Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Do Citizens Know Whether Their State Has Decriminalized Marijuana? Assessing The Perceptual Component Of Deterrence Theory, Robert Maccoun, Rosalie Pacula, Jamie Chriqui, Katherine Harris, Peter Reuter

Robert MacCoun

Deterrence theory proposes that legal compliance is influenced by the anticipated risk of legal sanctions. This implies that changes in law will produce corresponding changes in behavior, but the marijuana decriminalization literature finds only fragmentary support for this prediction. But few studies have directly assessed the accuracy of citizens’ perceptions of legal sanctions. The heterogeneity in state statutory penalties for marijuana possession across the United States provides an opportunity to examine this issue. Using national survey data, we find that the percentages who believe they could be jailed for marijuana possession are quite similar in both states that have removed …

Widening Spheres Of Impact: The Role Of Forgiveness In Marital And Family, Kristina Gordon, Farrah Hughes, Nathan Tomcik, Lee Dixon, Samantha Litzinger

Lee Dixon

This study examined relations between aspects of family functioning and positive and negative dimensions of forgiveness. Increased understanding of one's partner and decreased anger about betrayal characterize positive forgiveness, whereas experiences such as holding a grudge and desiring revenge indicate negative forgiveness. The sample included 87 wives and 74 husbands who reported experiencing a significant betrayal, their partners, and their adolescent children. Analyses of reported forgiveness revealed that more negative forgiveness was associated with lower marital satisfaction for husbands and wives; trust partially mediated this relationship for husbands and wives. Greater positive forgiveness reported by husbands and wives predicted their …

Behavioral And Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies, Kristina Gordon, Lee Dixon, Jennifer Willett, Farrah Hughes

Lee Dixon

The Handbook of Family Psychology provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical underpinnings and established practices relating to family psychology.

-Provides a thorough orientation to the field of family psychology for clinicians

-Includes summaries of the most recent research literature and clinical interventions for specific areas of interest to family psychology clinicians

-Features essays by recognized experts in a variety of specialized fields

-Suitable as a required text for courses in family psychology, family therapy, theories of psychotherapy, couples therapy, systems theory, and systems therapy

Implementing Federated Search At The University Of Wyoming, Michael Nelson, Mary Ann Harlow, Cass Kvenild

Michael Lawrence Nelson

No abstract provided.

Selection Bias In College Admissions Test Scores, Jesse Rothstein, Melissa Clark, Diane Schanzenbach

Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach

Data from college admissions tests can provide a valuable measure of student achievement, but the non-representativeness of test-takers is an important concern. We examine selectivity bias in both state-level and school-level SAT and ACT averages. The degree of selectivity may differ importantly across and within schools, and across and within states. To identify within-state selectivity, we use a control function approach that conditions on scores from a representative test. Estimates indicate strong selectivity of test-takers in "ACT states," where most college- bound students take the ACT, and much less selectivity in SAT states. To identify within- and between-school selectivity, we …

Poverty Reduction And Vincentian Higher Education Institutions, Marco Tavanti, Craig Mousin

Craig B. Mousin

Dr. Marco Tavanti and Craig Mousin discuss with Dr. Scott Kelly the university's responsibility for poverty reduction as expressed in the conferences and special number of Vincentian Heritage "What would Vincent do? Vincentian Higher Education and Poverty Reduction"

Prediction Markets To Forecast Electricity Demand, Peter Cramton, Luciano De Castro

Luciano I. de Castro

Forecasting electricity demand for future years is an essential step in resource planning. A common approach is for the system operator to predict future demand from the estimates of individual distribution companies. However, the predictions thus obtained may be of poor quality, since the reporting incentives are unclear. We propose a prediction market as a form of forecasting future demand for electricity. We describe how to implement a simple prediction market for continuous variables, using only contracts based on binary variables. We also discuss specific issues concerning the implementation of such a market.

Shared Understanding Of End-Users' Requirements In E-Science Projects, Peter Darch, Annamaria Carusi, Marina Jirotka

Peter Darch

The acquisition by developers of e-science applications of a thorough understanding of the requirements of end-users has been recognized as playing a critical role in the usability of such applications. However, there is another dimension to such an understanding that also plays an important role, namely the extent to which these developers converge on a shared understanding of these requirements. This paper considers why such a shared understanding is important, and highlights possible obstacles to this that may arise in the context of e-science projects. A research project, consisting of qualitative case studies of two projects, is being undertaken, with …

Living In A Material World: How Visual Cues To Material Properties Affect The Way That We Lift Objects And Perceive Their Weight, Gavin Buckingham, Jonathan Cant, Melvyn Goodale

Gavin Buckingham

The visual properties of an object provide many cues as to the tensile strength, compliance, and density of the material from which it is made. However, it is not well understood how these implicit associations affect our perceptions of these properties and how they determine the initial forces that are applied when an object is picked up. Here we examine the effects of these cues on such forces by using the classic "material-weight illusion" (MWI). Grip and load forces were measured in three experiments as participants lifted cubes made from metal, wood, and expanded polystyrene. These cubes were adjusted to …

"Being Literate About Something": Discipline-Based Information Literacy In Higher Education, Jill Anderson

Jill E. Anderson

This report examines how academic librarians and theorists have discussed the issue of discipline-based information literacy instructional approaches since the publication of the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education in 2000. As Kate Manuel has recently noted, the Standards balance outcomes and indicators of universal or general information-literacy skills with more discipline-specific skills. Prior to the publication of the ACRL Standards, Stephen Plum argued that disciplinary standards can provide valuable frameworks for library instruction; more recent theorists have focused attention on general skills, some arguing that discipline-based skills are the province of subject faculty, others suggesting that discipline-based …

Youtube: Spotlight On Policy, Dr. Greg Hill On Educational Attainment, Greg Hill

Gregory C. Hill

In this episode of SPOTLIGHT ON POLICY, Dr. Greg Hill, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration discusses educational attainment measures for the Boise MSA and Idaho. Spotlight on Policy is a production of the Public Policy Center at Boise State University. http://ppa.boisestate.edu/centerppa/

Earning Their Way Out Of Poverty (Outline And Sample Chapter), Gary Fields

Gary S Fields

[Excerpt] According to the latest figures, today an estimated 3.1 billion people still live in absolute poverty, essentially all of them in the low- and middle-income countries of Asia, Latin America, and Africa and none of them in what are traditionally called the “developed economies” of North America (excluding Mexico), Western Europe, and selected parts of Asia and Oceania. This book is about how the poor live and work and what actions the world community could take to improve poor people’s earning opportunities as a central component of a multifaceted program aimed at ending the scourge of absolute economic misery.

A Brief Review Of The Literature On Earnings Mobility In Developing Countries, Gary Fields

Gary S Fields

[Excerpt] The literature on income and earnings mobility falls into three categories:

1. Macro mobility studies address the entire economy. They ask the question, how much income mobility and/or earnings mobility is there in the economy?
2. A second group of studies, micro mobility studies, examines patterns of income and earnings change over time for different individuals or groups. They ask the questions, which individuals or households experience movements of what magnitudes, and what are the correlates and determinants of these movements?
3. Within the micro mobility studies are a number of studies that look specifically at poverty dynamics …

The Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised: Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Original Inter-Correlation Data Set And Model, Richard Hicks, Mark Bahr, Daisure Fujiwara

Richard Hicks

Stress levels are said to be rising in many different occupations but one problem for cross-occupation comparison purposes is that different questionnaires have been used in different studies - often specially designed questionnaires for the occupation under study. The Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised (OSI-R) is one questionnaire that may help assess the same stress-related variables across different occupational groups. The OSI-R model is theory-based and assesses the effects on the individual of three ‘factors’ (occupational roles, psychological strain and coping resources) across fourteen dimensions. This current study reports the findings of a re-analysis of the original Manual data of 983 mixed …

The Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised: Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Original Inter-Correlation Data Set And Model, Richard Hicks, Mark Bahr, Daisure Fujiwara

Mark Bahr

Stress levels are said to be rising in many different occupations but one problem for cross-occupation comparison purposes is that different questionnaires have been used in different studies - often specially designed questionnaires for the occupation under study. The Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised (OSI-R) is one questionnaire that may help assess the same stress-related variables across different occupational groups. The OSI-R model is theory-based and assesses the effects on the individual of three ‘factors’ (occupational roles, psychological strain and coping resources) across fourteen dimensions. This current study reports the findings of a re-analysis of the original Manual data of 983 mixed …

An "Act Of God": Race, Religion, And Policy In The Wake Of Hurricane Katrina, Seneca Vaught

Seneca Vaught

This essay addresses how characterization of Hurricane Katrina as an “act of God” exposed historical racial cleavages and policy challenges in post-Katrina America. Act-of-God rhetoric not only stemmed from religious history but was also largely informed by America's racial legacy. Usage of the term often absolved individuals and institutions from personal responsibility and economic liability, especially when the specter of race could be invoked. The term also revealed generational ideological differences within the Black community itself, posing significant questions about the discourse of race and religion in post–civil rights America.

Strong Firms Lobby, Weak Firms Bribe: A Survey-Based Analysis Of The Demand For Influence And Corruption, Sven Feldmann

Sven Feldmann

We use survey responses by firms to examine the firm-level determinants and effects of political influence, their perception of corruption and prevalence of bribe paying. We find that: (a) measures of political influence and corruption/bribes are uncorrelated at the firm level; (b) firms that are larger, older, exporting, government-owned, are widely held and/or have fewer competitors have more political influence, perceive corruption to be less of a problem and pay bribes less often; (c) influence increases sales and government subsidies and in general makes the firm have a more positive view on the government. In sum, we show that strong …

Organized Crime In West Africa: Options For Eu Engagement, Emmanuel Aning

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

Worldwide, organized crime is considered a major threat to human security. Organized crime impedes social, economic, cultural and democratic developments globally, with disproportionate effects on developing and fragile states. The threat and challenges of organized crime in Africa in general and West Africa in particular is enormous because of the high presence of fragile states serving as potential breeding grounds for such activities (Commission of the European Communities 2007: 5). In Africa, as in the rest of the world, organized criminal activities take the form of drug trafficking, advanced fee and Internet fraud, human trafficking, diamond smuggling, forgery, cigarette smuggling, …

Inside, Outside And Upside Down, Felicity Mcgregor

Felicity McGregor

It is said that Abdul Kassem Ismael, the scholarly Grand Vizier of Persia in the tenth century had a library of 117,000 volumes. He was an avid reader and a lover of books. On his many travels, he could not bear to part with this beloved books. Wherever he went they were carried about by 400 camels trained to walk in alphabetical order. His camel drivers thus became librarians who could put their hands instantly on any book for which their master asked. (Hawkins, Brian L and Battin, Patricia (2000) Camel Drivers and Gatecrashers, Educause Review May/June 2000 p50). How …

Keeping National Health Insurance (Nhi) Accessible For All. 台北時報論壇, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Media reports say that Taiwan Health Insurance Bureau and the Department of Health are proposing an amendment to the health insurance laws to require every returned overseas Taiwanese who has been abroad for more than six months be resident in Taiwan for four months before he or she becomes eligible to re-enroll in the National Health Insurance (NHI) program. The proposed amendment arose from a small portion of overseas Taiwanese who are have allegedly played medical tourists, returning to Taiwan for medical treatments under the NHI plan. The amendments’ proponents urged “restoring equality” in the NHI. However, the proposal could …

Creating A Legal Framework For Copyright Management Of Open Access Within The Australian Academic And Research Sector, Brian Fitzgerald, Anne Fitzgerald, Mark Perry, Scott Kiel-Chisholm, Erin Driscoll, Dilan Thampapillai, Jessica Coates

Mark Perry

This Report analyses the copyright law framework needed to ensure open access to outputs of the Australian academic and research sector such as datasets, articles and theses. It is written in the context of an increasing recognition, in Australia and internationally, that access to knowledge is a key driver of social, cultural and economic development and that publicly funded research should be openly accessible. With the objective of enabling access to knowledge, this Report proposes the development of clear protocols for copyright management (designed as practical and effective tools) for implementation in the Australian academic and research sector The Report …

Open Access Week (Retention Of Author Rights), Mark Perry

Mark Perry

No abstract provided.

Quantifying Nitrogen Cycling On Surface Mined Lands Using Natural Delta 15n Abundances And Fungal Relationships: An Exploratory Study, Alice Jones, Stephanie Jarvis, James Fox, Harold Rowe

Alice Jones

The use of isotopes to measure the role of mycorrhizal fungi in cycling nitrogen between soil and plants is applied to a reclaimed surface mine to illustrate the impact of surface mining on soil nutrient cycling in a terrestrial ecosystem. Isotopic relationships between soil, plants, and fungi were examined for a ~10 year old pitch pine reclaimed valley fill in Breathitt County, KY and for an undisturbed mixed mesophytic forest in Letcher County, KY. A quantitative inventory of sporocarps present, their size and substrate was performed at each site. Isotopic signatures of fungal and presumed substrate samples, dominant foliage samples …

Libguides Reflections And Best Practices, Scott Pfitzinger, Sheridan Stormes

Sheridan Stormes

The presentation described the history and development of LibGuide technology from 2007 to September, 2009. It included live demonstrations of existing LibGuides at Butler University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Wisconsin, Madision, to showcase the flexibility and user-friendliness of LibGuides and illustrate how they can be used to improve library services and information literacy instruction.

Reading Habits Of Behaviorally Disordered Males: A Study, Lewis Miller, Robert Aaron, Elizabeth Smith

Lewis R. Miller

This study sought to evaluate some aspects of the reading interests and tastes of a group whose special relationship with books have previously been very poorly defined.

Confidentiality Of Library Records, Lewis Miller

Lewis R. Miller

Library circulation records have long been of Interest to government agencies and private Individuals. But only In the last century or so have privacy and confidentiality as societal and legal concepts become widely acknowledged and well supported.

Engaging Students In The Research Process: Strategies For Success, Tammy Sugarman

Tammy Sugarman

This presentation shows that aspects of the revised Food Guide Pyramid can provide librarians with useful strategies for engaging students in the research process.

Metals Analysis As A Tool For Understanding Headwater Health And Stream Processes In The Southern Appalachian Coal Region: An Exploratory Analysis, Alice Jones, Lee Powell, James Fox

Alice Jones

Major and trace metal analysis was applied to four coal-country headwater streams to better understand the fate of metals in headwater streams affected by mining over time and to determine headwater health. The study watersheds were located in southeastern Kentucky and consisted of an active mine site, a site mined prior to the passage of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), a post-SMCRA reclaimed mine site, and an undisturbed forest control site. Dissolved water metals and suspended sediment metals were sampled at each source, middle, and outlet. Samples were analyzed on an ICP-OES, and spatial trends …

Persistence In Japanese Language Study And Learners’ Cultural/Linguistics Backgrounds, Masanori Matsumoto

Masanori Matsumoto

Motivational characteristics of students learning Japanese as a foreign language at universities in Australia were investigated to find out what affecting factors are closely related to their intentions for continuing/discontinuing their study. The results showed that students’ cultural/linguistic backgrounds have a significant impact on their performance in learning the language, and sustaining motivation, which is closely related to their interest in aspects of Japanese culture, is an important determinant for persistence in their study. Developing intrinsic cultural interest is an important factor for sustaining motivation, which is more likely to occur when learners have distant cultural/linguistic backgrounds from Japanese. Closer …

Budgeting Soil Carbon In The Clean Coal Discussion: Elemental And Isotopic Measurements And Modeling Of Soil Carbon Uptake On Reclaimed Mining Sites, Alice Jones, Peter Acton, James Fox, Harry Rowe, Darren Martin, Elliott Campbell

Alice Jones

While recent research has focused on the use of carbon capture and sequestration technology feasibility, less focus has been placed upon terrestrial carbon storage affected by coal mining in the context of the clean coal debate. Recent research has shown that the initial disturbance of soil and above-ground carbon pools caused by surface coal mining methods can produce a significant carbon loss from the terrestrial ecosystem, thus increasing the coal carbon footprint of coal. However there is a lack of information regarding the uptake of CO (sub 2) on reclaimed mining sites during re-growth and re-establishment of the soil carbon …