Doctoral Qualifying Examination Aileen Kangavary (U81507955) Summer 2026 Day 1 (Cognate in Psychology) Please read the following scenario and respond to each of the questions below it. Leah is a 5-year-old student in Pre-Kindergarten at Sunshine Early Learning Center, a public preschool program she has attended since she was 3 years old. She has recently been referred to the school psychologist (you) by her Pre-K teacher, who reports that Leah’s behaviors have begun to impact her ability to participate in classroom routines and engage with peers. Specifically, Leah’s teacher reported that Leah experiences frequent, intense emotional outbursts several times per day, often triggered by transitions (e.g., moving from free play to circle time), sharing materials, or being told “no” or “wait.” During these outbursts, Leah may cry loudly, scream, throw objects, hit or kick nearby peers or adults, and attempt to run out of the classroom. These episodes can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes and often result in Leah being removed from the classroom to the director’s office. Between outbursts, Leah is described as generally bright and engaged, but her teacher notes that she has difficulty calming down independently and frequently seeks reassurance from adults. Her teacher would like you to follow up on these behavioral and social-emotional concerns. Since this is your first year at Sunshine Early Learning Center, you are not very familiar with Leah but know that she does not have an individualized education program (IEP) or a medical diagnosis. A review of Leah’s cumulative folder reveals no record of developmental delays or prior academic concerns. You interview Leah’s Pre-K teacher for additional information. She reports that Leah’s outbursts are most likely to occur during free choice time when peers are using preferred toys, during transitions, and when Leah is asked to complete a non-preferred activity (e.g., putting on her coat, cleaning up). The teacher notes that Leah has very few positive peer interactions and often responds to peer initiations with pushing or grabbing. You interview the previous Pre-K teacher (from Leah’s 4-year-old classroom), who reports similar behaviors but notes they have increased in frequency and intensity this year. You decide to meet with Leah to follow-up on her teacher’s referral. In your meeting, Leah plays quietly with a dollhouse while you ask her questions. When asked about school, Leah says she likes “playing with blocks” but does not like “when kids take my stuff.” When asked what happens when she gets upset, Leah states, “I get so mad, my body feels like a volcano.” She reports that her teacher sometimes takes her to the office where she sits with the director until she feels “calm.” She did not report any experiences of teasing or bullying but said she does not know how to ask peers to play with her. Leah’s mother reports that Leah is her only child and that she and Leah’s father are recently separated but share custody, with Leah spending weekdays with her mother and every other weekend with her father. Leah’s mother describes Leah as “strong-willed” and “dramatic” and reports that similar outbursts occur at home, particularly during transitions (e.g., bedtime, leaving the park, turning off the television). She notes that she often gives in to Leah’s demands to avoid a meltdown because she is exhausted after work. Leah’s mother also reports that Leah has difficulty falling asleep at night and frequently wakes up during the night, leading to morning irritability. Leah has not been evaluated by a mental health professional, but her mother endorses a family history of “anger problems” on her father’s side, though no specific diagnoses have been made. Leah lives at home with her mother and maternal grandmother, both of whom work full-time, and spends limited time with her father due to his work schedule. Her mother reports that she would like Leah to be able to “handle being told no” and to “play nicely with other kids without losing control.” —– Day #1 (Cognate in Psychology) —- In your role at Sunshine Early Learning Center, you have the opportunity to support Leah, her teaching staff, and her parents. Your responses today should demonstrate your understanding of the affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social aspects of behavior relevant to conceptualizing Leah’s current behavior, and ultimately supporting Leah indirectly through consultation with center staff. (A discussion of how to support Leah directly through clinical services is not expected in this Day 1 response, but rather will be addressed in Day 2 of qualifying exams). Please cite empirical literature (author only, no date needed) to support your responses. Based on the case study presented and your knowledge of theories of affective aspects of behavior, describe examples of developmental pathways that may relate to Leah’s current academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges. Based on the case study presented and your knowledge of theories of biological aspects of behavior, describe examples of neural, physiological, and/or genetic influences that may relate to Leah’s current academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges. Based on the case study presented and your knowledge of cognitive aspects of behavior, describe theories of learning, memory, thought processes and/or decision-making that may relate to Leah’s current academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges; what instructional content would be most relevant for Leah? Based on the case study presented and your knowledge of developmental aspects of behavior, describe theories and concepts related to transitions, growth, and development across an individual’s life that may help to better understand Leah’s current academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges? Based on the case study presented and your knowledge of social aspects of behavior, describe theories and concepts related to cultural diversity, group processes, attributions, and/or discrimination that may help to better understand Leah’s current academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges? Based on the case study, provide two examples of how Leah’s current academic, social-emotional, and behavioral challenges likely result from the interplay of different bases of behavior referenced in parts 1-5 above (e.g., social concepts that are particularly salient to his developmental stage)? Based on your responses from 1-6 above, how would you consult with Leah’s teachers and school staff members?
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