Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Navigating the pandemic landscape : Asian and Asian American young adults' perspectives on COVID-19 racism and university responses(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Yang, Wenxi; Herman, Keith C.[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2026] During the pandemic, anti-Asian discrimination and xenophobia surged, with repeated exposure to such distress negatively impacting physical and mental health. This study explored the experiences and needs of Asian and Asian American (AAA) young adults, focusing on their views of institutional responses to anti-Asian sentiment. Ten undergraduate and graduate students from a Midwestern university were interviewed. The sample included four international students (from China, Korea, and Brazil), five second-generation Asian immigrants (with backgrounds in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Korea), and one international transracial adoptee. Utilizing Thematic Analysis (TA) procedures, results indicated that participants relied on social support networks to navigate COVID-19 discrimination and racial trauma. They advocated for more racerelated education in schools and families, noting that cultural silence around mental health and racism limited opportunities for collective healing. Generational differences in discussing race also created barriers within families. Second, the university environment and the onset of COVID-19-related anti-Asian sentiment served as a turning point in AAA students' racial identity development. During this time, students became more aware of their racial identities, engaged in deeper self-reflection, and sought healing from racial trauma through social support and advocacy. Lastly, participants often encounter marginalization in educational institutions and have advocated for their needs from these institutions. Findings will inform strategies for educational institutions and Asian parents to foster trust, safety, and well-being during stressful times, while guiding interventions and policies to reduce discrimination, bullying, and racism.Item "Plastic off the sofa" : an exploration of graduate student clinicians' perceptions of clinical training experiences and their preparation to work with Black clients(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Watson, Tiara Latrease; Lewis, Kaleea; Parmenter, JoshuaConsidering systemic racism and reverberating impacts of racial trauma Black Americans experience, mental healthcare underutilization in Black communities is a pervasive public health concern. Using the psychology of radical healing and intersectionality frameworks, the present study utilizes a qualitative approach to explore impacts of graduate student clinicians' programmatic and clinical training experiences on their preparation to provide effective, collaborative therapy services to help Black clients heal from racial trauma. In-depth, individual interviews and follow-up member-checking focus groups were conducted with a total sample of 17 participants from various counseling psychology doctoral programs across the United States. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, identify patterns, and generate themes and subthemes. Results of the qualitative data analysis revealed specific structural deficits in counseling psychology training programs and practicum sites with implications for participants feeling unprepared to effectively work with Black clients experiencing racial trauma. Additionally, a few participants discussed strengths of their programs engaging in training and practice regarding social justice. Participants discussed engaging in compensatory self-education and acts of resistance in addition to highlighting ways in which they engage in decolonial, collective radical healing practices with clients, colleagues, and community. Centering the perspectives and experiences of current graduate student clinicians highlights current impacts and suggestions for restructuring counseling psychology training programs, which may amplify existing strengths and more intentionally integrate anti-racist, decolonial, critically conscious training. The considerations may also promote cultural humility and graduate student clinicians' perceptions of efficacy regarding helping Black clients engage in radical healing.Item Direction dependence analysis in latent variable contexts : comparison of normal and non-normal item response theory models(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Chen, Xiuhan; Wiedermann, WolfgangOne common goal of science is to uncover causal relationships. When randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not feasible, researchers often rely on survey-based observational data to explore causal relationships. In observational research, most used statistical methods are based on covariances and correlations and assume that the collected data are normally distributed. However, correlation does not imply causation, and research has repeatedly shown that data in social sciences often deviate from normality. This study focuses on a method called Direction Dependence Analysis (DDA), which is a confirmatory approach designed to determine the causal relationship between two variables that make use of non-normality. This study aims to explore the effect of psychometric properties of survey data on DDA through two Monte-Carlo simulation studies, each involving different psychometric models and scoring approaches with and without the presence of hidden confounders. A real-world example highlights how DDA can be applied to survey-based data using different psychometric models and scoring methods. The results showed that the number of response categories, instrument length, and sample size have positive effects on correctly identifying the true causal model. Additionally, Davian-Curve Item Response Theory scores outperformed other scoring methods. Recommendations for applied research are given, and limitations and future directions are discussed.Item Measuring entrepreneurial potential : a comprehensive scale development for emerging student entrepreneurs(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Matcharashvili, Irakli; Easter, MatthewThere is a tradition of self‐report measures in entrepreneurship research, such as the Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (Liñán et al., 2011) and the Entrepreneurial Self‑Efficacy Scale (McGee et al., 2009) yet none are tailored to capture the unique motivational profiles of today’s undergraduate student entrepreneurs. To fill this gap, the present study developed and validated the Entrepreneurial Motivation Assessment (EMA) Scale through a three‐phase process. First, a comprehensive literature review and expert consultations informed the generation of items reflecting four core constructs: internal locus of control, achievement need, risk‐taking proclivity, and innovation orientation. Second, qualitative pilot testing with undergraduates refined item clarity and content relevance. Finally, a large‐scale survey employed confirmatory factor analysis to compare higher‐order and four‐factor correlated models, yielding a 19‐item structure with excellent fit (CFI = .979; RMSEA = .036) and strong reliability (ω = .82). The EMA Scale offers a theoretically grounded tool for assessing and fostering entrepreneurial potential among emerging student entrepreneurs.Item Interpretive phenomenological analysis of interviews with adolescents to inform understanding of school-based anti-fat bias(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Fountain, Raisa;Anti-fat discrimination (fatphobia, weight stigma) is a significant and pervasive issue in the United States for children and adults. Weight or perceived fatness is the single most predictive trait associated with bullying in schools in the United States. Qualitative analyses of the experiences of youth are limited. The purpose of this study is to explore current students' experiences of anti-fat bias to operationalize the behaviors that communicate this bias in school settings and to uncover details that may be more difficult to determine through quantitative studies. This study used interpretive phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews on the topic of personal experiences of anti-fat bias to contribute to further understanding of how the bias manifests and is experienced in school settings. Participants discussed topics such as school disengagement, feelings of non-belonging at school, critical locations, and social hierarchy. Implications for future research, potential solutions, and the importance of this issue are discussed.