Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Personality Profile For The Liberal Arts, Paul A. Djupe

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Toxoplasma Gondii Seropositivity And Substance Use In Us Adults, Bruce L. Brown, Andrew N. Berrett, Shawn D. Gale, Lance D. Erickson, Evan L. Thacker, Dawson W. Hedges

Faculty Publications

The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) infects humans resulting in acute toxoplasmosis, an infection that in immunocompetent people is typically mild but results in persistent latent toxoplasmosis. In that T. gondii appears to affect dopamine synthesis and because addicting drugs affect midbrain dopamine transmission, latent toxoplasmosis could influence substance use. Using both the third and continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we used logistic regression to test for associations between T. gondii seropositivity and subject self-report of having ever used tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. …

Finding The Fuel Of The Arab Spring Fire: A Historical Data Analysis, Darryl K. Ahner, Luke M. Brantley

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This paper aims to address the reasons behind the varying levels of volatile conflict and peace as seen during the Arab Spring of 2011 to 2015. During this time, higher rates of conflict transition occurred than normally observed in previous studies for certain Middle Eastern and North African countries.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Previous prediction models decrease in accuracy during times of volatile conflict transition. Also, proper strategies for handling the Arab Spring have been highly debated. This paper identifies which countries were affected by the Arab Spring and then applies data analysis techniques to predict a country’s tendency to suffer from …

Pal: Toward A Recommendation System For Manuscripts, Sl Ziegler, Richard Shrake

Faculty Publications

Book-recommendation systems are increasingly common, from Amazon to public library interfaces. However, for archives and special collections, such automated assistance has been rare. This is partly due to the complexity of descriptions (finding aids describing whole collections) and partly due to the complexity of the collections themselves (what is this collection about and how is it related to another collection?). The American Philosophical Society Library is using circulation data collected through the collection-management software package, Aeon, to automate recommendations. In our system, which we’re calling PAL (People Also Liked), recommendations are offered in two ways: based on interests (“You’re interested …

Advancing Social Connection As A Public Health Priority In The United States, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Theodore Robles, David A. Sbarra

Faculty Publications

A robust body of scientific evidence indicates that being embedded in high-quality close relationships and feeling socially connected to the people in your life is associated with decreased risk for all-cause mortality as well as a range of disease morbidities. Despite mounting evidence that the magnitude of these associations is comparable to many leading health determinants (that receive significant public health resources), government agencies, healthcare providers and associations, and public/private healthcare funders are slow to recognize human social relationships as either a health determinant or health risk marker in a manner that is comparable to other public health priorities. This …

Begin Again, Holt Zaugg

Faculty Publications

One of the hallmarks of any assessment or evaluation is that it serves as an agent for improved change. However, not all changes are positive. In some cases, improvements in one area of library service delivery have negative effects in other areas of service delivery. In addition to this, no assessment is ever perfectly planned nor conducted. Each of these factors contributes to the need for library assessments to be periodically repeated. This chapter begins with a description of an assessment planning guide and journal to chronicle how the assessment was planned and unfolded. From here it discusses factors of …

Sex Differences In Rhesus Monkeys’ Digit Ratio (2d:4d Ratio) And Its Association With Maternal Social Dominance Rank, Alexander Baxter, Elizabeth K. Wood, Parker Jarman, Ashley N. Cameron, John P. Capitanio, James Dee Higley

Faculty Publications

Prenatal androgen exposure (PAE) plays a pivotal role in masculinizing the developing body and brain, and extreme exposure may contribute to autism, anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. One commonly used biomarker for PAE is the pointer-to-ring-finger digit length (2D:4D) ratio. Although this biomarker is widely used in human studies, relatively few studies have investigated 2D:4D ratio in nonhuman primates, particularly rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), one of the most commonly used animals in biomedical research. Thus far, data suggest that sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D ratio may be in the opposite direction in some monkey species, when compared to the pattern …

Makerspaces For All: Serving Lgbtq Makers In School Libraries, Vanessa Kitzie, Healther Moorefield-Lang

Faculty Publications

The article discusses makerspace that is defined by Laura Fleming as a metaphor for a unique learning environment that encourages tinkering, play, and open-ended exploration for all. It mentions that makerspaces are considered safe spaces for LGBTQ youth as they can create products that establish and communicate their LGBTQ identities. Also discussed is LGBTQ students perception regarding libraries.

Scholarly Publishing In Korea: Language, Perception, Practice Of Korean University Faculty, Eun-Young Julia Kim

Faculty Publications

This study reports how internationalization of academic knowledge is reflected in the language choice of Korean academic journals across disciplines and examines perceptions and practices of eighty two faculty from various disciplines at three Korean universities concerning publishing in English journals. The results indicate that natural science has the highest percentage of English-medium journals whereas those in humanities and social science predominantly use Korean as a medium of publication. Similar disciplinary patterns are observed in the responses to survey questions about frequency of publication as well as desire and preference for publishing papers in English. The biggest motivation for Korean …

127::Year Two::A Retrospective, Paul A. Djupe

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Curvilinear Association Between Language Disfluency And Fmr1 Cgg Repeat Size Across The Normal, Intermediate, And Premutation Range, Jessica Klusek, Ann Porter, Leonard Abbeduto, Tatyana Adayev, Flora Tassone, Marsha R. Mailick, Anne Glicksman, Bridgette L. Tonnsen, Jane E. Roberts

Faculty Publications

Historically, investigations of FMR1 have focused almost exclusively on the clinical effects of CGG expansion within the categories of the premutation (55–200 CGG repeats) and fragile X syndrome (>200 CGG repeats). However, emerging evidence suggests that CGG-dependent phenotypes may occur across allele sizes traditionally considered within the “normal” range. This study adopted an individual-differences approach to determine the association between language production ability and CGG repeat length across the full range of normal, intermediate, and premutation alleles. Participants included 61 adult women with CGG repeats within the premutation (n = 37), intermediate (i.e., 41–54 repeats; n = 2), …

Lessons Learned After A Disaster: Investigations Of Public Librarians’ Health Information Services To The Community And Community Members’ Information Needs Following A Catastrophic Flood, Feili Tu-Keefner, Jingjing Liu, Darin Freeburg, Elizabeth Hartnett, Denise Lyons, Mike Corbo, April Hobbs

Faculty Publications

In times of crisis, public libraries, in addition to health, fire, and police departments, are community outreach centers and sources of credible information. In October 2015, several counties in the state of South Carolina in the United States of America experienced catastrophic flooding that caused severe damage. Situation-specific research was conducted to investigate public libraries’ value to their communities in providing critical information services, as well as the libraries’ legitimacy as partners of public health agencies. The research framework is one recommended by public health experts for risk communication preparedness and implementation during pandemic influenza. In 2015, a case study …

Popular With Whom?: Usage Demographics Of Popular Science Nonfiction At An Academic Library, Megan Frost, Rebecca Walton

Faculty Publications

There is a large body of nonfiction written for a general audience which is infrequently promoted in popular reading collections at academic libraries. The aim of this research is to look at the usage of nonfiction science literature at a large university library in comparison to the science collection as a whole. This information can help librarians to not only determine how best to prioritize the collection of nonfiction science literature, but it can also be used to provide insight into how popular nonfiction science books can be most effectively promoted to library patrons.

Why "Trauma-Related Dissociation" Is A Misnomer In Courts: A Critical Analysis Of Brand Et Al. (2017a, B), Harald Merckelbach, Lawrence Patihis

Faculty Publications

Forensic psychologists are sometimes faced with the task of educating triers of fact about the evidential weight of dissociative experiences reported by claimants in litigation procedures. In their two-part essay, Brand et al. (Psychological Injury and Law, 10, 283–297, 2017a; Psychological Injury and Law, 10, 298–312, 2017b) provide advice to experts who find themselves in such situation. We argue that the Brand et al. approach is problematic and might induce confirmation bias in experts. Their approach is not well connected to the extant literature on recovered memories, dissociative amnesia, memory distortions, and symptom validity testing. In some …

Influence Of Physicians’ Beliefs On Propensity To Include Religion/Spirituality In Patient Interactions, Aaron B. Franzen

Faculty Publications

This study examines physicians’ beliefs, their perceptions of whether religion impacts health outcomes, and their propensity to discuss religion/spirituality with patients. It is not uncommon for patients to want religious/spiritual conversations, but the occurrence is infrequent. This study adds to knowledge regarding which physicians include these topics. Using a nationally representative sample of physicians and a mediated bi-factor structural equation model, the author finds that “religious and spiritual” physicians connect religion and patient health more than other religious/spiritual orientations. As a result, “religious and spiritual” physicians include religion/spirituality most often (indirect path). After this variation is accounted for, “spiritual but …

Satisfaction With Psychology Training In The Veterans Healthcare Administration, Heather G. Belanger, Glenn Curtiss, Jennifer J. Duchnick, Jeffrey Bates, Stacy Pommer, Stacey Pollack, T. Michael Kashner, Kenneth R. Jones

Faculty Publications

Given that VA is the largest trainer of psychologists in the United States, this study sought to understand satisfaction with VA psychology training and which elements of training best predict trainees' positive perceptions of training (e.g., willingness to choose training experience again, stated intentions to work in VA). Psychology trainees completed the Learners' Perceptions Survey (LPS) from 2005 to 2017 (N = 5,342). Satisfaction was uniformly high. Trainee satisfaction was significantly associated with level of training, facility complexity, and some patient-mix factors. Learning environment (autonomy, time with patients, etc.), clinical faculty/preceptors (teaching ability, accessibility, etc.), and personal experiences (work/life balance, …

Smart Sentencing Guidelines: The Effect Of Marginal Policy Changes On Recidivism, Sarah M. Estelle, David C. Phillips

Faculty Publications

Public appeals regarding criminal justice have shifted somewhat from “tough on crime” to “smart justice” that is more lenient when tradeoffs merit it. Among other considerations, smart sentencing policy depends on how sentence severity affects recidivism. Using administrative data on two common non-violent felonies committed by adults in Michigan, we measure the effect of sentences on offenders' future criminal activity. Discontinuities in the legislative guidelines that constrain sentences chosen by Michigan judges provide exogenous variation in sentence severity. Harsher sentences generated by sentencing guidelines significantly reduce recidivism by felony shoplifters but not repeat drunk drivers. Recidivism falls most for young, …

Patient-Centered Pain Management Communication From The Patient Perspective, Marie Haverfield, Karleen Giannitrapani, Christine Timko, Karl Lorenz

Faculty Publications

BackgroundPain management discussions between patient and provider can be stressful to navigate and greatly impact the care received. Because of the complexity, emotional color, and sensitivity of pain management, such discussions require a high degree of skill.ObjectiveTo identify patients’ perspectives of patient-centered care communication within the context of pain management discussions.DesignWe conducted semi-structured interviews (25–65 min) with patients regarding their experiences with pain assessment and management.Participants: 36 patients (29 males, 7 females), from 3 Veteran Affairs healthcare locations. Participant age ranged from 28 to 94 with pain intensity ranging from 0 to 10, based on the “pain now” numeric rating …

Struggles Experienced By Religious Minority Families In The United States, Loren D. Marks, David C. Dollahite, Kaity Pearl Young

Faculty Publications

More than a thousand empirical studies report positive correlations between religious involvement and various aspects oof psychological, relational, or physical health. Even so, there are also substantial costs, challenges, and negative aspects of religious involvement that warrant scholarly attention, including religion-related oppression and discrimination. The objective of this study was to provide an in-depth exploration and qualitative analysis of religion-related struggles experienced by religious minorities. A national sample of 198 diverse, religious families (N = 476 participants) were interviewed. Of the 198 families, 131 (66%) were from religious minority communities (i.e., Jewish, Muslim, or Christian minority faiths) and serve …

An Organizational Framework For Sexual Media’S Influence On Short-Term Versus Long-Term Sexual Quality, Nathan D. Leonhardt, Travis J. Spencer, Mark H. Butler, Alex C. Theobald

Faculty Publications

Although research has suggested a net negative influence of sexual media on sexual quality, enough researchers have found results suggesting that sexual media has no effect or a positive influence that the matter warrants further investigation. We present an organizational framework utilizing primarily the acquisition, activation, application model (3AM), and the Antecedents-Context-Effects model (ACE) to reconcile these apparently contradictory claims. By synthesizing these theories, we suggest that to truly understand the impact of sexual media on sexual quality, four factors must be taken into account: (1) the content of the sexual media being viewed, (2) the difference between short-term and …

International Issues In Corruption Management, Leonard Lira

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Agricultural Expansion (1910s-2010s) On Water Cycle In The Songneng Plain, Northeast China, Lijuan Zhang, Cuizhen Wang, Xiaxiang Li, Hongwen Zhang, Wenliang Li, Lanqi Jiang

Faculty Publications

Agricultural expansion is one of the primary land use changes on the Earth’s surface. The Songnen Plain in Northeast China is renowned for its Black Soil and is one of the most important agricultural regions of this country. In the last century, its population increased 20-fold and excessive areas of grassland were cultivated. Based on a series of decadal land use/land cover data sets in the plain (1910s–2010s), this study simulated the water balance in each decade using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and assessed the water effects of centurial agricultural expansion. Six variables were simulated to explain …

Non-Gnss Smartphone Pedestrian Navigation Using Barometric Elevation And Digital Map-Matching, Daniel Broyles, Kyle J. Kauffman, John F. Raquet, Piotr Smagowski

Faculty Publications

Pedestrian navigation in outdoor environments where global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are unavailable is a challenging problem. Existing technologies that have attempted to address this problemoften require external reference signals or specialized hardware, the extra size,weight, power, and cost of which are unsuitable for many applications. This article presents a real-time, self-contained outdoor navigation application that uses only the existing sensors on a smartphone in conjunction with a preloaded digital elevation map. The core algorithm implements a particle filter, which fuses sensor data with a stochastic pedestrian motion model to predict the user’s position. The smartphone’s barometric elevation is then …

"The Family That Prays Together . . .": Relational Processes Associated With Regular Family Prayer, Joe M. Chelladurai, David C. Dollahite, Loren D. Marks

Faculty Publications

In the present article we explore how family prayer reportedly influenced family relationships. We conceptualized family prayer as a family ritual in religious families and used a qualitative methodology to interview a religiously, ethnically, and geographically diverse sample of 198 families (N = 476). Analysis of data revealed 7 related themes. Family prayer served important functions and influenced relationships in various ways including (a) as time of family togetherness and interaction; (b) as a space for social support; and (c) as a means for intergenerational transmission of religion. Further, family prayer (d) involved issues and concerns of individuals and …

Remember My Chains: New Testament Perspectives On Incarceration, Matthew L. Skinner

Faculty Publications

Understanding the physical realities and social attitudes concerning incarceration in the ancient world provides a fuller context to the New Testament’s unadorned and ambiguous references to people’s experience of being held in custody. The context is crucial for interpreting biblical passages that commend caring for prisoners, that reaffirm God’s strength and nullify the ignominy associated with incarceration, and that declare God’s power over the means and motives of imperial coercion. Such passages also compel the contemporary church to advocate on behalf of prisoners and to denounce the systems that regularly victimize them.

Knowledge Diffusion And Utilization Within A System Of Care Model: Success And Challenges, Betty Walton, Isaac Karikari, Christine Marie Bishop, Erin Tock

Faculty Publications

•Transitioning from required collection & reporting of grant data to routinely using information for planning and quality improvement processes at direct service, program, and system levels •Explores necessary conditions for the successful use of information to plan and monitor progress •Highlights tips •Applying tips to your practice

A Longitudinal Review Of System Of Care (Soc) Development A Case Study From The Mid-West, Betty Walton, Isaac Karikari, Christine Marie Bishop

Faculty Publications

This study examined the implementation of the System of Care (SOC) framework in a Midwestern state and efforts to assess the progress over time. The period in focus was 2014-2018.

An Evaluation Of College Student Attitudes Toward Gay Adoption, Cassandra Chaney Phd, Le'brian Patrick

Faculty Publications

Given the increasing debate regarding same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption, few studies to date have examined college student attitudes regarding this topic. This qualitative study explores the sentiments of 31 college students from a large university in the southern region of the country towards gay adoption before and after viewing the documentary We Are Dad (2005). The study allowed students to provide their level of agreement or disagreement with the statements provided by respondents on a public blog site who debated both sides of this issue. In addition, students responded to the following two questions during two points in time: …

Book Review: Street Style In America: An Exploration, Todd J. Wiebe

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Differently Abled Staff Welcomed By Library Recruiters, Bec Muir Aalia, Kim M. Thompson, M. Asim Qayyum

Faculty Publications

The article focuses on the benefits of reading therapy for improving health and well being for people living with disability. Topics discussed include providing knowledge or skills to provide services or resources to people living with a disability; encouraging library employers to form job advertisement with diversity and disability in mind; and encouraging employment of the same.