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- Title
- PREPARATION FOR IMPLANTATION OF AN INTRACORTICAL VISUAL PROSTTIESIS IN A HUMAN: WORKING TOWARDS SATURATION
- Creator
- Troyk, Melissa J
- Date
- 2017, 2017-07
- Description
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The research focused on restoring visual perception via a vision prosthetic is progressing at a rapidly advancing rate. Previous research on...
Show moreThe research focused on restoring visual perception via a vision prosthetic is progressing at a rapidly advancing rate. Previous research on the experiences and perspectives of past, current, and potential vision prosthesis users has demonstrated that the decision to obtain a vision prosthetic is driven by a variety of unique factors and variables that merge with one another during the process of deciding to participate in clinical vision prosthesis research (Lane, Huyck, Troyk, & Schug, 2012; Lane, Nitsch, Huyck, Troyk, & Schug, 2014; Lane, Nitsch, & Troyk, 2015). The purpose of the current study was twofold: 1) to determine if our understanding of the experiences and perspectives of potential vision prosthesis users was nearing saturation, and 2) to understand the perspectives of potential vision prosthesis users who are veterans. Data were analyzed in accordance with qualitative analysis procedures. Results identified several new themes and subthemes that were determined to be important to our understanding of potential users’ perspectives of an intracortical vision prosthesis device. A preliminary framework is proposed for understanding how the identified themes and subthemes merge during the process of deciding to participate in an experimental vision prosthesis human clinical trial. The results demonstrated that while progress has been made, there is still more to learn about blind individuals’ perspectives of vision prostheses and how they would decide to participate in vision prosthesis research.
M.S. in Psychology, July 2017
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- Title
- DOES NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE MODERATE THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PERFECTIONISM AND EATING DISORDER SYMPTOMATOLOGY?
- Creator
- Schwartz, Natalie
- Date
- 2017, 2017-05
- Description
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The trait of perfectionism is a psychological factor linked with the development of disordered eating, though the relation is unclear with...
Show moreThe trait of perfectionism is a psychological factor linked with the development of disordered eating, though the relation is unclear with some studies pointing to perfectionism as a predictor of eating disorder symptoms, while other studies have failed to find a statistically significant association. These discrepant findings suggest a need for understanding other factors that could be impacting the association. Research has suggested that individuals with eating disorders perform better than controls on knowledge of sources of nutrients and that while individuals with eating disorders spend more time reading about nutrition, this knowledge tends to be selective and skewed towards the aspects that maintain the eating disorder. The current study aimed to investigate the role of nutrition knowledge as a factor that may significantly influence the association between perfectionism and disordered eating attitudes. College women (N=122) completed several questionnaires related to disordered eating, nutrition knowledge, and perfectionism. The main research questions were: 1) whether perfectionism was related to disordered eating attitudes, 2) whether nutrition knowledge was related to disordered eating attitudes, and 3) whether nutrition knowledge moderated the relation between perfectionism and disordered eating attitudes. Results supported a positive association between perfectionism and disordered eating attitudes, in line with previous research. Despite a non-significant association between nutrition knowledge and disordered eating attitudes, there was found to be trend level significance (p<.07) for one moderation model. Specifically, the model assessing overall body dissatisfaction accounted for 33.34% of the variance, with a significant main effect for the level of perfectionism,suggesting the greater the degree of perfectionism traits, the greater the level of body dissatisfaction. While more research is needed to further develop an understanding of the link between perfectionism and disordered eating, nutrition knowledge is one possible avenue to explore in order to develop more effective prevention and intervention efforts.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2017
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- Title
- FLEXIBLE COGNITIVE STYLE MODERATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RUMINATION AND AFFECT
- Creator
- Smetter, Joseph B.
- Date
- 2014, 2014-12
- Description
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Prospective and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that rumination has a negative effect on mood and depression outcomes. The present...
Show moreProspective and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that rumination has a negative effect on mood and depression outcomes. The present study examined whether the type of flexible cognitive style needed to reevaluate maladaptive thoughts and interpretations (i.e. cognitive flexibility) acts as a buffer against the negative relationship between rumination and affect. Participants (N = 100) completed anonymous online surveys containing two measures of cognitive flexibility, including the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS; Beck et al., 2008) and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI; Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), as well as measures of depressive rumination and trait affect. Multiple regression-based moderation analyses showed that the tendency to be more objective, reflective, and open to feedback moderated the relationship between rumination and positive affect (PA), such that the negative relationship between rumination and PA was attenuated for individuals who were more self-reflective. We discuss the implications of this buffering effect for theories of rumination and research on protective factors, as well as its relevance to psychotherapy. A comparison of the cognitive flexibility questionnaires revealed differences in how flexible reinterpretation is measured and identified selective relationships to positive and negative affect. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations for future research on cognitive styles that promote flexible reinterpretation.
M.S. in Psychology, December 2014
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- Title
- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PERFORMANCE AMONG HEALTHCARE MANAGERS
- Creator
- Hunt, Mary K.
- Date
- 2011-05-16, 2011-05
- Description
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As high performers are of great value in all organizations, understanding factors influencing their ability to maintain strong performance can...
Show moreAs high performers are of great value in all organizations, understanding factors influencing their ability to maintain strong performance can have useful implications for leaders. This study examines the relationship between employees’ performance, their stressors and coping approaches as defined by work-family conflict and perception and enactment of social support. Three hundred and twelve managers in a healthcare organization were categorized based on their performance in the year prior to the study. Results showed that high performers had higher satisfaction and use of supervisor support than moderate performers. The more satisfied managers were with support from their supervisor, coworkers, and friends, the less they reported work-family conflict. Satisfaction and use of support from friends influenced both work-to-family and family-to- work conflict.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2011
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- Title
- THE RELATIONSHIPS OF BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL FACTORS TO PERCEIVED SEIZURE SEVERITY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY
- Creator
- Fong, Wing Man
- Date
- 2012-12-17, 2012-12
- Description
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Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that can cause negative consequences in all areas of life for people with the condition. Research...
Show moreEpilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that can cause negative consequences in all areas of life for people with the condition. Research evidence has led to the goal of treatment to gradually shift from targeting only reducing the frequency of seizures to decreasing individual’s perception of seizure severity. While several studies have suggested that psychological and social factors, in addition to epilepsy-related biological factors, can also impact seizure severity perception, this area has received much less attention in relation to individuals’ perception of seizure severity. Therefore, this study examined individuals’ perception of seizure severity using a biopsychosocial framework which takes into account biological, psychological, and social factors to develop a comprehensive understanding about the perception of seizure severity. 57 individuals from a neurology clinic at a tertiary medical center with a primary diagnosis of localization-related temporal lobe epilepsy participated in this study. They were interviewed for demographic information and were assessed using Quality of Life in Epilepsy-89, Beck Depression Inventory, Stressful Life Events Scale, and Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale. A Multiple regression analysis indicated that the number of antiepileptic drugs, perceived memory function, the number of stressful life events, and social support were all significant predictors of perceived seizure severity. The current findings supported a biopsychosocial approach in understanding the perception of seizure severity among people with epilepsy. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
M.S. in Psychology, December 2012
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- Title
- PRENATAL ULTRASOUND CONSULTATION AND MATERNAL FEELINGS IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY
- Creator
- Stockman, Alexandria
- Date
- 2015, 2015-07
- Description
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NO ABSTRACT
M.S. in Psychology, July 2015
- Title
- THE RELATIONS OF LEADER EMPOWERING BEHAVIORS ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: MODERATED BY GENDER DYAD COMPOSITION
- Creator
- Zigun, David J
- Date
- 2016, 2016-07
- Description
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This study examined the possible moderating effect of gender dyadic composition on the relationship between Leadership Empowering Behaviors ...
Show moreThis study examined the possible moderating effect of gender dyadic composition on the relationship between Leadership Empowering Behaviors (LEBs) and employee performance across 221 supervisor-subordinate dyads in a Fortune 500 Midwestern U.S. company. The relationships between LEBs and employee performance moderated by gender dyadic composition were examined, as well as possible group differences of LEB ratings between gender dyad group membership. The goal of this study was to test the moderating role of gender dyadic composition on the relationship between LEBs and employee performance. This study obtained both supervisor ratings of employee performance and employee ratings of LEBs, allowing for the use of multi-source data. Results supported the expected relationship between LEBs and employee performance but neither indications of a moderating effect by gender dyads were found, nor were there group differences in perceptions of LEBs. This study adds to the existing literature because previous research has predominantly focused on examining employee perceptions of LEBs and related outcomes, but this was the first study to explore the potential moderating effect of gender dyads in this relationship. Implications of this study are explored.
M.S. in Psychology, July 2016
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- Title
- PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND ONLINE MINDFULNESS TRAINING
- Creator
- Stickney, Laurie
- Date
- 2013-04-15, 2013-05
- Description
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Despite the improvements in resources and communication in today’s world, many people still do not have access to mental health resources....
Show moreDespite the improvements in resources and communication in today’s world, many people still do not have access to mental health resources. Mindfulness, a type of meditation, has been shown to be effective at reducing stress, reducing pain, and increasing general mental well-being. Mindfulness has the potential to reach many people though internet-based interventions. However, more research is needed to determine whether mindfulness retains its efficacy when delivered over the internet. Participants engaged in a six week program of internet-based mindfulness interventions. Facets of mental well-being were assessed at various time points including mood state, anxiety, quality of life, mindfulness, and psychological inflexibility. Hierarchical Linear Modeling demonstrated that over time, participants significantly increased their level of mindfulness and decreased in their psychological inflexibility. Measurements pertaining to mood, anxiety, quality of life, and perceived stress did not change significantly. Nonetheless, results from the present study suggest the potential efficacy of internet-based mindfulness interventions and highlight the need for future research in this domain.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2013
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- Title
- PERINATAL PHOTOPERIOD AND LATITUDE AS PREDICTORS OF REACTION TO CHRONOBIOLOGICAL STRESS
- Creator
- Antler, Caroline A.
- Date
- 2013-04-24, 2013-05
- Description
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The present study explored the possible roles of perinatal photoperiod and latitude as predictors of later reaction to chronobiological stress...
Show moreThe present study explored the possible roles of perinatal photoperiod and latitude as predictors of later reaction to chronobiological stress, specifically the experience of winter in Chicago (41.89°N). Participants consisted of new undergraduate and graduate students at a technological university in Chicago, Illinois (N = 64 - 76). The sample was 62% male, ranged in age from 18 to 38 years (M = 22.5, SD = 4.3), and was born mainly in North America and East/South Asia. The vegetative and cognitive/affective subscales of the Seasonal Assessment Form (SAF; Young et al., 2012) were completed by participants between February 7 and March 7, 2011. Results indicated that both perinatal photoperiod and latitude have a significant effect on vegetative but not cognitive symptom severity. A curvilinear relationship between perinatal photoperiod and winter vegetative symptom severity was displayed with optimal adjustment (minimum vegetative symptoms) occurring near LD 12:12. Attention should be paid to the stronger effect of latitude at birth over perinatal photoperiod on symptom severity. Implications, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2013
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- Title
- IMPACT OF MULTITASKING AND PHYSICAL CONTEXT ON SELF-REPORTED TRANSFER OF E-LEARNING
- Creator
- Brown, Anna Kirsten
- Date
- 2015, 2015-05
- Description
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The growth of e-learning is increasing in todays organizations; however the research to support its application is slow to catch up. Previous...
Show moreThe growth of e-learning is increasing in todays organizations; however the research to support its application is slow to catch up. Previous research has focused on the factors relating to training and transfer of training, there appears to be a dearth on what trainees are actually engaging in during e-learning itself. This study focused on the relationship between di erent types of multitasking on transfer of e-learning and the interrelation of physical distractors in the training environment. Archival data was utilized in the study with 399 participants. The ndings indicate that the number of additional tasks engaged in during training negatively relate to reported transfer of e-learning. Temperature also related to transfer of e-learning. Participants who reported training in a room where they considered the temperature comfortable also noted higher levels of transfer of e-learning. Limitations and suggestions for future research are presented.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2015
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- Title
- USING CONFIDENCE INTERVALS WITH A SMALL SAMPLE SIZE ADJUSTMENT TO ASSESS ADVERSE IMPACT
- Creator
- May, Jill L.
- Date
- 2012-03-27, 2012-05
- Description
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With increased diversity in the U.S. workforce, there has become a greater need for organizations to defend against accusations of...
Show moreWith increased diversity in the U.S. workforce, there has become a greater need for organizations to defend against accusations of discrimination and thus a need to produce more accurate adverse impact statistics in discrimination cases. The purpose of the present study is to investigate two adjustments to a confidence interval procedure for calculating adverse impact to see if they give more adequate performance over the unadjusted Morris and Lobsenz (2000) confidence interval procedure. A Monte Carlo simulation revealed that using an adjustment for small sample sizes alleviates some of the problems found for the confidence interval procedure found in previous research. Specifically, adding a 0.5 adjustment to the confidence interval procedure increases the accuracy over the unadjusted procedure and the Agresti and Caffo (2000) procedure. Implications for practioners and researchers are included in the discussion.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2012
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- Title
- Effect of Transformatinoal Leadership on Student Engagement, Reactions and Learning
- Creator
- Widlak, Izabela
- Date
- 2011-05-02, 2011-05
- Description
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124 participants were recruited from thirteen undergraduate psychology courses and responded to online surveys over the course of a semester,...
Show more124 participants were recruited from thirteen undergraduate psychology courses and responded to online surveys over the course of a semester, rating their instructors' behaviors, their own behaviors and experience with their course. Results supported the hypothesized main effect of transformational leadership on students' class-engagement and satisfaction with a course. Additionally, student engagement mediated the relationship between the leadership style and satisfaction. Results also indicated that transformational leadership has an indirect effect of on two measures of student performance (final course grades and students' expected course grades) through student engagement. In conclusion, the findings of this research indicate the transformational leadership has a significant and positive role in engagement, satisfaction and learning, further supporting the value of examining instructor behavior as leader behavior.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2011
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- Title
- BROAD AND NARROW PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PREDICTORS OF RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS
- Creator
- Watson, Jeremy Beau
- Date
- 2011-04-05, 2011-05
- Description
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The accurate prediction of risky driving behaviors or possible accident and injury involvement contains several benefits as even minor...
Show moreThe accurate prediction of risky driving behaviors or possible accident and injury involvement contains several benefits as even minor increases in detection may result in possible avoidance of accidents and loss of life. This study examined the relationship between both broad and narrow personality traits and risky driving behaviors and the role of the bandwidth-fidelity dilemma. Based on archival data, 680 adults from a community sample in the Pacific Northwest completed the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and a daily behavior inventory of act frequencies. Results indicated that broad and narrow personality traits are equally predictive of risky driving behaviors, but there are some appreciable differences at the primary factor level. Previous research, implications, and limitations to this study are also discussed.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2011
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- Title
- HOW HOSTILE CRITICISM RELATES TO HEALTH FUNCTIONING AND MARITAL ADJUSTMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND THEIR PARTNERS
- Creator
- Hicks Iii, R. Elliott
- Date
- 2012-04-30, 2012-05
- Description
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Destructive communication and hostile interactions between spouses has been found to elicit large increases in systolic blood pressure, heart...
Show moreDestructive communication and hostile interactions between spouses has been found to elicit large increases in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output in patients (Nealey-Moore et al., 2007; Smith et al., 2009). This negatively impacts the cardiovascular health of the receiving partner. The present study was designed to assess the relationship between hostile criticism and patient report of marital satisfaction, physical health, and depressive symptomatology in a sample of couples participating in a cardiac risk reduction intervention. The current study uses archival data obtained during the Partners for Life cardiac risk reduction intervention for couples (Sher et al., 2002). Additionally, further observationally coded data was collected from video taped conversations recorded for the purposes of the Partners for Life study. Pearson correlation analyses indicate moderate negative relationships between Criticism and Marital Adjustment. Implications of these and other results are discussed.
M.S. in Clinical Psychology, May 2012
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- Title
- PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS RELATED TO READING FLUENCY DURING THE TRANSITION FROM ORAL TO SILENT READING
- Creator
- Dreher, Taylor
- Date
- 2014, 2014-05
- Description
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The present study investigated how reading fluency is related to social desirability and academic self-concept during a critical period in...
Show moreThe present study investigated how reading fluency is related to social desirability and academic self-concept during a critical period in reading development for children. It was predicted that social desirability would be a better predictor of oral reading fluency, while academic self-concept would be a better predictor of silent reading fluency. Participants were sixty third-grade students from Catholic schools in a large metropolitan area. All children completed measures of oral reading fluency, silent reading fluency, academic self-concept, and social desirability. Multiple regression and dominance analysis supported the hypothesized relationships. Social desirability had a significant negative relationship with oral reading fluency, while academic self-concept was unrelated to oral reading fluency. In addition, academic self-concept had a significant positive relationship with silent reading fluency, while social desirability had a smaller, but still significant, negative relationship with silent reading fluency. The present findings suggest that psychosocial factors like social desirability and academic self-concept may help identify children who are at risk for reading underachievement. Future research should use a longitudinal design to examine if measuring social desirability and academic self-concept in third grade can predict important outcomes, such as reading fluency in fourth grade or beyond.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2014
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- Title
- 360-DEGREE FEEDBACK RATING CONSISTENCY: THE IMPACT OF IMPORTANCE
- Creator
- Levin, Kelly E.
- Date
- 2013, 2013-12
- Description
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between performance dimension importance and rating consistency in 360-degree feedback...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to investigate the link between performance dimension importance and rating consistency in 360-degree feedback systems. 360- degree feedback surveys were conducted on 208 managerial level employees from various organizations across the United States. In partial support of the hypotheses, dimension importance showed some impact on consistency of performance ratings across rater groups. The link between importance and consistency was stronger for the peer rating group than for the direct report or other groups. Discussion of results and implications for practice and future research are provided. In conclusion, this study provides the first research to empirically examine the link between dimension importance and rating consistency
M.S. in Psychology, December 2013
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- Title
- IMPROVING CRITERION-RELATED VALIDITY IN PERSONALITY QUESTIONNAIRES AT THE ITEM LEVEL
- Creator
- Dimitrov, Roger
- Date
- 2015, 2015-05
- Description
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When using a personality questionnaire for predicting behavior, criterion-related validity improvements have historically focused on improving...
Show moreWhen using a personality questionnaire for predicting behavior, criterion-related validity improvements have historically focused on improving scale level construction techniques over examining the global impact of item-level characteristics on criterion-related validity. This article investigates the impact of item-level characteristics on the criterion-related validity of the Five-Factor Model (FFM) (as a personality instrument) as a predictor of job-related behavior. Two self-report FFM measures were correlated with workplace observer ratings to derive mean validity scores for each of the FFM items. A panel of judges then rated these items on the following item characteristics: ambiguity, abstractness, comprehensibility, wording, negation, transparency and social desirability. As hypothesized, social desirability, negation, wording and transparency were correlated with criterion-related validity. Contrary to the study hypothesis, abstractness was found to be positively correlated with criterion-related validity.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2015
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- Title
- EVALUATING DYNAMIC JOB PERFORMANCE: A FIELD STUDY OF DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE RATINGS
- Creator
- Hall, Rachael
- Date
- 2012-12-17, 2012-12
- Description
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Previous research has established that job performance changes over time, yet the implications of this dynamism for performance evaluations...
Show morePrevious research has established that job performance changes over time, yet the implications of this dynamism for performance evaluations remain unclear. Studies that have examined the implications of different dynamic performance characteristics have mostly been laboratory based and have included a variety of performance measures, except for supervisor ratings of performance. Therefore, the present study integrates and builds on the literature on dynamic performance and performance ratings by examining its effects in an applied setting. Predictions were made about how the patterns in objective performance over a 12-month performance period would relate to annual performance appraisal ratings. Based on the monthly performance of 1,100 troopers working for a state law enforcement agency, main effects were found on supervisor ratings for the mean and trend in objective performance. However, the performance trend unexpectedly had a negative association with performance ratings. An interaction between the performance trend and variability also provided new information about how dynamic performance characteristics may interact to have an influence on ratings. Findings from the current study add to the existing research on dynamic performance characteristics and performance ratings, but more research is needed to understand the implications for different jobs and contexts.
M.S. in in Psychology, December 2012
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- Title
- ASSESSMENT OF THE IPR ALGORITHM FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL FUNCTIONING OF ITEMS AND TESTS FRAMEWORK
- Creator
- Neuhengen, Jonas M.
- Date
- 2013, 2013-12
- Description
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The Diferential Functioning of Items and Tests (DFIT) framework is a widely used test of di erential functioning. DFIT uses the Item Parameter...
Show moreThe Diferential Functioning of Items and Tests (DFIT) framework is a widely used test of di erential functioning. DFIT uses the Item Parameter Replication (IPR) algorithm to generate statistical cuto s, which relies on several simpli cations have not been formally tested. This study examines these assumptions by comparing the IPR algorithm with an extended, unsimpli ed procedure intended to represent results observed in practice. Monte Carlo simulation was used to compare cuto s between the two methods under a number of conditions. Di erences between the IPR and extended cuto s indicate that Type I error rates are conservative at the test level and in ated at the item level. Mean group di erences resulted in massive in ation. Sample size and test length had only minor inuences on error rates.
M.S. in Psychology, December 2013
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- Title
- CONSTRUCT AND MEASUREMENT EQUIVALENCE ACROSS GENDER OF THE DYADIC ADJUSTMENT SCALE
- Creator
- Yap, Bonnie Joyce
- Date
- 2012-10-16, 2012-12
- Description
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The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) is the most widely used measure of dyadic adjustment for individuals in committed relationships (Spanier,...
Show moreThe Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) is the most widely used measure of dyadic adjustment for individuals in committed relationships (Spanier, 1976). However, little research has focused on whether DAS measures the construct of dyadic adjustment in a way that is equivalent and unbiased across genders. The current study utilized matched moderated regression (MMR) to assess each item of the DAS to detect if gender differences in the relationships between item responses and the construct being measured are due to (a) factors other than the construct and (b) differences in the construct. Archival data were acquired from a previously published study (Eddy, Heyman, & Weiss, 1991). The sample was very large (N =3322) so it was divided into two replication groups in such a way that no couples were included in the same group. A number of statistically significant differences were found on items in both replication samples; however: (1) many of these items were not consistent across replicate groups; (2) Even when there was a consistent gender difference in both replication groups, the magnitude was small; (3) When all of the differences were summed across items, bias in total scale score was minimal because the direction of the biases differed across items and so cancelled out and; (4) A small gender difference may exist in preferences for demonstrations of affection. Findings suggest that there are not substantial gender bias or scale equivalence problems with the DAS. The construct of dyadic adjustment was similar in men and women. These findings are congruent results from the recent study of South and Kruger (2009) on gender differences in the factor structure on the DAS and lend support to the valid use of the DAS in studies of dyadic adjustment.
M.S. in Psychology, December 2012
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