loss at post-treatment. FM patients (N = 117) entered functional restoration (FR) treatment, and 41% lost ACR 1990 diagnostic criteria for FM at post-treatment. Patients that lost the diagnosis (LFM group; n = 48) differed from patients who retained the diagnosis (RFM group; n = 69) on psychosocial measures of depressive symptoms, pain intensity, health-related quality of life, and disability at post-treatment, but were similar to the lumbar only comparison group (n = 87). LFM patients physically functioned …

Burger Cultures: Mcdonaldization And De-Mcdonaldization In Croatia And The U.S., Ashley Wendell Kranjac

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

The primary goal of this thesis is to contribute to critical/ social theory through food theory by examining the interactions between local (i.e., internal food trends) and delocalization/ globalization, which are external food trends in Croatia and the United States. I argue, the globalization process is visible in Croatian's adoption of processed foods and fast-food experiences, while the localization in the United States is observable in the re-creation of local, organic, and slower food practices. Subsets of Croatians are embarking on a path of monoculturalism, and conversely, subgroups in the United States are deconstructing and resisting the one common global …

Ethnicization Of Politics In Afghanistan, Hamidullah Qeyam

Sociology & Anthropology Theses

This thesis project examines the relationship between ethnic identity and politics and to explore how ethnicity has influenced the post-Taliban state building, the electoral system, and ethnic manipulations in presidential and parliamentary elections in Afghanistan. First, in order to better understanding the problem of ethnic politics in Afghanistan, it will provide detailed information on the background of Afghanistan including the historical background of the country as an independent state, ethnic groups, residential segregation, group size, construction and the crisis of "Afghan" national identity, and debates over the new Afghan National Identity Card. Then, it discusses the problem of ethnic politics …

Development Of Gist Processing Skills And Memory In Children And Young Adults: Effects Of Presentation Type In A Modified Drm Paradigm, Haylie Lauren Miller

Psychology Dissertations

To date, studies have separately tested the influence of narrative context, source-monitoring, and list length on gist extraction. The present study expanded upon that body of work by examining those variables in combination. Specifically, I observed the effects of presentation type (list versus narrative) on children's ability to process gist at ages 5, 7, 9, and 11, as well as young adults age 18-30. Participants watched two puppets present either a list of words or a narrative with an embedded DRM list. Following presentation of the puppet show, participants were given a source memory test where they were asked to …

A Theoretical Formation Of Emotional Intelligence And Childhood Trauma Among Adolescents, A.A. Tolegenova, S.M. Jakupov, Man Cheung Chung, S. Saduova, M.S. Jakupov

All Works

Problem Statement: Much has been documented on the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) on adolescents in terms of their problem-solving skills (Ajawani, 2012), creativity (Vijaykumar, 2012), and academic performance (Shenoy & Thingujam, 2012). Increasingly, emphasis has been paid on the effect of EI on health among this population. For example, EI has been shown to interact with personality traits to affect psychological well-being (Salami, 2012). EI, based on literature focusing on the adult population, shows that it is a protective factor and can buffer against psychological distress (e.g. Hunt & Evans, 2004; Schmidt & Andrykowski, 2004). However, little is known …

Factors Impacting Intention To Leave In Social Workers And Child Care Workers Employed At Voluntary Agencies, Wendy Zeitlin, Charles Auerbach, Junqing Liu, Gretta Fernandes, Brenda Mcgowan, Nancy Claiborne

Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Introduction: To ameliorate high turnover in child welfare, researchers have attempted to identify factors that lead to undesirable turnover. While this has been studied extensively, little attention has been paid to turnover based upon job roles. Like social workers in child welfare, the field of child care also experiences high turnover. Child care workers employed in child welfare settings are no exception. The current study seeks to understand differential factors that impact intent to leave for preventive and child care workers employed in child welfare agencies. Materials and methods: Data for prevention workers (n = 538) were obtained from all …

Foreign Land Investments In Developing Countries, E. Wesley F. Peterson

Cornhusker Economics

In 2009, the government of Liberia leased 220,000 hectares (543,4000 acres) of land to a Malaysian company, Sime Darby, which intends to develop the land for palm oil and rubber production. While the company has promised that its operations will create jobs and comply with all environmental standards, local farmers have expressed concerns about environmental degradation and slow payments to workers (Siakor and Knight).

In recent years land deals in low-income countries involving foreign firms and governments have increased substantially. The World Bank estimated that there were large scale land deals to purchase or lease 56 million hectares of land …