Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Big Data, Technical Communication, And The Smart City, Jordan Frith

Publications

Big data is one of the most hyped buzzwords in both academia and industry. This article makes an early contribution to research on big data by situating data theoretically as a historical object and arguing that much of the discourse about the supposed transparency and objectivity of big data ignores the crucial roles of interpretation and communication. To set forth that analysis, this article engages with recent discussion of big data and “smart” cities to show the communicative practices operating behind the scenes of large data projects and relate those practices to the profession of technical communication.

Worldwide Trends In Blood Pressure From 1975 To 2015: A Pooled Analysis Of 1479 Population-Based Measurement Studies With 19·1 Million Participants, Bin Zhou, James Bentham, Mariachiara Di Cesare, Honor Bixby, Goodarz Danaei, Melanie J. Cowan, Christopher J. Paciorek, Gitanjali Singh, Kaveh Hajifathalian, James E. Bennett, Cristina Taddei, Con Burns, Tara Coppinger, Ver Bilano, Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco, Shirin Djalalinia, Shahab Khatibzadeh, Charles Lugero, Niloofar Peykari, Wan Zhu Zhang, Yuan Lu, Gretchen A. Stevens, Leanne M. Riley, Pascal Bovet, Paul Elliott, Dongfeng Gu, Nayu Ikeda, Rod T. Jackson, Michel Joffres, Andre Pascal Kengne, Tiina Laatikainen, Tai Hing Lam, Avula Laxmaiah, Jing Liu

Publications

Background Raised blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. We estimated worldwide trends in mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure, and the prevalence of, and number of people with, raised blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. Methods For this analysis, we pooled national, subnational, or community population-based studies that had measured blood pressure in adults aged 18 years and older. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1975 to 2015 in mean …

Protecting The Right To Be An American: How Pennsylvanians Perceive Homeland Security, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

Pennsylvanians mainly see Homeland Security as a comprehensive effort of the federal government to fight terrorism at home and abroad. While it most often has a positive connotation, the multi-faceted mission space of homeland security is widely unknown.

Public Speaking Versus Hybrid Introductory Communication Courses: Exploring Four Outcomes, Melissa A. Broeckelman-Post, Andrew S. Pyle

Publications

The purpose of this study was to compare student growth in public speaking and hybrid introductory communication skills courses on four outcomes: public speaking anxiety, self-perceived communication competence, intercultural effectiveness, and connected classroom climate. This study also sought to find out whether there were differences in the achievement of outcomes and growth in each outcome by sex and ethnicity. Data from 908 participants utilized a within-subjects and between-subjects repeat measures design. Results showed that public speaking and hybrid communication courses reduced public speaking anxiety and increased self-perceived communication competence and connected classroom climate a similar amount, but did not significantly …

Implications Of Social Support As A Self-Control Resource, June J. Pilcher, Stewart A. Bryant

Publications

Self-control is an intricate component of decision making and effectively managing day-to-day life. Failing to maintain adequate self-control can have negative effects on many desired goals and social experiences. As such, understanding how different facets of the human experience may affect self-control is an important undertaking. One area that is yet unclear is the possible relationships between social support and self-control. Research suggests that social support can be an effective resource in reducing stress and promoting health and well-being. Research has also indicated that stress can be a limiting factor on self-control. In contrast, few studies have focused on social …

The Digital “Lure”: Small Businesses And Pokémon Go, Jordan Frith

Publications

Most of the discussion about Pokémon Go has focused on the end-user and the playful nature of the game. Experts have mentioned the game’s commercialism, but they have done so mostly by talking about the data collection practices of the app developers. This commentary piece takes a different approach by examining how businesses have used Pokémon Go’s “lures” to attract foot traffic. The main goal of the article is to show how the ludic, digital wayfaring of location-based games can be used by individual places to attract players. While the focus is on business owners, I will also address …

Understanding Teamwork In The Provision Of Cancer Care: Highlighting The Role Of Trust, Elizabeth H. Lazzara, Joseph R. Keebler, Soosi Day, Deborah Diazgranados, Minggui Pan, Michael A. King, Shin-Ping Tu

Publications

Team science research has indicated that trust is a critical variable of teamwork, contributing greatly to a team’s performance. Trust has long been examined in health care with research focusing on the development of trust by patients with their health care practitioners. Studies have indicated that trust is linked to patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment, continuity of care, and improved outcomes. We explore the construct of trust using a case example of a patient who received a surgical procedure for a precancerous polyp. We apply the principle of trust to the case as well as present the literature on trust …

Pennsylvania 2016 Pre-Election Poll On Policy And Governance, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

Pennsylvanians mainly see Homeland Security as a comprehensive effort of the federal government to fight terrorism at home and abroad. While it most often has a positive connotation, the multi-faceted mission space of homeland security is widely unknown.

Results From Ireland North And South's 2016 Report Card On Physical Activity For Children And Youth, Deirdre M. Harrington, Marie Murphy, Angela Carlin, Tara Coppinger, Alan Donnelly, Kieran P. Dowd, Teresa Keating, Niamh Murphy, Elaine Murtagh, Wesley O'Brien, Catherine Woods, Sarahjane Belton

Publications

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a key performance indicator for policy documents in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Building on baseline grades set in 2014, Ireland's second Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth allows for continued surveillance of indicators related to PA in children and youth. Methods: Data and information were extracted and collated for 10 indicators and graded using an international standardized grading system. Results: Overall, 7 grades stayed the same, 2 increased, and 1 decreased. Grades were assigned as follows: Overall PA, D (an increase); Sedentary Behavior (TV), C-; Physical Education, D-; …

Emerging Business Models For Commercial Spaceports: Current Trends From The Us Perspective, Janet K. Tinoco, Chunyan Yu

Publications

Agenda for Presentation:

• US Commercial/Government Active Launch Sites
• Why Commercial Spaceports?
• Spaceport Business Model Drivers
• Spaceport Multi-Modal Facility and Infrastructure Requirements
• Emerging Spaceport Business Models
• Summary and Concluding Remarks

He Asked Me What!? - Using Shared Online Accounts As Training Tools For Distance Learning Librarians, Kelly Robinson, Anne Marie Casey, Kathleen Citro

Publications

This study explores the idea of creating a knowledge base from shared online accounts to use in training librarians who perform distance reference services. Through a survey, follow-up interviews and a case study, the investigators explored current and potential use of shared online accounts as training tools. This study revealed that the participants viewed the concept positively, but many encountered barriers to effectively employing a local knowledge base as a training tool.

Tradeable Permits For Shoreline Protection: Reshaping Regulation Under The Coastal Act For The Era Of Sea Level Rise, Charles Colgan, Sarah Newkirk

Publications

California’s coast is one of the state’s and the nation’s premier locations. Home to millions of people, as well as a great diversity of natural features and habitats, it is also a place that is disappearing from beneath our feet. The dynamic interactions of water and land have eroded much of the historic California coast, and sea level rise threatens a dramatic acceleration of this trend. Fighting erosion has led to more than ten percent of California’s shoreline (and over thirty percent in southern California) being transformed from natural to man-made structures that resist, at least for a time, the …

Northeast Ocean Planning Baseline Assessment: Marine Resources, Infrastructure, And Economics, Hauke Kite-Powell, Charles Colgan, Porter Hoagland, Di Jin, Vinton Valentine, Brooke Wikgren

Publications

This document summarizes the status of coastal and marine resources in the Northeast region of the United States, and how these resources generate economic and ecological value. The Northeast region, for ocean planning purposes, includes the coastal counties of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and the New York counties (bordering Long Island Sound) of Queens, Bronx, Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester. The coastal and marine natural resources and coastal infrastructure of the Northeast, and the economic activities and cultural/recreational services that rely them, directly and indirectly support more than 500,000 jobs and $40 billion in economic value (GDP) …

The Last Harvest, Maggie Mason Smith

Publications

No abstract provided.

Taking Our Seat At The Table [Part Of The Article Titled, Acrl In Orlando: Acrl Programs At The Ala Annual Conference], Anne Marie Casey

Publications

A summary about the program presented at the ACRL University Libraries Section meeting held during the 2016 ALA annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 23-28, 2016. The presentation for the section was titled, "Taking Our Seat at the Table: How Academic Librarians Can Help Shape the Future of Higher Education."

‘Project Spraoi’: A Randomized Control Trial To Improve Nutrition And Physical Activity In School Children, Tara Coppinger, Seán Lacey, Cian O'Neill, Con Burns

Publications

Background

Recent evidence predicts that by 2030, Ireland will have the highest rate of obesity in Europe. Consequently, there are concerns that health problems associated with this condition will present in childhood. Studies have shown that interventions based on increasing physical activity (PA) levels, reducing sedentary lifestyles and improving nutritional habits all pose protective mechanisms against obesity and its related disorders in youth. Yet, to date, there are no interventions being delivered in Ireland that concurrently target PA, nutritional habits and sedentary time amongst school children.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to implement and evaluate an intervention that …

Leveraging The Power Of Place In Citizen Science For Effective Conservation Decision Making, Gregory Newman, M. Chandler, M. Clyde, B. Mcgreavy, M. Haklay, H. Ballard, S. Gray, R. Scarpino, D. Mellor, J. Gallo

Publications

Many citizen science projects are place-based - built on in-person participation and motivated by local conservation. When done thoughtfully, this approach to citizen science can transform humans and their environment. Despite such possibilities, many projects struggle to meet decision-maker needs, generate useful data to inform decisions, and improve social-ecological resilience. Here, we define leveraging the ‘power of place’ in citizen science, and posit that doing this improves conservation decision making, increases participation, and improves community resilience. First, we explore ‘place’ and identify five place dimensions: social-ecological, narrative and name-based, knowledge-based, emotional and affective, and performative. We then thematically analyze 134 …

Planning For Sustainability In Small Municipalities: The Influence Of Interest Groups, Growth Patterns, And Institutional Characteristics, Vanessa R. Levesque, Kathleen P. Bell, Aram J K Calhoun

Publications

How and why small municipalities promote sustainability through planning efforts is poorly understood. We analyzed ordinances in 451 Maine municipalities and tested theories of policy adoption using regression analysis.We found that smaller communities do adopt programs that contribute to sustainability relevant to their scale and context. In line with the political market theory, we found that municipalities with strong environmental interests, higher growth, and more formal governments were more likely to adopt these policies. Consideration of context and capacity in planning for sustainability will help planners better identify and benefit from collaboration, training, and outreach opportunities.

Phoenix, Maggie Mason Smith

Publications

No abstract provided.

Citizen Science And Natural Resource Governance: Applying A Resilience Framework To Vernal Pool Policy Innovation, Bridie Mcgreavy, Aram J K Calhoun, Jessica Spelke Jansujwicz, Vanessa Levesque

Publications

Effective natural resource policy depends on knowing what is needed to sustain a resource and building the capacity to identify, develop, and implement flexible policies. This retrospective case study applies resilience concepts to a 16-year citizen science program and vernal pool regulatory development process in Maine, USA. We describe how citizen science improved adaptive capacities for innovative and effective policies to regulate vernal pools. We identified two core program elements that allowed people to act within narrow windows of opportunity for policy transformation, including (1) the simultaneous generation of useful, credible scientific knowledge and construction of networks among diverse institutions, …

Task Performance And Meta-Cognitive Outcomes When Using Activity Workstations And Traditional Desks, June J. Pilcher, Victoria C. Baker

Publications

The purpose of the current study is to compare the effects of light physical activity to sedentary behavior on cognitive task performance and meta-cognitive responses. Thirty-eight undergraduate students participated in the study. The participants used a stationary bicycle with a desk top and a traditional desk while completing two complex cognitive tasks and measures of affect, motivation, morale, and engagement. The participants pedaled the stationary bicycle at a slow pace (similar in exertion to a normal walking pace) while working. The results indicated that cognitive task performance did not change between the two workstations. However, positive affect, motivation, and morale …

Marketing Online Workshops, Anne Grant, Diana Finkle

Publications

The movement of library instruction to the online environment is only one way that librarians are seeking to meet the just-in-time needs of their patrons. Marketing of this type of instruction should reflect these changes by speaking directly to the needs of the patrons rather than to the topic of the sessions. Effective marketing of online workshops is best achieved by making a plan, diversifying modes of outreach, and by creating consistency with the library and university brands and goals.

Stalking Jack The Ripper, Maggie Mason Smith

Publications

No abstract provided.

Wearing The City: Memory P(A)Laces, Smartphones, And The Rhetorical Invention Of Embodied Space, Jason Kalin, Jordan Frith

Publications

This article extends research on the production of embodied space by focusing on the relations between place and memory. Beginning with a consideration of how wearable technologies enable new spatial practices within the constructed order of the city, we develop a conceptual framework to understand these spatial practices by returning to the rhetorical art of memory and the building of memory palaces. The art of memory, exemplified by memory palaces, offers a rhetorical resource for understanding how smartphones as wearable technologies may be incorporated—that is, brought into the body, as integral to the production of embodied spatial memories. We argue …

Uprooted, Maggie Mason Smith

Publications

No abstract provided.

President Bergeron's 98th Commencement Address, Katherine Bergeron

Publications

President Bergeron offers remarks on "A Whole New Way of Listening" to the Class of 2016.

Whose Values Count: Is A Theory Of Social Choice For Sustainability Science Possible?, Mark W. Anderson, Mario F. Teisl, Caroline L. Noblet

Publications

If sustainability science is to mature as a discipline, it will be important for practitioners to discuss and eventually agree upon the fundamentals of the paradigm on which the new discipline is based. Since sustainability is fundamentally a normative assertion about tradeoffs among values, how society chooses the specifics among these tradeoffs is central to the sustainability problem. Whose values should count in making social decisions and how should the multiplicity of values that exist be known and used in that decision process? Given the vast spatial domains and temporal domains at work in the sustainability problem, we need some …

The Effects Of Rotation And River Discharge On Net Mixing In Small-Mouth Kelvin Plumes, Kelly Cole, Robert D. Hetland

Publications

Small-mouth Kelvin number plumes, or plumes with a source width smaller than the deformation radius, are characterized by near-field plume regions of rapid lateral expansion and strong vertical mixing. Net plume mixing, or the dilution of a plume by ocean water between the estuary mouth and the far-field plume, is examined using idealized numerical experiments with the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). The density anomaly of plume water entering the far field is determined from isohaline analysis of the modeled salinity field. The experiments indicate that when estuarine discharge increases, net plume mixing decreases in a rotating environment but increases …

Climate Adaptation And Resiliency Planning For New England Communities: First Steps And Next Steps, Charles Colgan, Jack D. Kartez Ph.D., Martha P. Sheils

Publications

Hurricane Irene tearing Vermont roads and bridges apart and Superstorm Sandy ripping through coastal areas; such phenomenal events are being joined by more frequent rain, tide and wind impacts that are disrupting communities and risking property and lives. New challenges arise from weather events that are driven by a less stable climate. The key difference between what communities already plan for and climate adaptation planning is the level of uncertainty about how impacts may change in the future and the potentially enormous and devastating damages that a community may sustain. This Guide presents an overview of that task, with links …

Please Don't Tell, Maggie Mason Smith

Publications

No abstract provided.