Digital Commons Network^™

Using Automatic Speech Recognition Technology With Elicited Oral Response Testing, Troy L. Cox, Randall S. Davies

Faculty Publications

This study examined the use of automatic speech recognition (ASR) scored elicited oral response (EOR) tests to assess the speaking ability of English language learners. It also examined the relationship between ASR-scored EOR and other language proficiency measures and the ability of the ASR to rate speakers without bias to gender or native language. To that end, 179 subjects were given an ASR-scored EOR test with 60 items, followed by an oral proficiency interview (OPI) type assessment and a battery of other language tests. Findings suggest that ASR-scored EOR results could be used alone to predict speaking ability in specific …

Association Between C-Reactive Protein And Cognitive Deficits In Elderly Men And Women: A Meta-Analysis, Bruce L. Brown, Dawson W. Hedges, Thomas J. Farrer

Faculty Publications

Abstract

Background: Certain risk factors for cognitive decline appear modifiable. A potentially modifiable marker of inflammation, C-reactive protein may be associated with cognitive deficits, although not all studies have found a relationship between C-reactive protein and cognitive ability. Further, few research papers have examined whether gender may affect any association between C-reactive protein and cognitive deficit.

Methods: To better understand the association between C-reactive protein, cognitive deficit, and gender in elderly people, we meta-analyzed cross-sectional studies that reported cognitive ability assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination or an equivalent measure, C-reactive protein concentrations, and gender.

Results: While we identified no …

Forgiveness And Relationship Satisfaction: Mediating Mechanisms, Scott R. Braithwaite, Edward A. Selby, Frank D. Fincham

Faculty Publications

Although the ability to forgive transgressions has been linked to overall relationship satisfaction, the mechanisms that mediate this association have not been established. We propose that the tendency to forgive a romantic partner increases relationship satisfaction via increased relational effort and decreased negative conflict. In two studies, we used structural equations modeling to examine these variables as potential mechanisms that drive this association. In Study 1 (N = 523) and Study 2 (N = 446) we found that these variables significantly mediated the association between forgiveness and relationship satisfaction. The findings were robust when examined concurrently and longitudinally, across multiple …

Examining A Brief Suicide Screening Tool In Older Adults Engaging In Risky Alcohol Use, Scott R. Braithwaite, Jessica D. Ribeiro, Jon J. Peaff, Thomas E. Joiner

Faculty Publications

Alcohol misuse increases risk of suicidal behavior in older adults. TheDepressive Symptom Inventory-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS; Metalsky & Joiner,1997) and its relation to suicide attempt history was examined to see if it differedfor older adults as a function of their alcohol use. Structural equation modelingwas used in a sample (N= 1,061) of older adult outpatients to examine the scale’smeasurement invariance and population heterogeneity and its relation to suicideattempt history. Analyses supported the equivalence of the DSI-SS in risky andnonrisky drinkers. The DSI-SS significantly predicted past suicide attempts. Find-ings support the viability of the DSI-SS as suicide screening tool for older adults.

Subliminal Activation Of Social Ties Moderates Cardiovascular Reactivity During Acute Stress, Wendy C. Birmingham, Mckenzie Carlisle, Bert N. Uchino, David M. Sanbonmatsu, Timothy W. Smith, Matthew R. Cribbet, Kathleen C. Light, Allison A. Vaughn

Faculty Publications

Objective—The quality of one’s personal relationships has been reliably linked to important physical health outcomes, perhaps through the mechanism of physiological stress responses. Most studies of this mechanism have focused on whether more conscious interpersonal transactions influence cardiovascular reactivity. However, whether such relationships can be automatically activated in memory to influence physiological processes has not been determined. The primary aims of this study were to examine if subliminal activation of relationships could influence healthrelevant physiological processes, and to examine this question in the context of a more general relationship model that incorporates both positive and negative dimensions. Method—We randomly assigned …

Evaluative Threat And Ambulatory Blood Pressure: Cardiovascular Effects Of Social Stress In Daily Experience, Wendy C. Birmingham, Timothy W. Smith, Bert N. Uchino

Faculty Publications

Objective—Physiological effects of social evaluation are central in models of psychosocial influences on physical health. Experimental manipulations of evaluative threat evoke substantial cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses in laboratory studies, but only preliminary evidence is available regarding naturally-occurring evaluative threats in daily life. In such non-experimental ambulatory studies, it is essential to distinguish effects of evaluative threat from related constructs known to alter stress, such as ability perceptions and concerns about appearance. Methods—94 married, working couples (mean age 29.2 years) completed a one-day (8am to 10pm) ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) protocol with random interval-contingent measurements using a Suntech monitor and Palm …

Psychological Pathways Linking Social Support To Health Outcomes: A Visit With The “Ghosts” Of Research Past, Present, And Future, Wendy C. Birmingham, Bert N. Uchino, Kimberly Bowen, Mckenzie Carlisle

Faculty Publications

Contemporary models postulate the importance of psychological mechanisms linking perceived and received social support to physical health outcomes. In this review, we examine studies that directly tested the potential psychological mechanisms responsible for links between social support and health-relevant physiological processes (1980s to 2010). Inconsistent with existing theoretical models, no evidence was found that psychological mechanisms such as depression, perceived stress, and other affective processes are directly responsible for links between support and health. We discuss the importance of considering statistical/design issues, emerging conceptual perspectives, and limitations of our existing models for future research aimed at elucidating the psychological mechanisms …

Specific Dimensions Of Perceived Support And Ambulatory Blood Pressure: Which Support Functions Appear Most Beneficial And For Whom?, Wendy C. Birmingham, Kimberly S. Bowen, Bert N. Uchino, Mckenzie Carlisle, Timothy W. Smith, Kathleen C. Light

Faculty Publications

Perceived support has been related to lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the specific functional components of support responsible for such links. We tested if emotional, informational, tangible, and belonging support predicted ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and interpersonal interactions (e.g., responsiveness), and if such links were moderated by gender. In this study, 94 married couples underwent 12 h of ABP monitoring during daily life which included a night at home with their spouse. They completed a short-form of the interpersonal support evaluation list that provides information on total (global) support, as well as specific dimensions of …

Knowing Your Partner Is Not Enough: Spousal Importance Moderates The Link Between Attitude Familiarity And Ambulatory Blood Pressure, Wendy C. Birmingham, Bert N. Uchino, David M. Sanbonmatsu

Faculty Publications

Close relationships have been linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. More research is needed, however, on the social and biological processes responsible for such links. In this study, we examined the role of relationship-based attitudinal processes (i.e., attitude familiarity and partner importance) on ambulatory blood pressure during daily life. Forty-seven married couples completed a questionnaire regarding their own attitudes, perceptions of their partner’s attitudes, and perceptions of partner importance. They also underwent a 1-day ambulatory assessments of daily spousal interactions and blood pressure. Partner importance was related to better interpersonal functioning (e.g., partner responsiveness) and lower ambulatory systolic blood pressure. …

The Effects Of Family Therapies Foradolescent Delinquency And Substanceabuse: A Meta-Analysis, Scott A. Baldwin, Sarah Christian, Arjan Berkeljon, William R. Shadish, Roy Bean

Faculty Publications

This meta-analysis summarizes results from k = 24 studies comparing either BriefStrategic Family Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Multidimensional Family Therapy,or Multisystemic Therapy to either treatment-as-usual, an alternative therapy, or a controlgroup in the treatment of adolescent substance abuse and delinquency. Additionally, theauthors reviewed and applied three advanced meta-analysis methods including influenceanalysis, multivariate meta-analysis, and publication bias analyses. The results suggestedthat as a group the four family therapies had statistically significant, but modest effects ascompared to treatment-as-usual (d= 0.21;k= 11) and as compared to alternative thera-pies (d= 0.26;k= 11). The effect of family therapy compared to control was larger(d= 0.70;k= 4) …

Performance Monitoring Following Conflict: Internal Adjustments In Cognitive Control?, Scott A. Baldwin, Michael J. Larson, Peter E. Clayson

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of strategic conflict-related adjustments in cognitive control processes on indices of performance monitoring. Previous research has examined the ability of parametric task-related manipulations to bias attention to errors; however, the present study sought to elucidate the effects of internal adjustments in control mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex on error-related conflict processing. High-density event-related potentials (ERPs) were obtained from 124 healthy individuals (68 female, 66 male) during a modified Eriksen flanker task. Behavioral measures (i.e., error rates, response times [RTs]) and N2 amplitudes showed significant conflict adaptation (i.e., previous-trial congruencies …

How Does Noise Affect Amplitude And Latency Measurement Of Event-Related Potentials (Erps)? A Methodological Critique And Simulation Study, Scott A. Baldwin, Peter E. Clayson, Michael J. Larson

Faculty Publications

There is considerable variability in the quantification of event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes and latencies. Weexamined susceptibility of ERP quantification measures to incremental increases in background noise through publishedERP data and simulations. Measures included mean amplitude, adaptive mean, peak amplitude, peak latency, andcentroid latency. Results indicated mean amplitude was the most robust against increases in background noise. Theadaptive mean measure was more biased, but represented an efficient estimator of the true ERP signal particularly forindividual-subject latency variability. Strong evidence is provided against using peak amplitude. For latency measures,the peak latency measure was less biased and less efficient than the centroid latency …

Rhetorical Invention In Public Speaking Textbooks And Classrooms, Richard Benjamin Crosby

Faculty Publications

This essay examines how three of the most popular public speaking textbooks address rhetorical invention. The essay argues that textbooks minimize the discursive space shared by speakers and audiences in public speaking classrooms. As a consequence, topic and argument invention is framed largely as an internal affair that occurs prior to the speaker’s interaction with the audience. The essay concludes with recommendations for teaching invention by reframing the public speaking classroom as a protopublic space.

Working Memory’S Meager Involvement In Sentence Repetition Tests, Deryle W. Lonsdale, Eve Kiyomi Okura

Faculty Publications

Elicited imitation (EI) is a testing method for learners’ oral language proficiency. One common criticism aimed at EI is that performance might not require linguistic knowledge, but mere rote memorization. This study explores the issue by administering two tests to the same group of students studying English as a second language: (1) a working memory test, and (2) an English EI test. Participants came from a range of English language proficiency levels. Our goal was to test whether scores from these two treatments (English EI scores and working memory scores) would correlate significantly. If not, this would suggest that there …

Japanese Language Proficiency, Social Networking, And Language Use During Study Abroad: Learners' Perspectives, Dan Dewey, Jennifer Brown, Dennis Eggett

Faculty Publications

This study examines the self-perceived speaking proficiency development of 204 learners of Japanese who studied abroad in Japan and analyzes connections between self-reported social network development, language use, and speaking development. Learners perceived that they gained the most in areas associated with the intermediate and advanced levels of the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Speaking Proficiency Guidelines and the least in novice and superior-level abilities, largely because of a ceiling effect – learners were highly capable of novice-level tasks before study abroad and therefore had little to gain. Regression analysis indicated that self-reported pre-departure proficiency level, …

Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Motivational Strategies In The Foreign Language Classroom, Ashley Ruesch, Jennifer Brown, Dan Dewey

Faculty Publications

The present paper reports on a study that builds upon Do¨rnyei and Csize´r’s and Cheng and Do¨rnyei’s research on the teaching practices foreign language instructors consider most motivational. The study utilized an instrument based on that of Do¨rnyei and Csize´r, but changed the cultural context in which the survey was administered (North America) and added the perspective of foreign language students. The results of the study offer further support to the findings of the earlier studies. Findings also suggest additional cross-cultural differences in perceptions of motivational teaching practices. Furthermore, the present study underscores the importance of including students’ perspectives on …

Me, My Spouse, And My Avatar: The Relationship Between Marital Satisfaction And Playing Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (Mmorpgs), Michelle Ahlstrom, Neil R. Lundberg, Ramon Zabriskie, Dennis Eggett, Gordon B. Lindsay

Faculty Publications

A variety of online support groups exist for “gaming widows” who feel their spousal relationship has been displaced by time spent playing Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game(s) (MMORPGs). MMORPG research has been presented on youth and adults, however to date, there is no research on married gamers to support or refute the claims of discontented spouses. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the gaming behaviors of couples who play MMORPGs. The sample included 349 couples. Results indicated lower marital satisfaction related to couples’ MMORPG gaming interactions such as quarrelling about gaming, not retiring to …

Unpacking The Privacy Paradox: Irrational Decision-Making Within The Privacy Calculus, David W. Wilson, Joseph S. Valacich

Faculty Publications

Understanding privacy is important to individuals and organizations. This research in progress develops a theoretical model that incorporates both actual disclosure behavior and the potential for irrational behavior induced by overriding situational factors presented at the time of the privacy disclosure decision. Actual disclosure behavior is seldom measured in privacy research, and most prior work has assumed the disclosure decision to be a fully rational one. This research challenges that assumption, and the eventual completion of the project will contribute uniquely to our understanding of the privacy calculus in online transactions.

Using Tpack As A Framework To Understand Teacher Candidates’ Technology Integration Decisions, Charles R. Graham, J. Borup, N. B. Smith

Faculty Publications

This research uses the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework as a lens for understanding howteacher candidates make decisions about the use of information and communication technology in their teaching. Pre- and post-treatment assessments required elementary teacher candidates at Brigham Young University to articulate how and why they would integrate technology in three content teaching design tasks. Researchers identified themes from student rationales that mapped to the TPACK constructs. Rationales simultaneously supported subcategories of knowledge that could be helpful to other researchers trying to understand and measure TPACK. The research showed significant student growth in the use of rationales …

Improving Online Social Presence Through Asynchronous Video, Jered Borup, Richard E. West, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

Online learning has become a reality for many students in higher education. Unfortunately, something that has also become a reality is a sense of isolation in online courses, and Moore (1980) has warned that students' sense of distance can threaten their ability to learn. The community of inquiry framework (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000) has provided insight into ways that online interactions can improve students' and instructors' social presence and learning. Emerging video technologies may be able to improve these interactions and thus more easily support the development of communities of inquiry. In this study we interviewed students in three …

An Analysis Of High Impact Scholarship And Publication Trends In Blended Learning, Lisa R. Halverson, Charles R. Graham, Kristian J. Spring, Jeffrey S. Drysdale

Faculty Publications

Blended learning is a diverse and expanding area of design and inquiry that combines face-to-face and online modalities. As blended learning research matures, numerous voices enter the conversation. This study begins the search for the center of this emerging area of study by finding the most cited scholarship on blended learning. Using Harzing’s Publish or Perish software (http:// www.harzing.com/pop.htm), we determined the most frequently cited books, book chapters, and articles on the subject of blended learning, as well as the journals in which these highly cited articles appeared. Through these findings we offer some conclusions about where the conversations about …

Strategy Selection, Surrogation, And Strategic Performance Measurement Systems, Jongwoon Choi, Gary Hecht, William B. Tayler

Faculty Publications

Strategic performance measurement systems operationalize firm strategy with a set of performance measures. A consequence of such alignment is the tendency for managers to lose sight of the strategic construct(s) the measures are intended to represent, and subsequently act as though the measures are the constructs of interest, a phenomenon referred to as surrogation. We investigate how involvement in strategy selection affects managers’ propensity to exhibit surrogation. We predict and find that strategy selection reduces surrogation. Surprisingly, we do not find that engaging in strategy deliberation, a key process underlying strategy selection, reduces surrogation. Thus, managers’ involvement in the actual …

Publication Benchmarking Data Based On Faculty Promoted At The Top 75 Us Accounting Research Institutions, Steven M. Glover, Douglas F. Prawitt, Scott L. Summers, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

The primary purpose of this study is to update the Glover et al. (2006) publication benchmarking study by providing benchmarking statistics of faculty promoted to associate and/or full professor from 2004 to 2009. We also extend Glover et al. (2006) by examining new benchmarking metrics and by investigating publication productivity differences between studies. Our results indicate that, on average, faculty promoted from 2004 to 2009 had more publications in leading accounting journals at the time of promotion than faculty promoted from 1995 to 2003. We explore possible explanations for the increase in publication productivity. We find that increases in the …

The Effects Of Preventive And Detective Controls On Employee Performance And Motivation, Margaret H. Christ, Scott A. Emett, Scott L. Summers, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

We examine how two attributes of preventive and detective controls affect employee performance and employee motivation. Specifically, we examine how the extent to which controls (1) restrict employees’ autonomy, and (2) provide more or less timely feedback impacts employees’ performance and intrinsic motivation. These characteristics are the defining differences between preventive and detective controls in that preventive controls restrict employee autonomy relative to detective controls and preventive controls always provide immediate feedback; whereas, detective controls can provide either immediate feedback or delayed feedback. We conduct an experiment to examine how and why these two types of formal controls impact employees’ …

Household Labor, Gender Roles, And Family Satisfaction: A Cross-National Comparison, Renata Forste, Kiira Fox

Faculty Publications

Due to the interrelation of work and family domains recent scholarship has been devoted to determining the impact of women's rising employment in the home. More specifically, research has focused on what happens to the division of domestic labor in the wake of mother's paid employment and how the new arrangements are determined. In general, women have responded by dedicating less time to housework and men have responded by increasing their participation in unpaid labor. That said, male contributions do not compensate for the decrease in time by women in the home, and women still maintain responsibility for the majority …

A Proposal For A Feasible, First-Step, Legislative Agenda For Divorce Reform, Alan J. Hawkins

Faculty Publications

American sociologist Andrew Cherlin argues that the institutional boundaries of marriage have shrunk; marriage no longer effectively governs intimate associations before marriage, or structures "proper" pathways to the desired goal of healthy, stable marriage. Personal development and individual emotions are at the core of modern marriage, rather than societal expectations and religious and civil norms. Accordingly, marriages are held together now by internal, psychological forces rather than external, societal forces, and these bonds are substantially weaker. As a result, divorce is common, with about half ending within twenty years; second marriages have even higher rates of disruption. While the divorce …

Influences On Active Family Leisure And A Healthy Lifestyle Among Adolescents, Shallie M. Taylor, Peter Ward, Ramon Zabriskie, Brian Hill, Carl Hanson

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine how attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control influence adolescents’ intent to participate in active family leisure within the theory of plan behavior framework. Adolescents (N = 472) completed an online questionnaire about their perceptions and actual participation in active family leisure. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. A post-hoc analysis also considered individual leisure and its role on active family leisure. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of intent to participate in active family leisure.

The Value Of A Master’S Degree To Recreation Professionals, Camilla J. Hodge, Brian J. Hill, Christian Brinton

Faculty Publications

This study assessed the nature of the relationship between earning advanced degrees and career outcomes such as salary, job satisfaction, social capital, and human capital among professionals in the parks and recreation field. The sample (n = 196) was drawn from parks and recreation agencies located in the United States. Agencies, excluding educational institutions, were identified via an Internet search for parks and recreation agencies in urban areas. Findings indicated there was a positive relationship between earning a master’s degree and salary. Earning a master’s degree, however, was not significantly related to job satisfaction, social capital, or human capital. Furthermore, …

Antecedents Of Identity Development In A Structured Recreation Setting: A Qualitative Inquiry, Mat D. Duerden, Stacy Taniguchi, Mark Widmer

Faculty Publications

Identity research has focused primarily on outcomes associated with identity formation. Far less attention, however, has been given to understanding the facilitating contextual elements of this process. This qualitative study examined a context, a 2-week adventure recreation program for youth, quantitatively shown in previous research to have promoted identity development. The program took place in Idaho’s Salmon-Challis National Forest and involved rafting, backpacking, mountain biking, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Data were gathered from 23 female and 22 male participants, ages 11 to 15 (M = 13.2, SD = .89). Seven distinct categories emerged from the analysis related …

Assessing Program Implementation: What It Is, Why It's Important, And How To Do It, Mat D. Duerden, Peter A. Witt

Faculty Publications

While the importance of evaluation program offerings is acknowledge by Extension educators, less emphasis is given to understanding program implementation. Simply assessing program impact without a clear understanding of the degree to which a program was actually implemented can result in inaccurate findings. The effective evaluation of both program impacts and evaluation can provide Extension educators with a more holistic perspective of their programs and an increased ability to identify and disseminate best program practices.