published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

by Pong Wai-Ip. / Bibliography: leaves 106-110 / Thesis (M.Ph.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1986

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In recent years, a small but growing number of psychologists have begun to examine how the quality and stability of people's romantic relationships can be influenced by people outside of those relationships. Couples' friendships with those in their social networks appear to be particularly relevant determinants of what makes for a happy and lasting relationship. However, previous studies only have indirectly addressed underlying psychological mechanisms that may explain why friendships are beneficial for couples or how such friendships arise in the first place. This dissertation examines how friendships between couples form and potential implications for within-couple processes (e.g., the effects of friendships between couples on relationship quality within a couple). Pairs of unacquainted heterosexual couples in committed dating relationships were randomly assigned to one of two conditions where they engaged in a 45-minute interaction. In one condition, couples carried out self-disclosure tasks that gradually escalated in intensity; in the other condition, couples engaged in non-emotional small talk discussions. The procedure used was a modified version of the closeness induction task developed by Aron and colleagues (Aron, Melinat, Aron, Vallone, & Bator, 1997) to generate interpersonal closeness between individual strangers--in this case modified to generate closeness between couples. One day later and one month later, participants were asked to complete brief online follow-up measures to assess long-term effects of the experimental manipulation on perceptions of the other couple, feelings of closeness toward romantic partners, and whether or not they had contacted the other couple. Those in the high-disclosure condition felt closer to the couples they interacted with and closer to their own partners after the interaction compared to those in the small talk condition. Further, couples in the high-disclosure condition were significantly more likely than those in the small talk condition to contact and meet up with the other couple they had met in the study. Mediation analyses suggested several possible processes underlying these effects. Implications for studying the interplay of social networks and romantic relationships are discussed.

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This thesis attempted to determine if there were personality characteristic differences, as measured by the MMPI, between drug abusers who left treatment prematurely and drug abusers who remained in treatment for an extended period of time. In addition, it was attempted to determine if there were personality characteristic differences between drug abusers who entered treatment voluntarily and drug abusers who were required by law to obtain treatment.The MMPI protocols of 59 male drug abusers were divided into four groups and subjected to a two by two multivariate and Univariate Analysis of Variance. Results show that no significant differences were found between drug abusers admitted voluntarily and drug abusers admitted involuntarily. Significant differences were found between drug abusers who left treatment prematurely and drug abusers who remained in treatment for an extended period of time. Drug abusers remaining in treatment scored higher on scales Two, Seven, and Eight of the WI, while drug abusers who left treatment scored higher on the Lie scale. Suggestions for future research were made.

This dissertation is a qualitative case study of three homeschooling families. Because of the relative recentness of homeschooling as a widespread educational option for parents and because of the relatively few students participating in homeschooling, educators and others interested in this approach may benefit from the close qualitative consideration of homeschooling families of differing sizes, economic statuses, educational backgrounds, and other demographic differences. The primary research methodology for this dissertation is extensive and comprehensive interviews with three practicing homeschool families selected primarily because of their willingness to participate in the intensive interview process for this dissertation. The literature reviewed and the research questions considered include information about the estimated number of homeschooled students currently in the United States, the rationale behind parents’ choice to homeschool, a review of the basic demographics of homeschoolers, the legal and professional educators’ opinions about homeschooling, the instructional methods and curricular materials of homeschoolers, the academic achievement of homeschooled students, and the eventual college and career success of homeschooled students. The dissertation found that, while homeschooling parents would agree with much of the literature available to describe them, there were emphases and challenges to homeschooling that have not been fully studied and are applicable to individual families. / Department of Educational Leadership

Although there is an increasing amount of literature on the area of child sexual abuse, there is a dearth of information on the experiences of mothers following disclosure. Illuminating the issues of mothers following disclosure is necessary in formulating therapeutic procedures with these women and their families. This qualitative study explored the experiences of five mothers whose children were sexually abused by a father or step father. One and a half to two hour videotaped interviews were conducted utilizing a general interview guide. The findings were categorized into three areas: Reaction to Disclosure, Changing Social Relationships, and Healing Process. Emerging from these three categories were two themes that appeared to link the categories. These themes were the importance these women placed on their role as protector of their children, and the struggles with role or relationship disruptions. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Thirty-six subjects participated in a restricted environmental stimulation technique (REST) study investigating the psychophysiological effects of flotation. Subjects floated for one hour under differing expectations regarding duration of a float session and the physical properties of the environment that was to follow. EMG and two measures of cardiac activity (T-wave amplitude and heart rate) were recorded for the entire session; however, EMG was dropped as a variable due to an excessive noise-to-signal ratio. It was found that neither durational expectations nor beliefs about a dissimilar environment had any significant effects on the patterns of response of the two remaining variables. Subjects did show a significant within-subjects trend when considered as a whole group. Further research in the area of cardiovascular and muscle activity patterns in the flotation tank is suggested. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate