Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Diverse College Students' Cultural Background And College Persistence, Kerrie Devries, Jonathan Santo, Juan Casas

Psychology Faculty Publications

Tinto (1975) created a college persistence model, emphasizing institutional academic and social integration, that continues to guide U.S. university retention strategies. This longitudinal study followed 584 college Freshman from diverse backgrounds, testing for group differences in the relationship that Tinto’s key constructs have on college persistence, over time, for U.S.-White, U.S.-minority, and immigrant-origin groups. We found significant positive associations between Academic Integration and Intentions to Persist for all ethnic groups, but group differences in Social Integration and Intentions to Persist. Additionally, Intentions to Persist was a significant predictor of actual persistence for all groups, suggesting predictive power overall.

Factors Related To School Psychologists’ Confidence In Implementation Of Behavior Intervention Plans, Miranda Cormaci, Adam D. Weaver, Jonathan Santo

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study explored school psychologists’ practices in the areas of developing behavior intervention plans (BIPs), conducting functional behavior assessments (FBAs), and behavioral consultation. Practitioners were asked to rate their level of confidence in the implementation with fidelity of the last BIP they developed. Relationships between these practices and school psychologists’ confidence levels were examined. Data were collected from a national sample of practitioners (n = 179). Overall, results suggest that school district supports, being mindful of potential barriers to implementation, certain components of the FBA process, and adhering to best practices in behavioral consultation can have substantial positive impacts …

Perceived School Fairness And Willingness To Report Bias-Based Bullying Among Youth During Covid-19 Pandemic, Isak Kim, Deanna L. Burgess, Seriashia J. Chatters

Counseling Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND

As COVID-19 has let many students into remote learning environments and exacerbated inequality among marginalized individuals, there is a growing concern about Bias-Based Bullying (BBB) in online spaces among school-aged youths. Learning modality and perceived school fairness may affect youth's likelihood of reporting BBB.

METHODS

Data were collected as part of “No Place For Hate” (NPFH) project, which was conducted by an equity office of a school district. A sample of middle and high school students (N = 1117) in the school district was used as an analytic sample. We conducted a series of independent samples t tests and …

Positive And Negative Actions Early In The Relationship Predict Later Interactions Among Toddlers, Ayelet Lahat, Zhangling Lou, Michal Perlman, Nina Howe, Jonathan Santo, Holly E. Recchia, William M. Bukowski, Hildy S. Ross

Psychology Faculty Publications

Very little is known about the role of early interactions in the development of peer relationships among toddlers. The present study examined whether behaviors early in the formation of toddler relationships predict interactions later in their relationships. Twenty-eight unfamiliar 20- and 30-month-old toddlers from a predominately European background met separately with each of two other toddlers for 18 playdates. Both positive and negative behaviors at the beginning of the relationship predicted a higher frequency of games later in the relationship. Positive behaviors at the beginning of the relationship predicted fewer conflicts later in the relationship. Negative behaviors at the beginning …

Barriers To The Delivery Of Teen Dating Violence Programs In Urban School And After-School Settings Serving Mexican-Heritage Youth, Heidi Adams Rueda, Lela Rankin Williams, Abigail Vera

Social Work Faculty Publications

Teen dating violence (TDV) is increasingly recognized as a national health priority, impacting overall well-being and school success. However, there are overlooked barriers to TDV program delivery in schools and youth-serving organizations and these are ideal settings to reach youth universally. In this study, we conducted 10 focus groups with school (e.g., administrators, social workers, nurses) and after-school personnel regarding barriers to TDV programming within a large urban community serving predominantly Mexican-heritage youth. Findings offer practice-driven considerations for the implementation of programs within urban communities. These include attention to limited resources, inhibitive and non-existent policies, competing demands, a lack of …

Anatomy Of A Creative Commons License, Jennie Tobler-Gaston

Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

This infographic explains the different parts and components of a creative commons license, as well as each of the licenses.

Public Witnessing As Catalyst For Community Repair: Partnerships And Processing In The Archives., Lori Schwartz

Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

UNO’s status as a Metropolitan University informs much of its character. UNO’s serious focus on community engagement reflects this and aligns well with the work of my department, Archives and Special Collections (ASC) in UNO Libraries.

Until a decade ago, our collections were not representative of our communities. When my boss came on board in 2014, she was the first archivist to serve as department head. I came the following year. She brought a fresh perspective with a desire to collect more broadly than the collections from white, cis, male, wealthy donors that were typical. Obviously, we need some of …

Terminal Field Volume Of The Glossopharyngeal Nerve In Adult Rats Reverts To Prepruning Size Following Microglia Depletion With Plx5622, Andrew J. Riquier, Suzanne I. Sollars

Psychology Faculty Publications

Programmed reduction of synapses is a hallmark of the developing brain, with sensory systems emerging as useful models with which to study this pruning. The central projections (terminal field) of the gustatory glossopharyngeal nerve (GL) of the rat are a prime example of developmental pruning, undergoing an approximate 66% reduction in volume from postnatal day 15 (P15) to P25. Later in adulthood, developmental GL pruning can be experimentally reversed, expanding to preweaning volumes, suggesting mature volumes may be actively maintained throughout the life span. Microglia are central nervous system glia cells that perform pruning and maintenance functions in other sensory …

A Multi-Site Study Of Firearms Displays By Police At Use Of Force Incidents, Timothy Cubitt, Justin Nix

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The power to use force is a defining characteristic of policing, one that is accompanied by a responsibility to exercise these powers in the circumstances deemed necessary. This study analyzes data from four policing agencies to predict the likelihood of an officer drawing and pointing their firearm at a use of force incident. Findings suggest that situational factors were important in influencing whether an officer may draw and point their firearm. However, a priming effect, in which officers were more likely to draw their firearms when dispatched to an incident, may also be present. The rate that officers drew and …

The Application Of Bystander Intervention Scripts: Implications For Guardianship In Action, Leah C. Butler, Amanda Graham, Bonnie S. Fisher

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Responding to high rates of interpersonal victimization and perpetration among adolescents, schools have implemented bystander intervention (BI) training to educate students to intervene to prevent or stop violence. These trainings function much like an application of scripts for guardianship in action. The current study builds on the overlapping and complementary bodies of BI and routine activities research by testing whether participation in BI training, namely Green Dot (GD), influences individuals’ underlying ability to intervene. Using four years of survey data collected from high school students (N = 2,374–3,443), we use item response theory to model the difficulty of engaging …

Profiles Of Participation In School Bullying: Association With Student Well-Being, Isak Kim

Counseling Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the bullying participation profiles inrelation to the demographic variables (sex, grade, and ethnicity), and to further inves-tigate the associations between the profiles and student well-being indicators. A finalsample for analyses consisted of 725 elementary school children (fourth to sixthgrades). Four latent profiles were identified through the latent profile analysis: bul-lying passive bystanding (8.00%), victimized active defending (8.41%), uninvolvedpassive bystanding (21.24%), and uninvolved active defending (62.35%). Significantgroup differences were found in key variables representing student well-being, thatis, school connectedness and life satisfaction, across the four latent profiles. Childrenin the uninvolved active defending were …

External Funding Bulletin, July - Decemeber 2022, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Sponsored Programs Bulletins

No abstract provided.

The University Of Nebraska Does Not Discriminate Based On Race, Color, Ethnicity, National Origin, Sex, Pregnancy, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Religion, Disability, Age, Genetic Information, Veteran Status, Marital Status, And/Or Political Affiliation In Its Education Programs Or Activities, Including Admissions And Employment. The University Prohibits Any Form Of Retaliation Taken Against Anyone For Reporting Discrimination, Harassment, Or Retaliation For Otherwise Engaging In Protected Activity. Understanding Volunteerism In Vocational And Life Skills Programming, Nebraska Center For Justice Research, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Reports

The purpose of this research is to understand who volunteers for Vocational & Life Skills (VLS) reentry programming in institutional and community correctional settings. We had three primary goals for this research note: 1) describe key differences between participants versus non-participants, 2) describe how VLS participants in facilities differ from participants in community VLS programs, and 3) describe key findings from our statistical models predicting who volunteers to participate in VLS programs. VLS is a statewide reentry program that provides competitive grant funding to multiple community resource organizations and is administered by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS). VLS …

The Effects Of Leader Support For Creativity And Leader Gender On Subordinate Creative Problem-Solving Performance, Nadine T. Maliakkal, Roni Reiter-Palmon

Psychology Faculty Publications

Ample correlational research shows that leader support for creativity is related to subordinate creativity, yet research examining the causality of this relationship experimentally is scant. Furthermore, most studies that demonstrate support for this relationship have used relatively subjective creativity measures that do not tap as effectively into the creative problem-solving process. Thus, we experimentally examined whether leader support for creativity affects subordinate creative problem-solving performance. We also examined whether this relationship depends on leader gender. We used experimental vignette methodology and a sample of 247 working adults to test these relationships. We found that high (vs. low) leader support for …

Understanding Volunteerism: The Role Of The Participant In Non-Clinical Correctional Programming, H. Daniel Butler, Michael Campagna, Ryan E. Spohn, Katelynn Towne

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Most incarcerated individuals do not participate in prison programming, which may be due to the limited availability of programs or the voluntaristic nature of programming. Most incarcerated individuals are provided the opportunity to select their own non-clinical programming. This voluntaristic approach to program participation provides an opportunity to explore the characteristics of who opts into non-clinical programming when given the choice, an inquiry that acknowledges potential practical and ethical limitations to a non-clinical delivery of programming. In this study, we utilize administrative data from a Midwestern state to understand who volunteers for correctional programming in institutional and community settings. Findings …

Change Over Time In Interactions Between Unfamiliar Toddlers, Ayelet Lahat, Michal Perlman, Nina Howe, Holly E. Recchia, William M. Bukowski, Jonathan Santo, Zhangjing Luo, Hildy S. Ross

Psychology Faculty Publications

The frequency and length of games, conflicts, and contingency sequences that took place between toddlers as they got to know one another were studied using archival data. The sample consisted of 28 unfamiliar 20- and 30-month-old toddlers (predominantly White, 16 males) who met separately with each of two other toddlers for 18 play dates. The frequency of games increased over time, while the frequency of conflict and contingency sequences decreased. The length of games increased over time while the length of conflicts and contingency sequences were stable. Age and language ability predicted changes in frequency and length of the different …

A Multi-Level Analysis Of The Effects Of Statistics Anxiety/Attitudes On Trajectories Of Exam Scores, Kelly Rhea Macarthur, Jonathan Santo

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study explores three understudied facets—quadratic effects, change over time, and gender as a moderator—of the otherwise well-documented relationships between statistics anxiety and academic performance. Using pre- and post- course survey data among a sample of 111 undergraduate students in Social Statistics courses at a U.S. Midwestern university, we employ hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to test for relationships between change in the six dimensions of the Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS) and exam grades over the course of the semester. We find that exam grades decreased over time, but at different rates across gender and the six STARS dimensions. We …

Does Procedural Justice Reduce The Harmful Effects Of Perceived Ineffectiveness On Police Legitimacy?, Yongjae Nam, Scott E. Wolfe, Justin Nix

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Objectives: Judgments about police procedural fairness consistently have a stronger influence on how the public ascribes legitimacy to the police than evaluations of police effectiveness. What remains largely underexplored, however, is the potential moderating effect of procedural justice on the relationship between effectiveness and legitimacy and whether this moderation varies by citizen race. Method: We administered two separate surveys to determine whether procedural justice's moderating effect on the relationship between police ineffectiveness and legitimacy varies by citizen race. The first was a mail survey of a random sample of citizens in a southern US city (N=1,681) conducted in 2013; the …

Start Where The Social Worker Is: Social Workers’ Perceptions Of Clinical Licensure In Nebraska, Susan Reay, Henry J. D'Souza, Kris D. Tevis, Avery H. Fleck

Social Work Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of clinical social workers compared to other mental health professionals (OMHPs). Methods: This exploratory survey research evaluates the perceptions of clinical licensure from social workers (N = 519) and OMHPs (N = 624) in a midwestern state. Results: The results indicate that most respondents believe that universities should be evaluated based on whether students pass licensing exams, and that faculty should be licensed. Many social workers feel ill-prepared to take a licensing exam. There are significant differences between social workers and OMHP in several areas. Additionally, differences are distinct between …

Identifying Successes And Barriers In A Child Advocacy Center: An Examination Of Five Service Areas, Amber Krushas, Teresa C. Kulig, Emily M. Wright, Ryan E. Spohn, Lynn Castrianno

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Despite widespread support for coordinated responses to child maltreatment, little research examines the successes and barriers faced by child advocacy centers (CACs). The current study examines perspectives on program operations within a large CAC in the Midwest across 14 focus groups, including both internal CAC staff (N =32) and external agency partners (N = 37). Universal successes and barriers were identified across all service areas. Still, the findings indicate a need to also consider the unique factors affecting each service area. The importance of these findings is discussed for those working in arenas that provide services to youth and families …

The Developmental Significance Of The Social Context As An Additional Self-Continuity Strategy: A Comparison Of Emerging Adults From Brazil And The United States, Jonathan Santo, Josafa M. Da Cunha, Annesha Mitra

Psychology Faculty Publications

Self-continuity refers to the strategies individuals use to justify a stable sense of self despite the various changes they experience. Among young adults, in particular, self-continuity over time has been associated with indicators of mental health. The aim of the current project was to identify whether aspects of the social context are measurably distinct from other established strategies of self-continuity. Data were collected from emerging adults from the US Midwest (n = 309) and southern Brazil (n = 285). Self-continuity and its opposite, self-discontinuity, were measured, in addition to essentialism or narrativism and the social context as strategies. …

External Funding Bulletin, January - June 2022, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity

Sponsored Programs Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Construction Of Radicalization: Examination Of An Important Construct In The Explanation Of Terrorism, Hillary Mcneel, Lisa L. Sample, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Terrorism by extremist groups has garnered much political, media, and scholarly attention since 9/11.1 Although radicalization may not be a necessary cause of terrorism, it has been found to play a role in terrorist pathways, but what we mean by the term “radicalization” is still somewhat of a mystery, because its definition is ever evolving across different groups and people.2 We have all read media stories in which politicians, criminal justice professionals, and/or scholars refer to “radicalized terrorists,” assuming everyone in the United States or globally knows what they mean by “radicalized” people or “radical” terrorism. During the 2016 presidential …

Just Environments Foster Character: A Longitudinal Assessment Of School Climate, Kendra J. Thomas, Josafa M. Da Cunha, Jonathan Santo

Psychology Faculty Publications

Justice is at the center of many definitions of character across various lines of research, yet there is little empirical research on how the justice of contexts can foster character virtues. The current study draws from a sample of 1,865 Brazilian fourth and fifth graders across two time points in 60 schools (42.7% White; 48.3% male). A multilevel structural equation model demonstrated the mediating role that justice beliefs play between authoritative school climate and socio-emotional learning, and the character virtues of bravery, fairness, and prosocial leadership even after accounting for grade, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). This study highlights …

Mental Illness, Substance Use, And Co-Occurring Disorders Among Jail Inmates: Prevalence, Recidivism, And Gender Differences, Nicky Dalbir, Emily M. Wright, Benjamin Steiner

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Mental illnesses, substance use, and their co-occurrence are significant predictors of maladaptive outcomes such as aggression, criminal behavior, and recidivism. These problems are theorized to be more prevalent and problematic among female inmates than male inmates and may be more relevant in jail settings. However, few studies have examined the relationship between these factors, including gender differences among the jail population. This study seeks to fill these gaps by examining – a) the prevalence of these problems, b) their effects on recidivism, and c) gender differences in these relationships – among jail inmates. Results indicate that mental illness significantly increased …

The Dos And Don'ts Of Zoom Interviews: A New Librarians Navigating A New Normal, Isabel Soto-Luna

Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Poster presentation at the Nebraska Library Association College and University division conference and TSRT Spring Meeting. Poster covers the dos and don'ts of Zoom interviews for both interviewers and interviewees.

Baseline Needs Assessment For A Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program 1-Year Pilot, Nathan Foje, Ashley Ann Raposo-Hadley, Ashley Farrens, Jenny Burt, Charity H. Evans, Zachary M. Bauman, Gaylene Armstrong, Mark Foxall, Julie D. Garman

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The objectives of the present study were to measure and describe the baseline participant needs of a hospital-based violence intervention 1-year pilot program, assess differences in expected hospital revenue based on changes in health insurance coverage resulting from program implementation and discuss the program’s limitations. Methods: Between September 2020 and September 2021 Encompass Omaha enrolled 36 participants. A content analysis of 1199 progress notes detailing points of contact with participants was performed to determine goal status. Goals were categorized and goal status was defined as met, in process, dropped, or participant refusal. Results: The most frequently identified needs were help …

The Utility Of Divergent And Convergent Thinking In The Problem Construction Processes During Creative Problem-Solving, Benjamin Wigert, Vignesh Murugavel, Roni Reiter-Palmon

Psychology Faculty Publications

The process of problem construction is known to be a critical influence on creative problem-solving. The current study assessed the utility of different problem construction methods used to maximize creativity during the creative process. An experimental design was used to explore the interplay between convergent and divergent thinking processes. Participants were asked to creatively solve an ill-defined problem under four conditions that varied in their combinations of instruction to engage in divergent and convergent thinking. Findings indicated that following divergent thinking methods with a method that facilitates convergent thinking in problem construction results in more creative solutions than using only …

“Put It In Your Toolbox”: How Vocational Programs Support Formerly Incarcerated Persons Through Reentry, Katelynn Towne, Michael Campagna, Ryan E. Spohn, Amber Richey

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

This study utilized life story interviews with 21 formerly incarcerated individuals to examine the role vocational reentry programming played in the desistance process. We begin with a review of theories of desistance and the state of reentry programs. A thematic analysis revealed that providers assisted individuals to understand their behavioral trajectories and to take steps toward desistance. Further, participants felt empowered by program provided social support, developed strategies to overcome employment barriers, and held resilient and optimistic attitudes in changing their identities and behavioral trajectories. We conclude with a discussion on how these findings can inform desistance theory and reentry …

Do Body-Worn Cameras Reduce Disparities In Police Behavior In Minority Communities? Evidence Of Nuanced Influences Across Black And Hispanic Neighborhoods, Jessica Huff

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Research Summary

The adoption of body-worn cameras (BWCs) is often promoted in response to contentious police use of force incidents involving minority civilians. BWCs are expected to improve policing outcomes by enhancing accountability, although researchers have yet to determine whether BWCs can reduce racial/ethnic disparities. I examine whether BWCs mitigate the influence of neighborhood racial/ethnic context on arrests and use of force using cross-classified logistic regression models to examine the outcomes of 900,000+ police–civilian contacts in Phoenix. Arrests were significantly more likely to occur in Hispanic and Black neighborhoods before and after BWC deployment, even accounting for situational, officer, and …