Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 204-226).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-148).

Cognitive functioning has historically been used to predict adaptive outcomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorders; however, research shows that it does not adequately predict these outcomes. Therefore, the current study explored the role of emotion perception in the adaptive functioning of individuals with ASDs. Emotion perception was assessed using the DANVA-2, which has audio and static face stimuli, and the DAVE, dynamic, audio-visual emotion movies. Adaptive functioning was assessed using the Vineland-II Socialization, Communication, and Daily Living domains. Results indicated that individuals with ASDs demonstrated significant impairments in both adaptive functioning and emotion perception compared to typical individuals. Findings did not demonstrate a relationship between emotion perception and adaptive functioning, controlling for IQ. Future research should broaden the approach when investigating possible mechanisms of change for adaptive outcomes to include exploration of social perception more broadly, of which emotion perception is one component, and its relationship with adaptive outcomes.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (February 16, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-41)

Stereotype threat is the cognitive pressure certain individuals feel when they believe their performance on a particular task might confirm a negative stereotype about their group. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the possible negative influence of stereotype threat on mixed-sex dyadic encounters by objectively and subjectively measuring their verbal accommodation behaviors. Sex-stereotypes were manipulated (men have greater logical intelligence than women; women have greater social intelligence than men) while participants engaged in multiple mixed-sex interactions. Four patterns emerged when analyzing the presence of both objective and subjective communication accommodation behaviors. First, women were more likely than men to objectively demonstrate accommodation behaviors such as hedges, questions, fillers, and back-channel responses. Second, most participants used less accommodation behaviors over time. Third, comparing the objective and subjective expressions of accommodation behaviors revealed no relationship--in other words, people may report one thing, but third-party accounts point toward different results. Finally, the way people judge a stranger's overall character is highly correlated to their perception of his/her verbal accommodation behaviors. This dissertation concludes with future recommendations for interpersonal communication scholars interested in stereotype threat research. / text

Students pursue different goals in school, which have been shown to influence a variety of educational outcomes. The achievement goal framework which focuses on mastery and performance goals is currently the most dominant paradigm for the examination of students‘ goals in the school setting. Numerous studies have shown the different consequences associated with the pursuit of mastery and performance goals. However, a limitation of achievement goal theory is its neglect of social goals which pertain to social reasons for studying. This is surprising given the importance of interpersonal relationships for adolescent students. Moreover, from a cross-cultural perspective, social goals seem to be even more salient for students from collectivist cultures due to the greater importance of the relational fabric in such societies. Therefore, the general aim of this study was to investigate the types, the structure, and the consequences of social goals in a collectivist cultural context. Five inter-related studies were conducted with Filipino secondary school students. Study 1 was a qualitative study which aimed to assess the different types of goals that students pursued. Results indicated that most of the goals pertained to social goals, and only a minority of these referred to the more commonly-researched achievement goals. Studies 2 and 3 aimed to examine the cross-cultural applicability of the 2 x 2 achievement goal model and the hierarchical and multidimensional model of social goals respectively in the Philippine setting. The 2 x 2 achievement goal model posits a distinction between four types of achievement goals: mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach, and performance avoidance, while the hierarchical and multidimensional model of social goals construes social goals as a higher-order construct underpinned by five specific types of social goals: social affiliation, social approval, social concern, social responsibility, and social status. Results of these two studies indicated that these models were both applicable to Filipino students. As such, they were used in the subsequent studies. The aim of Study 4 was to test the relationships among achievement goals, social goals, academic engagement, and achievement. A longitudinal design was adopted and results indicated that social goals were the most salient positive predictors of academic engagement. They were also negative predictors of academic disengagement. Engagement and disengagement, in turn, mediated the impact of goals on subsequent academic achievement. Study 5 examined the relationships among achievement goals, social goals, and well-being. A longitudinal design was adopted, and results showed that mastery-approach and social goals were the most beneficial for well-being. Taken together, these studies showed the importance of investigating social goals alongside the oft-examined achievement goals given their greater salience and their causal dominance over achievement goals in predicting both achievement-related and broader well-being outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as directions for future research are discussed. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Despite there being some changes to the way that people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are viewed in society, negative attitudes prevail. One of the aspirations of the Paralympic games 2012 organisers was to influence the public’s attitudes towards disabled people. The aim of this study was to investigate whether stimuli depicting people with ID performing at a Paralympic level of sport can change attitudes towards ID. A mixed randomised comparison group design was employed comparing two groups; those who viewed Paralympic level ID sport footage and information, and those who viewed Olympic footage and information on measures of implicit attitudes towards disability and explicit attitudes towards people with ID. One hundred and fourteen students at a UK university were administered the measures pre and post the stimuli presentation. Implicit attitudes significantly changed in a positive direction from T1 to T2 for both groups. Attitudes of empowerment increased from T1-T2, nearing significance. The findings provide evidence that Paralympic (ID) and Olympic footage plus written information seems to change attitudes towards people with ID, at least in the short term. Viewing elite sports information and footage may have at least a short term effect on attitudes towards ID which provides some tentative support to one of the London 2012 legacy promises. However it does not seem to matter which footage people are exposed to. Given both types of stimuli proved effective it suggests the possible role of affect in changing attitudes through the media, which warrants further investigation.

Section A is a systematic review of the literature surrounding school-based interventions to address the stigma faced by people diagnosed with mental health problems. It asks the question of what the role of these interventions currently and potentially is and what is important for their efficacy. It begins by acknowledging the problem that stigma and discrimination presents, identifying what leads to and perpetuates this stigma. It then presents key theoretical and empirical contributions to our understanding of stigma and also to our understanding of how learning develops and attitudes form. The review goes on to look at what has been done in schools to date and highlights ‘active ingredients’ in these programmes, discussing the extent to which the current picture addresses theoretical and empirical contributions. Suggestions for further research are provided. Section B provides the findings of a grounded theory study investigating how primary school teachers communicate with children about mental health problems. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with fifteen teachers in three state schools. A model of communication is presented, which explains why discussions about mental health problems are absent from the primary school classroom. There appear to be a number of reasons for this. Teachers have fears about the implications of talking about mental health problems with children. These are connected to their beliefs and fears regarding those with mental health problems, their beliefs about mental health problems in relation to children and its place in the classroom, and about their professional roles. Relating to theory, teachers perceive themselves as part of a homogenous ‘in-group’ as distinct from a homogenous ‘out-group’ with mental health problems. Fears, beliefs and ingroup perceptions lead teachers to ‘play safe’ and avoid conversations about mental health problems in the classroom. This absence of discussion may reinforce for children that mental health problems are taboo. Greater links are required between schools and mental health services, and clinical psychologists need to be proactive in influencing policymakers by promoting the argument that teaching on mental health problems has an important place within the British school curriculum. Section C is a critical appraisal of this research, including discussion of the experience of being a researcher throughout this process. Consideration is given to the skills developed, areas where they may need to be expanded upon, areas where things could have been done differently, as well as research and clinical implications of the findings.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy