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- Creator:
- Kiss, Jamie
- Description:
- ABSTRACT MAKING COMPLEX DECISIONS: UNCONSCIOUS OR ONLINE PROCESSES? by Jamie Kiss Master of Arts in Psychology Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Summer 2010 Previous studies (Dijksterhuis, 2004; Dijksterhuis et al., 2006) suggest that complex decisions are best when left for the unconscious to decide; however, there is a great deal of criticism and a lack of supporting evidence for unconscious decisionmaking. This investigation was designed to clear up the uncertainty about unconscious decision-making. One hundred-sixty undergraduates were asked to either memorize characteristics or form an impression of four cars. They were asked to rate each car either immediately or after a three-minute period in which they engaged in one of three modes of thought. Results revealed that the difference in instruction had an effect on decisionmaking; however, no support was found for unconscious decision-making. It is suggested that decisions were made online, as information was coming into working memory. The exact mental processes that occur during complex decision-making are still unclear.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Gonder, Justin
- Description:
- ABSTRACT TEXT MESSAGING IN CLASS: EXTRAVERSION AS A MEDIATING FACTOR IN DISTRACTION by justin gonder Master of Arts in Psychology: Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Spring 2010 The sending and receiving of text-based messages using cell phones has become increasingly common in the college classroom. Many educators express concern that this activity provides a distraction that lowers student performance, however, students often claim that their work is unchanged or improved when texting. Existing literature on distraction in academic settings suggests that previous experience, as well as personality traits such as extraversion, might help to explain individual differences in students’ ability to learn and process information from a lecture when distracted by stimuli such as text messages. The current study examined the effects of text messages in a simulated classroom lecture setting on introverted and extraverted students, while also examining students’ previous experience with this activity. Results failed to show significant differences between introverts and extraverts for any of the conditions.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Burnham, Blake R.
- Description:
- ABSTRACT PERCEIVED SELF-EFFICACY AND WELL-BEING IN FATHERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM by © Blake R. Burnham 2010 Master of Arts in Psychology: Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Fall 2010 The current study examines the relationship between parent beliefs about selfefficacy and well-being reports of depression, stress, and guilt in fathers of children with autism. Two additional cognitions of parental agency and knowledge of autism were also examined for their potential relationship with paternal self-efficacy. A sample of 28 fathers caring for a child with autism was asked to fill out 7 questionnaires totaling 138 questions. Participants were solicited through local autism agencies and completed the survey online or with a paper copy. Results indicated that depression and stress have a significant negative correlation with paternal self-efficacy. Post hoc regression analysis revealed that only stress accounted for a significant amount of variance in self-efficacy while depression did not. The current study is a replication of a previous study that focused on self-efficacy in mothers of children with autism. The results in the current study on fathers of children with autism differ from previous research on mothers that x found a variety of predictors for self-efficacy including depression, stress, guilt, and agency. Based on the current results, interventions for fathers of children with autism should strongly consider a father’s stress levels since there is a very strong impact on self-efficacy.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Malmin, Kareema Najme Rahim
- Description:
- ABSTRACT PREDICTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND FAILURE: IMPLICATIONS FOR STEREOTYPE THREAT, MOTIVATION, INTEREST, AND SELF-REGULATION by Kareema Najme Rahim Malmin Master of Arts in Psychology Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Fall 2009 This study examines the relationships between academic success, stereotype threat, and motivational learning strategies. Current research shows how women in math and science are affected by stereotype threat. Less is known about the effects of stereotype threat on men in stereotypically female dominated domains. This study attempts to test stereotype threat effects on men and women under the same two conditions (no stereotype threat, gender stereotype threat). Psychology students were given a motivational learning strategies questionnaire, a career interest measure, and a general psychology aptitude test covering four psychology domains that students had previously studied in their classes. Two fields were stereotypically male dominated domains (Statistics/Quantitative Psychology and Neuroscience) and two were stereotypically female dominated domains (Developmental and Social Psychology). Results indicated that both men and women did poorly in the stereotype threat condition on statistics and neuroscience questions. In addition, men exposed to stereotype threat and women in both conditions reported less interest in statistics and neuroscience careers than men in the no threat condition. No significant differences were found between conditions on developmental and social psychology questions. Results of a standard multiple regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of self-reported Major GPA. Moreover, participants high in self-efficacy in the no stereotype threat condition performed better than participants low in self-efficacy in the no stereotype threat condition and more so than participants (with high or low self-efficacy) in the gender stereotype threat condition. Taken together, these findings suggest that women, more than men, may be susceptible to stereotype threat and furthermore, that self-efficacy appears to play a significant role in determining one’s academic success.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Schneider, Jonathan
- Description:
- ABSTRACT EVALUATING EXERCISE ADHERENCE: A SOLUTION FOCUSED APPROACH by Jonathan S. Schneider Master of Arts in Psychology: Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Spring 2011 Given the generous health benefits that may be attained from consistent exercise, it is essential to explore new methods for encouraging exercise adherence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) as an intervention method for exercise. Participants received individualized attention from the researcher as they were placed in a SFBT, Exerciser Checklist, or Control condition. Participants were asked to attend up to four weekly meetings with the researcher, and were encouraged to achieve an exercise goal of five 30-minute sessions a week. Results showed non-significant differences between goal adherence and intervention method. However, trends for increased exercise participation were demonstrated by the SFBT group.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Floto, Elizabeth Ann
- Description:
- ABSTRACT FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIORS: A NONCLINICAL SAMPLE by Elizabeth Ann Floto Master of Arts in Psychology Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Spring 2009 Self-injurious behavior is a worldwide phenomenon. Most research about selfinjury is conducted using clinical populations, although of late more research has been exploring self-injury in nonclinical populations. A questionnaire was administered to 635 participants via the Internet to gather information about stress, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and aggression and how these factors relate to self-injury. Results showed that, in a nonclinical sample, self-injurers scored significantly higher on all five factors (stress, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and aggression) than those who did not selfinjure. Depression had the greatest effect size on self-injury, contradicting past research indicating that anxiety or aggression was the biggest contributor.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Danielson, Robert William
- Description:
- One hundred and sixty eight undergraduates were presented with an expository passage regarding the current geopolitical conflict in the region of Darfur, accompanied by either one of two decorative graphics, or no graphic at all. The graphics were designed to function as metaphorical representations of the semantic elements inherent in the passage, with the level of correspondence varied as weak or strong. Mental model construction was measured both immediately after the presentation of learning materials and again a week later. Results revealed that while decorative graphics may appear benign or detrimental to learning outcomes immediately after exposure, further analysis indicated that graphics designed to correspond to text content metaphorically function to preserve learning in its entirety across a one-week delay. In addition, the effect is mediated both by the presentation modality of the passage, as well as the level of metaphorical correspondence between the passage and the graphic.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Winters, Karley M.
- Description:
- ABSTRACT GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FACIAL RECOGNITION by © Karley M. Winters 2009 Master of Arts in Psychology Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Spring 2009 Past research has found significant gender differences in facial recognition, with women recognizing more faces than men. It has also been found that women recognize more same-sex faces. This study attempted to replicate these findings and to explore the effect of a variety of social-personality variables (self-esteem, self-attribute appraisal, body satisfaction, and personality traits) on these differential recognition processes. Multivariate analyses indicated significant gender differences in same-sex and opposite-sex facial recognition abilities, yet not in total facial recognition. Regression analyses examined the ability of these social-personality variables to predict facial recognition, but the results were not significant. Alternative explanations for gender differences in facial recognition are discussed.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
1239. Perceptions of Staff on the Addition of an Animal-Assisted Activity at a Regional Cancer Center
- Creator:
- Bibbo, Jessica
- Description:
- ABSTRACT PERCEPTIONS OF STAFF ON THE ADDITION OF AN ANIMAL-ASSISTED ACTIVITY AT A REGIONAL CANCER CENTER by © Jessica Bibbo 2011 Master of Arts in Psychology Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Spring 2011 This study was grounded in the emerging view of animal-assisted interventions as a complementary and alternative therapy for cancer patients. The study explored the perceptions of staff at a regional cancer center on the addition of a volunteer-based animal-assisted activity. The medical center had recently adopted a patient-centered care model. The intervention aimed to incorporate the model’s integrative approach, while simultaneously further establishing animal-assisted activities as appropriate and effective complementary therapies. Staff perceptions regarding the effects of the intervention on patients and informal caregivers, as well as staff pet ownership were examined. The study also explored the perception of the effect of the x intervention on staff communication due to the documented importance of staff intercommunication on job satisfaction in healthcare settings. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product-moment correlations were conducted to determine staff perceptions and the relationships between those perceptions. Staff perceived that the intervention had been beneficial for both patients and caregivers. Staff who had more direct and indirect contact with the visiting teams were more likely to perceive the intervention as being beneficial. Attitudes toward dogs in general and pet ownership were related to attitudes toward the intervention. The results indicated that the handler in the volunteer visitation team played an equally important role (with the dog) in staff acceptance of the animal-assisted activity. Staff did not agree on the influence of the intervention on staff communication. The results illustrated overall staff acceptance of the intervention and agreement for animal-assisted activities to continue at the facility.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology
- Creator:
- Cook, Alan T.
- Description:
- Are you destined to find your soul-mate? According to Knee, Patrick, & Lonsbary (2003), those with a destiny belief place a high value on whether a relationship is fated, while those with a growth belief believe that relationships develop gradually. I examined whether attachment, love styles, and personality factors predicted belief in destiny or growth. I hypothesized that individuals who scored higher on anxious attachment and the Chance component of locus of control would score higher on belief in destiny. Undergraduate psychology students (n = 117) completed measures of attachment and love styles, belief in destiny versus growth, perceived control over falling in love, and locus of control. Simultaneous multiple regression found that belief in destiny could be significantly predicted from high Eros, Mania, Pragma, and Avoidance. A separate analysis found high conscientiousness and high internal and high chance orientations of locus of control also predicted belief in destiny. None of the variables significantly predicted belief in growth.
- Resource Type:
- Thesis
- Campus Tesim:
- Chico
- Department:
- Psychology