Browsing by Author "Choi, Youn-Jeng"
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Item Are empathy traits associated with cultural orientation?: a cross-cultural comparison of young adults(University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Gungordu, Nahide; Thoma, Stephen; University of Alabama TuscaloosaEmpathy plays a pivotal role in social interactions and in academic achievements in fields such as reading and language. Different factors have been investigated regarding empathy; however, the role of culture has not obtained enough attention. The main aim of the present study is identifying the relationship between cultural orientation and the affective and cognitive empathic tendencies of university students in two societies, namely Turkey (N=128) and the United States (N=127). The most prominent empathy scales––the “Interpersonal Reactivity Index” (IRI; Davis, 1983) and the “Empathy Quotient” (EQ; Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004)––were used to measure empathy traits of students and the “Individualism and Collectivism Scale” (Triandis & Gelfand, 1998) was used to measure cultural orientation. The analyses indicated that empathy is negatively related to individualistic orientation, while positively related to collectivistic orientation. Moreover, contrary to the literature, Turkish students obtained higher scores in vertical individualism than U.S. students, while U.S. students obtained higher scores in horizontal individualism than Turkish students. Findings also revealed that Turkish university students have greater personal distress than U.S. university students. In addition, results showed that empathy scores of female participants are higher than male participants and female participants have a tendency toward collectivistic orientation. Other results, their implications, limitations, and suggestions for future studies are discussed as well.Item Developing and testing a teaching intermediate concept measure: a preliminary reliability and validity study(University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Kerr, Shani; Thoma, Stephen; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThe Neo-Kohlbergian approach to moral reasoning development maintains that intermediate concepts lie between bedrock moral schemas and professional codes of ethics and deal with issues of confidentiality, competence, informed consent, allocation of resources and professional autonomy (Rest and Narvaez, 1994). Intermediate concepts provide concrete guides for behavior; they contrast general moral schemas that are concerned with issues of fairness, justice and equality. Following the system for developing the dental and adolescent ICM (Bebeau and Thoma, 1999; Thoma, Derryberry and Crowson, 2013), this paper outlines the development and testing of a prototype Intermediate Concept Measure for teachers (TICM). Results indicate that the TICM has respectable psychometric properties. TICM summary scores were significantly related to Defining Issues Test (DIT-2) scores, which supports the assertion that the new measure assesses a construct in the moral domain. Further exploration of the relationship between the TICM and the DIT-2 revealed significantly difference performance on the TICM for the 3 schema groups (personal interest, maintaining norms and postconventional). All three groups are better at identifying good action choices and justifications than bad action choices and justifications. Additionally, students emphasizing the personal interest schema where at a disadvantage when identifying bad action choices and justifications; they also had difficulty identifying justifications compared to action choices. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that the TICM is a measure of moral reasoning within the teaching profession.Item Developing the resilience scale for college students (RSCS)(University of Alabama Libraries, 2020) Shannon, Takesha; McDaniel, Sara; Choi, Youn-Jeng; University of Alabama TuscaloosaCollege students face numerous stressors that have the potential to impair their ability to sustain effort towards their academic goals. Determining the external and internal factors that contribute to the academic persistence of undergraduate college students is imperative. Resilience, the ability to bounce back after significant challenges, setbacks, or adversity, may be an important factor in academic success. The study of resilience spans decades (Masten, 2001); however, not many studies have focused on determining the factors that make up resilience in undergraduate college students. Instruments have been developed to measure resilience, but there is not one that is widely accepted to assess resilience in undergraduate college students. A pilot study was conducted to inform the current study. This study seeks to develop a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring resilience in undergraduate college students. Keywords: academic persistence, resilience, academic stress, undergraduateItem The development and validation of a vignette-based academic grit scale(University of Alabama Libraries, 2019) Porter, Mitchell McKay; Tomek, Sara; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThis study conducted a development and validation of a vignette-based grit scale (Grit-V). The purpose was to determine if the use of vignettes provided more validity evidence than short simple-sentence item endorsements. The data were gathered from a sample population of undergraduate students from The University of Alabama. Focus group data were gathered to help provide insight during the item development process, and an expert panel was used to help select which items were most appropriate based on the item content. A pilot study was conducted to see how the initial item pool was functioning. The results from the pilot facilitated in the selection of the final items to form the Grit-V. The study therefore investigated whether the Grit-V provided more validity evidence than the existing measure of grit (Grit-S). The study further investigated the relationships between grit and other non-cognitive constructs (student engagement, academic motivation, and the Big Five personality dimensions). Additionally, the study determined the predictive strength of grit and the other variables on student success, which was measured by student GPA, classes dropped, and changed majors. Finally, the study investigated whether socioeconomic status was a significant moderator variable between grit and GPA. The results showed that the Grit-V provided more evidence of validity than the Grit-S. Grit and conscientiousness were the strongest predictors of GPA, and grit, academic motivation, and student engagement were the strongest predictors of dropping classes. Grit was not a significant predictor for changed majors. Additionally, SES was not a significant moderator variable in the predictive model.Item Evaluation of Methods for Determining Various Components of Body Composition(University of Alabama Libraries, 2020) Cicone, Zackary; Esco, Michael R.; Fedewa, Michael V.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaDoubly indirect methods of assessing body composition are commonly used in laboratory and practical settings. The purpose of this dissertation was to expand upon the methodological discrepancies associated with various techniques, and to provide improved equations to overcome these limitations. A series of three studies was conducted to 1) improve the estimation of underwater residual lung volume (RLV), 2) systematically review and quantify the error associated with single-frequency bioimpedance analysis (SFBIA) for the determination of total body water (TBW), and 3) develop a novel equation for predicting percent body fat (%BF) from skinfolds using a criterion multi-compartment model. The first study developed an equation for the prediction of underwater RLV in healthy adults using age and height as predictor variables. The new equation produced superior validity statistics upon cross-validation compared to four existing equations, indicating that it may be used by practitioners to accurately estimate underwater RLV during hydrostatic weighing. The second study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed 264 effects from 51 original studies designed to compare SFBIA to criterion dilution methods for TBW estimation. Although a non-significant overall effect was identified, there was significant variability associated with SFBIA methodology (i.e., frequency and resistivity index) and sample sex (% female). Moderator analyses indicated that SFBIA procedures utilizing Ht2/R at 100 kHz produced the most accurate estimate of TBW when compared to isotope dilution techniques. The third study developed a skinfold-based equation for the prediction of five-compartment model %BF in a sample of healthy adults. The new equation outperformed selected existing equations when cross-validated, indicating its potential utility for practitioners concerned with obtaining accurate estimates of %BF in the general population.Item Examining Moral Identity from Multiple Perspectives in Order to Promote its Development(University of Alabama Libraries, 2021) Dawson, Kelsie; Han, Hyemin; University of Alabama TuscaloosaMoral identity is generally defined as considering moral values important to an individual’s overall sense of self. It has received much attention in the field for being significant for helping to promote moral behavior. Because of this, the current dissertation conducted three studies to explore different aspects related to moral identity. Study 1 applied Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model to longitudinal data from the Civic Purpose Project in order to investigate the best predictors for moral identity two years after Time 1. Results showed that ethnic identity was the most significant predictor, along with school climate and school and neighborhood support. Study 2 investigated the best model for predicting beyond-the-self (BTS) motivation using moral identity and empathic traits. Results showed moral identity symbolization and perspective taking were the most significant predictors, along with moral identity internalization and empathic concern. Finally, Study 3 conducted a reanalysis of fMRI data in order to investigate the neural correlates of selfhood when responding to various moral violations. Results showed that the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex differently interacted with brain areas such as supplementary motor area, hippocampus, and fusiform gyrus depending on intentionality and type of violation. Implications for promoting development of moral identity and moral behavior are discussed.Item Exploring the concept and application of crisis-induced uncertainty in organizational crises(University of Alabama Libraries, 2019) Zhou, Ziyuan; Ki, Eyun-Jung; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThis dissertation was designed to investigate stakeholders’ feelings of uncertainty during an organizational crisis and how such feelings influence stakeholders’ relationship with the organization and change their information-seeking behaviors. Through reviewing current theories about uncertainty in risk communication and interpersonal communication, this dissertation created a term, crisis-induced uncertainty, and conceptualized the construct. The researcher designed two studies to measure and test the construct separately. Study 1 aimed to develop a multidimensional scale to capture crisis-induced uncertainty. Two samples were collected to validate the scale (n1 = 341; n2 = 294). Through the comprehensive assessment of content validity, construct validity, discriminant validity, convergent validity, and reliability, this study yielded a three-dimension scale with 11 measurement items. Crisis-induced uncertainty contained three dimensions: protection uncertainty, process uncertainty, and relationship uncertainty. Using a survey (n3 = 324), Study 2 attempted to discover the relationship between crisis-induced uncertainty and organization-public relationships, and the relationship between crisis-induced uncertainty and information-seeking behaviors. The survey revealed that crisis-induced uncertainty significantly predicts satisfaction, trust, and commitment. It also indicated that crisis-induced uncertainty does not change people’s information-seeking behaviors during a crisis. This dissertation greatly contributes to the understanding of uncertainty during a crisis and paves the way for future uncertainty research in the crisis context.Item Exploring the Moderating Effects of Helicopter Parenting and Drinking Motives on Moral Judgment and Alcohol Use Experiences Among College Students(University of Alabama Libraries, 2022) Young, Shanikia Nicole; Burnham, Joy J.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaHelicopter parenting (HP) is an emerging parenting style that has presented new challenges for higher education professionals in their efforts to guide college students in their development, such as moral development and growth. As a result, this dissertation study sought to investigate how such factors as maternal and paternal HP, moral judgment and reasoning (MJR), and drinking motives (DM) and how they relate to alcohol use experiences (AUE) among college students. Using a final sample of 260 college students, this study examined (1) the relationship among HP, MJR, and AUE and if maternal and/or paternal HP moderated the relationship between MJR and AUE; and (2) the relationship among the four DMs, MJR, and AUE and whether any of the four DMs moderated the relationship between MJR and AUE. To address these aims, hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) analyses were performed. Additionally, confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted to verify the factor structure of the HP measure used in this study. Results of the first set of HMR analyses revealed no significant relationship between either type of HP and MJR scores; similar results were found between MJR and AUE. However, these results did reveal a significant, albeit moderately weak, association between both types of HP and AUE. Similarly, the second set of HMR analyses showed that MJR was not significantly related to any of the drinking motives nor to AUE; however, all four drinking motives were significantly related to AUE. CFA analyses revealed that the indices of model fit for the one-factor structure tested generally met the acceptable levels for good model fit for the data. Implications, conclusions, and directions for future research are discussed.Item Generalized Equations for Predicting Percent Body Fat from Anthropometric Measures Using a Criterion Five-Compartment Model(Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2021) Cicone, Zackary S.; Nickerson, Brett S.; Choi, Youn-Jeng; Holmes, Clifton J.; Hornikel, Bjoern; Fedewa, Michael, V; Esco, Michael R.; Shenandoah University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Texas A&M International University; Ewha Womans University; Washington University (WUSTL)Introduction: Anthropometric-based equations are used to estimate percent body fat (%BF) when laboratory methods are impractical or not available. However, because these equations are often derived from two-compartment models, they are prone to error because of the assumptions regarding fat-freemass composition. The purpose of this study was to develop a new anthropometric-based equation for the prediction of%BF, using a five-compartment (5C) model as the criterion measure. Methods: A sample of healthy adults (52.2% female; age, 18 to 69 yr; body mass index, 15.7 to 49.5 kg.m(-2)) completed hydrostatic weighing, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and bioimpedance spectroscopy measurements for calculation of 5C%BF (%BF5C), as well as skinfolds and circumferences.%BF5C was regressed on anthropometric measures using hierarchical variable selection in a random sample of subjects (n = 279). The resulting equation was cross-validated in the remaining participants (n = 78). New model performance was also comparedwith several common anthropometric-based equations. Results: The new equation [%BFNew = 6.083 + (0.143 x SSnew) - (12.058 x sex) - (0.150 x age) - (0.233 x body mass index) + (0.256 x waist) + (0.162 x sex x age)] explained a significant proportion of variance in %BF5C (R-2 = 0.775, SEE = 4.0%). Predictors included sum of skinfolds (SSnew, midaxillary, triceps, and thigh) and waist circumference. The new equation cross-validated well against %BF5C when compared with other existing equations, producing a large intraclass correlation coefficient (0.90), small mean bias and limits of agreement (0.4% +/- 8.6%), and small measures of error (SEE = 2.5%). Conclusions: %BFNew improved on previous anthropometric-based equations, providing better overall agreement and less error in %BF estimation. The equation described in this study may provide an accurate estimate of %BF5C in healthy adults when measurement is not practical.Item Immigration status, peer victimization, and negative emotions as they relate to bullying behavior among school-aged children(University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Yang, Fan; Hopson, Laura M.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaBullying encompasses aggressive behaviors in a situation where an individual experiences negative actions from one or more individuals repeatedly and over time in the forms of emotional, verbal, physical, race-based, and cyber aggressiveness. Anti-bullying research and interventions ensure healthy school climate for students as well as promote individual development and academic success. The current dissertation study investigated bullying perpetration and its association with risk factors identified by general strain theory (GST): limited financial resource, parental rejection, peer victimization, chronic disease, and negative school experience. The mediating role of negative emotions identified by GST was also tested in this study. In addition, guided by minority stress theory, this study investigated whether a student’s immigration status affected the relationship between risk factors and bullying perpetration. Using the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study 2009-2010 cycle, four groups of weighted least squared linear regression models were conducted to examine hypothesized relationships. Study results indicated that bullying was associated with negative emotions, peer victimization, immigration status, being Hispanic, negative school experience, the interaction between immigration status and peer victimization, and the interaction between immigration status and negative emotions. The mediating role of negative emotions was not supported by this study. The association between negative emotions, peer victimization, and bullying perpetration varied across different immigrant status groups. It was concluded that, generalizing from this nationally representative sample, bullying among immigrant children was clearly a rich and complex problem that merited further study. The implications for cultural-sensitive interventions in bullying behaviors, as well as the limitations of the study and directions for future research were presented.Item The impact of organizational resources and employee gratitude on frontline employee engagement(University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Qi, Ji; Baker, Thomas L.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaDelivering and understanding the drivers of superior customer service can be a critical differentiator in service provision contexts. To this end, drawing from social exchange theory, this study investigates the antecedents of frontline employee engagement. In line with previous studies, our research identifies three types of organizational resources, motivational resources (perceived job autonomy), relational-contextual resources (perceived relationship investment), and socio-emotional resources (perceived organizational support), and suggests that these resources collectively contribute to employee engagement through the psychological mechanism of employee gratitude. In addition, we also explore the role of supervisory feedback as a moderator that enhances the relationship between employee gratitude and employee engagement.Item Moral growth mindset is associated with change in voluntary service engagement(PLOS, 2018) Han, Hyemin; Choi, Youn-Jeng; Dawson, Kelsie J.; Jeong, Changwoo; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Seoul National University (SNU)Incremental implicit theories are associated with a belief regarding it is possible to improve one's intelligence or ability through efforts. Previous studies have demonstrated that incremental implicit theories contributed to better academic achievement and positive youth development. Our study aimed to examine whether incremental implicit theories of morality significantly influenced change in students' engagement in voluntary service activities. In our study, 54 Korean college students for Study 1 and 180 Korean 8th graders for Study 2 were recruited to conduct two two-wave studies. We surveyed participants' implicit theories of morality and participation in voluntary service activities. The effect of implicit theories of morality on change in service engagement was analyzed through regression analysis. In Study 1, the moral growth mindset significantly moderated longitudinal change in service engagement. In Study 2, the moral growth mindset significantly influenced engagement in art-related activities, while it significantly moderated change in engagement in youth-related activities.Item Pyschosocial Barriers to Undergraduate Students' Moral Judgment(University of Alabama Libraries, 2020) Roberts, Lucy Elliott; Walker, David I; Lawson, Michael J; University of Alabama TuscaloosaHistorically, higher education has had a significant impact on an individual’s moral development due to multiple social and cognitive factors suggested for promoting growth (Rest, 1986; Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991, King & Mayhew, 2002). Yet, more recent studies have evidenced a decline in advanced reasoning scores amongst undergraduate students compared to previous generations with little attention to potential factors that contribute to these trends. In order to address declining moral reasoning scores, this study was designed to identify potential psychosocial barriers that may hinder an individual’s moral development in college. Using a quantitative, exploratory research design, this study looked at the ways in which symptoms of trait anxiety and depression may interfere with a student’s ability to fully engage in the collegiate experience, and therefore engage in the types of opportunities that may support their moral growth. Findings demonstrated a weak but unique relationship between moderate levels of anxiety and a prioritization of reasoning that relies on laws and norms when considering social cooperation, even when controlling for depression. However, there was no evidence of the effects of anxiety evidenced for any other levels of moral reasoning. Future studies may seek to expound upon these findings by attending to various personal characteristics of students’ experiences as well as examining other types of moral judgement reasoning.Item The relationship of enabling school structure, academic optimism, school disciplinary climate and pupil control ideology with school discipline rates(University of Alabama Libraries, 2019) Willis, Jeffrey Dwayne; Mitchell, Roxanne M.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThe relationship between enabling school structure, academic optimism, pupil control ideology, and school disciplinary climate with school disciplinary rate was quantitatively investigated in my dissertation. A total of 72 schools located throughout northern and central Alabama were surveyed using Enabling School Structure Form (ESS), School Academic Optimism Survey (SAOS), Pupil Control Ideology Form (PCI), School Disciplinary Climate Form (SDC) as instruments to measure predictors. Socioeconomic status and percent African American students served as the control variables for this investigation and were measured using data derived from the Alabama State Department of Education. School disciplinary rates served as the responding variable and was obtained from disciplinary data taken from the Alabama State Department of Education. The school was the unit of analysis. The data collected was analyzed using correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, intra-class correlations, structural equation modeling, and multiple indicator, multiple cause path modeling. The investigation results indicated that a significant relationship existed between SDC and SDR, and a path model could be drawn from ESS to SAOS to SDC to SDR. Other findings confirmed previous research demonstrating that academic optimism was a latent variable comprised of collective efficacy, faculty trust in clients, and academic emphasis along with previous research demonstrating that enabling school structure was highly correlated with and predictive of school academic optimism. Other findings demonstrated a negative correlation between present of African-Americans and SAOS.Item Researching for Better Instructional Methods Using AB Experiments in MOOCs: Results and Challenges(2016) Chen, Zhongzhou; Chudzicki, Christopher; Palumbo, Daniel; Alexandron, Giora; Choi, Youn-Jeng; Zhou, Qian; Pritchard, David E.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaWe conducted two AB experiments (treatment vs. control) in a massive open online course. The first experiment evaluates deliberate practice activities (DPAs) for developing problem solving expertise as measured by traditional physics problems. We find that a more interactive drag-and-drop format of DPA generates quicker learning than a multiple choice format but DPAs do not improve performance on solving traditional physics problems more than normal homework practice. The second experiment shows that a different video shooting setting can improve the fluency of the instructor which in turn improves the engagement of the students although it has no significant impact on the learning outcomes. These two cases demonstrate the potential of MOOC AB experiments as an open-ended research tool but also reveal limitations. We discuss the three most important challenges: wide student distribution, “open-book” nature of assessments, and large quantity and variety of data. We suggest possible methods to cope with those.Item Validity study using factor analyses on the Defining Issues Test-2 in undergraduate populations(PLOS, 2020) Choi, Youn-Jeng; Han, Hyemin; Bankhead, Meghan; Thoma, Stephen J.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Kennesaw State UniversityIntroduction The Defining Issues Test (DIT) aimed to measure one's moral judgment development in terms of moral reasoning. The Neo-Kohlbergian approach, which is an elaboration of Kohlbergian theory, focuses on the continuous development of postconventional moral reasoning, which constitutes the theoretical basis of the DIT. However, very few studies have directly tested the internal structure of the DIT, which would indicate its construct validity. Objectives Using the DIT-2, a later revision of the DIT, we examined whether a bi-factor model or 3-factor CFA model showed a better model fit. The Neo-Kohlbergian theory of moral judgment development, which constitutes the theoretical basis for the DIT-2, proposes that moral judgment development occurs continuously and that it can be better explained with a soft-stage model. Given these assertions, we assumed that the bi-factor model, which considers the Schema-General Moral Judgment (SGMJ), might be more consistent with Neo-Kohlbergian theory. Methods We analyzed a large dataset collected from undergraduate students. We performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) via weighted least squares. A 3-factor CFA based on the DIT-2 manual and a bi-factor model were compared for model fit. The three factors in the 3-factor CFA were labeled as moral development schemas in Neo-Kohlbergian theory (i.e., personal interests, maintaining norms, and postconventional schemas). The bi-factor model included the SGMJ in addition to the three factors. Results In general, the bi-factor model showed a better model fit compared with the 3-factor CFA model although both models reported acceptable model fit indices. Conclusion We found that the DIT-2 scale is a valid measure of the internal structure of moral reasoning development using both CFA and bi-factor models. In addition, we conclude that the soft-stage model, posited by the Neo-Kohlbergian approach to moral judgment development, can be better supported with the bi-factor model that was tested in the present study.