Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Occupational Characteristics Of Psychology Baccalaureate Graduates, Adam Butler, Michael Gasser

Faculty Publications

Although the field of psychology is classically associated with a career path in mental health services, career options for graduates with a baccalaureate degree in psychology are far broader. Yet, we do not have a good understanding of the occupational spectrum for psychology graduates or of the skills necessary to excel in those positions. The goal of the present study was to identify the characteristics of occupations held by alumni with a baccalaureate degree in psychology. Understanding these occupational characteristics is useful for career advising and for developing job-relevant skills in the psychology major.

To The Side, To The Side: Academic Libraries And Libguides Layout Adoption, Chris Neuhaus, Anne Marie Gruber, Angie Cox, Hyunseung Koh, Jim Kelly, Claire Bowling, Gail Bunz

Faculty Publications

In 2014, Springshare introduced a new LibGuides layout option. In addition to the traditional horizontally-tabbed layout (top navigation), LibGuides designers now have the option of vertically-arrayed tabs on the upper left-hand side of the page (side 10 navigation). Like the university hosting this study, schools have, to varying degrees, shifted their LibGuides toward side navigation and away from top navigation. To better understand the research behind this migration, researchers at the University of Northern Iowa conducted a thorough literature review on navigation menu location preferences and navigation menu efficacy within the field of librarianship and computer science. This review identified …

Benefit Sharing In The Arctic: A Systematic View, Andrey Petrov, Maria S. Tysiachniouk

Faculty Publications

Benefit sharing is a key concept for sustainable development in communities affected by the extractive industry. In the Arctic, where extractive activities have been growing, a comprehensive and systematic understanding of benefit sharing frameworks is especially critical. The goal of this paper is to develop a synthesis and advance the theory of benefit sharing frameworks in the Arctic. Based on previously published research, a review of literature, a desktop analysis of national legislation, as well as by capitalizing on the original case studies, this paper analyzes benefit sharing arrangements and develops the typology of benefit sharing regimes in the Arctic. …

Navigating A Tangled Intersection: Agricultural Communication As Public Meeting Space Among The Humanities, Social Sciences, And The Digital, Adrienne Lamberti

Faculty Publications

The growing emphasis on interdisciplinarity within scholarly research offers several affordances, including an opportunity to initiate cross-disciplinary projects. By viewing instances of agricultural discourse in public contexts through a technical communication disciplinary framework, the collection Cultivating Spheres: Agriculture, Technical Communication, and the Publics demonstrates how social sciences methodologies reveal such discourse as in fact embodying the digital humanities.

The Relationship Between An Alternative Form Of Cognitive Reflection Test And Intertemporal Choice, Jiuqing Cheng, Cassidy Janssen

Faculty Publications

The cognitive reflection test (CRT) has been popular because it has demonstrated a good predictive validity of a variety of biases in judgment and decision making. Thomson and Oppenheimer (2016) further developed a second version of the cognitive reflection test, CRT-2. Although CRT-2 has been found to be associated with several biases in judgment and decision making, its relationship with intertemporal choice remains unclear. Previous studies have shown that intertemporal choice characterizes the competition between intuition and reflection, and can be predicted by the original CRT. To further validate CRT-2, the present study tests the relationship between CRT-2 and intertemporal …

Toward A Performative Understanding Of Politeness, C. Kyle Rudick, Danielle E. Mcgeough

Faculty Publications

In this article, we argue that critical communication scholars have largely overlooked the study of politeness as a constitutive component of identity, culture, and power. We offer a critical-performative framework for critical scholars interested in studying politeness as a political, discursive, and embodied act. To develop this agenda, we first outline Brown and Levinson’s postpositivist theory of politeness. We then review three challenges to their use of intentionality, Grice’s cooperative principle, and Goffman’s concept of face. These challenges are located in interactional, traditional critical, and discursive understandings of politeness (respectively). Next, we show how a performative understanding of politeness both …

Prediction Of Soil Formation As A Function Of Age Using The Percolation Theory Approach, Markus Egli, Allen G. Hunt, Dennis Dahms, Gerald Raab, Curdin Derungs, Salvatore Raimondi, Fang Yu

Faculty Publications

Recent modeling and comparison with field results showed that soil formation by chemical weathering, either from bedrock or unconsolidated material, is limited largely by solute transport. Chemical weathering rates are proportional to solute velocities. Nonreactive solute transport described by non-Gaussian transport theory appears compatible with soil formation rates. This change in understanding opens new possibilities for predicting soil production and depth across orders of magnitude of time scales. Percolation theory for modeling the evolution of soil depth and production was applied to new and published data for alpine and Mediterranean soils. The first goal was to check whether the empirical …

Factors Influencing Corn Fungicide Treatment Decisions, Alicia Rosburg, Luisa Menapace

Faculty Publications

Fungal disease management in U.S. corn production has undergone a major shift in the last 2 decades. The decision to apply fungicide, a management practice that was once rarely considered, is now contemplated annually by many U.S. corn producers. We investigate potential factors underlying the fungicide treatment decision. We use economics, agronomy, and plant pathology literature to develop a conceptual model of the fungicide treatment decision and test the model using a survey of Midwest corn producers. We find the treatment decision is positively related to perceived economic gains, but heuristic factors also have a strong influence.

The Impact Of Brain Breaks Classroom-Based Physical Activities On Attitudes Toward Physical Activity In Polish School Children In Third To Fifth Grade, Agata Glapa, Joanna Grzesiak, Ida Laudanska-Krzeminska, Ming-Kai Chin, Christopher R. Edginton, Magdalena Mo Ching Mok, Michal Bronikowski

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Brain Breaks^® Physical Activity Solutions in changing attitudes toward physical activity of school children in a community in Poland. In 2015, a sample of 326 pupils aged 9–11 years old from 19 classes at three selected primary schools were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups within the study. During the classes, children in the experimental group performed physical activities two times per day in three to five minutes using Brain Breaks^® videos for four months, while the control group did not use the videos during …

Balancing Research, Teaching, Clinical Work, And Family: Nine Suggestions For Young Professionals, Elizabeth K. Lefler

Faculty Publications

Balancing multiple professional roles and a family can be demanding. The current paper is a non-evidence based list of informal, anecdotal suggestions for professionals who strive to balance multiple work roles with the demands of raising young children. It is important to note I make no claims that this is an evidence-based method for achieving optimal work-family balance. Rather, I was invited to this conference to discuss my own experiences balancing work and family; this paper reflects that non-scientific aim, and includes a list of nine suggestions that I hope will be helpful to some. I am a licensed clinical …

The Impact Of Education On Legislative Responsiveness In Three Field Experiments, Jayme Neiman

Faculty Publications

Three field experiments were used to investigate whether a constituent’s education level influences state legislators’ responsiveness to their request for assistance. Legislators were sent emails that were randomly varied as to the education level of the writer. Results indicate that communication from constituents with lower education levels receive fewer replies. Two potential explanations for the variation in legislative response are explored—political party and the legislator’s own education level. Analysis suggests that neither of these variables account for the response differential to the email manipulations.

Reliability And Concurrent Validity Of An Alternative Method Of Lateral Lumbar Range Of Motion In Athletes, Mark D. Hecimovich, Jeffrey J. Herbert

Faculty Publications

Background: Cricket bowling involves combined spinal movements of side bending and rotation and, consequently, injury to the low back is a common problem. Therefore the assessment of lumbar spine kinematics has become a routine component in preseason screening. This includes static measurement of lateral spinal flexion as asymmetrical range of motion may predispose an athlete to low back injury.

Objectives: This study examined intra-rater reliability and concurrent validity of the fingertip-to-floor distance test (FFD) when compared to a criterion range of motion measure.

Methods: Thirty-four junior-level cricket players aged 13‑16 years were recruited. Lumbar spine lateral flexion …

Voting At Home Is Associated With Lower Cortisol Than Voting At The Polls, Jayme Neiman, Karl Gieseffi, Kevin Smith, Jeffrey French, Israel Waismel-Manor, John Hibbing

Faculty Publications

Previous research finds that voting is a socially stressful activity associated with increases in cortisol levels. Here we extend this research by investigating whether different voting modalities have differential effects on the stress response to voting. Results from a field experiment conducted during the 2012 presidential elections strongly suggest that traditional “at the polls” voting is more stressful, as measured by increases in cortisol levels, than voting at home by mail-in ballot or engaging in comparable non-political social activities. These findings imply that increased low-stress voting options such as mail-in ballots may increase political participation among individuals who are sensitive …

Disability, Gender, And Employment Relationships In Africa: The Case Of Ghana, Augustina Naami

Faculty Publications

The exploratory quantitative study sought to develop an understanding about the relationships among disability, gender and employment in Northern Ghana. A total of 110 individuals with disabilities (20–60 years) from various disability groups participated in the study. The results indicate that many persons with disabilities are unemployed, the majority being women. Discrimination is cited as the greatest barrier to the employment of persons with disabilities, particularly women. The majority of persons with disabilities, typically women, live in poverty; given that some are unemployed and those who are employed worked mostly in marginal, seasonal and menial jobs. Persons with disabilities also …

Recognizing Campus Landscapes As Learning Spaces, Kathleen G. Scholl, Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi

Faculty Publications

American higher education institutions face unique twenty-first century changes and challenges in providing good, holistic learning spaces for the diverse and evolving needs of today’s college student. Continued enrollment growth, societal and technological changes, financial challenges, and a need for increased universal and open access create ever more diverse, changing and complex US university systems. In 2009, 20.4 million students were enrolled in 2- or 4-year colleges and universities. By 2019, enrollments are expected to rise 9% for students under age 25, and rise 23% for students over the age of 25 (Snyder & Dillow, 2011). Questions of where, when, …

Simulated Learning In Musculoskeletal Assessment And Rehabilitation Education: Comparing The Effect Of A Simulation-Based Learning Activity With A Peer-Based Learning Activity, Mark Hecimovich, Simone Volet

Faculty Publications

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders and diseases are leading causes of pain, physical disability, and doctor visits throughout the world. Health professionals must be trained to assess, treat through rehabilitation and monitor patients with these disorders. Yet, due to overcrowded curricula, some health education programs struggle to accommodate more than minimal training in musculoskeletal conditions. Consequently, educators in these professions must consider how traditional instruction could be complemented effectively to enhance students’ preparation for the diverse musculoskeletal disorders and pathologies they may encounter. The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits that can be obtained from laboratory practice in musculoskeletal …

Rational Choice And Moral Decision-Making In Research, Anita M. Gordon

Faculty Publications

University psychology and sociology researchers rated the likelihood they would engage in misconduct as described in 9 research scenarios, while also making moral judgments and rating the likelihood of discovery and sanctions. Multiple regression revealed significant effects across various scenarios for moral judgment as well as shame and embarrassment on reducing misconduct. The effects on misconduct of the perceived probability of sanctions were conditioned on moral judgments in some scenarios. The results have implications for how universities address the prevention, detection, and sanctioning of research misconduct.

Development And Psychometric Evaluation Of Scales To Measure Professional Confidence In Manual Medicine: A Rasch Measurement Approach, Mark D. Hecimovich, Irene Styles, Simone E. Volet

Faculty Publications

Background: Health professionals in athletic training, chiropractic, osteopathy, and physiotherapy fields, require high-level knowledge and skills in their assessment and management of patients. This is important when communicating with patients and applying a range of manual procedures. Prior to embarking on professional practice, it is imperative to acquire optimal situation-specific levels of self-confidence for a beginner practitioner in these areas. In order to foster this professional self-confidence within the higher education context, it is necessary to have valid and reliable scales that can measure and track levels and how they change. This study reports on the development and psychometric analysis …

What Would My Avatar Do? Gaming, Pathology, And Risky Decision Making, Kira Bailey, Robert West, Judson Kuffel

Faculty Publications

Recent work has revealed a relationship between pathological video game use and increased impulsivity among children and adolescents. A few studies have also demonstrated increased risk-taking outside of the video game environment following game play, but this work has largely focused on one genre of video games (i.e., racing). Motivated by these findings, the aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between pathological and non-pathological video game use, impulsivity, and risky decision making. The current study also investigated the relationship between experience with two of the most popular genres of video games [i.e., first-person shooter (FPS) and …

Speaking Politely, Kindly, And Beautifully: Ideologies Of Politeness In Japanese Business Etiquette Training, Cynthia Dickel Dunn

Faculty Publications

In recent years, politeness theory has increasingly focused on speakers’ own conceptualizations of polite behavior, viewing politeness concepts as a type of language ideology. This article examines the construction of Japanese politeness concepts in the business etiquette training provided for new employees in Japanese companies. Drawing on participant-observation of business etiquette seminars offered by five training companies, it analyzes how employees are taught to show deference through appropriate honorific use, to speak in ways which are seen as kind or considerate, and to speak and move in ways the instructors define as ‘beautiful.’ The analysis demonstrates how etiquette training conflates …

“Job Killers”In The News: Allegations Without Verification, Peter Dreier, Christopher R. Martin

Faculty Publications

A comprehensive study analyzes the frequency of the “job killer” term in four mainstream news media since 1984, how the phrase was used, by whom, and—most importantly— whether the allegations of something being a “job killer” were verified by reporters in their stories.

Tracing The Evolution Of Chiropractic Students’ Confidence In Clinical And Patient Communication Skills During A Clinical Internship: A Multi-Methods Study, Mark Hecimovich, Simone Volet

Faculty Publications

Background: Anecdotal evidence points to variations in individual students’ evolving confidence in clinical and patient communication skills during a clinical internship. A better understanding of the specific aspects of internships that contribute to increasing or decreasing confidence is needed to best support students during the clinical component of their study.

Methods: A multi-method approach, combining two large-scale surveys with 269 students and three in-depth individual interviews with a sub-sample of 29 students, was used to investigate the evolution of change in student confidence during a 10-month long internship. Change in levels of confidence in patient communication and clinical skills was …

The Influence Of Teacher-Initiated Reminders On The Attainment Of Students' Aerobic Fitness Goals, Ross Chakrain, Jennifer J. Waldron

Faculty Publications

Goal setting in the physical education classroom can be a successful technique to enhance motivation, increase effort, and improve performance. A critical component of effective goal setting is providing feedback. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of teacher-initiated reminders of the goal on the attainment of self-set aerobic goals in physical education classes. This study was quasi-experimental in nature and used a nonrandomized pretest-posttest, control group design to carry out the procedures. Participants were from two fifth grade classes: one class was designated the experimental group (n = 15) and the other was the …

Perspectives Of Fitness And Health In College Men And Women, Jennifer J. Waldron, Rodney B. Dieser

Faculty Publications

Because many college students engage in low levels of physical activity, the current study used a qualitative framework to interview 11 college students to examine the meaning physically active college students assign to the practice of fitness and health. Students discussed the importance of healthy eating, but that it was difficult to accomplish at college. Additionally, students intertwined health and fitness with physical appearance and attractiveness. In particular, the media shaped many of their perceptions of health and fitness. Implications of these findings to policy making in higher education, in particular wellness programming, are highlighted.

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Potential West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Species In Iowa, Scott R. Larson, John P. Degroote, Lyric C. Bartholomay, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Publications

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) algorithms, Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling (Maxent) and Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP), were used to develop models in Iowa for three species of mosquito – two significant, extant West Nile virus (WNV) vectors (Culex pipiens L and Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae)), and the nuisance mosquito, Aedes vexans Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae), a potential WNV bridge vector. Occurrence data for the three mosquito species from a state-wide arbovirus surveillance program were used in combination with climatic and landscape layers. Maxent successfully created more appropriate niche models with greater accuracy than GARP. The three Maxent species’ …

Manipulating The Public Agenda: Why Acorn Was In The News, And What The News Got Wrong, Peter Dreier, Christopher R. Martin

Faculty Publications

This study, which received no outside funding from any organization, analyzed the complete 2007‐2008 coverage of ACORN by 15 major news media organizations, and the narrative frames of their 647 stories during that period. The news media analyzed include the four the highest circulation national newspapers—USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal—and an analysis of the transcripts of reports from leading broadcast news organizations: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio (NPR), and NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS). We also analyzed stories from three local newspapers …

Spatio-Temporal Cluster Analysis Of County-Based Human West Nile Virus Incidence In The Continental United States, Ramanathan Sugumaran, Scott R. Larson, John P. Degroote

Faculty Publications

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is a vector-borne illness that can severely affect human health. After introduction on the East Coast in 1999, the virus quickly spread and became established across the continental United States. However, there have been significant variations in levels of human WNV incidence spatially and temporally. In order to quantify these variations, we used Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic and Anselin's Local Moran's I statistic to uncover spatial clustering of human WNV incidence at the county level in the continental United States from 2002– 2008. These two methods were applied with varying analysis thresholds in order …

Surface Temperature Mapping Of The University Of Northern Iowa Campus Using High Resolution Thermal Infrared Aerial Imageries, Alexander Savelyev, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Publications

The goal of this project was to map the surface temperature of the University of Northern Iowa campus using high-resolution thermal infrared aerial imageries. A thermal camera with a spectral bandwidth of 3.0-5.0 µm was flown at the average altitude of 600 m, achieving ground resolution of 29 cm. Ground control data was used to construct the pixelto-temperature conversion model, which was later used to produce temperature maps of the entire campus and also for validation of the model. The temperature map then was used to assess the building rooftop conditions and steam line faults in the study area. Assessment …

Institutionalization: Trauma And Deliverance, Clemens Bartollas

Faculty Publications

The question of how one person can most effectively touch the life of another in a positive way is a significant one, especially for those whose mission is to increase the Kingdom of God. Drawing on extensive experience with juvenile delinquents and on his own scholarly research, Clemens Bartollas addresses himself to precisely this problem. In a sociological perspective, he raises a number of fascinating questions about interpersonal relations, and suggests a model for Christian action.