Positive Developmental Psychology

Sample of Master’s Theses and Dissertations

As a product of working with a faculty research advisor, students are currently conducting exciting research on a variety of developmental topics.  A sample of MA theses and dissertations underway or completed at CGU include the following:

• Elise Arruda: A Study of Positive Development of Urban Youth: Thriving in After School Programs
• Kelly Murphy: Do External Buffers Attenuate the Relationship Between Placement Disruption and Maladaptive Outcomes? An Empirical Study of Foster Care Alumni
• Alissa Greenberg: Addressing the Research-to-Practice Gap in Autism Treatments: Applying an Effectiveness Research Model to the Picture Exchange Communication System
• En-Ling Chiao: Exploring the Development of Life Purpose through Study Abroad Experiences
• Julia Koch: Situational Optimism in Mentor-Protégé Relationships
• Michael Warren: Effects of Relational Meditation on Well-Being in Older Adults
• Krista Collins: Increasing Attendance and Retention in After-School Programs: The Link between Personality Traits, Activity Type and Flow Experience
• Brett Wheeler: The Unique Role of Humor in Broaden-and-Build Theory
• Susan Menkes: Children’s Media Comprehension: The Contribution of Media Platform, Executive Functioning Skills, and Age
• Ann Isbell: The Impact of After-school Program Participation: Applying Hierarchical Linear Regression
• Veronica Fruiht: Finding the Will and the Ways: How Using Character Strengths Can Make Adolescents More Hopeful
• Kari Berquist: Teaching Parents of Children with Autism to Evaluate Interventions
• Marian Liu: Older Adults’ Decision Making: Choice Set Size and Emotional Regulation
• Linda Meyer: Children’s Interest during Shared Reading Predicts Receptive Vocabulary
• Qin Li: Exploring the Impact of Positive and Negative Mood on the Creative Process