identifier: Courage, Mary Louise <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Courage=3AMary_Louise=3A=3A.html>   (1985) Children's inquiry strategies in referential communication and in the game of twenty questions.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Young children typically perform inefficiently as listeners on referential communication tasks and also when playing the game of 20 questions. In both cases they guess at the identity of the target rather than adopting the more efficient strategy of asking categorical questions. Certain training procedures have been effective in improving children’s performance on both of these tasks. An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that under certain conditions these two tasks can be considered as a single problem in information-seeking. It was predicted that if children were trained to use a strategy of asking categorical questions either in the context of a 20 questions task or a referential listener task, that performance on the trained task would improve and would also generalize to the untrained task. Versions of the 20 questions and listener problems were designed in which the stimulus characteristics and information processing demands of the tasks were equated. 5- and 7-year-old male and female children were pretested on both tasks, trained either on the twenty questions task, the listener task, or given both types of training. A control group was given practice on the tasks. The treatment was followed by immediate and delayed posttesting on both tasks. Pretest performance was poor in both age groups, although the older children asked more categorical questions and identified more targets correctly than did the younger children. Posttest data indicated a significant improvement in performance on the trained task, as well as substantial cross-task generalization in both age groups. Except for the 5-year-old control subjects who showed very little improvement from the pretest, there was little developmental difference in performance on the 20 questions task. On the listener task, only the 5-year-olds who experienced 20 Questions training performed as well as the 7-year-olds on the posttests. It was concluded that 20 questions and listener problems can be effectively solved with the common information-seeking strategy of asking categorical questions.


identifier: Davey, Valerie Anne <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Davey=3AValerie_Anne=3A=3A.html>   (1990) Comparison of backward and delayed groups in Pavlovian drug-drug conditioning procedures : implications for control of nonassociative factors.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

format: application/pdf application/pdf

abstract: Rats receiving paired injections of sodium pentobarbital followed 30 minutes later by d-amphetamine sulfate have been  reported to show an effect of pairings over trials in the form of an increase in heart rate in response to pentobarbital relative to rats receiving the two drugs 24 hours apart (delayed control; e.g., Revusky, Davey, & Zagorski, 1989). This Pavlovian conditional response (CR) has been obtained only if rats are placed in a heart rate recording apparatus during acquisition. However, home cage conditioning was assessed relative to rats that received the  two drugs in reverse order (backward control), which without  direct evidence assumes that delayed and backward groups are  equivalent. The unconditional response to pentobarbital (UR)  in drug-naive rats is similar to the pentobarbital CR: A nonassociative drug interaction could maintain the pentobarbital UR, which otherwise diminishes over trials in delayed controls. In two experiments reported here, equivalent increases in heart rate in forward and backward groups were found relative to a delayed control whether training or testing was carried out in the recording apparatus or in the home cage. This finding suggests that a drug interaction present in forward and backward groups and absent in the delayed control has yet to be eliminated in accounting for the heart rate effect. Comparison of backward and delayed controls in a drug-drug conditioning procedure using a taste aversion test revealed that both forward and delayed pairings can produce attenuated aversions relative to a backward group whether the US is amphetamine (Experiment 2) or lithium chloride (Experiment 3). This finding was discussed in terms of the role of number and intensity of US preexposures in attenuating subsequent taste  aversion conditioning.


identifier: Lewis, Stevan Joel <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lewis=3AStevan_Joel=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Conditioned immune responses to taste and environmental cues signalling cyclophosphamide.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Injection of cyclophosphamide (Cy), an immunosuppressive drug, in conjunction with a conditional stimulus (CS) has repeatedly been shown to produce Pavlovian conditioning. However, reports vary on the critical issue of whether the conditioned response augments the immunosuppressive effect of Cy or counteracts it. In this study, the effects of CS type and post CS reexposure saline injections on the direction of conditioned immune responses were measured using a passive hemagglutination reaction. One hundred and twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a conditioning protocol using either a taste CS (saccharin, SAC) or a distinctive environmental CS (Plexiglas tubs). For  some animals, CS exposure coincided with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of Cy (paired groups) or saline (saline groups). For others, Cy injections occurred 24 h after exposure to the CS (unpaired groups). Groups were further divided following CS reexposure such that, half of the animals in each group received an injection of saline. Contrary to some previous reports, both taste and environmental CSs that were paired with injections of Cy support a conditioned immunosuppression of Ab production rather than conditioned immunoenhancement. This conditioned immunosuppression occurred without a measurable conditioned taste aversion, and did not affect Cy-induced reductions in weight gain. Also, injections of Cy reduced fluid consumption 24 h, but not 48 h, later. These findings are inconsistent with some current interpretations of conditioned immune responses and are examined in terms of simultaneous and sequential conditioning procedures.


identifier: Elabanjo, Olusola A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Elabanjo=3AOlusola_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1986) Effects of intraseptal injections of L-glutamate and GABA on the rat's acoustic startle response.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The specific hypothesis that cell bodies in the medial septum-diagonal band (MS-DB) complex are responsible for startle amplitude modulation was tested in rats using L-glutamate and GABA as the cell-specific excitant and inhibitor respectively. -- In a series of experiments, various concentrations and volumes of L-glutamate and GABA were injected into the MS-DB complex, and the startle amplitude measured by administering 80 trials of 70 db white  noise background and 110 db white noise, as the startle stimulus. L-glutamate studies revealed that injection of 1 , μ1, 1 M, significantly attenuated the rat's acoustic startle  response(ASR), while the GABA studies showed no difference from the control groups. The results were interpreted to have indicated that the cell bodies in the MS-DB complex are  involved in the attenuation of the rat's startle amplitude, while the failure of GABA to achieve the opposite effect was probably due to its uptake and/or conversion to glutamate. -- Hippocampal EEG recording taken from the rats injected with L-glutamate and GABA showed that the effects seen in the present studies were not due to the injected drugs causing epileptiform-like discharges in the hippocampus. -- Key words: Acoustic startle response (ASR); EEG; GABA; Hippocampus; Intraseptal; L-GLUT; MSB; Septo-hippocampal; Picrotoxin.


identifier: Freake, Darren John <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Freake=3ADarren_John=3A=3A.html>   (1994) Effects of testosterone and sex on the cytoarchitecture and the GAP-43 and tau-1 immunoreactive innervation of the medial nucleus of the amygdala.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The posterior dorsal division of the medial nucleus of the amygdala (MePD) is a target of gonadal hormone action. It is  sexually dimorphic, and many of its neurons contain estrogen  and androgen receptors. In adult male rats, its cytoarchitecture depends on testosterone (T), as the volume of MePD is reduced by 27% at 8 weeks post-castration (Malsbury and McKay, 1994). Experiment 1 of this thesis was based on the hypothesis that this atrophic response to castration includes the retraction of axons within MePD. If this hypothesis is correct, T replacement should stimulate axonal growth within MePD. In experiment 1, castrated male rats were given T, and two protein markers of axonal growth,  GAP-43 and tau-1, were examined using immunocytochemistry. -- Several recent studies have found sex differences in GAP-43 mRNA levels in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (Shughrue and Dorsa, 1993a) and the frontal cortex (Lustig et al., 1993; Lustig et al., 1991) of adult rats. Based on these findings, experiment 2 investigated the  possibility of sex differences in GAP-43 and/or tau-1 staining in the region of MePD. -- Four groups of adult males were examined in experiment 1. Eight weeks after castration, controls received empty silastic capsules sc for  either 2 (group CC-2) or 8 days (group CC-8), while T-treated males received T-filled silastic capsules sc for either 2 (group C+T-2) or 8 days (group C+T-8), before being  sacrificed. Alternate series of brain sections were stained for GAP-43, tau-1, and with cresyl violet. The relative optical densities (RODs) of GAP-43 and tau-1 staining in the region of MePD and part of the cerebral cortex were measured. The size of MePD was measured using cresyl violet-stained sections. As staining for both GAP-43 and tau-1 was darker in the region of MePD than in surrounding areas, the area of this darker staining was also measured. The results showed that T-treatment did not augment the density of GAP-43 or tau-1 immunoreactivity in the region of MePD or the cerebral cortex. However, it did increase the size of MePD, since the area of MePD in cresyl-stained sections was significantly larger in group C+T-8 than in group CC-8. -- In experiment 2, brain sections of untreated adult males and  diestrous females were stained for GAP-43, tau-1 or with cresyl violet as in experiment 1. Area and ROD measures were  acquired as in experiment 1. No sex differences were found in the density of GAP-43 or tau-1 staining in the region of MePD or the cerebral cortex. However, there was a marked sex  difference (male > female) in the size of MePD as well as in  the areas of dense staining for GAP-43 and tau-1 in this region. -- When data from castrated and intact males from experiment 1 and 2 were compared, it was found that castration did not reduce the density of GAP-43 or tau-1 staining in the region of MePD or the cerebral cortex. Castration did, however, significantly reduce the size of MePD as well as the areas of dense GAP-43 and tau-1 staining  in this region. -- In conclusion, the present experiments demonstrate that although T-treatment for 8 days is sufficient to produce a growth response within MePD in castrated male rats, this is not accompanied by any increase  in the average density of staining for GAP-43 or tau-1 in the region of MePD. However, the size of MePD and the areas covered by the dense GAP-43 and tau-1 staining in the region of MePD are reduced by castration. Castration probably decreases the size of MePD at least partly by shrinking the dendritic trees of its neurons. This is probably accompanied by a loss innervation of MePD dendrites by GAP-43 and tau-1 immunoreactive axons. The reason for the lack of effect of castration on the average density of staining is not known. It may be that castration reduces both the synthesis and degradation of GAP-43 and tau-1, resulting in no change in their levels within the region where MePD dendrites are still present.


identifier: Parlee, Cindy C. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Parlee=3ACindy_C=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1990) Effectiveness of adolescent relationship and sexuality program in modifying level of assertiveness, global, social and body self-esteem in grade nine students.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Self-esteem has been considered as central to the social, psychological and academic development of adolescents. Recently, several grade 9 classes in schools in St. John's and surrounding areas have implemented a program which focuses on improving various aspects of self-esteem. Entitled 'Adolescence: Relationships and Sexuality', this program was designed to introduce and explore issues such as  communication, self-concept, human sexuality and interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the implementation of this program does aid in increasing social and body self-esteem, assertiveness skills, and self-acceptance in grade 9 students as compared to a control group of students who were  taking the standard program entitled 'Reverence For Life and  Family'. -- Results reveal significant group by initial score interactions for measures of self-acceptance, and social self-esteem (p<.05 and p<.02, respectively). This indicates that relative to scores obtained from subjects in the control group, experimental subjects with high initial scores increased at post-test, whereas those with low initial scores decreased relatively at post-test. A group by sex by initial score three-way interaction (p<.02) was obtained on the measure of body self-esteem. This reveals an  average decrease in body self-esteem for both control and experimental groups, the effect being greatest for high initial scorers and particularly for female subjects in the control group; low initial scorers did not show decreased scores, the female control group subjects who were initially  low on body self-esteem actually showed increased scores. No  significant findings were obtained on the measure of assertiveness. -- Explanations such as lack of preparatory skills necessary to benefit from such a program, mode with which the program was offered, the length of the program, and the level of open discussion of issues involved in the program have been offered to account for the findings. However, although the interactions were significant, they account for less than 3% of the variance in self-esteem scores. This indicates that adolescent self-acceptance, social and body self-esteem are not greatly affected by the program examined in this study. Although the program may result in significant modifications that were not measured in this study, it appears as though modification of adolescent self-esteem may require more intensive development of conceptual skills training that is extended over a longer period of time.


identifier: Votta, Elizabeth Anne <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Votta=3AElizabeth_Anne=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Decisions to forgo life-sustaining medical treatment in a Canadian paediatric critical care unit (PCCU) : maternal perception of subsequent family adjustment.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Maternal perception of family adjustment following three types of decisions regarding a child's life-sustaining medical treatment was evaluated. Participants were mothers whose: child died following a discussion to forgo life-support (n = 18); child died, but a discussion to forgo life-support did not occur (n = 6); and child survived despite the fact that a member of the medical staff felt a discussion to forgo life-support should have occurred (n = 16). A fourth group of mothers of chronically ill children (n = 106) visiting the hospital's out-patient clinics was included as a comparison group for a family functioning measure. Groups differed significantly in family functioning; Group 1 families were marginally less cohesive and adaptable than families in Groups 2, 3 and 4. Mothers did not differ in their perception of the hospital decision-making experience, nor stress arising from the Pediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU). With respect to maternal psychological symptom status, mothers in Group 2 exhibited a  more intense symptom pattern than did mothers in Group 3, who in turn exhibited a more intense pattern than mothers in  Group 1. Maternal ratings of siblings behaviours differed significantly, siblings in Group 1 were rated as exhibiting fewer internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems than siblings in Groups 2 and 3. Although not correlated with maternal psychological symptomatology, family functioning correlated with the number of positive mother-child interactions. The intensity of maternal psychological symptom status correlated with maternal perceptions of total  PCCU stress and behaviour problems exhibited by siblings. Implications of the PCCU experience and decisions to forgo life-support on family adjustment are discussed.


identifier: McDonald, Lori J. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/McDonald=3ALori_J=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1994) Maternal depressive symptomatology and family cohesion : a comparison of perceived family cohesion in mother-child dyads.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Perceptions of family cohesion were compared in two groups of mother-child dyads. Two measures of cohesion (the FES and  FACES III) were obtained from 17 mothers who reported depressive symptomatology and their children (ages 11 to 17 years). Each family was matched with, a community comparison  family on age and sex of child, family size, and single versus dual parent status. Three hypotheses were tested: (a)  target mothers would perceive lower family cohesion than would comparison mothers; (b) children of target mothers would perceive lower family cohesion than would the children  of comparison mothers; and (c) there would be more congruence between children's ratings of cohesion and their mothers' ratings in the target group than in the comparison group. The results of a multivariate analysis of variance revealed that mothers and children in the target group did not differ in reported cohesion from mothers and children in  the comparison group. However, the group means were in the direction predicted in the first two hypotheses. In addition, the correlation coefficients between mothers' and children's cohesion scores did not differ between groups for  either measure. The results are discussed with respect to the relationship between cohesion, maternal depressive symptomatology, and child adjustment.


identifier: Rosen, David A. S. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Rosen=3ADavid_A=2E_S=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1990) Maternal investment and the ontogeny of behaviour in the Atlantic harbour seal.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The applicability of differential maternal investment and divergent behavioural ontogeny theories to a marginally dimorphic species, was investigated in the harbour seal.  Weight changes of unweaned pups on Miquelon were used to test whether mothers invested more in male than female offspring.  Males were found to be heavier at birth than females, but grew at a slower rate prior to weaning.  Behavioural observations of mother/pup pairs were used to derive indicators of maternal investment.  Nosing behaviour and two indices of nursing and proximity governance appeared  to be reasonable predictors of relative investment.  In contrast, nursing rejection rates and pup checks were not reasonable measures of investment while the validity of nursing times was inconclusive.  The results suggested that,  over the course of the nursing period, the pup was increasingly responsible for the level of investment obtained and the maintenance of the pair bond.  Unweaned male pups were found to spend less time idle than females during haul outs, and all pups became increasingly more active over the nursing period.  Sex difference in behaviour  are discussed as an indicator of divergent socio-bioenergetic demands.


identifier: Klukowski, George <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Klukowski=3AGeorge=3A=3A.html>   (1993) Locus coeruleus-induced potentiation of the perforant path evoked potential in the dentate gyrus of the awake and behaving animal.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The effects of glutaminergic activation of the pontine nucleus locus coeruleus on the perforant path evoked potential in the dentate gyrus of the awake and behaving animal were investigated. Twenty-two male Long Evans rats received 150-450 nanolitre intracranial injections of .25-.5  M 1-glutamate in the vicinity of the locus coeruleus. Injection sites localized to within 300 μm of the locus coeruleus reliably produced an enhancement (167% of control)  of the population spike of the evoked potential. In 50% of these animals, a long-lasting (i.e. greater than 20 minutes)  enhancement of the population spike amplitude was observed. Changes in the excitatory postsynaptic potential and population spike onset latency were variable. Injection sites in lobule centralis of the rostral vermis of the cerebellum also produced both short and long-lasting potentiation of the population spike. Behaviors recorded following glutamate application were not correlated with the  production of an enhancement. Behaviors were sufficiently heterogeneous that a behavioral profile for locus coeruleus-activated animals could not be ascertained. Norepinephrine-mediated potentiation of granule cell responsivity may represent a neural substrate for the processing and storage of information.


identifier: Sharpe, Karen Lynn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sharpe=3AKaren_Lynn=3A=3A.html>   (1990) Estimating premorbid intelligence using the National Adult Reading Test in Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In process


identifier: Pittman, Dianne,1969- <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pittman=3ADianne,1969-=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Measuring attitudes toward elder abuse.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Measuring attitudes toward elder abuse

abstract: This paper discusses the inherent difficulties in defining and measuring the elder abuse construct, describes existing definitions and measurement techniques, and proposes an effective measure of attitudes toward elder abuse. -- This is a pilot study intended to develop a tool to measure attitudes toward elder abuse. It is assumed that these attitudes reflect beliefs about elder abuse as a social problem. -- Stones (1994) found that 33% of the variance in scores on Stones' Elder Abuse Survey Tool (EAST) could be explained by attitudinal differences between respondents. The purpose of the present study was to produce a questionnaire that could measure these differences in attitude toward elder abuse. The Elder Abuse Attitude Test (EAAT) was the result. This study is an attempt to validate the Elder Abuse Attitude Test and determine some of its properties. -- Two hundred and fifty seven people agreed to complete a questionnaire containing both the EAAT and 31 additional items that investigate attitudes and beliefs. The  questionnaire was found to be both reliable and valid. We suggest further surveys using the EAAT as a measure of social attitudes toward elder abuse and possibly a reflection of desired action in research, treatment and prevention.


identifier: Korotkov, Dave <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Korotkov=3ADave=3A=3A.html>   (1992) Extraversion-introversion and emotionality as proposed superordinate stress moderators : development and application using prototype theory as a potential model.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A superordinate stress moderator model was developed around the cognitive theory of prototypes. It was proposed that both extraversion-introversion and emotionality would serve as two superordinate moderators, buffering the curvilinear effects of daily stress on physical symptoms. Approximately 714 subjects were administered measures of stress, perceived  physical symptoms, extraversion-introversion, emotionality, sense of coherence, sense of humour, dispositional optimism,  and psychological hardiness during the first wave of a two wave prospective study. Four weeks later, 510 of the original subjects completed a similar measure of daily stress and symptoms. The results failed to support the superordinate hypotheses for either extraversion-introversion or emotionality. Subseguent model comparisons revealed that a pure main effects model best fit the data in  that sex of participant, prior physical symptoms, daily stress, emotionality, and sense of humour were all significant in predicting the wave two symptoms criterion. Suggestions for future research are discussed.


identifier: Hackett, Rhonda G. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hackett=3ARhonda_G=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1992) Early menarche as a precursor to body dissatisfaction and dietary restraint.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The main goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronological or subjective early menarche results in increased body dissatisfaction and consequently increased dietary restraint. One hundred and ten grade seven and grade  eight girls from a local junior high school completed questionnaires during class time to assess dietary restraint  and self-esteem. All girls were personally interviewed using  a structured interview schedule to determine their puberty status, preparation for menarche, feelings toward menarche, and amount of social support received. Height and weight measures were also obtained. -- Forward stepwise regression analysis revealed that a non-significant amount of body dissatisfaction variance was attributable to actual or perceived early menarche. Body Mass Index accounted for the largest amount of variance, which suggests overweight individuals are more dissatisfied with their body than normal or under weight individuals. Pubertal status was the only other independent variable which accounted for a significant amount of the body dissatisfaction variance. This indicates that body dissatisfaction increases as puberty progresses. Neither body dissatisfaction or early menarche were significant predictors of the level of dietary  restraint reported. Time since menarche accounted for the largest amount of the variance, which suggests the onset of menarche is associated with an increase in restraint and the  level of restraint continues to increase after menarche has occurred. Body Mass Index was the only other variable which contributed to a significant amount of the restraint variance. This finding replicates that of previous studies which demonstrated overweight individuals were more highly restrained eaters than normal of underweight individuals. Implications of all results are discussed.


identifier: Spencer, Christopher John <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Spencer=3AChristopher_John=3A=3A.html>   (1979) Homing in Leach's storm petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa leucorhoa.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: During the summers of 1975 and 1976 homing behaviour was studied in Leach’s Storm Petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa leucorhoa. Five displacements involving 148 different birds were performed. Homing times and success were highly variable even amongst control home island releases. Distance and direction of displacement had no marked effect on medium range releases. However, near the breeding island, downwind birds performed better than upwind birds, presumably as a function of olfactory cues emanating from the island. Birds displaced inland did not perform as well as those released an equal distance away but at water’s edge. Incubation shift length, sex, breeding experience, or previous displacement experience did not appear to affect homing times. Weight was important : heavy birds homed sooner losing weight en route while light birds took more time while gaining weight. Both physical size and motivational factors are implicated in this phenomenon. -- In orientation activity chambers, adults at four release sites did not orient homewards. However some of these adults, as well as adults tested on the home island, faced downwind. In contract, chicks were less active and randomly oriented. -- A food sampling study indicated that Leach’s Storm Petrel may obtain many of their prey items within the environs of the breeding colony though to procure one major group, myctophid fishes, a one way trip of at least 125 km to the SW would be necessary. Another prey species, Hyperia galba, is specific to inshore waters. These two food types could provide positional information to a petrel. -- While netting birds, record was kept of the number of birds that struck the net. The number of collisions was nonsignificantly negatively correlated with wind speed, illumination level, and the number of times the net had been at one spot. However, all but one of the interactions were significant suggesting the variables had real though weak effects. -- Taken together the results were interpreted as being consistent with the homing literature in indicating a limited redundancy of orientation systems and a situation dependent hierarchy of cues. Compass usage was not demonstrated with Leach’s Storm Petrel but suggestions for further work were made.


identifier: Lynch, Katherine Dayrell <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lynch=3AKatherine_Dayrell=3A=3A.html>   (1987) Humpback, finback, minke and pilot whale distributions in Newfoundland and Labrador, 1976-1983.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: An increase in the incidence of whale entrapments in fixed fishing gear in the late 1970s in Newfoundland and Labrador led to the establishment of a network of observers in April 1979, to monitor annual changes in inshore whale abundance. This thesis presents humpback, finback, minke and pilot whale sighting records, and evaluates the observer network both as a means of determining the spatial and temporal distribution of whales, and as a means of monitoring annual fluctuations in their relative abundance. -- An analysis of the sighting records (from land-based observers: 1979-1982 and from shipboard observers: 1976-1983) indicated similarities in the summer distributions (June-September) of the three species of baleen whales. Humpback, finback and minke whales shared an affinity for the east coasts for Newfoundland and Labrador. Minkes, however, were rarely seen offshore and appeared to be more dispersed than humpback and finback whales. Pilot whales were found to be distributed further south than the baleen whales.  They frequented bays on the east, south and west coasts of Newfoundland. -- The temporal distributions resulting from this study indicated that all four species were most abundant  during the months of historically high prey availability (capelin and squid). However, the monthly distributions of humpback, finback and pilot whales suggested that portions of each summer population arrived off the north coast of Newfoundland in May and June, apparently preceding the main inshore migration of capelin and squid to this area. -- The observer network appeared to provide an effective means of determining whale distribution. The reliability of whale identifications was checked through tests and field notes. The spatial and temporal distribution of observer effort was not correlated with the spatial and temporal distribution of the whales. Furthermore, the distributions resulting from this study overlapped with historical records of sightings and whaling catches for all four species. -- The shipboard observer network appeared to provide a more accurate means of monitoring annual changes in whale abundance than the land-based observer network. The land-based network failed to detect the post-1980 decrease in humpback whales in the inshore waters of east and southeast Newfoundland (as indicated by a decline in entrapment in fixed fishing gear). This was attributed mostly to the land-based network’s tendency to under-report observer effort during the periods of infrequent sightings.


identifier: Todd, Sean Kevin <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Todd=3ASean_Kevin=3A=3A.html>   (1991) Acoustical properties of fishing gear: possible relationships to baleen whale entrapment.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The incidental entrapment in passive fishing gear of mysticetes, including the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, is examined, with specific reference to the role of acoustics as a mechanism in perception. The acoustics of capelin traps and other common net types involved in entrapment are investigated. -- Many marine mammals, particularly humpback whales, are incidentally entrapped in fishing gear in Newfoundland and Labrador inshore waters. Explanations of these collisions are complex, and the fundamental question of how a whale perceives a net has yet to be answered. It is clear that the  whale fails to detect the net in time to avoid it. It has been argued that the mechanism of sound remains as the most probable primary system of orientation to targets such as nets. -- The present state of knowledge on the use of sound by baleen whales is discussed, including the possibility that humpback whales might possess a crude form of echolocation. It is also shown that a potential exists for the use of sound as a passive navigation system. Thus while humpbacks might use sound for orientation purposes, their apparent failure to detect nets might result from the target  being acoustically cryptic. -- The acoustics of a capelin (Mallotus villosus) trap are investigated. It was found that  capelin trap mesh produces a wide band signal, which is significantly reduced in level once the trap is filled with capelin. Acoustic damping by schools of bait are discussed. -- Capelin trap mesh produces the strongest acoustic signal,  while larger mesh sized cod (Gadus morhua ) trap mesh produces the least detectable signature. It is shown that net noise production can be correlated to the drag that a net imposes in a current. Differences in net acoustic signature are discussed in terms of anecdotal entrapment evidence; there is a negative correlation between probability of entrapment and the strength of acoustic signature of that net type.


identifier: Noseworthy, Jill E. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Noseworthy=3AJill_E=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Acquisition of covariation information in elementary school children.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The study was designed to determine how children learn covariation information and whether increasing the number of  irrelevant dimensions would facilitate implicit learning. Ninety-six fourth and fifth graders were trained on sets of three stimuli varying in size (large and small) and shape (curved and straight). Of the three stimuli, one represented  the covariation between shape and size (e.g., large and curved) . Half of the participants were trained on sets with  one irrelevant dimension (position of the stimulus on the computer screen) and half were trained on sets with two irrelevant dimensions (position and the stimulus pattern; open, filled, or striped). Following training, participants were exposed to a transfer task with novel stimuli, but the same covariation employed in training. Finally, participants  were given a verbal awareness test requiring them to tell the experimenter how they solved the problem. This test resulted in three classifications: verbally aware (explicit learners), partially aware, and not verbally aware (implicit  learners). -- All participants included in the analyses reached criterion during training, indicating that children can learn covariation information either explicitly or implicitly. As the complexity of the task increased, the learning rate for all participants decreased, particularly for the explicit learners who presumably relied on hypothesis testing. On transfer, explicit learners performed  better than implicit learners. The implicit system was not particularly smart, perhaps due to a reliance on contextual cues acquired in associative learning. Partial learners performed like implicit learners on transfer when trained on  one irrelevant dimension, and like explicit learners when trained on two irrelevant dimensions. -- From these results several assumptions were made about cognitive processes. First, both implicit and explicit pathways are activated in a learning task, with explicit learning rate falling off more steeply than the implicit learning rate as a function of increasing task difficulty. Second, an intersection occurs where both implicit and explicit learning are occurring at approximately the same rate; task difficulty at  the point of intersection will vary between individuals. Therefore, an individual who usually learns implicitly has an intercept at a low level of task difficulty and learns difficult problems implicitly. An individual who usually learns explicitly has an intercept at a high level of task difficulty and learns easier problems explicitly. The third assumption was that partial learners acquire information at approximately the same rate implicitly and explicitly; in other words, each partial learner is at the point of intersection. When an individual is a partial learner on an easy task, their implicit and explicit learning curves are presumed to resemble those of individuals who usually learn implicitly. When an individual is a partial learner on a difficult task, their implicit and explicit learning curves are presumed to resemble those of individuals who usually learn explicitly. The final assumption was that learners will show a preference for accessing either implicit or explicit information based on how they usually solve similar  problems.


identifier: O'Connor, Wendy Elizabeth <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/O=27Connor=3AWendy_Elizabeth=3A=3A.html>   (1995) An evaluation of a remedial mathematics programme.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study investigated whether a remedial mathematics programme offered at Memorial University of Newfoundland improved students' performance in subsequent mathematics courses and/or changed their attitudes toward mathematics. Academic records from 194 remedial and 304 non-remedial students were examined. Results indicated that: a) remediation did not influence students' grades in subsequent  mathematics courses; b) students' grade point average in high school as well as their performance in high school mathematics courses were reliable predictors of performance in university-level mathematics courses; c) students in a remedial mathematics programme were less likely than non-remedial students to enrol in more advanced mathematics courses; d) remedial students had lower overall grade point averages in high school and university than non-remedial students; and e) female students in the remedial programme perceived themselves to be less mathematically proficient than their male counterparts.


identifier: Burden, Kelly L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Burden=3AKelly_L=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1996) An assessment of the reliability and validity of the Security Rating and Inmate Risk Assessments used in correctional institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The Security Rating and Inmate Risk Assessments, two instruments used in correctional institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador, were examined for their ability to predict recidivism. The Security Rating Assessment is primarily composed of items related to an offender's past and present criminal behaviour. In contrast, the Inmate Risk  Assessment is composed of "need" items: items that deal with  the type and severity of social, emotional, and economic problems experienced by an offender. Recidivism was defined as reincarceration and both a dichotomous criterion, recidivist vs. non-recidivist, and a continuous criterion, number of violation-free days, were used. Three institutions  with different male inmate populations were separately examined to determine the reliability and validity of the two instruments. The correlations obtained at the three institutions were coverted to z-scores and tests of differences were conducted. In cases where significant differences were not found, a single correlation was calculated using the combined samples. The recidivism rate for all the institutions combined was 18.57% with a low of 11.74% and a high of 29.21%. Both assessments were found to be reliable as shown by the intercorrelations and Cronbach's  alpha. In general, the assessments were also found to be valid as shown by the criterion-to-total score correlations.  Also, the recidivism rates correlated positively with the different security and risk levels as measured by the Security Rating and Inmate Risk Assessments. Specifically, more medium-security inmates than minimum-security inmates were recidivists. As well, low-risk inmates were less likely  to recidivate than medium or high-risk inmates. The Inmate Risk Assessment could not discriminate between the medium and high-risk categories. In conclusion, more accurate predictions of recidivism can be made by using the Security Rating and Inmate Risk Assessments.


identifier: Parriag, Amanda <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Parriag=3AAmanda=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Gender stereotypes in perceived attitudes.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Previous research by Button, Grant, Hannah, & Ross (1993) has established the existence of two dimensions underlying perceived attitudes: liberalism - conservativism and traditionalism - radicalism. The present study assessed perceptions of others' attitudes in relation to gender stereotypes and these dimensions. In the preliminary phase, dimension positions for 330 statements were determined by having subjects rate the relative liberalism and radicalism of the people who endorsed the statements. These subjects also indicated their own endorsement of the attitude items. In the second phase, the same statements were given to different subjects who indicated how much male and female targets would agree or disagree with the statements. Similar attitudes were observed for both males and females, as they were both generally expected to agree with less radical attitude statements, and more liberal attitude statements. The results also suggested that male subjects demonstrated stronger agreement with more liberal and less radical statements. As well, it was found that men and women have gender stereotyped perceived attitudes on both the liberal-conservative and the traditional-radical dimensions.


identifier: Morrison, Todd Graham <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Morrison=3ATodd_Graham=3A=3A.html>   (1994) Gender stereotypes, homonegativism, and support of sexually coercive behaviour among adolescents in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine whether adolescents  possess attitudes that are gender stereotypic, homonegative,  and supportive of sexually coercive behaviour. For this specific purpose, an instrument entitled the Sexual Aggression and Conservatism Scale (SACS) was developed. Reliability and validity assessments suggested that the instrument was psychometrically robust. The researcher distributed 1,124 questionnaires to randomly selected schools in Newfoundland and Labrador for administration to students in grades ten and twelve. An analysis of returns (1,045 questionnaires - a response rate at 93%) revealed that: (1) male respondents were more gender stereotypic, homonegative, and supportive of sexually coercive behaviour than females; (2) academic achievement was negatively correlated with endorsement of gender stereotypes, homonegativism, and sexual coercion; (3) religiosity (operationally defined as frequency of church attendance) was not associated with endorsement of these attitudes; (4) respondents' site of residence (urban versus rural) was not associated with endorsement of these attitudes; and (5) homonegativism and endorsement of sexual coercion were positively correlated.


identifier: Bredin, Katherine Alberta <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Bredin=3AKatherine_Alberta=3A=3A.html>   (1985) Foraging ecology of humpback whales off Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Off the coast of Newfoundland humpback whales fee primarily on capelin which form schools of varying size, depth and age class. Observations were made on humpbacks foraging in six different prey situations, in each of which the distribution, abundance and behaviour of whales was related to bait characteristics. Whales were followed by boat and prey school information was provided by a paper printout depth sounder. -- When whales were exploiting large deep immature or post-spawning capelin schools, dive times were positively correlated with depths to the top of the prey school and to the ocean floor in the immediate dive vicinity. Time spent at depth (filtering time) appears to be constant (t = 2.3 min) while dive time is proportional to prey depth. Surface times were positively correlated with dive times and with prey school and water depth and appear to function as a recovery period from foraging dives. When preying upon small concentrated schools of post-spawning capelin, water depth and vertical extent of prey school did not significantly predict either dive time or surface time. The time spent and the large amounts of directional change that occurred while whales were at the surface may function to reposition whales close to the prey school. When the concentrated post-spawning capelin schools dispersed into very small widely scattered schools, whales spent variable amounts of time at the surface travelling primarily in straight lines from school to school, diving only once into each pocket of bait. Surface and dive times were not correlated with vertical extent of prey or with water depth. Humpbacks were also observed to exploit small surface swarms of krill, using a foraging strategy distinct from that seen when feeding on capelin: a series of lateral lunges at the surface.  -- A dominant feature of humpback whale foraging is the formation of highly coordinated groups. It is hypothesized that coordination functions to minimize the disruptive effects that repeated dives of foraging whales may have on prey schools. When prey schools were large, whales foraged almost continuously and formed larger groups. Whales left small prey schools after 0.t -2.0 h exploitation to travel and to rest, possibly letting the school regroup before returning to forage. Group sizes were larger when whales were foraging than when not foraging. Local whale populations were greater and whales stayed longer where prey was more abundant.


identifier: Creelman, Elizabeth <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Creelman=3AElizabeth=3A=3A.html>   (1987) Sex differences in reproductive effort and the potential for a mixed reproductive strategy in the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica).  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) on Gull Island, Newfoundland were studied in order to compare the sexes in their patterns of parental activities during the breeding season.  Time allocation was categorized as on the slope, in the burrow, and away from the colony.  Compared to males, females spent more time in the burrow during pre-laying and incubation, and more time away during the chick-rearing period.  With the exception of pre-laying, males spent more time on the slope throughout the season than females.  Males were involved in a greater number of burrow maintenance activities and aggressive interactions than females, but because males spent more time on the slope, there were no differences in the rates of these activities.  Females delivered more fish meals to chicks per season than did males.  No sex differences occurred in the number, size or species of fish per meal, suggesting that the longer absence by females may have been due to greater time spent foraging for chick meals.  Male and female Atlantic Puffins both perform all of the breeding activities to some extent, and probably contribute similar amounts of time and energy to reproductive effort.  Although females may contribute more towards short-term breeding effort by investing more in current young, males may contribute more towards long-term breeding effort by investing slightly more in activities which serve burrow defense functions. -- This study also attempted to determine whether extra-pair copulations and mate-guarding are important components of the Atlantic Puffins' reproductive strategy.  Males apparently attempted to secure extra-pair copulations, as 39% of those observed on the water during the pre-laying stage solicited more than one female.  Some of these males may have been mated as males spent more time away from mates during pre-laying and the early part of incubation, but this difference decreased as the number of females yet to lay eggs decreased.  Female time away did not show this pattern.  Evidence of mate-guarding by males includes observations that mates spent more time paired, and were involved in a greater number of synchronous arrivals and departures, during the pre-laying stage than after.  However, greater time paired indicates only greater mate proximity; it does not indicate whether one sex was more responsible than the other for maintaining proximity.  In addition, there was no difference in which sex departed or arrived first when pairs arrived and departed together.  Because successful copulations appeared to involve only paired birds, females may provide confidence of paternity by rejecting the solicitations of other males.


identifier: Morgan, Hywel David <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Morgan=3AHywel_David=3A=3A.html>   (1992) The effect of kindling different nuclei in the left and right amygdala on anxiety in the rat.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The effects on rodent anxiety of kindling in the medial, lateral and central amygdaloid nuclei were measured using the hole board and elevated plus maze tests.  Kindling has been suggested to model complex partial epilepsy with secondary generalization in humans.  Kindling permanently increases the epileptic response of an animal to intracranial stimulation by repeated adminstration of high frequency electrical stimulation.  The animals were kindled in medial or lateral amygdalas, of the left and right hemispheres, or in the right hemisphere Central amygdala.  Controls had electrodes implanted but were not kindled.  Post experimental analysis of electrode location showed that some of the animals were kindled in none of the above nuclei.  These animals were labelled ‘Outliers'.  Kindling of the Medial/Lateral amygdala in the left hemisphere decreased anxiety in the elevated plus maze for at least one week after the last kindled seizure.  Right hemisphere Medial/Lateral kindling did not affect anxiety significantly, though there was a trend toward an anxiogenic effect.  The ‘Outlier' kindled rats were less anxious than their controls regardless of hemisphere one week after their last kindled seizure.  Central amygdala Kindled animals did not differ from their controls.  Previous findings suggest that kindling of specific loci in the right hemisphere may be anxiogenic.  Clear anxiogenic effects were likely not seen in the right hemisphere in this study because of electrode locations.  Correlations between anxiety and electrode location further pointed to the importance of kindled focus in the amygdala for behavioral effect.  Future research should carefully control the location of kindled foci when investigating effects of amygdala kindling on anxiety and other behaviors.


identifier: Webster, Bruce <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Webster=3ABruce=3A=3A.html>   (1989) The effect of paced diaphragmatic breathing on anxiety reduction in a socially phobic population.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The present research was suggested by evidence in the literature relating the presence of anxiety to rapid, shallow respiration.  A five session behavioural therapy program which included respiration therapy (experimental group) was compared to a similar therapy program which did not include respiration therapy (control group), on a number of self-report, behavioural, and physiological variables.  The research design was a pretest-posttest control group design with a one month follow-up.  Subjects consisted of 18 self-referred, socially phobic adults, randomly assigned to one of the two conditions.  Subjects met individually with the therapist for five one-hour sessions.  The experimental program involved teaching of deep diaphragmatic breathing at a target rate of six cycles per minute as a relaxation technique and as a coping device for entering socially anxious situations.  In addition, imaginal exposure, role play, and homework assignments of in-vivo exposure were practiced.  The control program involved unstructured self-relaxation in combination with imaginal exposure, role play, and homework assignments of in-vivo exposure.  All subjects participated in the Social Interaction Test (Marzillier, Lambert, & Kellet, 1976) which involved discussion with a stranger, before and after therapy, wherein behavioural and physiological activity was assessed.  The experimental condition successfully reduced the experimental subject’s respiration rate within treatment sessions.  Main effects were found for both treatment groups on all self-report and behavioural measures, and for several of the physiological variables.  Multivariate repeated measure analyses of variance revealed the experimental program to be significantly more effective than the control program in decreasing one self-report measure of anxiety.  It was concluded that respiration therapy did not provide additive effects in anxiety reduction when combined with imaginal exposure, role play, and homework assignments of in-vivo exposure.  Limitations, implications, and contributions of this study are discussed.


identifier: Walsh-Doran, Mary S. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Walsh-Doran=3AMary_S=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1984) The effect of posttreatment telephone contact upon adolescent weight losses achieved in a multicomponent behavioral treatment program.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The present study was designed to evaluate a strategy for enhancing maintenance of weight losses achieved in a standard 8-week multicomponent behavioral weight management program for overweight adolescents.  Telephone contact with adolescents and their parents was gradually reduced over a 6-month period after the behavioral treatment program terminated.  Thirty-one adolescents, ages 12-16 years, were recruited through newspaper advertisements and a memo distributed to a variety of health professionals and school guidance counsellors.  Subjects were required to be at least 20% overweight, not to be involved in other weight loss programs, to have a parent willing to read weekly handouts from a parent manual and complete weekly assignments, and to have personal goals towards improved physical well-being. -- Following the weight management program, 26 subjects (6 males and 20 females) were randomly assigned to Maintenance (M) (telephone contact) or Nonmaintenance (NM) (no telephone contact) groups.  Each group contained equal numbers of high, medium, and low weight losers and both genders.  All subjects were seen for assessment at 3- and 6-months after the treatment program. -- There were no significant differences as a result of the posttreatment maintenance strategy on pounds lost, change in percentage overweight, weight index, change in weight index, triceps skinfold, self-esteem, and mean adherence ratings.  Nor were there any significant interaction effects.  Significant time effects were present for weight change and change in percentage overweight.  Although subjects weighed significantly less at posttreatment than at pretreatment and were significantly lower in percentage overweight at 6 months than at 3 months, there was no differential effect of the posttreatment telephone contact.  Subjects who lost weight (Losers) during the treatment program were compared with subjects who gained (Gainers) during the treatment program.  Gainers continued to gain while Losers maintained their weight losses at 3- and 6-month follow-up.  No differential effect of the posttreatment maintenance contact was demonstrated. -- Possible reasons for failure to demonstrate an effect for posttreatment telephone contact and suggestions for further research are discussed.


identifier: Kelland, Andrea J. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kelland=3AAndrea_J=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1989) The development of long-term retention in children : differentiating amnesia and hypermnesia.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Although there is a considerable amount of knowledge about how children acquire information, very little is known about how they retain information in memory.  Both acquisition and retention are important in cognition and both must be understood to have a more complete picture of cognitive development.  Some of the factors responsible for the absence of research in children's long-term retention, as well as the methodological and analytical refinements necessary for studying children's long-term retention, are discussed.  A mathematical model of long-term retention, one that partitions forgetting and relearning into storage and retrieval components, is described and applied to an experiment in which grade 2 and 5 children's retention of 3-item clusters was examined.  The clusters varied in semantic relatedness (related or unrelated) and in presentation modality (pictures or words) and retention was examined across 2 sessions over different retention intervals (at 2 and 16 days or 16 and 30 days after acquisition).  Both forgetting and relearning were observed at retention with changes in performance being due to alterations in both the availability of information in storage and the retrievability of that information.  The most prominent developmental difference was found in forgetting, not relearning, with younger children forgetting more than the older children.  Interestingly, regardless of age, storage failure was greater than retrieval failure.  The results of this study were interpreted in the context of the recently developed trace-integrity theory of long-term retention in which both the storage and retrieval aspects of forgetting and relearning are combined into a single unified framework.


identifier: Richardson, Shelly Faye <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Richardson=3AShelly_Faye=3A=3A.html>   (1992) Growth and reproduction in the harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from eastern Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Growth and reproduction characteristics were described for 94 porpoises incidentally caught in gillnets during the summers of 1990 and 1991.  Most porpoises (56%) were below five years of age.  The oldest female was nine; the oldest male was twelve.  Growth rates were similar for males and females until one year of age, at which time females grew longer and weighed more than males of similar ages.  Using the Gompertz growth model, asymptotic values for body length were 142.9 cm for males and 156.3 cm for females and asymptotic values for weight were 49.1 kg and 61.6 kg for males and females respectively. -- The majority of mature females were pregnant (76%); a high proportion were simultaneously pregnant and lactating (35%).  Mean age at sexual maturity for females was 3.1 years at a mean length of 146.4 cm.  Younger females appear to have multiple ovulations or an increased proportion of luteinized follicles.  Parturition occurred before the sampling period (before late June) and ovulation and conception were estimated to occur from early to late July. -- Sexual activity in males as indicated by spermatogenic activity was high during July, supporting estimates for the timing of ovulation and conception.  On average, sexual maturity in males was estimated to occur at 3.0 years of age and at a length of 135.1 cm.  There was a dramatic increase in testes weight, testes volume, and seminiferous tubule diameter at the onset of age three. -- Female porpoises from Newfoundland matured earlier and were larger than females from other areas.  Dentinal deposition patterns in the teeth of harbor porpoises from Newfoundland were very different from those of the Bay of Fundy and suggest a new method of stock discrimination.


identifier: Irfan, Nashwa <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Irfan=3ANashwa=3A=3A.html>   (1996) Neuroticism as a potential moderator in the eustress-health relationship.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Eustress was conceptualized as the positive affect resulting from positive events.  A moderator model was proposed which postulated that neuroticism moderates the relationship between eustress and health.  Due to the possibility of specification error (i.e., data may reflect linear or mediating properties as opposed to interactive or moderating properties), an exploratory mediation model was developed to test for any mediating effects eustress may have in the neuroticism-health relationship.  Specifically, the direct effects hypotheses for this mediation model proposed that uplifts lead to eustress, which in turn reduces reported symptoms of poor health.  Neuroticism reduces eustress, which in turn leads to symptoms (i.e., eustress mediates the relationship between neuroticism and health).  Neuroticism also leads to symptoms via other mechanisms not involving eustress (e.g., cognitive interpretation (Harkins, Price & Braith, 1989), or physiological processes (Friedman & Booth-Kewley, 1987)).  Three hundred and twenty-two participants completed measures of positive affect, uplifts, neuroticism, and somatic complaints in the first phase of a two phase prospective study.  One hundred and ninety-six participants from the original subject pool completed the positive affect, uplifts and somatic complaints measures two weeks later.  The results provided support for conceptualizing eustress as the positive affect arising from positive events.  With respect to the moderator model, the results failed to support the hypothesis that neuroticism moderates the relationship between eustress and health.  The mediator model was not found to have a good fit to the data.  The hypothesis that uplifts lead to eustress which in turn reduces symptoms was supported.  However, the hypothesis that neuroticism leads to somatic complaints through reducing eustress (i.e., that eustress mediates the relationship between neuroticism and health) as well as through other mechanisms, was not supported.  Analysis on transformed data showed some support for the hypothesized model.  However, since this result was based on transformed data, it should be interpreted with caution.  Alternative mediator models fit the data and supported the finding that uplifts lead to eustress resulting in low symptoms.  Since mediator models fit the data, specification error could have resulted from only testing a moderator model.  In other words, the data may have largely reflected linear (mediator) relationships as opposed to interactive (moderator) relationships.  Possible explanations for the present findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.


identifier: Di Fazio, Roberto <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Di_Fazio=3ARoberto=3A=3A.html>   (1989) Mood induction effects on short- and long-term affective states.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A controlled pre-post mixed effects design was used to test whether happiness may be defined as a single- or multi-factor structure.  The first hypothesis tested was that older cohorts would demonstrate a greater level of happiness than younger cohorts.  Secondly, it was hypothesized that only the short-term measures would react to mood induction procedures.  Thirdly, it was proposed that a Velten + music induction procedure would prove superior to a Velten only procedure, since the additional component might enhance the induction effect.  One hundred and twenty persons representing three age groups, young (20-34 years), middle-aged (40-54 years), and old (60-74 years) served as subjects. -- Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (a) Velten + music positive, (b) Velten + music negative, (c) Velten only positive, and (d) Velten only negative.  An equal number of males and females were maintained within conditions.  In all conditions the subject's mood was assessed before and after the mood induction procedure.  Results failed to support the first and third hypotheses.  However, the second hypothesis was supported.  In addition, the positive and negative induction procedures were found to affect the positive experience and negative experience disposition measures on the Memorial University of Newfoundland Happiness Scale while the Satisfaction with Life Scale remained entirely unaffected.  The results are discussed with reference to a mood congruent recall theory of affect.


identifier: Galutira, Beverly <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Galutira=3ABeverly=3A=3A.html>   (1984) The effect of training in referential communication on social competence in developmentally delayed school children.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study is an investigation of the effects of training in referential communication on peer acceptance and teacher ratings of seven to nine year old developmentally delayed school children.  Twenty-four subjects were divided into three groups:  Treatment, attention control, and no treatment control.  It was predicted that (1) referential communication would improve with training, (2) as referential communication improved there would be an increase in the subjects' ratings of peer acceptance, and (3) improvements would occur in teacher ratings of peer interactions but not necessarily in ratings of compliance. -- The results of the experiment supported the hypotheses.  Children who received training in referential communication demonstrated improvement following six weekly training sessions.  A two-month followup assessment showed that training was effective in producing improvements in both peer acceptance ratings and teacher ratings in the treatment group, but not in the control groups.  There were no improvements in ratings of compliance.  The potential benefits of referential communication as a factor in social competence are discussed, and future research needs are indicated.


identifier: Underhill, Susan C. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Underhill=3ASusan_C=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1996) The effects of acute exercise on category-prompted and consonant-prompted word fluency in an institutionalized elderly sample.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Regular bouts of strenuous exercise have been associated with improved functional status in the frail elderly.  Chronic aerobic exercise has also been linked, though less conclusively, to improved cognitive functioning through improved oxygenation of the brain.  A problem arises, however, if the levels of exercise necessary to achieve these improvements are too strenuous to be performed by the very frail elderly.  This paper investigates a possible relationship between acute non-strenuous exercise and improved cognitive performance in a sample of institutionalized older adults.  The purpose of the present study is to replicate the results from a study conducted by Stones and Dawe (1993).  This study will attempt to sort out task order effects that were problematic in the Stones and Dawe study.  This will help to investigate the relationships between activity on two cognitive tasks, a category-prompted word fluency test and a consonant-prompted word fluency test.  The present study will also attempt to clarify the time parameters of the benefits and to assess the effect of different physical ability levels on the magnitude of the exercise effects.  The hypothesis tested is that a 15-minute non-strenuous exercise intervention will be sufficient to produce improved performance on a category-prompted word fluency task but not on a consonant-prompted task. -- Fifty-nine subjects volunteered from three nursing homes in the St. John's, Newfoundland area.  The investigator randomly assigned subjects to one of four groups.  The two exercise groups were exposed to 15-minutes of non-strenuous exercise.  The control groups viewed a 15-minute video of similar exercises.  Experimental group 1 and control group 1 completed a category-prompted word fluency task at pretest, immediate posttest, and 30-minute delayed posttest.  Experimental group 2 and control group 2 completed a consonant-prompted word fluency task at the three testing times. -- I used a two (group) by two (task) by four (trials) by three (time) repeated measures ANOVA design to assess the effects of exercise on both of the cognitive tasks.  This analysis showed no effect of exercise on either cognitive task ( p < .05). -- There was no evidence that supported previous contentions that acute exercise affects category-prompted word fluency.  A review of the literature concerning acute exercise indicates that previous findings have yet to replicate improvements on the same cognitive task. -- I performed two stepwise regression analyses to determine which variables contributed most significantly to the differences on the two cognitive tasks.  The analysis revealed that activity propensity and financial hardship were the best predictors of category-prompted word fluency.  Researchers have not directly studied the influences of these two factors on word fluency.  I conclude that the relationship between acute exercise and cognitive performance is not a robust one.  A more likely explanation of the relationship is that overall activity level combined with low negative affect influences cognitive functioning in later life.  Perhaps by studying these relationships caregivers to the institutionalized elderly will have an indication of who would most benefit from inclusion in different activities.


identifier: Moore, Karen-Ann <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Moore=3AKaren-Ann=3A=3A.html>   (1986) The effects of long-term potentiation of the perforant path-dentate gyrus synapses on tone evoked potentials in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The effects of potentiation of the perforant path-dentate gyrus synapses on tone evoked potentials in the outer molecular layer of the dentate granule cells were examined in rats.  3 control groups and an experimental group participated in 2 testing sessions (M1 and M2), in which 300 tones (70dB, 10 msec in duration) were presented every 10 seconds against a background noise of 60 dB.  Control Group 1 did not receive any experimental manipulations of the perforant path between the 2 sessions.  The experimental group received high frequency stimulation of the perforant path (10 trains, 20 msec in duration at a frequency of 100 Hz. every 15 seconds) between the 2 tone presentation sessions.  To control for perforant path stimulation, two further control groups were used.  Control 2 received low frequency, low intensity stimulation of the perforant path and Control 3 underwent the same high frequency stimulation as the experimental group but did not exhibit EPSP potentiation of the perforant path evoked (PPEP). -- Over time, from M1 to M2, the auditory evoked potential (AEP) increased in size.  Potentiation inhibited the growth of the AEP during M2.  The results suggested that a third variable may have a modulating influence over the AEP at the level of the molecular layer.  A theoretical model, implicating feed-forward and recurrent inhibitory interneurons is presented.  This model suggests that presynaptic habituation and postsynaptic potentiation are the processes by which these interneurons exert an influence over the cellular response to a tone.  It is further postulated that learning may not only involve direct activation of granule cells, but also active potentiation of inhibitory interneurons.


identifier: Parsons, Tina R. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Parsons=3ATina_R=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1996) The effects of misleading information on children's memory for traumatic injury.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Children between the ages of 3 and 13 years who had experienced an injury serious enough to warrant Emergency Room treatment were interviewed about their experiences at one-year post-injury.  At this time, approximately half the children (the control group) received a standard interview.  The remaining children (the experimental group) received a combination of misleading and reinstating information and were also interviewed one week later in the standard format.  Children's accuracy of recall did not differ between the control or experimental group children.  Implications for children's legal testimony are discussed.


identifier: Lacaille, Jean-Claude <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Lacaille=3AJean-Claude=3A=3A.html>   (1984) Noradrenergic function in the dentate gyrus: an electrophysiological investigation in vitro.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Although the hippocampal formation is known to receive an extensive noradrenergic input, there is some controversy about the effects of norepinephrine (NE) on hippocampal neurons and it is not known whether the effects of NE are identical in all the major subdivisions of the hippocampal formation.  The objectives of the present study were to evaluate in detail the physiological effects of NE in the rat dentate gyrus in vitro and to compare these effects with those previously reported for hippocampal pyramidal cells and for dentate gyrus granule cells. -- Granule cell responses were measured electrophysiologically by recording perforant path evoked field potentials.  Responses were digitized and analyzed by a microprocessor based system for EPSP slope or amplitude, population spike onset latency and population spike amplitude. -- NE produced dose-dependent changes in evoked responses which were maximal after superfusion of 10 uM NE for 10 minutes.  Typical effects of 10 uM NE were to increase population spike amplitude and decrease population spike onset latency.  Effects of NE on extracellular EPSP parameters were less consistent:  EPSP slope was generally increased and EPSP amplitude was most often unchanged although sometimes increased.  The effects of NE on population spike amplitude were of the greatest magnitude and duration.  Long-lasting increases in population spike amplitude were observed in 24% of the cases. -- The effects of NE were mediated by beta-adrenergic receptors.  Timolol but not phentolamine blocked them and isoproterenol but not phenylephrine mimicked them.  The population spike-EPSP relationship suggested that 50% of the increase in population spike amplitude was due to synaptic effects and 50% to extrasynaptic effects of NE.  NE did not increase the antidromic population spike, thus the enhanced responsiveness was not due to granule cell soma membrane excitability changes.  NE superfusion without concurrent perforant path stimulation produced enhancement of subsequently evoked responses.  Hence, these effects of NE were activity-independent.  In contrast to NE, 5-HT produced decreases in perforant path evoked responses. -- These results suggest that the noradrenergic input to the dentate gyrus facilitates the granule cell responses to afferent inputs.  These results are discussed in terms of noradrenergic function in the dentate gyrus, are related to hippocampal function in physiological and behavioral perspectives, and are compared to the effects of NE in other central nervous system (CNS) regions. -- Keywords: norepinephrine; dentate gyrus; hippocampal slice; EPSP; population spike; long-lasting potentiation; beta receptors.


identifier: Hill, Marilyn Louise <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hill=3AMarilyn_Louise=3A=3A.html>   (1993) Recurrent headaches in a pediatric population: the applicability of a cognitive-behavioural treatment program for preadolescents.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Despite a burgeoning interest in the treatment of pediatric pain, few studies have evaluated cognitive-behavioural treatment approaches for recurrent pain in young children. The present study describes the development of a pain clinic for preadolescents with recurrent headaches in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The goal of this study was to determine how successfully the preadolescents referred to the clinic could use cognitive-behavioural skills to reduce their headache activity, as well as to isolate any symptom or treatment-related variables associated with treatment success. Lack of referrals and problems eliciting parental cooperation made it impossible to address these goals with any confidence. During a 12 month trial period only 15 referrals were received, 5 of whom began the treatment program. Once in the program adherence to record keeping was high (86%), as was compliance with the assigned relaxation practice. All 5 children were able to significantly reduce their tension levels using relaxation, and 2 children were able to adapt and personalize the relaxation approach to fit certain stress inducing situations. Clearly, these children were able to use cognitive-behavioural strategies to combat stress. As a group, the children showed reductions following treatment in headache frequency, intensity, and medication use. Three of the subjects showed improvements in overall headache symptomatology of 93-99% and were largely headache-free post-treatment. One subject was moderately improved (42%) following treatment, while the final subject remained unimproved. These results suggest that young children are able to use cognitive behavioural skills to reduce headache symptomatology, although many practical problems may make it difficult to establish regular treatment sessions with this age group. Several of the problems faced during the course of this study are outlined, and suggestions are made regarding both the source of these difficulties and possible approaches to improve treatment availability for these young people.


identifier: Pfaff, Jon James <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pfaff=3AJon_James=3A=3A.html>   (1992) Reducing heart rate and diastolic and systolic blood pressure using nonpharmacological methods in the treatment of essential hypertension.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Hypertension affects 20% of our population and can lead to heart and kidney failure, stroke, and blindness.  Heightened sympathetic nervous system activity may be responsible for this disease in young patients.  Eight subjects (medicated and unmedicated), 45 years of age or younger, diagnosed with essential hypertension were placed into one of two groups, one receiving four weeks of hypnosis training followed by four weeks of thermal biofeedback, or a group receiving four weeks of thermal biofeedback followed by four weeks of hypnosis training.  Heart rate, diastolic and systolic blood pressures were recorded for each subject during every session of four study phases (baseline, treatment 1, treatment 2, and posttreatment).  The goal of this study was to lower heart rate, diastolic and systolic blood pressures in essential hypertensive patients, aged 45 years of age or younger, by reducing peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity through the use of hypnosis and thermal biofeedback, thereby facilitating vasodilation in the periphery.  Since both of these treatment strategies concentrated on the same physiological process, an examination of the effectiveness of the two interventions was performed.  Both treatment modalities were found to be equally effective in significantly reducing diastolic and systolic blood pressures, however heart rate was found to increase significantly during a brief posttreatment period.  The results suggest that blood pressure can be controlled using noninvasive treatment procedures alone or as an adjunct to pharmacological therapies.


identifier: Hesson, Jacqueline Barbara <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hesson=3AJacqueline_Barbara=3A=3A.html>   (1996) Relationships between anxiety, hostility, startle, and guilt in Vietnam veterans suffering from PTSD: a path analytic study.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Anxiety, hostility, guilt, and an exaggerated startle response are common symptoms experienced by Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  In the present study, several theory based path models of possible causal relationships among these symptoms and exposure to trauma (combat) were developed and assessed in two samples of Vietnam veterans with PTSD.  A total of 39 Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD and 34 Vietnam combat veterans without PTSD took part in the study.  All subjects completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, and either the Legacies Combat Scale-Revised or the Combat Exposure Scale (CES).  Auditory startle data was also available for 15 of the veterans with PTSD and 10 of the veterans without PTSD.  Assessment of an initial model indicated that intensity of combat exposure per se is not predictive of PTSD symptomatology.  Given that the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual states that an individual's perception of an event as traumatic is equally as important as the objective severity of the trauma, the initial model was modified to include a trauma factor that represented those aspects of combat that accounted for the variability in PTSD diagnosis.  The good overall fit indices and significant paths obtained when the modified model was applied to a test sample of veterans replicated when the model was applied to a second data sample.  Alternative models of the relationships among the relevant variables, with literature based rationale, were constructed and assessed in the two data samples.  These alternative models differed from the initial model in terms of the relationships predicted between trauma, state anxiety, and trait anxiety.  Of the four alternative models tested, two were found to fit the two data samples as well as the hypothesized model.  Overall, the results of the study suggest that the increased levels of hostility seen in veterans with PTSD may be due to increases in anxiety that result from exposure to trauma.  Increases in hostility then lead to increased guilt.  In addition, the models tested supported the idea that the exaggerated startle response observed in many individuals with PTSD is the result of elevated levels of state anxiety.  Implications of each of the models for therapy are discussed.


identifier: Hill, Bonny Lynn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hill=3ABonny_Lynn=3A=3A.html>   (1984) Relationships between Newfoundland and Labrador residents' environmental/wildlife attitudes, demographic characteristics and experience in wildlife related outdoor activities.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A survey was conducted to determine the attitudes of the Newfoundland and Labrador public toward wildlife and the environment.  It was hypothesized that:  1) wildlife/environmental attitudes of participants in nonconsumptive activities would differ significantly from those people who participate in consumptive activities and 2) differences in attitudes would be related to knowledge of wildlife and differing life experiences as determined by the demographic characteristics of age, gender, education and place of residence. -- A total of 500 personal interviews were conducted - 208 in Phase One on the Avalon Peninsula and 292 in Phase Two in the remainder of the province.  Proportional, stratified, multi-stage sampling was used to select towns and respondents.  The average interview length was 73 minutes and the response rate was 85.2 percent. -- Factor analysis was used to examine the categories of attitudes toward wildlife and the environment held by the public of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Nine attitude categories were described:  Utilitarian, Urbanistic, Negativistic, Scientistic, Environmental Protectionistic, Ecologistic, Economistic, Developmental and Altruistic.  Participants in nonconsumptive activities were likely to be urban residents, better educated, knowledgeable about wildlife, hold highly Economistic and Scientistic attitudes and low Urbanistic and Negativistic attitudes.  Participants in consumptive activities were likely to be knowledgeable about wildlife, male, have a lower level of education, hold highly Utilitiaran and Economistic and low Urbanistic attitudes.  Over half of the respondents (56%) participated in both consumptive and nonconsumptive activities while 11.6% participated only in consumptive activities and 22.4% participated only in nonconsumptive activities.


identifier: Cook, Jean <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Cook=3AJean=3A=3A.html>   (1996) The impact of framing on the psychological consequences of receiving a false positive mammogram.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the initial interpretation of an abnormal mammogram and subsequent anxiety levels.  The Cognitive-Rational Theory of Anxiety (Lazarus, 1991), the Heuristic Theory (Tversky & Kahneman, 1973) and Cioffi's (1991) model of Diagnostic Inference formed the theoretical framework from which this relationship was examined.  A total of 29 women participated in this study.  Prior to a breast biopsy, women were interviewed to determine how they interpreted their abnormal mammogram.  State and trait anxiety along with emotional, social and physical functioning were assessed at this time utilizing a series of standardized tests.  Approximately 7 weeks after the biopsy had been performed, subjects were re-interviewed to determine their reaction to their biopsy result.  State and trait anxiety and emotional, social and physical functioning were again assessed.  Overall, the majority of women experienced a decline in anxiety between the two study phases.  Irrespective of study phase, women who either interpreted their mammogram abnormality as being indicative of breast cancer or suspended judgement on their cancer status experienced more anxiety than women who interpreted their abnormal mammogram as not being indicative of cancer.  Women's initial perceptions of an abnormal mammogram are important antecedents of anxiety.


identifier: Weilgart, Linda Susan <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Weilgart=3ALinda_Susan=3A=3A.html>   (1985) Vocalizations of the North Atlantic pilot whale (Globicephala melaena Traill) as related to behavioral and environmental contexts.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Vocalizations of free-ranging North Atlantic pilot whales were studied in different behavioral and environmental contexts to gain insight into the function and biological significance of different sound types.  Pilot whales in Conception Bay, Newfoundland, were followed for a period of a week, night and day.  Concurrent visual and acoustic recordings were made, and correlations were examined between the different acoustic, behavioral, and environmental variables.  Whistles were categorized into 7 types based on the aural impression of the whistles' contour. -- Simple whistles (with no frequency inflections) were more common than complex whistles (more than 2 frequency inflections), which were rare.  Simple whistles were heard when whales were milling, a restful behavior type which occurred over shallower water.  In contrast, during surface active-behavior, energetic coordinated behavior thought to be feeding, many sound types, especially complex whistles and pulsed sounds, increased in number.  More clicking (thought to function in echolocation) was also heard.  Greater numbers of most whistle types were produced when whales were spread over a larger area and when more subgroups were present.  During conditions of high wind speed and wave height (which produced much background noise) groups were larger and in tight formation with fewer surrounding subgroups present.  Whales moved in a less unified manner when the group was larger and scattered over a greater area. -- It was concluded that in pilot whales, complexity of sound and complexity of behavior (requiring a high level of coordination) were related.  Vocalizations were thought to play an integral part in maintaining contact between group members and coordinating movements of the herd.


identifier: McLeod, Peter John <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/McLeod=3APeter_John=3A=3A.html>   (1982) Vocalizations of the pilot whale (Globicephala melaena, Traill).  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Vocalizations produced by pods of pilot whales were recorded in the inshore waters of Newfoundland.  Phonations from a stranded individual were also recorded.  Samples of from 6.5 to 43 minutes duration were analyzed with a continuous real-time spectrum analyzer.  All audible phonations were categorized on the basis of acoustic properties and temporal associations to create a catalog of the species vocal repertoire (total coded phonations = 2449). -- Phonations were found to be highly variable across pods but quite constant within pods.  Variations associated with successive repetitions and different temporal clustering tendancies were also found.  Occasionally, temporal patterns allowed between and within individual variability to be distinguished.  The importance of measuring variability in the vocalizations of social delphinids and the possible sources of variance are discussed. -- Underwater broadcasts of sounds to pilot whales were conducted.  After the broadcast of killer whale phonations to one pod, consistent changes in the relative frequency of three phonation categories occurred but results are inconclusive.  Playback of phonations to the same stranded 'animal that produced the sounds resulted in a general increase in vocalization rate.  This individual also responded to each playback phonation with an immediate emitance of a phonation of the same category.


identifier: Pilon, Joseph Paul <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pilon=3AJoseph_Paul=3A=3A.html>   (1990) The predictability of attributions from attitudes, and the effect of schema complexity on extremity and confidence of attributions.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The author investigated two hypotheses. H1: Attitudes about a target will be predictive of attributions made regarding the target. H2: As the cognitive complexity by which the target is represented increases, the less extreme, and less confident will be subjects' attributions regarding the target. In Experiment 1 the responses of 240 subjects were used to create standardized descriptions of a target. In Experiment 2 , 160 subjects participated in a 2 (attitude) X 2 (complexity) X 2 (outcome) design. Attitude about a target was manipulated using positive and negative descriptions, complexity of processing was manipulated by have subjects think about the target using 3 or 6 characteristics, and outcome of a situation was manipulated by having scenarios end in either a positive or negative outcome. The null hypothesis of H1 could not be rejected since attitude had no effect on the attributions. No conclusions could be drawn about complexity since the manipulation of schema complexity was unsuccessful. An unanticipated result was that positive outcomes led to more internal attributions. Unlike other studies which found similar results, this one controlled for the preceding situation.


identifier: Fry, Susan Marina <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Fry=3ASusan_Marina=3A=3A.html>   (1992) The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire: a factorial validation study.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The construct validity and the ability of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for Adolescents (OSIQ, Offer, Ostrov & Howard, 1982) to differentiate between clinical and normal groups were examined.  Subjects were 197 students recruited from schools and 30 clinical subjects recruited from an outpatient adolescent counselling service in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  A factor analysis was conducted to assess the validity of the scale structure of the OSIQ.  This analysis revealed that the 12 scales which are purported to make up the OSIQ could not be obtained from a factor analysis of the correlation matrix of items.  Further analyses revealed that the secondary factors, originally reported by Offer (1969) were only partially replicated with the present sample.  Specifically, these factors were closely matched in the analysis of the female subjects, but were not found in analyses of male subjects.  Nor were these factors found in analyses of the clinical or school subjects.  The ability of the OSIQ to predict clinical status of the subjects was also investigated.  The Emotional Tone, F (1, 169) = 14.25, p < .001; Family Relations, F (1, 169) = 12.22, p = .001; and Psychopathology, F (1, 169) = 11.48, p = .001, scales were able to distinguish school subjects who sought counselling in the past year (school/clinical”) from those who did not (normal).  As well, the Family Relations, F (1, 179) = 4.63, p < .05, and Idealism, F 1, 179) = 6.30, p < .05, scales were found to differentiate the clinical group and the normal group.  However, the Idealism scale showed that those who had received counselling had higher self-image scores.  No sex differences were found in any of the analyses.  The results of the present study indicate that more work should focus on validation of the internal structure of the OSIQ, and that further examination of its abilities to differentiate between clinical and normal subjects and between males and females is necessary.


identifier: Goodwin, Jacqueline <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Goodwin=3AJacqueline=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Perceptions of sibling relationships among children of women experiencing depressive symptomatology and control women.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The present research compared twelve children of women experiencing depressive symptomatology with twelve children of control women on their perceptions of sibling warmth/closeness and conflict as measured by the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire.  Assignment to group was based on mothers' responses to the Beck Depression Inventory and the Depressive Symptomatology Inventory.  The mean Beck score for the women in the target group corresponded to a moderate to severe rating of symptomatology.  It was hypothesised that the children in the target group would perceive greater sibling conflict and less sibling warmth/closeness than the children in the control group.  Results of two t-tests for independent samples indicated that the two groups of children did not differ significantly on their ratings of sibling warmth/closeness and conflict.  However, these results are difficult to interpret because of the small sample size in the present study.  A significant negative correlation was found between all children's perceptions of sibling warmth/closeness and sibling conflict.  This finding contradicts past research.  Correlations between the sibling warmth/closeness and conflict ratings for the target and control groups separately were of equivalent magnitude.  These findings are discussed with respect to past research and future implications.


identifier: Leader, Brian Todd <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Leader=3ABrian_Todd=3A=3A.html>   (1990) Perceived problem difficulty, perseverance, and success in the locus of control-affect relationship.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A number of research efforts in various areas of psychology, have substantiated a relationship between perceived control of reinforcement and affective states.  Specifically, the perception that such control is internal (as opposed to external) is associated with positive affect.  In the present study, an investigation was conducted which attempted to delineate the process by which this relationship occurs.  A causal model was hypothesized which consisted of the following four steps: (1) The perception of internal control is associated with less perceived problem difficulty. (2) Less perceived problem difficulty in turn elicits greater perseverance. (3) This greater perseverance produces greater success. (4) This greater success in turn causes a more positive change in affect.  Using a specially designed computer program which involved attempts at solving mazes, support was found for each of the four steps in the model.  Implications of these results are discussed.