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The Effect of Fidget Spinners on Attention and Anxiety in Typically Developing Children
Get PDFAdvertisements have led consumers to believe that fidget spinners assist children in
maintaining attention and decreasing stress (Libassi, 2017). The current study tested these claims
with a sample of 47 typically developing children, ages 8 to 12. Participants were randomly
assigned to use a fidget spinner or not (control group) while completing a test of attention and
working memory as well as an anxiety-provoking task. The experimental and control group did
not differ in age, gender, experience with fidget spinners, or parent-rated anxiety. However, the
experimental group received higher parent ratings of hyperactivity compared to the control group
prior to the experimental manipulation. Contrary to expectations, the experimental group (M =
22) and control group (M = 25) did not differ with regard to performance during the attention and
working memory task, t(45) = .605, p = .548, d = .18. Additionally, the experimental group (M =
3.05; SD = 2.22) and control group (M = 3.54; SD = 2.08) also did not differ with regard to peak
anxiety during the anxiety provoking task, t(45) = -.266, p = .79, d = .08. Fidget spinners do not
appear to disrupt attention or decrease anxiety among typically developing children.Department of Psycholog
Has Excel Become a 'Golden Hammer': The Paradox of Data Analytics in SME Clusters
No full textDemand for data analysis skills in the accounting profession is well documented and necessarily informs accounting curriculum and pedagogy. In this studyl, we find small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) use Excel spreadsheets extensively for their data analytics tasks. As a result, their demands for skills and abilities of new job entrants may differ from the large organizations that serve as the original drivers of analytic skills and technology recommendations. SMEs comprise approximately 95-99% of firms in the U.S. economy, created 65% of new jobs from 2000-2018 (US SBA 2019), and compete with large firms using scarce financial and labor resources. The contribution of this study is to address the void in accounting research on the current state of data analytics technology and skills in SMEs and to encourage accounting educators to build a base of accessible knowledge for SMEs to take advantage of the potential benefits of emerging introductory data analytics.Kaw Valley Ban
Property Rights, Eminent Domain and Economic Development
No full textA large proportion of the public support local governments' role in fostering economic
development. Seventy percent of respondents to an American Planning Association (APA) poll,
identified job creation as a high priority for policy makers and 63% identified a preference for
economic development funding receiving a high priority for scarce local government resources
(AP A, 2012). Nonetheless, how governments go about achieving that goal is far more
contentious. (Peters & Fisher 2002). The Supreme Court's 2005 Keio v. City of New London, 545
U.S. 469 (2005) ruling is a prime example of this. Keio upheld state and local governments' right
to use eminent domain in order to further economic development goals, even when governments
use eminent domain to transfer property between private owners.Kaw Valley Ban
Conscious Emotion Regulation in Individuals With Disordered Eating When Viewing High-Fat and Low-Fat Food Images
Get PDFIndividuals with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) experience an intense fear of gaining weight,
resulting in the restriction of caloric intake (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Research has indicated that AN individuals may have abnormally poor emotion regulation skills which can result in social isolation, ineffective coping strategies, and difficulty with day-to-day functioning (Geller, Cockell, Hewitt, Goldner, & Gordon, 2000; Lynch, Gray, Hempel, Titley, & O’Mahen, 2013). The current study replicates and expands on Racine et al.’s (2016) emotion-modulated startle paradigm (EMSP) research, which is a method that allows conscious, voluntary emotion regulation to be studied. Their study assessed how well individuals with AN could either “enhance,” “maintain,” or “suppress” their emotions when viewing positive, negative, neutral,
and food images. In contrast to Racine et al. (2016), our study differentiated between high-fat and low-fat food image trials and included a healthy control (HC) group. Findings from this study revealed no significant differences between disordered eating (DE) and HC groups. Despite no significant group differences, results did indicate significant differences in how participants were able to regulate their emotions when viewing certain picture types.Department of Psycholog
The Effects of Mindfulness on Academic Related Anxiety in College Students
Get PDFThe current study focuses on academic anxiety and the impacts of mindfulness practice via cellular applications. Academic anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness or sociopsychological distress in reaction to a school-based situation that can be perceived as negative or threatening (Shakir, 2014). Individuals who experience academic anxiety are at higher risk to experience a variety of mental and physical health issues. Mindfulness, in particular, has been shown to assist in giving students a sense of calm during periods of anxiety and stress, assisted in reducing feelings of shame and increasing understanding of anxiety, staying focused in learning situations, and more self-acceptance when facing difficult situations (Hjeltnes et al., 2015). In the present study, participants were assigned to one of three conditions (Experimental, Active Control, Control). Participants in the Experimental condition completed mindfulness activities daily while those in the Active Control condition completed a stress reducing activity daily. The results of this study showed time to be a significant factor in reducing academic anxiety related symptomology. Individuals who did not engage in mindfulness practices within the study exceeded their baseline anxiety scores at the conclusion of the study.Department of Psycholog
The Effect of Electronic Health Record Prompts on the Lab Ordering Frequency of Clinicians Managing Patients Taking Psychotropic Medications
Get PDFThe use of information technology provides a beneficial avenue for integrating CPGs into
daily clinical work-flow processes by embedding electronic prompts and/or decision-support tools within EHR systems. These have been shown to increase clinician use of and adherence to evidence-based standards of care. The purpose of this project was to determine if EHRembedded prompts affected the frequency of clinician lab ordering at a community-based mental/behavioral health facility located in the Northeast corner of Kansas. The agency’s PMHNP was the only study participant. A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess clinician lab monitoring practices prior to and immediately after implementation of an EHR– embedded prompt. Analysis of the data indicated that the prompt influenced the provider’s lab ordering behavior at the point of care as evidenced by increasing the provider’s lab ordering frequency by 43% across all patient populations. Data analysis also indicated statistically significant (p < .001) decrease in the frequency of missed opportunities during the patient encounter for the PMHNP to provide or consider additional CPG recommended services that support patient safety and treatment efficacy. The prompt had a positive effect on the PMHNP’s
lab monitoring practices, increasing the use of CPGs and established an avenue for further process improvements.School of Nursin
Implementation of Advanced Directives
Get PDFAn advanced directive (AD) is a legal document that allows patients to specify their decisions for future care while they have the legal and physical autonomy to do so. The self-autonomy promoted by ADs is established in legislative policy through the Patient Self Determination Act (PSDA), which encourages patients to draft ADs while they are still competent. Despite the passage of PSDA, only 25% to 30% of Americans have completed an AD. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project is to develop and implement advanced directive (AD) policies and procedures and to implement a pilot project to enhance the rate of advanced care planning completion in patients 50 years of age or older at a primary care clinic that serves patients who are at or below the federal poverty level. The Health Belief Model (HBM) and The Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) were utilized to guide this project. The PREPARE tool was selected to help patients as they engaged in advanced care planning. The staff were trained to implement the selected tool. The forms were mailed to eligible participants along with a letter that provided information about the project. Participants were asked to contact the clinic at their earliest convenience to learn more about the project and schedule an appointment with a
DNP student investigator if they agree to participate. A brief pre-visit survey was administered to gather data on knowledge and awareness about ADs. Thirteen out of 114 mailings received responses and those patients were scheduled for appointments. Of 13 eligible patients who were screened during pre-visit, nine continued to pilot-study. Five of the nine patients who participated in the pilot study completed ADs.School of Nursin
Relationships Among Perceptions of Foster Care, Personality Traits, and Willingness to Foster
Get PDFThe number of children in foster care continues to rise with 442,995 in foster care
according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Report, (2018). Although many scholarly articles on the foster care system have been published in recent years, limited studies existing on efforts to recruit with kinship or non-related foster parents. With the number of foster children placed in non-related foster homes outnumbering those in kinship homes, the present study is designed to increase understanding of how knowledge of the
foster care system, perceptions of the foster care system and foster parents, and personality traits of agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness impacts prospective foster parents willingness to foster a non-related or kinship child. One finding from the study was that only the personality trait of Conscientiousness predicted willingness to foster a non-related child with R = .195, R2 =.038, F(1,78) =.3.068, p = .084. Another outcome of the study showed that Perceptions of the Foster Care system and the personality trait of Conscientiousness predicted willingness to foster a kinship child at R = .195, R2=.038, F(1,78) =.3.068, p = .084, and R = .187, change in R2= .035, F(1,78) = 2.834, p = .096 respectively. This is one of the first exploratory studies to contribute to the identification of personality traits or knowledge or perceptions of the foster care system with the potential to predict willingness to foster either non-related of kinship children. Future research in this area should continue in attempts to close the gaps between the number of children entering into foster care and the number of foster homes available for them.Department of Psycholog
Pass-Through and C Corp Outputs under TCJA
Get PDFCorporate finance research focuses on C corps (CCs) neglecting pass-throughs (PTs). We answer this neglect by examining PT outputs for the categories of debt choice, valuation, and leverage gain. In the process, we expand on the nongrowth PT research and supplement the recent CC research on the same outputs. Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) became effective January 2018, PTs had an after-tax valuation advantage over CCs. Under TCJA, we demonstrate this advantage has been reverse. This suggests that, ceteris paribus, a typical PT can now find it advantageous to switch to the CC ownership form. More importantly, we show that nongrowth firm values are comparable to growth firm values unless we assume a rise in growth consistent with projections under TCJA where tax rates are lower. We demonstrate this projected growth increase is the key to make businesses more profitable. Additionally, we show PTs achieve optimal debt-to-firm value ratios (ODVs) well below those for CCs; PTs generally attain slightly higher quality credit ratings at their ODVs compared to CCs; and, PTs have lower leverage gains outputs (in the form of the maximum gain to leverage and the percentage increase in unlevered firm value) compared to CCs
The Assessment of Empathy Levels among Radiation Therapists
Get PDFEmpathy is an integral component of effective communication and successful patient care in the healthcare system. However technological advancements, increased patient loads and rising expectations have transformed health care professional’s duties, including those of a radiation therapist. Upon identification of the changing workforce, one must consider whether intensifying
stressors negatively impact the expression of empathy the radiation therapist demonstrates, thus decreasing the level of care he or she can provide to the patients. A 15-item questionnaire was developed to gain an understanding of the average empathy levels of practicing radiation therapists compared to individuals in radiation educational programs. Survey results showed a
lower average in the empathy expressed by radiation therapy students compared to those employed in the field for varying lengths of time. However, although radiation therapists maintain a higher overall empathy average compared to radiation therapy students, supplemental findings identified a trend whereas the radiation therapist’s empathy levels began to decline as
the time in the field increased. The findings of the survey are valuable as they identify a necessity to further implement empathy-enhancing opportunities in the educational programs to better prepare the graduates for the working world, as well as the need to implement empathy-related and professional self-care continued learning opportunities in the occupation to maintain stability once the professional is in the field.Department of Allied Healt