RSS 1.0SUNY New Paltz Masters Theses Collection
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Is vocal psychotherapy going to change my mind: a heuristic, self inquiryThis study explores the impact of vocal psychotherapy on self-perception and selfexpression through heuristic self-inquiry. Using reflexive journals, the author examines themes such as perseverance, self-worth, and self-expression, demonstrating how vocal techniques like vocal holding and free associative singing promote emotional release and deeper selfunderstanding. The findings highlight the therapeutic potential of vocal psychotherapy to enhance self-esteem, emotional regulation, and authenticity. The study underscores the value of self-experience for therapists and suggests future research on the holistic benefits of singing and its role in music therapy education. Keywords: Vocal Psychotherapy, Self-Perception, Self-Expression, Reflexive Journals, Themes, Understanding, Music Therapy, Emotional Regulation, Self-Esteem, Authenticity.
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Lossy compression with implicit neural representations utilizing chroma subsamplingLossy compression is the process in which the file size of information is reduced while retaining the overall fidelity of the information. It is utilized to reduce the amount of data for storage and transmission. For specifically lossy image compression, lots of data can be removed while keeping the image nearly identical due to the fact that the human visual system is inexact. Lossy image compression algorithms such as the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) are utilized to accomplish this goal. Recently, a new form of signal representation has been proposed known as the Implicit Neural Representation (INR). Instead of explicitly defining the compression process, a multilayer perceptron (MLP) network learns to memorize a signal storing the information as parameters of a MLP as opposed to the image itself. While INRs have shown promise, they have yet to become viable compression methods because traditional methods are faster and more accurate. Many methods have been utilized to further improve the compression ratio of Implicit Neural Representations such as quantization and entropy coding. In this thesis, we explore an image processing technique known as Chroma Subsampling to improve the compression quality of INRs. This method takes advantage of the fact that the human visual system is more susceptible to details in brightness rather than details in colors. Additionally, we will also introduce various architectures and techniques to train a chroma subsampled image into an INR more effectively.
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Microaggressions in music therapy internships: a survey studyA gap in the literature appears to exist between the internship experiences for interns that might belong to minority groups based on sex assigned at birth, gender identity, racism, ableism, and classism versus those that identify as White, cisgender, able-bodied, financially privileged, and male. The purpose of this survey study was to examine the incidence of microaggressions, including sexism, cisgenderism, classism, racism, and ableism, experienced by music therapy interns. Results suggested that race-related microaggressions are prevalent for BIPOC interns throughout their internship experience, also for gender non-conforming interns, bisexual, pansexual, lesbian, and gay interns, interns with emotional and/or physical disabilities, and interns belonging to lower and middle-lower socio-economic class. Further, results suggest that microaggressions resulted in significant consequences for bisexual and pansexual interns, interns who self-identified as having emotional disabilities, and interns belonging to the lower and middle-lower socio-economic class. Keywords: microaggressions, internships, minority, majority, dominant
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Music-based interventions for post-stroke patients with aphasia: a rapid reviewAphasia is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke, significantly affecting one's communication and quality of life. Music-based interventions (MBis) have gained attention as potential therapeutic tools for post-stroke aphasia. This rapid review aims to synthesize the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of music-based interventions in the rehabilitation of post-stroke patients with aphasia. A rapid review of the literature was conducted including studies that examined the use of music-based interventions for aphasia in post-stroke patients. Eligible studies included post-stroke patients with aphasia, peer-reviewed articles, quantitative studies, and studies that were published in English within the last 10 years. The focus was on interventions that targeted speech, language, and communication outcomes, with a particular emphasis on music-based interventions. A total of 17 studies were included in this review. The findings suggest that music-based interventions, particularly the use of MIT, can lead to improvements in speech production, prosody, and overall communication skills for individuals with aphasia. The evidence supports the potential of music-based interventions as a therapy that would be beneficial for stroke patients with aphasia. Music-based interventions show promise as an adjunct to conventional aphasia therapies for post-stroke patients, with moderate to strong effects observed in communication recovery.
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Threading the needle: tatreez, trade, tales and talk in anglophonic, women's literature of the Arab diasporaPenelope weaving by day and unweaving by night Laertes' death shroud, Arachne's metamorphosis as punishment for depicting the cruelty of the gods in thread, the cloak embroidered with stories of famous lovers stolen from a Sultan's unnamed daughter and gifted to Emare- the metaphor of embroidery or weaving in storytelling overcomes borders to permeate our transnational memories and cultural milieus. Foundational texts of both Western and global canons time and again tum to weaving as metaphor; from the ancients like Athena, the Moirai, or Neith who- in some myths- is credited as the weaver (and frequent reweaver) of the world, literature and narratives have been explored via the development of a rich tapestry of not only women, but men1 who weave and are woven into global narrative memory. Contemporary works such as Carmen Maria Machado 's "The Husband Stitch," R.B. Lemberg's The Four Profound Weaves, and Salman Rushdie's Shame, to name just a few, remind us of the central and formative connection between the material craft of embroidery and the transcendental art of storytelling.
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Music-based stress management for college music students: research protocolThe purpose of this paper is to outline a research protocol to determine the effectiveness of engaging with a YouTube channel in reducing the perceived stress of college music students. Due to the demanding nature of their degree, music students are at risk for depression, anxiety and burnout. The channel will offer accessible, and research based guided music experiences in order to mitigate academic stress while offering students the opportunity to reflect and understand their emotional responses to stress. This mixed method study will be evaluated by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing 14 item scale (WEMWBS). As this is a research protocol no data is presently recorded. Once concluded, this research offers a way to assess the potential of online music experiences to supporting the mental health and well-being of college music students. Key Words: Student Stress, Self-care practices, Music majors, Depression, Anxiety, Learning burnout, Mental well-being, Music Based Experiences, Mindfulness.
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Songwriting method variations used in music therapy practice: a research protocolMusic therapy education focuses on the use of several methods in clinical practice. One of the more commonly used methods is songwriting. Songwriting methods are covered to various extents in most music therapy education programs. However, learning how and when to implement a particular song writing method may not be addressed as thoroughly. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to better understand the songwriting method variations used by experienced music therapists, how often they use them, and their perceived benefits. This research will benefit the music therapy field by deepening our understanding of who can benefit from therapeutic songwriting. Despite the research done on the impact of therapeutic songwriting, there is little research that focuses on the variations of songwriting methods. By gaining a deeper insight into what songwriting variations are used most often a better understanding of their benefits can be achieved. This study will build upon the work of Baker (2015) and the song writing variations she identified. I am interested in the songwriting method variations that are used in clinical practice.
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Animalistic alcoholics: respectability and degeneration in sensationWhat does an alcoholic look like? What does an alcoholic sound like? For Victorians these questions had seemingly clear answers. However, the reality of alcoholism often defied expectations and revealed complexities that made most Victorians uncomfortable. Plunging into this cultural tension, this essay explores the treatment of alcoholics in sensation literature and science fiction. Although substance abuse disorders were only marginally understood in the nineteenth century, this essay understands “alcoholism” to be the habitual consumption of alcohol to excess (“Alcoholism”). Additionally, this essay understands alcohol to be inseparable from affect, or the expression of the emotions. As such, sensation fiction—produced to elicit emotional reactions from its readers—offers an apt medium through which to explore the treatment of alcoholism in late Victorian literature. Specifically, this essay addresses Lady Audley’s Secret, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Island of Dr. Moreau. By tracking the portrayal of alcoholics throughout time, from 1862 to 1896, this essay explores Victorians’ evolving understanding of the impact of alcohol—and affect—on society.
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Play hard, work smart: examining the relationship between playful breaks and productivityThis study explored the effects of break activities on task performance, comparing digital play, physical play, and passive social media use. Seventy-six college students completed a letter cross-out task followed by a 3-minute break, then resumed the task for additional trials. Contrary to expectations from previous ego-depletion studies, performance remained stable across all trials, with no significant evidence of cognitive fatigue or differences in post-break recovery between conditions. Trends suggested that physical play offered mild recovery benefits, with smaller performance declines compared to digital play and social media, though these differences were not statistically significant. Self-reported measures of break enjoyment, task disengagement, subjective productivity, and post-break refreshment also favored physical play as the most restorative activity, although not statistically significant. These findings challenge traditional ego depletion models and emphasize the need for more robust task designs and recovery metrics to better understand the dynamics of fatigue and performance recovery.
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Exploring the use of evolutionary principles in early childhood Montessori educationThis study explores the evolutionary relevance of early childhood Montessori education by examining whether Montessori schools offer a more adaptive learning environment compared to traditional preschools. By surveying a sample of parents (n = 106), with over 85% of participants identifying as female and the average age of their children being 50 months, from both Montessori and traditional preschools, this research assesses children’s abilities across several developmental domains while also considering the evolutionary principles underlying the classroom environments. To account for confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status, educational level, and race, the study included relatively matched samples to ensure comparability between the groups. Results suggest that Montessori preschoolers experience more evolutionary-friendly class environments, as well as scoring higher on practical life skills. Correlational analyses revealed statistically significant relationships between the evolutionary relevance variable and certain developmental outcomes measures (See Table 2). This finding potentially supports the idea that Montessori education aligns more closely with evolutionary adaptive principles than traditional methods. Montessori environments may better support children’s innate developmental learning processes. The findings offer important implications for future research, particularly for understanding how to design educational approaches that better align with evolutionary principles to enhance children’s developmental outcomes.
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Conformity and punishment: does conforming to an antisocial behavior reduce punishment?Prior research has examined the inverse relationship between conformity and free will beliefs, as well as the impact of free will beliefs on punishment severity (Alquist et al., 2013; Moynihan et al., 2018; Pande, 2021). However, there is less information on the direct impact of conformity on punishment. The current study examines the influence of conformity on punishment decisions for moral breaches, taking into account the role of authenticity and free will. More specifically, the study explores if individuals conforming when committing a crime are perceived as deserving a lesser punishment than those acting on their own free will. The study, involving 67 participants who evaluated fictional scenarios of criminal behavior, revealed that participants in the conformity condition recommended harsher punishments, specifically in terms of imprisonment. However, conformity did not significantly impact other punishment measures. Ultimately, the study challenges prior assumptions, providing insights into social influence dynamics and moral judgment complexities.
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Identity development and cultural expectations: exploring the identities of LGBTQ+ individuals through the lens of master narrativesThe purpose of this study is to better understand how LGBTQ+ individuals understand and make meaning out of their identities in relation to societal expectations that are prevalent in the United States. In my research, I employed the master narrative framework (McLean & Syed, 2015b), which shifts focus in the study of identity from the individual to the intersection of self and society, highlighting the role of culture within the identity development process (McLean et al., 2017). This framework involves master narratives, culturally shared stories that provide a foundation within which individuals can organize and story their own experiences, beliefs, and values (McLean & Syed, 2015b; Syed & McLean, 2023). In my study, I had participants (N = 21) complete in-depth, semi-structured interviews in which they reflected upon their life experiences and how they came to understand themselves as LGBTQ+ identifying individuals. My research was guided by two research questions surrounding (1) the construction of master narratives and (2) how LGBTQ+ individuals align with and deviate from it. Upon conducting a thematic analysis of the data, I was able to reveal how LGBTQ+ individuals are aware of different cultural expectations that have been imposed on them. Analysis of the data revealed the existence of distinct master narratives of a good life for straight individuals and a good life for LGBTQ+ individuals, each encompassing unique cultural expectations. In a case study, I was also able to highlight the complexity of alignment and deviation within these narratives, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the nuanced ways individuals navigate master narratives. Key Words: identity, LGBTQ+, master narratives, narrative identity, cultural expectations
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Anthromotive: a journey in accessible car design and fabricationIf this SOAR repository item is not accessible to you (e.g. able to be used in the context of a disability), please email libraryaccessibility@newpaltz.edu
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Brute force attainability"Brute Force Attainability" is for those that forget. In tackling my own struggles with an unreliable ability to remember, my thesis addresses the fragile condition of memory in the pursuit of fulfilling long term artistic goals. A solidified design becomes tangible through different combinations of CNC flatbed milling, 3D printing, silicone molding, a DIY rotocast, a little bit of fiberglass, an exorbitant amount of sanding, and airbrushing.
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The historical materialist illusion theater: remembering the goddess civilizationThe Historical Materialist Illusion Theater is an interactive installation focused on the work of Lithuanian-American archaeologist Marija Gimbutas (1921-1994), designed using CAD software and fabricated using CNC processes. The installation functions as an art piece but also a self-contained exhibition of Neolithic artifacts reproduced with modern technology. This installation provides an experience for viewers to engage with archaeology and art history, and to learn about cultures that lived thousands of years ago.
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Tattoos and social perception: is the stigmatization of tattoos warranted? An empirical studyThe current study seeks to understand how the presence of tattoos affects social perception and to identify the observable differences in traits between individuals who have tattoos and individuals who do not have tattoos to explore the accuracy of these perceived differences. Participants (N=308) were presented with a stimuli photograph of a male or a female who did or did not have tattoos before being asked to rate that individual on a set of 11 traits. Contrary to original hypotheses, the study found that the target stimuli with tattoos was not rated significantly different on a set of 11 traits than was the stimuli without tattoos, regardless of gender of target stimuli and participant tattoos. Participants also filled out multiple individual-difference measures as well as a set of demographic questions. Results revealed that generally, tattooed participants did not score significantly differently than did non-tattooed participants on individual-difference measures including the Light Triad, the Dark Triad, the Big Five Personality Traits, and a measure of Honesty/Humility. It is worth noting that findings did reveal two significant differences between tattooed and non-tattooed participants; tattooed participants scored significantly higher on a measure of psychopathy than did non-tattooed participants and non-tattooed participants scored significantly higher on a measure of emotional stability than did tattooed participants. Although the data did not support the majority of the original hypotheses, the findings reveal a decrease in the negative effect of tattoos on social perception and allude to a societal shift in the opinion on tattoos that is worth further exploration.
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Memory as a continuation of movement: effects of auditory temporal structure on memory performance with differing cognitive loadsThe following thesis aimed to test the empirical support for an embodied memory by investigating the relationship between power-law structure in auditory stimulation, posture, and memory performance in tasks of differing cognitive load. The shared power-law framework offers a common operationalization between manipulated stimulation and measured movement. We began by manipulating power-law structure explicitly in stimulation, we then estimated the resulting power-law exponents in movement, and finally, tested for a difference in memory performance. Participants (N=36) participated in a Corsi Block tapping task with high and low load trials. While participating, they were exposed to one of three auditory stimuli with differing levels of power-law structure. Participant performance and movement were measured and analyzed using detrended fluctuation analysis. Memory performance was analyzed using a factorial ANOVA. Cognitive load had a main effect on memory performance, but all other differences were nonsignificant. Future work may need to account for the multitude of power laws throughout the body that may moderate the response to power-law structure in stimulation. Keywords: scale invariance, Corsi block tapping task, memory, encoding, embodiment, perception-action-cognition
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An evolutionary investigation of the tradeoffs that accompany high religiosityThe study examines the complex interaction between religiosity, personality traits, and behavior within human group dynamics. It delves into evolutionary psychology's relevance in understanding social adaptations crucial for human ancestors' success within religious contexts. Using various standardized surveys like the Big Five Inventory, Religious Orientation Scale, Dark Triad, and Risk Propensity Scale, it aims to identify correlations among these factors. Specifically, this research predicts that the relationships between dispositional personality traits, openness or Machiavellianism for example, and behavioral traits, for example the propensity for taking risks, is moderated, affected, by whether an individual is religious or a-religious. By employing regression analysis, it will explore how religiosity affects relationships between the predictor and outcome variables. Anticipated findings could uncover connections unique to religious and a-religious individuals, shedding light on evolved behaviors' impact on social groups. This research offers insights into religious psychology, emphasizing the complexity of behavior within social contexts. Keywords: Religiosity, Personality Traits, Human Group Dynamics, Evolutionary Psychology, Moderating Variable.
