University Archive

The Purdue Global University Archive (PGUA) expands visibility and access to the scholarly output of our university's academic community by showcasing its works, activities, and history.

The PGUA is a service provided by the Purdue Global Library. For more information about the PGUA, its mission, policies, and how to contribute your own scholarly work to it, visit the Guide to the University Archive.

 

Recent Submissions

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Stress, Burnout, and Aggression: The Effects of Personnel Tempo (PERSTEMPO) on Special Operations Forces (SOF)
(2023) Sheets, Anthony
Special Operations Forces (SOF) constantly face prolonged high levels of personnel tempo (PERSTEMPO) with minimal time to reset. These constant demands on SOF Soldiers build stress, increase burnout within the force, and ultimately increase the prevalence of negative behaviors. The study examines the relationship between PERSTEMPO stress, burnout, and aggressive behaviors within SOF. The researcher hypothesizes that there is a positive correlation between PERSTEMPO and stress and burnout, and through this relationship, PERSTEMPO has an indirect relationship with aggressive behaviors. The study used correlational and regression analyses on an online survey comprised of open-ended and closed-ended PERSTMPO questions, the Psychological Stress Measure (PSM-9), the Burnout Measure, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ) given to Soldiers of the 4th PSYOP Group (A) (N = 58) to assess the relationship between PERSTEMPO, stress levels, burnout, and aggressive behavior. The correlational analysis found strong relationships between stress, burnout, and aggressive behaviors and moderately positive relationships between stress, burnout, and hours worked per week. Multiple linear regression models found that overall, PERSTEMPO could significantly predict stress levels, with work hours per week being the strongest predictor. Additionally, the models found that stress and burnout could significantly predict aggressive behavior. The study’s findings show some concerns that Commanders must address by taking realistic steps like assessing the necessity of excessive training and reevaluating their unit resiliency programs. Finally, future research should continue to dive into the adverse effects of prolonged high PERSTEMPO on Soldiers’ psychological and emotional health.
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Reducing Food Stealing Behaviors in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Within a CILA Setting: Using Functional Communication Training (FCT) as a Replacement Behavior
(2023) Hulon, Adia
In this study, I investigated reducing food stealing behaviors in adults with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this study was to teach participants that have none to low communication skills and engage in food stealing and teach them a form of communication that would help reduce food stealing behaviors. This study included three participants from ages 37 to 53 diagnosed with either a severe or profound intellectual disability. The study's objective was to determine whether using functional communication training with the addition of extinction would reduce food-stealing behaviors in adults with intellectual disabilities. The method involved a multiple baseline design across subjects to show control. In the baseline phase, a piece of food would be placed on my plate and the participant’s plate, when eaten the food would be replaced. I measured the frequency of how many times food was taken from my plate throughout the trial. During the intervention phase, a piece of food was placed on my plate, while their plate was empty. The participant would have to request using the functional response, if the correct response was used then they would be given food. I measured the frequency of how many times they used the functional response and how many times they took food from my plate. Food stealing attempts were ignored. The results of this study showed that two of the participants had significant results, while one of the participants did not. This implies the functional response used was not effective for all three participants, the participants that had significant results had other skills that were learned which may have also contributed to the results.
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Social Media and Mental Health: The Role Social Media Has in Our Lives
(2023) Parke, Adalyn Joan
Mental health and social media is becoming a prevalent topic in today’s society due to the content on various social media platforms that may negatively impact its users. Those negative impacts may be body image issues, negative emotions, complex family relationships, low self-esteem, loneliness, and health and well-being. The evidence surrounding social media’s impact on mental health varies from study to study. This study hypothesized that many participants are addicted to scrolling, which could lead to a consumption of content that leads to a decline in mental health. Based on the hypothesis, if the effects of social media are negative, it prompts participants to question their continued use of social media platforms. The Social Media and Mental Health Questionnaire collected 45 participants. The demographics of the participants varied. The participant responses varied across the entire survey. The questionnaire was unsuccessful in proving whether or not social media harms mental health. The data was widely spread, which means the hypothesis could not be proved. While the hypothesis could not be proven, some responses surrounding body image and loneliness showed potential cause for concern.
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The Influence of Early Life Experiences on Later Life Behaviors: An Examination of the Life of Walt Disney
(Journal of Behavioral and Apllied Management, 2023) Deem, Jack; Starnes, David; Ziegler, James
In this paper we tell the story of Walt Disney, synthesizing the concepts of critical biography with those of life-span theory (LST) from sociology and psychology literature. In this manner, we can better understand how events in one’s life can have a significant impact throughout that person’s life. The paper focuses on four themes: (a) work ethic and pursuit of success, (b) perseverance – bounce back from adversity and keep moving forward, (c) alliance with others who complement one’s own strengths and offset one’s weaknesses, and (d) commitment to excellence. Through these themes, we demonstrate how early life experiences influenced Walt Disney’s behavior throughout his life. Table 1 is provided to outline the key events in the life of Walt Disney, cross-referencing the events as reported within the major Walt Disney biographies.
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The Impact of Terminology on Behaviorism: How the Term “Punishment” Affects the Selection of Procedures in Applied Behavioral Analysis
(2023) Lindberg, Nicholas William
This experimental research study aimed to assess the bias of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practitioners against the utilization of behavior modification programs labeled as "punishment." The study included a total of 94 participants made up primarily of BCBAs. Through a between-group experimental design, the practitioners were presented with behavior modification program options, and their selections were analyzed. The study's findings revealed a clear tendency among the practitioners to avoid selecting programs labeled as "punishment" versus an alternative term, “deceleration”. This avoidance indicated a significant bias against the term. Furthermore, it was observed that when participants avoided the term "punishment," they tended to select programs at odds with the target behavior they aimed to address. These results suggest a systemic failure within the field of ABA to adequately assess its terminology's impact on its practitioners' therapeutic practices. The implications of these findings call for a reevaluation of terminology in ABA and a deeper understanding of how biases against terminology may influence treatment selection and outcomes.