Abstract This dissertation is a narrative unraveling of a process of human transformation that interrupts the psyche’s propensity for creating the conditions for suffering. The self privileging of ego consciousness is posited as the origin of suffering. Temporary relief from suffering is accomplished by bringing forward the content of the unconscious. The condition that allows the content of the unconscious to come forward is disrupting the boundary separating consciousness and the unconscious. This boundary is established when reprehensible content regarding the self is repressed by an ego consciousness that thereby privileges itself. Disruption of the boundary separating ego consciousness and the unconscious allows for reintroduction of the previously repressed content to consciousness. As the boundary fails and ego consciousness is dethroned, unforeseen yet yearned for knowledge becomes available to consciousness thereby initiating the possibility for transformation and hence the momentary release from suffering. Implicit in this research are assumptions of self-motivation and self-organization that configure a theory of autopoiesis or self-making. Observed and observer selves are continually reshaped through continuous interaction in the psychosocial and physical environment. In this study this interaction is made visible through autobiographical narratives in which participant selves each demonstrate and share the insight of observer and observed. This narrative interaction is the simultaneous accomplishment and display of the process of human transformation. This transformation is always only momentary. It is a single moment in the ongoing expansion and contraction of the human psyche. Each transformative event reduces the potential for being irretrievably caught in continuous suffering. Each temporary release from suffering is a waypoint on the pathway of self-realization. The transformative process as presented in this study goes beyond existing accounts of consciousness change found in the annals of psychological methodologies, although Jungian terminologies are borrowed to describe loosely shared conceptual constructs. The aim in employing autobiographical narrative is to portray this elusive process as it is experienced including all its subtleties and nuances.

Diagnostic biases against individuals of advanced age or few years of formal education exist because age and education are commonly related to performance on cognitive tests, thus, demographic corrections for these tests are used. Corrections are complicated, however, by an association between demographic variables and dementia diagnoses. This dissertation examined the dementia diagnostic accuracy of demographic corrections for cognitive tests. Experiment I tested whether, in the context of skewed tests that violate the statistical assumptions of linearity and homoscedasticity, the accuracy of demographically-corrected test scores would be reduced. Experiment II tested whether demographic corrections would only be appropriate for biased factors instead of the total score for multifactorial tests. Experiment III explored whether demographic corrections would be inappropriate under conditions where the dementia pathology overrides the association between cognitive test scores and demographic variables. Experiment IV explored whether demographic corrections would be inappropriate in conditions where the demographic variables were, in themselves, risk factors for dementia, as this would remove predictive variance. Experiment V explored aspects particular to regression-based demographic corrections that might adversely affect diagnostic accuracy. Experiments I to V were simulation-based; consequently Experiment VI explored replication of these findings using regression adjusted scores in a previously collected clinical database. Finally, Experiment VII used clinical data in conjunction with published clinical normative data with demographic-stratification to test the generalizability of these findings to clinical practice. Using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve comparisons, the use of demographically-corrected scores repeatedly failed to improve upon the dementia diagnostic accuracy of uncorrected cognitive test scores, regardless of whether these corrections were regression-based or based on demographically stratified normative data. Demographic corrections reduced dementia diagnostic accuracy when cognitive test scores were skewed or when adjustments were regression-based and demographic variables were risk factors for dementia. The use of demographic corrections when dementia pathology supersedes any association between cognitive test scores and demographic variables does not impact the relative diagnostic accuracy of demographically-corrected versus uncorrected test scores. Overall, these results suggest that the use of demographic corrections for cognitive test scores is highly cautioned when the goal is to maximize dementia diagnostic accuracy.

This descriptive, exploratory study framed within Parse’s theory of humanbecoming, addressed the research question: What is the meaning of persons’ experiences of keeping in touch with their loved ones who have died. Seven persons described their experiences of keeping in touch with their loved ones who had died. Study themes in the language of the participants were treasured events and signs give rise to lasting comfort while constant yet changing bonds come with turmoil and tranquility amid unfolding strength and confidence. Interpreted in the language of the researcher, study findings were written as cherished ciphers and occurrences engender solace as enduring-shifting ties abide with ease unease amid fortifying expansion. Study themes were linked primarily with theoretical concepts of valuing imaging, connecting-separating, and transforming. Findings were discussed in light of relevant literature, and possibilities for nursing practice, education, policy, and further research were offered.

Memory conformity effects occur when witnesses report misleading suggestions they learned about from another witness. Using a new paradigm the present thesis investigated whether what subject-witnesses report about an event also implies what they personally remember or know about that event. Subjects were tested in pairs, with each member of a pair shown a different version of a video using the MORI technique. There were critical details (e.g., theft of an iPod) in each of the following conditions: visible to only one member of each subject spair, visible to both members of the pair, and not visible to either member of the pair. Pairs subsequently completed a questionnaire together to remember details from the video. Subjects then individually completed a similar questionnaire. A source monitoring and subjective experiences test revealed that co-witness discussion does not necessarily lead people to experience illusory recollections for details they did not witness themselves.

The successful execution of goal-directed movement requires the evaluation of many levels of errors. On one hand, the motor system needs to be able to evaluate ‘high-level’ errors indicating the success or failure of a given movement. On the other hand, as a movement is executed the motor system also has to be able to correct for ‘low-level’ errors - an error in the initial motor command or change in the motor command necessary to compensate for an unexpected change in the movement environment. The goal of the present research was to provide electroencephalographic evidence that error processing during motor control is evaluated hierarchically. The present research demonstrated that high-level motor errors indicating the failure of a system goal elicited the error-related negativity, a component of the event-related brain potential (ERP) evoked by incorrect responses and error feedback. The present research also demonstrated that low-level motor errors are associated with parietally distributed ERP component related to the focusing of visuo-spatial attention and context-updating. Finally, the present research includes a viable neural model for hierarchical error processing during motor control.

Diagnostic biases against individuals of advanced age or few years of formal education exist because age and education are commonly related to performance on cognitive tests, thus, demographic corrections for these tests are used. Corrections are complicated, however, by an association between demographic variables and dementia diagnoses. This dissertation examined the dementia diagnostic accuracy of demographic corrections for cognitive tests. Experiment I tested whether, in the context of skewed tests that violate the statistical assumptions of linearity and homoscedasticity, the accuracy of demographically-corrected test scores would be reduced. Experiment II tested whether demographic corrections would only be appropriate for biased factors instead of the total score for multifactorial tests. Experiment III explored whether demographic corrections would be inappropriate under conditions where the dementia pathology overrides the association between cognitive test scores and demographic variables. Experiment IV explored whether demographic corrections would be inappropriate in conditions where the demographic variables were, in themselves, risk factors for dementia, as this would remove predictive variance. Experiment V explored aspects particular to regression-based demographic corrections that might adversely affect diagnostic accuracy. Experiments I to V were simulation-based; consequently Experiment VI explored replication of these findings using regression adjusted scores in a previously collected clinical database. Finally, Experiment VII used clinical data in conjunction with published clinical normative data with demographic-stratification to test the generalizability of these findings to clinical practice. Using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve comparisons, the use of demographically-corrected scores repeatedly failed to improve upon the dementia diagnostic accuracy of uncorrected cognitive test scores, regardless of whether these corrections were regression-based or based on demographically stratified normative data. Demographic corrections reduced dementia diagnostic accuracy when cognitive test scores were skewed or when adjustments were regression-based and demographic variables were risk factors for dementia. The use of demographic corrections when dementia pathology supersedes any association between cognitive test scores and demographic variables does not impact the relative diagnostic accuracy of demographically-corrected versus uncorrected test scores. Overall, these results suggest that the use of demographic corrections for cognitive test scores is highly cautioned when the goal is to maximize dementia diagnostic accuracy.

We have investigated the feasibility of using digital tabletop displays during design team meetings to improve access to design information. To achieve this goal, we have applied various design guidelines for tabletop interface design and requirements for digital meeting scenarios in order to implement design ideas (in a prototype named Mozaic) that specifically cater to design team meetings. Mozaic intends to improve information retrieval and browsing activities during meetings thereby improving information access through a tile based layout, pop-up menu control and filtered list. We have evaluated the features of Mozaic through an exploratory study on a tabletop display (in comparison to a commonly used desktop software tool, which was also used on the tabletop) to evaluate various design ideas and ferret out design ideas for future iterations of Mozaic. We present the result of this study as observations and user feedback and discuss them in the light of interface development for design meeting situations.