In recent decades, zebrafish have become a popular organism in neuroscience research. This is primarily because of the homogenous nature of what are known as reticulospinal neurons. These neurons, located in the hindbrain, control locomotive (e.g., sw . . .

The collection of work products demonstrates my skills acquired through formal training and professional experience over the course of my school psychology internship across the 10 domains of school psychology practice put forth by the National Associ . . .

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) organization has indicated that one of its largest problems is CASA retention. Participants were CASAs who self-assigned to two groups: Continue (n = 188) and Quit (n = 208). It was hypothesized that greater . . .

The organic food industry is in a period of rapid growth and product diversification (Organic Trade Association, 2006). Because of this expansion, the market for organic food should be studied in detail. Differences in labeling strategies for organic . . .

This body of work demonstrates competency in skills and services in the ten domains of best practice put forth by the National Association of School Psychologists and is made up of representative professional products from the applied practice of scho . . .

For the past decade the counseling field in the United States has been changing in order to satisfy the needs of a growing culturally diverse population. Professionals in this field are finding it necessary to understand the different processes cultur . . .

The body of work presented in my portfolio is reflective of my competence in the roles and responsibilities of a school psychologist as defined by the ten domains of school psychology set forth by the Humboldt State University (HSU) School Psychology . . .

Obesity’s impact on psychological health and well-being has been the subject of a growing body of literature. Body image dissatisfaction is a psychological variable that is influenced by overweight status and has been linked with negative psychosocial . . .

The purpose of this study was to establish a reliable and valid short form of the Parent Reaction to Autism Diagnosis Scale (PRADS), as well as provide a generalized short form of parent resolution called the Parent Reaction to Diagnosis Scale (PRDS). . . .

Effective regulation of conflict requires a couple to talk openly about issues (Gottman, 1999). One of the ways these skills can be enhanced is through mindful awareness of what is happening in the present moment with the qualities of acceptance, open . . .

The need for a measure that encompasses the various components of moral decision-making has become increasingly apparent as different areas of psychology, particularly cognitive neuroscience, focus more time and resources on how people make moral choi . . .

The present study investigated the effects of mood on participants’ forgiveness levels. Although many factors have been explored as determinants of forgiveness, the present study is the first to investigate how mood may influence a victims’ decision t . . .

Students in public school must overcome a variety of challenges in order to achieve success and realize their full potential. Understanding and ameliorating the wide variety of challenges faced by modern students requires attention to many details and . . .

Research demonstrates that young adults typically score high on knowledge of safe sex practices. Unfortunately, knowledge about risk is often quite unrelated to practicing safer sex behaviors; and STD infection and HIV/ AIDS are increasing in young ad . . .

This study used ( N = 308 ) participants to examine the relationship between parenting styles perceived, current attachment style, and emotion dysregulation in young adults (18-25 yrs old). This study used dimensions of attachment (anxious/avoidant) a . . .

This study investigated concern people have for the future and the influence of parental status on how people think about the future. Qualitative interviews were used to further explore the findings of a previous quantitative survey study. The previou . . .

Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT), a cognitive process associated with internalizing psychopathology, has primarily been investigated in the disorder-specific forms of rumination (associated with depression) and worry (associated with anxiety). High . . .

This portfolio provides evidence of my competency as a school psychologist upon completion of my final internship year in the Humboldt State University (HSU) School Psychology Program. Work products demonstrate skills acquired through formal training . . .

This paper represents a personal philosophy and reflection of the roles and responsibilities of a school psychologist. Comprehensive practice and the skills of the school psychologist are discussed through my personal work products during a yearlong i . . .

The goal of this study was to determine if the possession of socially undesirable masculine or feminine personality traits would relate to problematic drinking behaviors in a college population. Gender-linked personality traits were measured using the . . .

Various theories have hypothesized and research has corroborated that individuals who find meaning in life are more accepting of their own mortality. More recently, scholars have noted important distinctions between individuals who report presence of . . .

Stigma associated with mental health care is an important factor in people’s decision to seek out and engage in psychotherapy or counseling. Many previous studies have suggested that educating individuals about mental health can be an effective tool i . . .

This portfolio reflects my work as a school psychology intern at a public school district in the state of Hawaii. This project demonstrates my competency in assisting school personnel in implementing plans for successful outcomes of students and staff . . .

Living in a college residence hall setting gives many people the opportunity to experience the homosexual community, either through the acknowledgment of their own homosexuality or the acknowledgment of another's homosexuality. The discovery of new se . . .

This project is a reflection of my training and experience as a school psychologist in my internship year. Research has shown early interventions for students in primary grades promotes resiliency. This project focuses on identifying students with dis . . .

The purpose of this study was to replicate a thesis conducted at the Humboldt State University campus, in 1978, which researched how women’s attitudes towards female sex-role stereotypes in our society are associated with their choice of major. The cu . . .

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an important vertebrate model for neuroscience research. Much is known about zebrafish development and neuroanatomy, but less is known about how specific their behavior is affected by cell-type specific ablations which is i . . .

This study explored Extraversion personality differences among people who prefer dogs, people who prefer cats, people who prefer both, and people who prefer neither. Participants were 120 students from the Psychology Department Participation Pool at H . . .

Through a multicultural perspective the counseling field in North America is adjusting itself to meet the demands of cultural diversity and a global context. The methods and systems of North American counseling have also begun to influence the mental . . .

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is experienced by many individuals here in our nation and around the globe (Dimassi, Farhood, & Lehtinen, 2006; Kritz-Silverstein et al., 2009). The current U.S. PTSD prevalence rate is 7.8%, . . .

Native Americans are widely underrepresented on US university campuses and attrition rates have been measured as high as 93%. Of those that graduate many of the students spoke of in terms of social network support (clubs) on campus. The present study . . .

How individuals think about the future is a topic of interest in psychology. There has been considerable research on how predictions and expectations in the short term future—within an individual’s lifetime—influence current behavior. However, there h . . .

Empirical evidence on the benefits of nature and the effectiveness of environmental education are increasing, but little evidence examining the effectiveness of environmental education programs with preschool children exists. The current exploratory s . . .

Computers are a widely used technology today, in both work environments and in leisure time as well (Census Bureau, 2012; Labor Statistics Bureau, 2003; Pew Internet, 2012). How competent people are with computers is therefore an important area of res . . .

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as intentional damage to the body without suicidal intent that is not part of a socially accepted behavior. The current study aimed to further research on NSSI by examining the relationship between NSSI and de . . .

This study examined the relationship between academic advising and degree completion time. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between academic advising behavioral style, student satisfaction with advising, number of advising sess . . .

The goal of the current study was to examine implicit and explicit attitudes toward homeless people. More specifically, it was addressed how these attitudes were related to contact experiences with homeless people, measured in terms of exposure that w . . .

This study explored the relationship between the constructs of body image concern and fear of weight gain. It was hypothesized that participants with varying levels of eating disturbance would show a differential pattern of indicators related to these . . .

This study examined lesbian women in comparison to heterosexual women across the constructs of gender-role identity and general self-efficacy. The measurements employed in this research design included the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) (Bem, 1978) and . . .

Commons dilemmas occur when individuals harvest from diminishing yet renewable resources like timber or fish populations. Individuals can sustain a resource for a group by harvesting conservatively (cooperation) or they can maximize short-term persona . . .

This reflection paper serves to examine my work as a school psychologist intern enrolled in Humboldt State University’s School Psychology Program. Four work products were selected to create a portfolio that demonstrates my competence, skills, and know . . .

Eye contact with another person (social gaze) activates the autonomic nervous system, which is measurable using the skin conductance response (SCR). This study tested a ‘domain specificity’ model of the social gaze response mechanism by comparing emot . . .

Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) are the third fastest growing minority group in the United States (U.S.) and one of the fastest growing minority groups in the workforce. Although APAs have experienced success as professionals in the workforce, they sti . . .

This study tested the relationship between mortality salience and prejudice against Arabs, using hypotheses from terror management theory. The study sample consisted of 106 undergraduate college students at Humboldt State University. After random assi . . .

Attachment theory concerns the influence of early childhood experience with caregivers on long-lasting patterns with regard to close relationships. The study of authenticity concerns the level of awareness and expression of one's true self. Though pre . . .

The purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative measure of parents’ resolution to their child’s diagnosis of autism, and to relate their degree and types of resolution to their styles of attachment with others, attachment with their child, par . . .

This study tested the relationship between empathy and childhood and intimate partner violence. Toward this end, 31 volunteers from local batterer intervention programs, and 30 non-clinical volunteers from the general population were surveyed using Ba . . .

Adults and Children Together Parents Raising Safe Kids (ACT-PRSK) is an empirically-based, national violence prevention program created by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (N . . .

Parents Raising Safe Kids (PRSK) is an empirically research-based, national violence prevention created by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), with the goals of reducin . . .

The death penalty is an ever evolving means of punitive action, taken against those who have perpetrated a capital offense. Currently, there are 32 states in the U.S. who use the death penalty. In addition, the Federal Government, as well as the milit . . .

Escape behaviors have been studied in zebrafish and aquatic organisms by neuroscientists seeking cellular-level descriptions of neural circuits, but few studies have examined vertical swimming during escapes. I analyzed three-dimensional swimming path . . .

Together, stress and social relationships are thought to play key roles in health and development (Keller et al., 2012; Umberson & Montez, 2010). With a greater understanding for how one’s relationship qualities interact with their stress response sys . . .

Ethnic identity is a multidimensional construct that changes over time. The status model of ethnic identity posits four stages of development where individuals move from a general unawareness to a better understanding of its meaning to oneself. Explor . . .

This study examined the relationship betwee n personality and thinking style from the framework of Action Identification Theory, and the possible moderating role of thinking style to explain gender differences in personality. Considerable research has . . .

Research shows that counseling students receive relatively little death, dying, and bereavement (DD&B) education from the graduate programs in which they are enrolled. This trend has been observed across many disciplines within the health care field, . . .

Researchers have developed the concept of parenting styles to describe the interaction between parents and their children during the socialization process. Much of the research on parenting style has been based on Baumrind’s (1966) three distinct styl . . .

The products contained within my portfolio present evidence of my competence in the ten domains of school psychology through a collection of work products from my year as a School Psychologist Intern for a rural Minnesota school district. Work product . . .

Previous research has shown that students who start college with perceived social norms that most student use alcohol are likely to end up using alcohol during their college career. The current study sought to extend findings from alcohol research to . . .

The prevalence of autism is continuing to grow and require additional attention and services to the individuals who provide the necessary supports to the child with autism. Supports to caregivers of children with autism through training in strategies . . .

The aim of the present study was to investigate gender differences in the facial expression of emotion using electromyographic (EMG) recordings taken while participants viewed emotional stimuli. Facial EMG activity was recorded on the zygomaticus majo . . .

It has been assumed that a deficiency in some men’s capacity for warmth, caring, and empathy underlies an internalized hypermasculine behavior pattern; however, direct evidence to support this assumption is lacking. The authors of the construct of hyp . . .

Individuals with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world, with one out of every ten people reporting a disability. These individuals face wage discrimination, limited opportunity for career advancement, and an unemployment rate almost . . .

The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Humboldt Happiness Scale Adolescent Version (HHS-AV: Reynolds, 2011) on a sample of 159 high school adolescents from Northern California. This research was conducted because there are no ps . . .

Attachment theory is gaining attention in vocational psychology as it shows relevance in the work place by providing insight into an individual and is seen as an influencing factor on cognition and behavior across situations (Richards & Schat, 2011). . . .

The construct of experiential avoidance (EA) is defined as one’s inability to remain in present contact with negatively evaluated thoughts, feelings, emotions, or painful sensations (Hayes, Strosahl, &Wilson, 1999). Humans use their internal dialogue . . .

California is a state with an ever growing number of people from various ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and economic backgrounds. Latinos recently became the most prevalent ethnic group in the state, and Latino children now make up over half of all stu . . .

Promoting a culture of wellness within the educational community, while employing best practices with a comprehensive and integrated approach across Humboldt State University’s (HSU) outlined domains of competency in the field of school psychology, we . . .

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a training program designed for siblings of children with autism. The training program attempted to educate siblings about autism and teach them some skills they may be able to use when . . .

In a society that appears to be growing more accepting of lesbian and gay people, where prominent individuals can speak more openly about their sexual orientations without fear, there appears to be a growing societal acceptance of non-heterosexual peo . . .

This study compares the results of four different models of academic advising support for students whose first term GPA fell below a 2.0 resulting in academic probation status. Previous research suggested that one-on-one interactions during advising a . . .

Given recent tragedies in the schools across the nation, mental-health programs have been a focus of discussion in the United States. School Psychologists are equipped with a strong foundation of empirical knowledge to address systemic obstacles that . . .

Research on traditional (face-to-face) bullying and victimization has led to an extensive body of knowledge about the psychosocial correlates of this phenomenon. Recent research into electronic (or cyber) bullying has shown many similar outcomes for b . . .

This body of work reflects my skilled application of the ten domains of school psychology (NASP, 2010) within the dynamic context of a rural California school district. An emphasis is placed upon promoting the resilience of children through advocacy o . . .

Substance use on college campuses is a continual problem. It is important for researchers and clinicians to study constructs related to the development of substance use as this information can provide clinicians and staff working in health centers ins . . .

Research has been consistent in reporting higher than average rates of psychological distress and suicide for individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual (LGB). Researchers have explored the many possible causes for these higher rates and ha . . .

The present study examines how Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), Parasocial Interactions, and Contact Theory can impact people’s attitudes regarding homosexuality through the TV characters they observe. Participants were surveyed on their TV usage, . . .

This paper dually represents the culmination of professional experiences and development that occurred over the span of a yearlong internship and serves as an overview of the encompassing roles and responsibilities of a school psychologist. Final prod . . .

The objective of this body of work is to demonstrate competence as a school psychologist. A school psychologist must be proficient in ten domains, which are outlined by Humboldt State University’s School Psychology Program. The Humboldt State Universi . . .

The current study examined the role of beliefs about fairness, merit and the typicality of different Affirmative Action policies (AAPs) in predicting support for Affirmative Action (AA). The goal of this study was to expand on research pertaining to t . . .

Beginning in the late 1980s, after Transsexualism was added to the DSM-III, research on issues relating to trans persons (a term that encompasses people who identify as transgendered, transsexual, or as any other significant form of deviation from gen . . .

This project represents my training, personal philosophies and a reflection upon keystone cases throughout my internship. Broadly, this project represents my competency and journey to becoming a skilled school psychologist. An ecological framework emp . . .

Casasanto and Boroditsky (2008) report that spatial information influences the way we perceive time. The present study aimed to replicate this finding using an abbreviated version of their experimental design. Seventy-five lines of various lengths wer . . .

Despite sibling aggression being widely accepted in society, it is the most common form of interfamilial abuse. Research has shown that physical aggression between siblings is positively correlated with negative effects on children. This study focuses . . .

The goal of the present study was to examine the role of method of disease transmission, sexual orientation, and beliefs regarding whether sexual orientation is a choice in predicting attitudes toward people living with HIV/ AIDS (PLHAs). Participants . . .

The purpose of this study was to explore people’s attitudes towards sleepwalking and individuals who walk in their sleep. Previous experience or exposure to sleepwalking was also assessed for their influence in shaping resulting attitudes. Furthermore . . .

Infusing mindfulness into an ecological approach to school psychological practices during my internship year provided a foundation for effectively supporting the school community I served. Developing a mindfulness practice helped me to improve the bal . . .

Humans have employed music to entertain themselves for a long period of time. The phonograph, radio and audio players (tape and disk) have contributed to the desire in people to make music machines portable enough to be taken everywhere. Once headphon . . .

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between length of sobriety in members of Alcoholics Anonymous and involvement in the program of AA, religious faith, purpose in life, and social support for both males and females. Level of inv . . .

Self-esteem broadly impacts each individual’s life and often underlies common issues brought into the psychotherapeutic setting (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, & Vohs, 2003). Self-esteem is an important construct with regard to the general wellbeing o . . .

Caregivers of children with developmental disabilities may feel increased stress and a lack of confidence relating to teaching appropriate behaviors and coping with maladaptive behaviors. This increased stress and lack of confidence may result in an i . . .

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of differential speeds of an optokinetic rotating drum on vection, illusory self motion, subjective symptoms of motion sickness (SSMS), and abnormal electrogastrograms (EGGs) in humans. Sixty-four s . . .

Bullying has received considerable attention in the literature. Research suggests that factors related to bullying are complex. One area that researchers have investigated is that of attitudes toward bullying; of interest is the extent to which attitu . . .

The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes and beliefs about sleeptalking (somniloquy) as they relate to 10 conceptually selected variables frequently found in the professional literature including: age, gender, frequency, content, intelligibi . . .

This portfolio demonstrates my knowledge, competency, and skill in the ten domains of school psychology, as proposed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP, 2010a) and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC, 2001). . . .

Aside from abstinence condom use is seen as one of the primary methods for the prevention of HIV transmission. This research surveyed 102 sexually active heterosexual college students to assess gender differences in attitudes and behaviors toward cond . . .

From an early age and consistently throughout the lifespan, men are inundated with messages about what it means to be a man, and consistently discouraged from displaying any vulnerable emotions. Masculinity research has increasingly focused on underst . . .

The current study sought to investigate the relationship between 1) gender and bias towards lesbian and gay couples adopting, 2) gender and bias towards gay couples adopting a boy or a girl, and 3) gender and bias towards lesbian couples adopting a bo . . .

Most people recognize grief in death loss situations, however grief can encompass a broad range of loss experiences and vary in intensity and meaning. Unrecognized grief can impede the grief resolution process and affect people's lives in ways they ma . . .

The researcher expected to find that women show higher incidence of and greater severity in symptoms of motion sickness (SMS). In Phase 1, 485 subjects reported on their previous incidence of motion sickness between ages 12-25 on various forms of moti . . .