Psychology and Child Development

Motivations and Relationship Quality of Friends with Benefits Relationships Among Emerging Adults

Olivia Giorgi — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:27:02 PDT

This study was conducted to understand more about college-aged students’ motivations for Friends with Benefits (FWB) relationships, and the quality of those relationships. These casual relationships are gaining acceptance among college populations, but we understand little about gender differences in engaging in them. An online survey was created and participants were recruited from various groups and classes on campus. From this pool of students, 233 undergraduate students completed the survey. Measures included five motivation categories: sex, wanted FWB, relationship avoidance, friendship, and relationship simplicity (Hughes, Morrison, and Asada, 2005), in addition to six relationship quality aspects: satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, trust, passion, and love (Fletcher, Simpson, and Thomas, 2000). Findings suggested that Cal Poly men and women have similar motivations for engaging in these relationships. However, men reported being more satisfied and feeling more trust in these relationships than women.

An Examination of Summer Bridge Programs for First-Generation College Students

Emily Christine Otewalt — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:27:00 PDT

During the last fifty years, nearly half of all students who entered a two- or four-year university withdrew without obtaining a degree. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic minority students, and students who were the first in their family to attend college were particularly vulnerable to this attrition. The following senior project examines current research on the backgrounds and attrition rates of first-generation college students, how "Summer Bridge Programs" aim to assist these students, and where shortcoming exist in current "Summer Bridge Program" assessments.

Perceptions of the Voluntarily Childless: The Negative Stigma of an Unconventional Ideal

Alyssa N. Hook — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:46:19 PST

This study examined the potential implications of religious affiliation on perceptions of voluntarily childless couples. Undergraduate students were given a vignette about an adult couple that either had children or that was childless, and were subsequently asked to complete questionnaires that rated the couple on a variety of personality dimensions. It was predicted that individuals who identify with pronatalist religious sects have more negative perceptions of those who are childless. There was a significant contrast in the views that Christian individuals held toward couples that were voluntarily childless versus those that had two children, suggesting that this religious affiliation is associated with perceptions of those who stray from the standards of the pronatalist society. Recommendations for furthering this field of research may include exploring the role of religiosity on perceptions of individuals who generally stray from traditional gender roles.

Evaluating Sustainability on the Cal Poly Campus: Attitudes, Behaviors, Knowledge, Social Norms, and Social Desirability

Rebecca Sokoloski — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:31:11 PDT

Previous research has shown that attitudes and behavior towards sustainability are not correlated. Social factors including norms and desirability have been found to explain these results. One hundred and six students from California Polytechnic State University participated in this study. The survey used was composed of several sections: attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, social norms, social desirability, and a demographic section. Attitudes and behaviors were found to be correlated in this study. Knowledge and behavior towards sustainability was not found to be correlated as expected. Participants’ attitudes were correlated with friends’ and families’ but not professors’ and peers’ attitudes. Participants’ behaviors were correlated only with friends’ attitudes. This study is particularly relevant for colleges who are moving towards a sustainable future and wish to measure the effectiveness of the movement.

Interventions for Individuals with Autism and a Research Proposal Comparing Two Augmentative and Alternative Communication Aids

Michelle G. Itskovich — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:38:46 PDT

Speech and Langauge Disorders

Haley Wilson — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:38:45 PDT

The Relationship Between Sleep and BMI in Cal Poly Freshman

Jacqueline Laing — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:30:31 PDT

To understand the relationship between BMI and sleep patterns in Cal Poly Freshman (First years) over the course of their first year at Cal Poly. First year students were recruited via campus email to fill out a survey regarding various health aspects. The survey was filled out at the beginning of the year (Fall 2009), and again in June (Spring 2010). The questions used in this study only pertained to height, weight, sleep quantity, and sleep quantity satisfaction rating. The results were not significant for the cross sectional analysis of the Fall 2009 sample and the Spring 2010 sample. The longitudinal results were also not significant. There was no association between BMI and hours slept per night in Cal Poly first year students. There was a 4% increase in students that were overweight or obese from Fall to Spring, however, indicating that there may be other factors indicating to the students weight gain.

Advertising Preferences Among College Students

Bianca A. Vasvani — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:06:48 PDT

The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a difference in advertising preferences among college students. Three different types of advertisements were presented for five different products for the participants to review in this study. These three types of advertisements were sex, computer generated imagery and sustainability. The five different products were Orbit Gum, Pepsi, Absolut Vodka, Nike and Aveeno. The participants were asked to rate which one of the three advertisements was most compelling. The variables of gender, ethnicity and year in college were examined. The study also wanted to find out which advertisement overall was most effective to the participant and why. The participants in this study were students from California Polytechnic State University. The sample comprised of students that passed by a busy area on campus, Julian’s Coffee Shop at the Kennedy Library. The researchers of this study used a survey to collect data on the advertising preferences of the college students. The results of the study showed that sustainability advertisements were preferred by Cal Poly students. The results of the study also showed that men have a greater preference for sex advertisements than women do. In addition, it also showed that women have a greater preference for sustainability advertisements than men do. Although this study had a large sample size of 350 students, the results may not apply to a greater population since the participants were only from one university.

Fostering Children’s Literacy and Language Development through Play: A Look at the Role of Early Childhood Educators in Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms

Kelly D. Russell — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:24:45 PDT

Teaching Children about Multiculturalism

Nicole Zuniga — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:31:03 PST

Literature review on teaching children about multiculturalism connected to the entertainment coordinator position of the organizer group for Children's Day in the Plaza 2011.

Disability Practices and Attitudes in the United States and Thailand

Melissa Ann Husband — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:50:05 PDT

THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT: THE SILENT CURRICULUM

Brittany Allen et al. — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:42:42 PDT

This senior project focused on the physical environment of elementary school classrooms, with a particular emphasis on how environmental factors influence behavior and academic achievement. Such environmental factors included lighting, color, acoustics, temperature, seating arrangements, space and crowding, and living kinds such as plants and animals. Previous research has demonstrated a connection between student behavior and the classroom environment. Taylor and Vlastos (2009) developed a theory regarding the relationship between environment and design within the classroom. They referred to the physical environment of the classroom as the “silent curriculum” and hold strongly to the belief that understanding the physical environment is essential to the education of children. The goal of this project was to investigate empirical evidence on the importance of the physical environment and develop a website in order to share this information with teachers and administrators.

The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Counseling

Tiffany Nickles — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:41:34 PDT

While the 20^th century has simultaneously brought about a growth in counseling and a reemergence of secularism, counseling in the 21^st century has focused its attention on interventions that are sensitive to multicultural facets in clients’ lives. As professionals increasingly embrace multicultural competency in counseling and therapy, religion and spirituality arguably stand out as cultural and personal factors that are a salient part of framing one’s experiences, beliefs, values, behavior, and illness patterns. Despite the growing understanding of the pervasiveness and importance of spirituality and religion, most psychologists have little training in dealing with religious and spiritual issues. This article assesses how counselors can effectively and ethically incorporate spirituality and religion into counseling to promote client well-being.

Speak Up! Promoting Interactions During Shared Reading Activities

Jennifer Singleton — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:45:34 PDT

Interactions during shared reading activities between parent and child have been shown to benefit a child’s expressive vocabulary, receptive vocabulary, and literacy development. Research has identified a number of variables that influence the quality, frequency, and type of interactions that occur during shared reading. Using this research, I have written and illustrated a children’s book that accounts for these variables. The result is a 56 page, hard-covered book that reads from both directions. One direction prompts children to provide their own answer to why animals are the way they are, while the other direction offers the leading theories from scientists about certain animals’ unique features. Pilot testing was conducted an analyzed to determine if it is possible to enhance the frequency of interaction through book design.

A Comprehensive Inventory of The Orfalea and ASI Children's Center Library

Allison J. Biggers — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:47:21 PDT

Domestic Violence: Factors, Perpetuation, Cultural Differences & Treatment

Melissa Kathleen Oliver — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:42:38 PDT

Domestic violence has been a long time issue that has affected both men and women in all cultures. The reasons someone might be abused could be related to both internal and external factors. This project reviewed previous literature that examined factors of abuse, perpetuation of abuse, cultural differences and treatments. Factors found to be related included alcohol use, violence in family of origin, need for dominance, drug use, stress, low paying occupations, cultural norms, and emotional dependency. Research findings have indicated domestic violence are a result of many factors and needs to be examined differently among different cultures and sub cultures.

Effects of Parent-Child Attachment on Social Adjustment and Friendship in Young Adulthood

Kristen Lee Gray — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:37:51 PDT

Potential Benefits From Interacting with Nature: A Look at Outdoor Education for Children

Katie Webster — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:06:57 PDT

With the increase of a fast paced lifestyle and more technology centered activities, children are spending an increased amount of time indoors. A decreased interaction with the natural environment is alarming to many researchers, including Richard Louv who has defined this lack of interaction as Nature Deficit Disorder, a disorder that may result in a diminished use of the senses, increased amount of attention difficulties and higher rates of physical and emotional illness. By engaging with nature, children will have the potential of concentrating and performing better within the classroom, to be more creative, are more cognitively and intellectually developed and have enhanced social relationships. Interaction with outdoors can also improve physical health while decreasing chances of obesity and reduce injuries by developing better motor skills and coordination. Slowly over time, schools in America have been taking away children’s outdoor recess and free time to concentrate on academic achievement while schools throughout Europe have centered their early education in Outdoor Schools where children learn while in the natural environment. Recommendations point to having more recreational time outdoors, creating more natural playgrounds, and enrolling children in nature focused schools.

Adolescent Use of Social Networking Sites and Internet Safety

Mary Kate Whitcomb — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:37:21 PDT

The use of computers and the Internet continue to increase, especially by children and adolescents. Approximately 40% of adolescents access social networking sites in a typical day and spend on average 54 minutes on the sites (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010). Social networking sites, such as Facebook, allow users to provide personal information, continually update information, post images, and communicate with friends. Due to an increase in availability, media has become greatly related to the socialization of adolescents. Identity formation is a major component of adolescence and social networking sites are a realm in which adolescents can explore and express their identity. Users can be selective in content they choose to post, with factors such as ethnicity, identity exploration, and creating an intended image influencing content selection. With use of the Internet increasing in children’s daily lives, the government has implemented laws to protect children’s online privacy yet parents must also be active agents in privacy protection and Internet safety. Parents need to be aware of how and why adolescents use the Internet as well as ways to help promote safe Internet practices.

Children's Day at the Plaza 2011 Booth Coordinator

Claribel Marquez — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:41:20 PDT

This project outlines the organizational process of Children's Day at the Plaza, as well as a literature review about linguistic diversity at the elementary school level. Imersion, dual immersion, and other bilingual programs are among the linguistic programs discussed in the review.