Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Lake Mcconaughy: Who Gets The Water?*, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska is in a drought of historic proportions. Because of this, water levels in Lake McConaughy near Ogallala are falling to near-record lows. This has led to an active debate regarding how water in McConaughy should be managed, and (in my opinion) unfair criticism of how the lake has been managed. This column takes a quick look at the water rights dimension of McConaughy water levels.

December 2004 - Staff Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Hospital Preparedness For Psychological Consequences Of Public Health Emergencies (Survey Results Summary), Denise Bulling

University of Nebraska Public Policy Center: Publications

The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center recently surveyed hospitals across Nebraska to evaluate behavioral health readiness in the event of a disaster, act of terrorism (including bioterrorism) or other mass-casualty incident. The survey also asked about hospitals’ ability to effectively coordinate with other emergency service providers, such as law enforcement, in the event of a critical incident.

Behavioral health readiness refers to a hospital’s capacity to effectively manage and respond to the psychological needs of patients, staff, and their families resulting from a large scale event or emergency. In many hospitals in Nebraska this capacity is not maintained internally …

Community Capital: More Than Just Money, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

When you think of the word, capital, dollars or money probably comes to mind. What if I told you there were at least six kinds of capital within every community? Capital is more than just... capital. Cornelia and Jan Flora, in their recent book, Rural Communities: Legacy and Change (2003), identify several kinds of capital that are present in varying degrees in all communities. You might think of it as layers on an onion, with each layer relying on the next (Figure 1). These layers of capital are the building blocks or assets within communities. These common elements can be …

The Adaptiveness Of Punishing Behavior: A Baseline Study, Levente Littvay

Department of Political Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study sheds light on the current patterns of punishing behavior. Experimental work with ultimatum bargaining shows that individuals have a high sensitivity to fairness, and when taken advantage of, are willing to endure costs to punish deviant behavior. Third party observers of the unfair behavior asked to represent ultimatum recipients are more hesitant to engage in such punishment. This becomes ever more puzzling when we consider individuals’ high value of their own reputation in similar settings. This leaves both rational choice modelers and political psychologists puzzled. This study presents the baseline model for a research agenda proposing a multi-agent …

Understanding The Economic Factors Influencing Farm Policy Preferences, Keith H. Coble, Thomas O. Knight, George F. Patrick, Alan E. Baquet

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

A survey conducted in Mississippi, Texas, Indiana, and Nebraska elicited producers’ preferences for various farm policy changes. This permitted examination of the diversity of preferences that single-state studies have not allowed. Five policy choices, including deficiency payments, loan programs, crop insurance, export programs, and disaster payments were examined. Logit model results predicting producer preferences for each of the five dichotomous policy choices are reported. Explanatory variables based on expected utility theory such as risk aversion, price and yield variability, and price–yield correlation are significant in various models.

Federal Indian Law Internet Tools: Indian Territory Cases At The Oklahoma State Courts Network And Kappler’S Indian Affairs: Laws And Treaties At The Oklahoma State University, Charles D. Bernholz

UNL Libraries: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Career Conundrums Require Self- Examination, Carla Kimbrough

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

It's Monday morning: How do you feel about going to work today?
Are you excited about the challenges ahead, or are you dreading the next assignment?
Now, imagine you have to remain there for the rest of your career.
Those Monday-morning feelings or the rest-of-your-life musings may give you a hint about whether it's time to make a career move — or not.
Fortunately, we can use logic and feelings to decide whether to stay or go.
We also can be confident that we're not alone. Career moves are something we all consider.

Jefferson County Visitors Survey

Rural Initiative Program: Publications and Reports

Between the months of June and December, 2004, the Jefferson County Visitors Committee, with the assistance of the University of Nebraska’s Rural Initiative and Nebraska Cooperative Extension, conducted a survey of visitors to Fairbury and the Jefferson County area.

The survey was designed to provide information related to the activities and experiences of tourists and other visitors to the Jefferson County area, especially as related to the hospitality industry.

The Market And Consumer Welfare Effects Of The Introduction Of Second-Generation Gmps, Amalia Yiannaka

Cornhusker Economics

The introduction of genetically modified products (GMPs) into the food system and the significant growth of organic agriculture are among the most notable features of the increasingly industrialized agri-food sector. They have both received considerable attention in the agricultural economics literature, with the main focus being on the optimal regulatory responses as they relate to the introduction of standards for, and labeling of, GM and organic food products.

Academic Library Web Sites For Distance Learners In Greater Western Library Alliance Member Institutions, Mary Cassner, Kate E. Adams

UNL Libraries: Faculty Publications

Through the library web site, academic libraries present extensive resources and a suite of services to support distance learners. The web site is a vital communication link between the distance student and reference-based instructional component that the librarian provides. This article examines web sites and distance learning library services pages of Greater Western Library Alliance members.

November 2004 - Staff Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Help-Seeking Patterns Among Subfecund Women, Arthur L. Greil, Julia Mcquillan

Bureau of Sociological Research: Faculty Publications

A random sample of women in the midwestern United States was studied in order to provide a fuller picture of the ways in which US women responded to subfecundity. Using a biomedical definition of infertility, we examined women who did not conceive within 12 months of unprotected intercourse whether they were trying to get pregnant or not. Of the 196 ever-subfecund women in our sample, 123 experienced subfecundity while trying to get pregnant; we called these “subfecund with intent.” Another 73 women experienced subfecundity while not actively trying to get pregnant; we called these “subfecund without intent.” Of the 196 …

Women In Agriculture, Karrie Blake

Cornhusker Economics

Although farm numbers continue to decline, women in agriculture are increasing their responsibility in decision making and management on the farm. According to the 2002 U.S. Agricultural Census the number of farms in Nebraska was 49,355, down 10 percent from 1997. However, the number of female principle operators in Nebraska was up from 2,948 in 1997 to 3,005 in 2002 according to the census. T his is a small increase compared to the 13 percent jump of women operating farms in the nation (209,784 in 1997 to 237,819 in 2002). Of those principal female operators in Nebraska, 1,568 have farming …

Board Of Directors Training, Heartland Center For Leadership Development

Heartland Center for Leadership Development Materials

Board of Directors Training

Roles and Responsibilities

Time Devoted to Six Basic Elements

Obstacles

Strategies

Ethics

Recruitment

Evaluating Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Coverage, Roger Selley

Cornhusker Economics

Past issues of this newsletter have addressed the assessment of crop insurance needs (March 11 and November 11, 1998). The approach suggested was to identify the cash flow commitments for the year and then to prioritize those commitments. The latter step was suggested recognizing that: 1) insurance coverage may not be available to cover all commitments, 2) even if sufficient coverage is available, premiums increase substantially as coverage is increased, and 3) the more insurance purchased the more risk transferred to the insurance company and the less profit potential retained by the farm operation. In a more recent issue the …

Crop Price Declines Could Trigger Revenue Insurance Indemnities, H. Douglas Jose

Cornhusker Economics

Two occurrences that could affect grain producers’ incomes this year have just come into play. The first is the establishment of the harvest price for the crop insurance revenue programs. The second is the counter cyclical payments for the farm commodity program.

The Contribution Of Social Partnership And Activity Settings To The Emergence Of Sex Differences, Carolyn P. Edwards

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Certain sex differences are observable in children’s behavior in social interaction in many cultures worldwide. Age 3-6: Insulting, rough and tumble play, and dominating egoistically are the most clearly masculine behaviors, and seeking or offering physical contact, dominating prosocially, and seeking help the most feminine. These differences are strengthened or weakened, magnified or reduced according to cultural context. (They are smallest in Orchard Town and Nyansongo).

Together with colleagues, we reexamined these conclusions in The Children of Different Worlds project, which drew upon the running record observations from 12 communities to get a much larger data set also based on …

Start Improving Today The Next Year Of Your Life, Carla Kimbrough

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

Is your life better today than it was a year ago?
That may sound similar to the political quip used during political debates, but the question is meant lo prompt thought about you and your life — professionally and personally.
Are you growing and learning? Has your reporting or editing improved? How about your knowledge ot the newsroom? Is it stagnant or alive? How are your leadership skills? Has your work been memorable this year? Has your work changed the way people live, work or play?

Mental Disorder, Subsistence Strategies, And Victimization Among Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Homeless And Runaway Adolescents, Les B. Whitbeck, Xiaojin Chen, Dan R. Hoyt, Kimberly A. Tyler, Kurt D. Johnson

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This study compares participation in deviant subsistence strategies, street victimization, and lifetime prevalence of five mental disorders (conduct disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse) among heterosexual males and females (n = 366) and gay, lesbian, and bisexual (n = 63) homeless and runaway adolescents from the first wave of a longitudinal study of homeless youth in four Midwestern states. The results indicate that gay, lesbian, and bi¬sexual adolescents were more likely to have been physically and sexually abused by caretakers, were more likely to engage in risky survival strategies when on their own (including …

2004 Ballot Proposals, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

The November 2, 2004 general election ballot has eight ballot questions. Amendments 1-4 (all proposed amendments to the Nebraska Constitution) were adopted by the Nebraska Unicameral. Initiatives 417-420 (two constitutional amendments and two citizen-initiated statutes) are a four-part citizen initiative petition package supported by a gambling coalition. The eight proposals are briefly discussed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

October 2004 - Staff Meeting Minutes

ALEC Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Poverty In Nebraska, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Avinash Alok

Cornhusker Economics

“Five Nebraska counties are among the nation's poorest 12 counties" (Lincoln Journal Star, July 18, 2004) Y" 'Some of the bigger ranchers here, they didn't like it at all being called the poorest,' said Van Diest, 68, (Loup County Commissioner, Wade) adding that he's been puzzled by how Loup County got the No.1 ranking." (Omaha World Herald, July 17, 2004). These comments were typical of those in response to a federal report released in July, 2004. Some people are indignant, others are puzzled. Which areas of Nebraska really are the poorest, how poor are they, and why? A clear understanding …

2004 Hog Prices - The “Perfect Storm”?, Al Prosch

Cornhusker Economics

In 2004 we’ve had the highest hog prices since 1997 (Figure 1). At the same time, we have had record hog slaughter. Perhaps the most telling comment for this year was made by Glen Grimes at the National Pork Board Educators Seminar in September. Glen stated that in all his years he has never seen anything like this. Supply has been up and price has been up more.

Start-Up Strategies For Beginning Farmers, David J. Goeller

Cornhusker Economics

Preliminary information from the U.S. 2002 Agricultural Census has recently been released. The chart groups U.S. census data for Nebraska farmers into three categories: under 34 years of age, 35 to 64 and over 65. The data indicates a 20 year trend of fewer farmers, older farmers and very few beginning farmers. A farmer is defined, for purposes of this census, as anyone producing or selling at least $1,000 of agricultural commodities annually. The average age of Nebraska farmers continues to rise. The average age in 1982 was 48.5 compared to 53.9 in 2002. The increase in average age is …

National Program Assessment, Animal Health: 2000-2004, Cyril G. Gay

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

National Program Assessments are conducted every five-years through the organization of one or more workshop. Workshops allow the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to periodically update the vision and rationale of each National Program and assess the relevancy, effectiveness, and responsiveness of ARS research. The National Program Staff (NPS) at ARS organizes National Program Workshops to facilitate the review and simultaneously provide an opportunity for customers, stakeholders, and partners to assess the progress made through the National Program and provide input for future modifications to the National Program or the National Program’s research agenda. A workshop for Animal Health has been …

The Importance Of Marketing And Total Quality Management In Libraries, Rajashekhar D. Kumbar

E-JASL 1999-2009 (Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

Herb White, states in Library Journal, “... it should be fairly clear that librarians do not market and that they never have marketed.” He concludes, “What we need to tell people is not how wonderful our public libraries are but rather how wonderful they could be. The awakening of these dreams is the purpose of marketing” (Besant & Sharp, 2000). Since the 1960’s, the most widely taught marketing concept was the marketing mix theory: the 4Ps (product, price, place and promotion)—so clean, so neat, so inappropriate for libraries. Marketing theory cannot always be so succinctly described since relationships …

The Empowering Role Of Enterprise Information Portals In Knowledge Management, Alireza Hejazi

E-JASL 1999-2009 (Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

The increasing role of enterprise information portals (EIPs) in different applications of information, including knowledge management (KM), makes it a necessity to elaborate the issue in a more serious and scientific way. The contribution and role that these kinds of portals have in empowering KM provide a theoretical framework through which to offer a conceptual basis for present and future KM trends. So the main purpose of this article is to organize theoretical concepts discussed on EIPs in a summarized manner and provide a conceptual context for thinking and working on them. It should be noted that the perspective …

Clinical Librarianship (Cl): A Historical Perspective, Evaliga Lappa

E-JASL 1999-2009 (Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

A number of previous studies have collected data on a hospital’s use of databases and the librarian’s role in the process. These studies express common themes and suggest activities for librarians wishing to promote the use of new technologies.

The first theme: While it seems clear that some physicians are competent and satisfied users of new computer search systems, many more, unfortunately, are unaware of the potential time saving features and powerful search capabilities of their search systems. Health sciences librarians have been advocating the use of indexes and abstracts for as long as these products have been available. …

If It Ain't Broke ... : Changing Search Philosophies, John M. Weiner

E-JASL 1999-2009 (Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

This study employs simulation analyses to determine the consequences of two search philosophies. The first is called the a posteriori approach and involves terms selected arbitrarily by the user without knowledge of the specific content of the documents. The second is the a priori approach and involves terms selected because the user knows that the author employed those exact terms in describing his/her findings. Further, the authors' combinations of these terms would be known. The results of simulation studies show that the a posteriori approach was comparable to a random walk. If the need to correctly identify documents was …