Abstract not available

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.A.) - Simon Fraser University, 2005. / Theses (Faculty of Education) / Simon Fraser University. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in digital format and available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 272-279). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine if exposure to humor media improves mood states of older adults. The humor media consisted of four thirty minute videos. Ten subjects from a retirement community in East Central Indiana participated in the study. A control group and experimental group were assigned by the Activities Director of the retirement community. Each participant was administered the Profile of Mood States for the pretest and posttest measurement. The Profile of Mood States lists sixty-five adjectives and participants ranked on a scale of 0 to 4 how much they felt that mood within the past week. Members of the experimental group participated in fifteen minute interviews after the completion of the intervention.Total mood score means for the experimental group indicated an increase in positive mood from the pretest to the post-test. Total Mood Score means for the control group showed either no change or a decrease in positive mood. Because the sample size was very small,no statistical test of significance could be executed to test the null hypothesis. Based upon the qualitative interviews and the simple analysis of quantitative data humor media appears to have positive effects on the subjects in nursing homes and retirement communities. However, this intervention deserves further investigation with a larger sample that would allow for more rigorous statistical analysis. / Fisher Institute for Wellness

Theoretical frameworks were presented in order that variables contributing to the mirth response could be established. These are labeled as cognitive-perceptual, drive-reduction, and psychoanalytic. Nine hypotheses were formulated in order to determine which theory the data would support and what (if any) interrelationship exists between these theories. Ninety male undergraduate volunteer subjects rated cartoons (adapted from the Mirth Response Test) which were sexual or neutral in content during either arousal or non-arousal conditions. An analysis of variance was carried out. Support was uncovered for the three theoretical frameworks. A further analysis suggested that cognitive-perceptual factors take precedence over drive-reduction and psychoanalytic factors. A multi-variate approach to future humor studies is recommended.

Thesis (M. Div.)--St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-73).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2004. / Adviser: Tara Goldstein.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2005. / Supervisor: Dr. Sigal Balshine. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-126)