The Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test

Nonverbal memory focuses on the remembrance of information that cannot be described or put into a verbal component, such as remembering a person\u27s face, identifying abstract stimuli, or remembering objects. Because nonverbal memory focuses on the remembrance of things that cannot be put into words it is a difficult construct to measure accurately. One area that is of great importance in the assessment of nonverbal abilities is spatial memory (Reynolds & Coress, 2007, Foster, Drago, & Harrison, 2009). Most of the tasks that have been developed to assess this construct employ verbally mediated clues allowing the examinee to compensate for their performance using verbal strategies. These measures often rely on planning and organizational (executive) abilities, which should be viewed as a separate construct. One prime example of such a task is the Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure. This test requires grapho-motor skills, intact planning abilities, and it also allows for verbal mediation. The present study examined the utility and validity of a new novel spatial memory test, the Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test. The preliminary data shows that the test acts in a similar fashion as auditory verbal learning tests. Namely, during the repeated presentation of the test stimuli, examinees show a logarithmic learning curve. Additionally, the performance correlates with existing measures of visual spatial, supporting its validity in assessing the purported construct.Given the preliminary nature of this study additional research is needed, using clinical populations with lateralized head injuries and executive function impairment to assess the validity of the new tes

Socially Constructing Drug Addicts from the Poor: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Welfare drug testing was authorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, and has subsequently garnered extensive legislative interest in numerous states. This policy raises several questions, which are the subjects of the two journal articles and one manuscript included in this dissertation. The first article addresses the question of a possible confluence of War on Drugs and Welfare Reform policies as evidenced through welfare drug testing policy, and indicated by continuity in policymakers’ rhetoric. This study examines federal-level policymakers’ debate discourse in these two policy streams. The analysis finds themes of the Social pathology, crime, drug addiction, and welfare dependency present in both policy areas, and comparable in both debates, supporting other studies discussing the convergence of criminal justice and welfare systems. The second article examines the Social construction of welfare recipients through state legislators’ public discourse on welfare drug testing. Proponent discursive statements outnumbered opponent statements nearly 5:1. Proponent discourse was overtly derogatory toward and disparaging of welfare recipients. Opponent discourse was generally more sympathetic and supportive of the target population. However, not all opponents were against welfare drug testing in principle or practice. The analysis demonstrates a strong negative construction of welfare recipients as deviants, and indeed as drug abusers. The third manuscript examines the co-construction of policy discourse and race, class, and gender constructions of welfare recipients via state legislators’ welfare drug testing discourse. Using an intersectional perspective, this study examines how categories of race, class, and gender give meanings to policy discourses concerning drug testing of welfare recipients, and conversely, how policy discourses concerning welfare drug testing give meanings to categories of race, class, and gender. We find a move away from explicit racialized and gendered discourse toward implicit constructions of race and gender, and a virtually exclusive explicit focus on constructions of Social class in the characterization of an unworthy, suspect, shiftless, and deviant poor population. The constructions of race, gender, and particularly Social class effectively co-construct welfare drug testing discourse which justifies welfare drug testing policy in order to manage the derelict poor

Perceptions of Child Sexual Abuse: The Effects of Perpetrator Age, Rural Status, and Rape Myth Acceptance

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a global issue, affecting many children in the short- and long-term. Despite the high prevalence of CSA, factors affecting adults’ perceptions of CSA are still in question. Research focuses on CSA committed by adults, but there is disproportionately less research examining perceptions of CSA committed by juveniles. Research shows a higher incidence of juvenile-perpetrated CSA than adult-perpetrated CSA in the lifetime of 17-year-olds (Finkelhor, Shattuck, Turner, & Hamby, 2014). The current study aimed to fill the gaps in the literature concerning adult perceptions of CSA cases considering victim and perpetrator characteristics and rape myth acceptance. More specifically, the current study examined adult perceptions of the depiction of abuse, severity of CSA, culpability, revictimization, and future well-being of the victim based on perpetrator age using vignettes. Consistent with predictions, participants rated sexual abuse perpetrated by older offenders as more severe than abuse committed by younger perpetrators and non-rural participants rated CSA depictions as more severe than rural participants. Contrary to hypotheses, the community sample rated CSA as more severe compared to students. In addition, non-rural participants blamed the victim more and endorsed rape myths more than rural participants. This study also examined the interaction between the age of the perpetrator/initiator and acceptance of rape myths, such that the effect of perpetrator/initiator age on participants’ perceptions of the sexual contact in the vignettes depended on stereotyped attitudes about sexual assault. Results showed the effect of perpetrator age on perceptions of severity of abuse strengthened and weakened in relation to changes in the moderating variable (i.e., rape myth acceptance). Finally, this study explored participants’ adherence to crime stereotypes. As hypothesized, of participants who misremembered the perpetrator in the vignette as being depicted with a gender, most misremembered the perpetrator’s gender as male. Implications for these findings are provided

Impact of Parental Substance Abuse on Children Involved with the Child Welfare System in the U.S.: A Literature Review

In 2017, an estimated 19.7 million adults suffered from a substance use disorder (SUD) (Bose et al., 2018). Between 2009 and 2014, 8.7 million children a year had at least one parent with a substance use disorder (SUD) (Lipari & Van Horn, 2017). Parental substance abuse (PSA) puts children at a higher risk of maltreatment, injury, and medical and behavioral problems. The previous literature is not entirely clear about which services and programs are effective for parental SUDs and child outcomes. This literature review aimed to identify and investigate the effects of parental substance abuse on children in the U.S. child welfare system and the efforts being made to mitigate these effects by addressing the impact of PSA on families. Results concluded that first, child welfare cases in the U.S. are greatly affected by PSA; second, children experiencing PSA are not only at risk of maltreatment and neglect but also traumatic experiences, psychological and psychosocial disorders, and the development of SUDs of their own; and third, there is a deep need for integrated services and collaboration when it comes to PSA and child welfare in the U.S., beginning with an increase in research on strategies and interventions addressing PSA and child welfare

Multi-species occupancy, detection, and habitat selection of mesocarnivores in eastern Oklahoma with a focus on eastern spotted skunks

The eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) was once a commonly occurring species and was regularly harvested for fur. In the mid-20th century, this species experienced a drastic and sudden decline which prompted conservation agencies to designate it as a species of conservation concern throughout its range. Range-wide studies have been occurring with the goal of gathering accurate distribution data on the species in order to understand more about the decline and determine reliable conservation strategies. In an effort to contribute data regarding their distribution and habitat presence in Oklahoma, I used camera traps to survey the Ouachita National Forest and Cookson Wildlife Management Area in eastern Oklahoma. Although my observations of the species were limited, I was successful at recording the presence of eastern spotted skunks in Oklahoma along with many other fur-bearing mesocarnivore species including coyotes (Canis latrans), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), bobcats (Lynx rufus), northern raccoons (Procyon lotor), Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis). I discovered that most of the additional species were underrepresented in population studies and conservation reports. Being that they are subject to legal harvest, it is important to emphasize the significance of achieving a more accurate understanding of population demographics for legally harvested furbearers in Oklahoma. It is also important to provide a basis for conducting regular species detection efforts for the state using camera traps and occupancy modeling. In addition, I conducted a human dimensions survey to understand public perception and attitudes toward mesocarnivores from residents living in eastern Oklahoma, and I used that opportunity to gather additional eastern spotted skunk location data that may be important for future distribution studies

Father Involvements Influence on Mother\u27s Perceptions of Parenting in an Appalachian Sample

Father involvement in parenting can have a positive influence on both children and mothers. During times of economic stress it may also add to the resources available and make a positive contribution to mothers parenting practices. In this study it was considered how father involvement may influence mother\u27s perceptions of parenting. Specifically, this study looks at father involvement in an Appalachian sample. Five participants completed questionnaires which answered questions about mothers\u27 present perceptions of parenting and father involvement. No significant associations were found between father involvement and mother\u27s perceptions of parenting. Limitations include small sample size and a lack of diversity in the sample. Possibilities for future research include cultural inclusion and qualitative questionnaires as well. Limitations and additional possibilities for future research are discussed in greater detail within the study

Naloxone Analogy and Opioid Overdose Terminology Preferences among Rural Caregivers: Differences by Race

Background: Despite national and state policies aimed at increasing naloxone access via pharmacies, opioid overdose death rates rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Blacks and American Indians (AI) in rural areas. Caregivers, or third parties who can administer naloxone during an overdose event, are important individuals in the naloxone administration cascade, yet no studies have explored rural caregivers’ opioid overdose terminology and naloxone analogy preferences or whether these preferences differ by race. Objectives: To identify rural caregivers’ overdose terminology and naloxone analogy preferences and determine whether preferences differ by race. Methods: A sample of 40 caregivers who lived with someone at high risk of overdose and used pharmacies in four largely rural states was recruited. Each caregiver completed a demographic survey and a 20-45-minute audio-recorded semi-structured interview that was transcribed, de-identified and imported into a qualitative software package for thematic analysis by two independent coders using a codebook. Overdose terminology and naloxone analogy preferences were analyzed for differences by race. Results: The sample was 57.5% White, 35% Black, and 7.5% AI. Many participants (43%) preferred that pharmacists use the term “bad reaction” to refer to overdose events over the terms “accidental overdose” (37%) and “overdose” (20%). The majority of White and Black participants preferred “bad reaction” while AI participants preferred “accidental overdose.” For naloxone analogies, “EpiPen” was most preferred (64%), regardless of race. “Fire extinguisher” (17%), “lifesaver” (9.5%), and other analogies (9.5%) were preferred by some White and Black participants but not AI participants. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that pharmacists should use the “bad reaction” term and “EpiPen” analogy when counseling rural caregivers about overdose and naloxone, respectively. Caregivers’ preferences varied by race, suggesting that pharmacists may want to tailor the terminology and analogy they use when discussing naloxone with caregivers.Doctor of Pharmac

Occupational Therapy Return to Work Program For Individuals Following a Traumatic Brain Injury

Individuals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) often experience difficulty returning to the workforce and lack the necessary resources to facilitate a successful return to work. This capstone project focuses on developing a resource that equips occupational therapists with tools and resources to provide valuable and effective return to work services for this population.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstones-spring2022/1049/thumbnail.jp

Pathologies of the Poor: What do the War on Drugs and Welfare Reform Have in Common?

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) authorized drug testing of welfare recipients as a criterion for assistance eligibility. This raises the question of a possible confluence of War on Drugs and Welfare Reform policies, as indicated by continuity in policymakers’ rhetoric. We examine federal-level policymakers’ debates surrounding the authorization of drug testing welfare recipients. The analysis reveals that themes of social pathology were present in both policy areas. Crime, drug addiction, welfare dependency, and drug testing themes are comparable in both debates. Teen pregnancy, out-of-wedlock birth, and female-headed households themes were more prevalent in Welfare Reform debates, with the exception of drug-addicted newborns, which crossed both policy streams