Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-06, Section: B, page: 2850. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1979.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-06, Section: B, page: 2855. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1979.

The present study investigated the differential validity of teacher rating Hyperactivity and Aggression factors in overlapping random (N = 71) and at-risk (N = 45) samples of elementary school boys. Measures included direct observations of children in the classroom and on the playground, examination of the organization of children's desks, measures of daily academic performance, peer nominations of popularity and rejection, sociometric ratings using the Pupil Evaluation Inventory, the IOWA-Conners teacher rating Hyperactivity and Aggression factors, and the Stony Brook Scale teacher rating Hyperactivity and Aggression factors. Despite high correlations between same-scale teacher rating Hyperactivity and aggression factors, considerable evidence was provided for the differential validity of the teacher rating factors based on the many measures related uniquely to each factor in both samples. Measures of academic performance, peer rating measures, and several measures of disruptive or inappropriate classroom and playground behavior provided especially strong evidence for the differential validity of both sets of teacher rating scores. However, considerable redundancy between teacher rating Hyperactivity and Aggression factors was apparent as well, especially for many of the classroom observation, playground observation, and desk observation measures. Nevertheless, differences between Hyperactivity and Aggression factors indicated that these factors are logically independent in important ways, supporting prior work validating the utility of separate hyperactivity and aggression dimensions. In addition, these results highlight the caution that must be used when evaluating the validity of teacher ratings of hyperactivity and aggression. A failure to find evidence for the independence of these factors may reflect an incomplete assessment, especially considering the lack of consensus concerning optimal measures of these constructs. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-12, Section: B, page: 4388. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

Performance on the Russell (1975) revision of the Wechsler Memory Scale and the Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale by subjects with lateralized anterior and posterior lesions was investigated. Subjects were right handed males who were selected from a pool of subjects who had been referred for, and completed neuropsychological testing. Subjects were selected whose brain lesions were identified on the basis of neurodiagnostic tests as being lateralized to either the left or right hemisphere and restricted to either the anterior or posterior side of the central sulcus. Subjects with lesions resulting from trauma or with identified subcortical damage were excluded from the study. A normal comparison group was formed of subjects suspected of having neurological damage and referred for neuropsychological testing but who had normal neurodiagnostic examinations and tests. For each task, significant (p < .003) differences were found among the five groups. It was predicted that both the laterality and caudality of lesions would affect memory task performance. This prediction was fully supported for the logical memory task, and partially supported for the figural memory and digit span tasks. The memory task results were discussed in light of two recent models of memory functioning (Craik, 1984; Dunn, 1983). / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-12, Section: B, page: 4392. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

This study investigated eight different marital roles (e.g., housekeeping and recreation) of depressed women and their non-depressed partners, compared with nondepressed women in psychotherapy and their nondepressed partners, and nondepressed couples from the community, both with and without children. For each role seven constructs were examined (e.g., role distribution between partners, and expectations) through questionnaire data, and behavioral data were collected by telephone. In general, depressed women's role behaviors, power distributions and expectations were similar to those of women in other groups. However, depressed women consistently demonstrated more negative attitudes than other wives. They perceived themselves as less competent, were willing to give up more of the roles, and reported higher frequencies of argument and worrying, for each role. Husbands and wives in all groups demonstrated accurate reporting of role distribution, in that few differences occurred between questionnaire data and behavioral data collected by telephone. Depressed women were equally accurate in describing their role performance relative to their partners and other women. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-10, Section: B, page: 3601. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between dimensions of interparental conflict, contextual family variables and indicants of adjustment in college-aged offspring. Subjects were 320 (179 females, 141 males) undergraduate students from a southeastern university who met inclusion criteria as determined by an initial screening instrument administered to all students enrolled in the introductory psychology course. Subjects completed measures on demographic information, their perceptions of interparental conflict (i.e., frequency, duration, content and type of conflict-physical versus verbal), family variables, as well as, measures of adjustment. / Canonical correlations and follow-up step-wise multiple regression analyses indicated that frequency of interparental conflict was the most important predictor of depression, externalizing behavior problems, and negative views towards marriage for the females. No significant relationships between interparental conflict and outcome were obtained for the males. / A problematic father-offspring relationship coupled with depression in the opposite sex parent were found to be significantly related to outcome variables for both males and females. To address the final question of the study, family variables and the offspring's maladaptive style of conflict resolution were examined to determine if they improved the ability to predict outcome. Results indicated that family variables (i.e., parental depression and problematic parent-child relationships) and offspring's maladaptive style of conflict resolution contributed to the prediction of outcome in an additive but not interactive fashion. Specifically, frequency of interparental conflict combined with family variables or maladaptive conflict resolution style were more predictive of offspring adjustment than either variable alone. / The findings of this study indicate the importance of including other characteristics and relationships within in the family when investigating the impact of interparental conflict on adjustment in older-aged offspring. Additionally, the study revealed significant gender differences in response to interparental conflict and problematic family relationships underscoring the importance of examining males and females separately. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-12, Section: B, page: 6661. / Major Professor: Janet Kistner. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.

This study explored social interaction (SI) and pragmatic communication (PC) in a group of five female student subjects, four with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and one with no injury. The prime objective was to examine ways in which location, severity, and time since injury influenced SI and PC performance. Subjects were selected with appropriate variance in the nature of the head injury and data were gathered from a number of sources including structured interviews, standardized instruments, and audio-taped and transcribed material. PC evaluation involved three raters and a Delphi discussion for final assessment. / Resulting data indicated that the non-injured subject tended to score higher than the other subjects in both SI and PC performance, especially in the PC component of narrative ability. While TBI factors such as severity and location of injury seemed associated with variations in performance, time since injury appeared to have little influence on individual performance. For the subjects in this study, severity of injury appeared more associated with SI than PC performance. In contrast, PC performance seemed more related to location of injury effects. In some instances, location effects appeared to exercise a negative influence on both SI and PC abilities in ways which were in keeping with general research findings. This trend, however, was not consistent. Potential interpretations were discussed and substantive case details were included in the appendices. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-03, Section: B, page: 1618. / Major Professor: Gary W. Peterson. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

There are now more mentally disordered persons living in U.S. communities than ever before (Whitmer, 1980), due to rapid deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill from state hospitals. One result of this trend has been that the mentally ill are apparently placed at greater risk of arrest, and detention within the criminal justice system. In a number of states, research suggests that deinstitutionalization from civil hospitals has affected the flow of admissions to forensic hospitals. The present study evaluates diversion of the mentally ill through the criminal justice system by examining changes within the Florida State Hospital Forensic Unit from 1979 to 1985--a period during which the state of Florida has experienced a rapid and relatively steady decline in its civil hospital population. A total of 100 admissions to the Florida State Hospital are reviewed during equivalent periods in 1979, 1982 and 1985. / Although demographically similar to forensic patients in other states, forensic patients in Florida were described by an extremely high rate of psychosis, a high incidence of previous arrest and of institutionalization in state civil hospitals. The 1979 group of forensic admissions had significantly more previous arrests than either the 1982 or 1985 groups. Accordingly, the severity of offenses committed by 1979 forensic referrals was somewhat greater than that of the remaining two groups. Admissions in 1982 and 1985 were much more likely to be referred for hospitalization following arrest for a 'nuisance' offense. Forensic admissions in 1985 more frequently manifested evidence of chronic mental illness, and other psychiatric symptoms. / Evidence from the present study indicates that recent forensic referrals in Florida might be treated as effectively in less restrictive settings. No systematic evidence was found to support the contention that Florida forensic hospitals are used to detain psychiatric patients for excessive periods of time. Results are seen to provide some support for the hypothesis that reductions in the capacity of state mental health programs may lead to the criminalization of the mentally ill. Means of providing more effective screening of the mentally ill within the criminal justice system are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-12, Section: B, page: 5064. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1986.

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors which potentially influence clients' perception of the therapeutic process and therapist credibility. In this regard the factor of Family of Origin Interactional Style (enmeshment to disengagement, FOIS) was considered. The following hypotheses were put forth for examination: Under match FOIS conditions, clients would perceive their therapists as more credible and would perceive greater progress and satisfaction in therapy. / The participants in this study were 77 clients and 16 therapists currently involved in therapy at the Florida State University Marital and Family Therapy Clinic. / The Family of Origin Interactional Style (FOIS) of all subjects was identified on the basis of Olson's FACES II inventory. Clients were then divided into two groups; those who were seeing therapists with matching FOIS's and those who were seeing therapists with non-matching FOIS's. / Clients were then given the Counselor Rating Form (CRF) and the Therapy Process Inventory (TPI) in order to determine their perception of their satisfaction and progress in therapy and their perception of their therapist's credibility. / The two dependent measures (CRF and TPI) were analyzed within a framework of one-way and 2 x 2 ANOVAs. The hypotheses put forth in this study were not supported by statistical analyses. While the mean CRF score in the matched condition (M = 235.42) was higher than the mean score for the non-match condition (M = 228.25) and the mean TPI score in the matched condition (M = 123.07) was higher than the mean score for the non-matched condition (M = 114.67) neither was significantly higher. / Even though clients in the matched condition rated their therapists more credible and their satisfaction greater than their non-match counterparts, the difference was not statistically significant. The 2 (match, non-match) x 2 (enmeshed, disengaged) ANOVA reconfirmed 1-way ANOVA results. / Further analyses did, however, suggest that therapists' Family of Origin Interactional Style could play an important role in the client-therapist relationship. / The results of the study are discussed and considered with regard to their implication for therapy and future research. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, Section: B, page: 0375. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

One hundred and sixty public utility customers were included in a study which assessed the effectiveness of government subsidies of energy-efficiency improvements as means of achieving residential conservation. Subjects were assigned to treatment conditions representing different levels of effort in order to investigate the relevance of the effort justification paradigm to energy conservation research. Analysis of variance and correlational analyses were employed to compare consumption of groups and determine relationships between conservation and various matching and independent variables. It was concluded that government subsidies in the forms of loans and grants achieved significant, durable energy savings. The data failed to demonstrate the relevance of the effort justification paradigm to conservation research. The conservation achieved by the subsidy programs compares favorably with gains reported by other investigators (Hollenbeck, 1983). The results of this study suggest that further research into the use of government subsidies, including the use of feedback and low-interest loans, is warranted. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, Section: B, page: 0376. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.