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Exploration of Coaching Sessions in a Blended Early Childhood Intervention
No full textEffective coaching is essential in equipping early childhood educators with the skills needed to support young children’s growth and development. The purpose of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of teachers and coaches during coaching with the Toddler Talk model, a blended intervention for infant-toddler classrooms designed to support language and social-emotional development. This study used data from a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants design that measured the effects of a professional development package on teacher implementation of Toddler Talk practices. Weekly virtual coaching sessions involving two coach-teacher dyads were analyzed to identify effective coaching practices and examine teacher participation within collaborative coaching cycles. A partial-interval coding system was used to assess four key features: 1) Focus of conversation, 2) Implementation level of TT practices, 3) Coaching components, and 4) Teacher contributions. Findings indicated high fidelity to the coaching protocol, with feedback and explanation occurring most frequently. Trends in the focus of conversation included action plan practices, children in the classroom, and study logistics being discussed most frequently during sessions. There was variability across sessions and classrooms in the focus of conversation, indicating flexibility and responsiveness to teachers’ needs during virtual coaching sessions. Teachers participated consistently during sessions, with the most frequent types of contributions including teachers sharing reflections and discussing other topics. More research is needed to explore how trends in conversation focus and teacher participation in coaching sessions relate to changes in teacher practices and child outcomes. Implications for future research and practice are discussed
Perfectionism and Dispositional Accommodative Efficacy: Predictors of Stress Responses
No full textPSY 4999 Honor Thesis, Advisor: Craig A. Smith & Ashley L. Watts
In recent decades, extensive research has supported the association between perfectionism and stress responses, and one potential explanation for the mechanism underlying this association is the relational model of appraisal theory developed by Smith and Kirby (2009). In this theoretical model, another important dispositional characteristic, dispositional accommodative efficacy, was mentioned and suggested to have close relationships with both perfectionism and stress responses. However, neither dispositional accommodative efficacy nor the relational model has been sufficiently researched. Thus, this study systematically examined the impacts of dispositional accommodative efficacy and perfectionism on stress responses and proposed two models, the dual influence model and the full mediational model , to explain their relationships. The result showed that the evaluative concerns perfectionism positively predicted stress responses and dispositional accommodative efficacy negatively predicted stress responses, while the dimension of achievement striving did not significantly associate with stress responses. Since only a weak partial mediation effect of dispositional accommodative efficacy was found in the relationship between evaluative concerns and stress responses, we did not find strong evidence to support either model. This study supplemented the empirical evidence on how disposition influences emotional reactions.In recent decades, extensive research has supported the association between perfectionism and stress responses, and one potential explanation for the mechanism underlying this association is the relational model of appraisal theory developed by Smith and Kirby (2009). In this theoretical model, another important dispositional characteristic, dispositional accommodative efficacy, was mentioned and suggested to have close relationships with both perfectionism and stress responses. However, neither dispositional accommodative efficacy nor the relational model has been sufficiently researched. Thus, this study systematically examined the impacts of dispositional accommodative efficacy and perfectionism on stress responses and proposed two models, the dual influence model and the full mediational model , to explain their relationships. The result showed that the evaluative concerns perfectionism positively predicted stress responses and dispositional accommodative efficacy negatively predicted stress responses, while the dimension of achievement striving did not significantly associate with stress responses. Since only a weak partial mediation effect of dispositional accommodative efficacy was found in the relationship between evaluative concerns and stress responses, we did not find strong evidence to support either model. This study supplemented the empirical evidence on how disposition influences emotional reactions.Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Honors Program in Psychological Science
Cultural Perspectives on Stress Coping: Exploring the Impact of Confucianism on Stress-coping Mechanisms Through the Lens of the Appraisal Theory of Emotion
No full textIn this work, the nuances in the cultural variations in stress and coping were elaborated through a comparative analysis of the Appraisal Theory of Emotion and the Confucian philosophical framework. It specifically examined how Confucian beliefs, conceptualized as Confucian-compatible Thinking (CCT), influence stress responses. This research aimed not only to elucidate the efficacy of CCT in mitigating stress, but also to explore the mediating effect of Accommodative Efficacy (AE)–defined within Appraisal Theory as a dispositional belief in one’s ability to psychologically adjust to stressful situations. Using a quantitative methodology, this study recruited 132 undergraduate students at Vanderbilt University, utilizing scales to measure CCT, AE, and stress levels. Through Linear Mixed Models (LMMs), the analysis focused on evaluating the relationship between CCT and stress over time. Mediation analyses were further employed to evaluate the relationship between CCT and AE and their correlation with stress responses. The findings revealed that CCT significantly linked to lower stress levels in Western population, suggesting that these stress-buffering principles not only provide guidance to Confucian-led populations but may also be extended to Western groups. Moreover, AE did not serve as a significant mediator of the relationship between CCT and stress, indicating the unique contribution of Confucian principles in stress-coping framework, providing insights into how individuals from different cultural backgrounds may gain benefit from culturally sensitive stress regulation interventions. By extending the Appraisal Theory of Emotion to include a cultural perspective, this study contributes to a more comprehensive framework for understanding stress coping mechanisms. It highlights the importance of considering cultural factors in psychological research and practices, enlightening future research and interventions designed to improve stress regulation
From Promise to Practice: Optimizing a Graduate Leadership Program for Cohesion and Impact
No full textLeadership and Learning in Organizations capstone projectBank Street College of Education, a progressive institution in New York City, partners with New Leaders to co-lead the National Aspiring Principals Fellowship®, a hybrid leadership development program for educators across the U.S. While the Fellowship has expanded rapidly and aligns with Bank Street’s mission to promote equity in education, the organization faces challenges in defining and measuring success across its leadership programs. The absence of a shared, stakeholder-informed definition of success limits program coherence, complicates evaluation, and affects alignment with accrediting bodies and partner expectations.
This capstone project explores how Bank Street and its stakeholders—faculty, participants, alumni, and partner organizations—define success, which program components foster meaningful leadership development, and what contextual barriers hinder outcomes. The team used a mixed methods approach grounded in the EvaluLEAD framework, which considers episodic, developmental, and transformative results across individual and organizational domains. Data sources included interviews with staff, focus groups with students, alumni, faculty, and partners, and surveys administered to alumni and current participants.
Findings indicate that practicum experiences, mentorship, and peer collaboration serve as catalysts for developmental and transformative growth. However, barriers such as disjointed communication, inconsistent course delivery, unclear expectations, and administrative inefficiencies disrupt the learning environment and hinder participants' ability to fully engage. Stakeholders and participants largely align in their aspirations for the program, valuing equity-centered, practice-based leadership development. Yet misalignments persist between what is measured and what matters most to those involved.
To address these challenges, the team proposed three primary recommendations: (1) establish a centralized communication hub to streamline information sharing, (2) develop a graduate success profile to articulate a clear vision of leadership outcomes, and (3) create a logic model to enhance alignment across curriculum, instruction, and evaluation practices. Together, these strategies aim to strengthen Bank Street’s leadership development programs by improving clarity, coherence, and consistency—while remaining grounded in the institution’s progressive mission
Interactions between Language and Behavioral Development in Toddlers at High-Likelihood for Developmental Language Disorder
No full textRationale: Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) often have co-occurring behavioral challenges, including internalizing and externalizing problems. Despite this known overlap, few studies have examined the developmental trajectories of language and behavior together, or tested whether early language interventions impact behavioral outcomes in toddlers at high-likelihood for DLD. Method: This dissertation used longitudinal data from a multisite randomized controlled trial with 105 toddlers at high risk for DLD. Participants were randomized to receive either Enhanced Milieu Teaching-Sentence Focus (EMT-SF), a caregiver-mediated naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention, or business-as-usual services. Language skills (i.e., mean length of utterance in words [MLUw], intelligibility) and behavioral challenges (i.e., temper loss, internalizing behaviors) were assessed from 30 to 49 months of age. Bivariate latent change score models were used to examine the developmental trajectories and associations between language skills and behavior challenges. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate language intervention effects on behavioral outcomes at age 4. Results: Children demonstrated growth in language skills and reductions in temper loss over time. Gains in MLUw were modestly linked to decreases in temper loss between 36 and 42 months, suggesting a potential relation during that period. No significant associations were found between changes in intelligibility and temper loss, and the EMT-SF language intervention did not affect internalizing or externalizing behaviors at post-test. Conclusion: This study provides new evidence on the complex associations between language and behavioral development in young children at high risk for DLD. Findings suggest that associations between changes in MLUw and temper loss may occur during specific time periods. However, the EMT-SF intervention did not significantly impact behavioral challenges at post-test. Continued research to identify additional measures and clarify potential mechanisms underlying these complex associations is needed
Land Grabs are Domestic Politics by Other Means
No full textLimited land grabs, or the aggressive seizure of territory from another state with the intention of limiting escalation often occur over non-valuable terrain. Why then, do such actions continue to occur, and often escalate? I analyze a formal model that situates land grabs into the context of a "diversionary" war, where an embattled regime uses a land grab to create favorable domestic conditions, even if the action is risky. I find that pressure from a domestic opposition induces a state to conduct a risky land grab under three conditions. First, if the land grab involves terrain that is of value to both the state and the opposition, the state seizes the territory to appease the opposition's agenda. Second, if the territory is of value to the opposition but holds no value for the state, the state will conduct a smaller land grab to appease the state, so long as its seizure is not overly costly. Third, if the territory holds no value for the state and the opposition is more closely aligned with the rival victim state, then the opposition does not attempt an overthrow which prevents the rival state from absorbing a costly war. Finally, I find that information asymmetries combined with high risk of overthrow cause states to conduct sub-optimal land grabs that incur higher risks of escalation. To test the theoretical expectations, I use large-n statistical tests and case studies, including the 1963 Sand War, the 1982 Falkland Islands dispute, and the Turkey-Kurdish disputes of the 2010s. In the statistical tests, I find evidence that increasing domestic turbulence leads to land grabs across the scope conditions predicted in the theory. Further, I find evidence of both mechanisms, where land grabs result in peace using both the statistical tests and case studies
Evaluating the Impact of the UCSF Nursing Leadership Program on Staff Retention, Promotion, and Engagement
No full textLeadership and Learning in Organizations capstone projectThis study evaluates the impact of the UCSF Leadership Institute on workforce outcomes, including staff retention, promotion, and employee engagement, within a complex healthcare organizational environment. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach that triangulates quantitative data with qualitative insights from participant interviews, the research identifies leadership development program participation as a critical factor contributing to leadership competency growth. The conceptual framework elucidates the pathway through which participation fosters enhanced competencies, such as strategic thinking, communication, and mentorship, which in turn influence key workforce outcomes.
This process is moderated by organizational factors. Positive moderators like leadership support and protected learning time amplify the program’s impact, whereas workplace constraints and structural barriers may limit the application of new skills and subsequent career advancement. Findings indicate that while leadership development is linked to higher retention and promotion rates, the magnitude of these benefits is contingent upon supportive workplace environments. The study highlights the importance of aligning leadership training with organizational context to optimize return on investment and advance equity in career progression. Recommendations include strengthening mentorship opportunities, expanding advanced training, and fostering institutional policies that support the translation of leadership competencies into practice
STING-Activating Polymer-Drug Conjugates for Cancer Immunotherapy
No full textCancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint blockade, are shifting the paradigm of cancer treatment by invigorating the immune system’s natural mechanism of recognizing and eliminating the disease. However, current treatments only benefit a minority of cancer patients. Low response rates are typically correlated to immunologically “cold” tumors, meaning they lack sufficient proinflammatory cell types such as activated macrophages, activated dendritic cells, and CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells. Therefore, there is a need for therapeutic systems that will shift tumors towards an immunogenically “hot” phenotype. One promising strategy is to activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, which triggers a type I interferon (IFN-I)-driven inflammatory response that enhances T cell priming, activation, and tumor infiltration. Although STING agonists are currently explored in clinical trials, most are limited to intratumoral routes of administration, which are not ideal for all patients and tumor types. Small molecule STING agonists, such as GlaxoSmithKline’s diABZI, have been developed for systemic administration; however, these clear rapidly and activate STING indiscriminately, lacking tumor-specific infiltration which can lead to unwanted systemic inflammation and non-optimal efficacy.
To address these drug delivery challenges, we have designed a STING-Activating Polymer-drug Conjugate (SAPCon) to enhance pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and tumor accumulation of a modified STING agonist to enrich activation within the tumor and promote antitumor immunity. By modifying a diABZI molecule for chemical-conjugation to a clickable polymer platform and intracellular drug release through cathepsin cleavage, we demonstrate that drug circulation time and tumor accumulation increase with polymer molecular weight. We also report the unique finding that even non-cleavable diABZI-polymer constructs can activate STING. SAPCon promotes an immunogenic tumor microenvironment, resulting tumor growth inhibition, prolonged survival, and immunological memory in orthotopic breast cancer models. We also employed a liver-targeted, STING siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticle to knockdown STING activation within the liver to further mitigate off-target activation and reduce serum cytokine release, typically attributed to concerning side effects in the clinic. These results position SAPCon as a modular and programmable platform for improving the efficacy and safety of systemically administered STING agonists for cancer immunotherapy
Neuroinclusive Narratives: Transforming Leadership Through the Lens of Neurodivergent Talent
No full textLeadership and Learning in Organizations capstone projectBelieved to have a larger-than-average neurodivergent population, Encore — an audio-visual company with a mission framed around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging — sought to better understand the organizational experiences of its neurodivergent employees and leaders’ preparedness to meet those needs. In “Neuroinclusive Narratives: Transforming Leadership Through the Lens of Neurodivergent Talent,” we explore organizational culture, leadership preparedness, and the quality of supports through the perceptions of neurodivergent employees.
We used a mixed-method approach for our study’s design, consisting of interviews, vetted survey questions, and a document analysis of Encore’s training library. Our data analysis revealed inconsistencies in how neurodivergent employees both perceived and experienced Encore’s culture, supervisory relationships, and training across the organization. Our findings also highlighted a disconnect between leaders’ self-perceptions and the experiences of neurodivergent employees. Furthermore, our survey data uncovered knowledge gaps and low confidence in disclosure and advocacy for all neurodivergent employees.
Grounded in Inclusive Leadership, Theory of Perceived Organizational Support, and the Social Model of Disability, our capstone provided a lens into Encore’s organizational culture and leadership structures to support them in fostering a neuroinclusive culture that honors the uniquely different, interwoven tapestries of the human brain
Birth-Related Stressors, Social Reward Responsiveness, and Postpartum Depressive and Anxiety
No full textBirth-related stressors are associated with increased risk for postpartum depression and anxiety. Yet, many women endorsing these experiences do not develop postpartum symptoms, raising questions about vulnerability factors. There is a need to identify factors contributing to the likelihood of experiencing birth-related stressors as well as underlying processes that shape mental health outcomes in the context of birth-related stressors. Research has shown a prospective association between reduced neural reward responsiveness and depression. Findings with anxiety symptoms are less consistent. Further, stressful life events moderate the effects of reward processing on subsequent depression symptoms. Reward processing may be one factor influencing the relationship between birth-related stressors and postpartum depression and anxiety. For this study, women (n=120) completed self-report measures to assess depressive, anxiety, and traumatic intrusions symptoms across the peripartum period (i.e., 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester, 8-weeks postpartum). At 8-weeks postpartum, participants completed the Birth Experience Interview to capture dimensions of birth-related stressors (i.e., overall severity, violations of expectations, loss of control). Further, during electroencephalogram data collection, participants completed a Social Incentive Delay task to measure responses to positive feedback for a personally-salient social reward (i.e., cute photo of their own infant) vs. negative feedback (i.e., boring image). Participants also completed a monetary incentive delay to measure neural response to monetary reward for comparison. Analyses focused on the reward positivity to positive feedback, adjusting for negative feedback (RewP residual), an index of reward processing (Cz, 250-350 ms). Results indicated more self-reported life stress events were associated with more loss of control and violations of expectations. Social RewP was associated with greater PPD symptoms but did not remain significant when covarying for antepartum symptoms. Social RewP was associated with greater postpartum anxiety even when accounting for antepartum symptoms. Social and monetary RewP moderated associations between violation of expectations and postpartum traumatic intrusions. Violation of expectations was associated with greater traumatic intrusions only for those with relatively enhanced RewP. Results support the importance of considering dimensions of birth-related stressors and the utility of ERPs in measuring individual differences in reward processing. Specifically, ERPs can be used to better understand processing underlying postpartum psychopathology