Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Public Pension Crisis And Investment Risk Taking: Underfunding, Fiscal Constraints, Public Accounting, And Policy Implications, Nancy Mohan, Ting Zhang

Upjohn Institute Policy Papers

Public pension funds that cover retirement benefits for almost 20 million active or retired employees have been significantly underfunded. An important, though largely overlooked, issue related to pension underfunding is the excessive investment risk levels assumed by public plans. Our analysis suggests government accounting standards strongly affect public fund investment risk, as higher return assumptions (used to discount pension liabilities) are associated with higher investment risk. Public funds undertake more risk if they are underfunded and have lower investment returns in previous years, consistent with the risk transfer hypothesis. Furthermore, pension funds in states facing fiscal constraints allocate more assets …

Lanthorn, Vol. 46, No. 61, May 7, 2012, Grand Valley State University

Volume 46, July 14, 2011 - June 18, 2012

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Spartan Daily May 7, 2012, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 138, Issue 50

Iconic Memory Requires Attention, Marjan Persuh, Boris Genzer, Robert D. Melara

Publications and Research

Two experiments investigated whether attention plays a role in iconic memory, employing either a change detection paradigm (Experiment 1) or a partial-report paradigm (Experiment 2). In each experiment, attention was taxed during initial display presentation, focusing the manipulation on consolidation of information into iconic memory, prior to transfer into working memory. Observers were able to maintain high levels of performance (accuracy of change detection or categorization) even when concurrently performing an easy visual search task (low load). However, when the concurrent search was made difficult (high load), observers' performance dropped to almost chance levels, while search accuracy held at single-task …

Correlations Between Language, Identity, And Discrimination Among Spanish Speakers In Providence, Katherine Rennie

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This study examines how discrimination based on language hinges on the importance of language to one’s personal identity. In order to understand the connections between discrimination and language, the literature on discrimination and its various components is investigated. Scholars’ findings concerning the connection between language and identity are then examined. A discussion will follow of the neuropsychology of language and of the scientific argument that human language came about in response to an evolutionary need for symbolic communication. These themes create a framework for the following study. In order to understand the experience of discrimination as a result of language …

Ua12/2/1 Best Of The Hill, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Special awards edition of the College Heights Herald.

Using Google Apps To Teach An Online Course, Memo Cordova

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Boise State uses Blackboard as its main content management system. Moodle is another. But we are free to use whatever platforms we choose. I have been teaching the main online UNIV 106 course since 2005. Since then it has evolved from a single, paper-based course into a hybrid of courses taught by several librarians. UNIV 106 is offered several times during the school year and delivered in a variety of formats: some are offered online, some in person; some are paired with English 102 courses (known as PoWeR: Project Writing and Research); and others are offered based on subject-specific areas …

The Task Force Initiative: Local Interventions At The Department Level—A Key Component Of A Multi-Tiered Approach To Promote Institutional Change, Emily Conant, Patricia Scott, Josef Reum, Alyssa Westring, Susmita Pati, Lucy Tuton, Mary Sammel, Rebecca Speck, Jean Grisso, Stephanie Abbuhl

Health Policy and Management Faculty Posters and Presentations

This NIH Transforming Academic Culture (NIH-TAC) trial is a multi-level coordinated intervention to enhance institutional culture, increase academic productivity, and improve job satisfaction for women faculty. This poster details a task force initiative in which each department and division reviewed their current practices and policies to recommend and implement change. This particular task force resulted in a list of interventions which were disseminated and implemented throughout the institution.

Seeds For Change: Examining The Association Between Race, Food Security, And Urban Agriculture, Komal Razvi

Honors College Theses

Access to healthy, nutritious food is one of the most basic human needs. Unfortunately, a large portion of the global population, including that of the United States, has limited access to such food, hence putting families in a state of food insecurity. Food insecurity occurs when households are unable to (or struggle to) provide adequate food to all household members due to lack of funds or food resources. This phenomenon is considered to be a major concern in many urban settings such as Detroit, as it is a characteristic of societal distress. Interestingly, research has shown that while food insecurity …

An Analysis Of The Online Versions Of Three Leading Newspapers In Nigeria On The Job Crisis: A Framing Theory Perspective, Ngozi Agwaziam

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the 2010/2011 Jos crisis over a four month period; December 2010 to March 2011. It focused on the online coverage of the crisis by Punch, Guardian and Thisday newspapers considering various aspects of news framing. Three hundred news reports were randomly selected over the event's life span. The analysis of the findings revealed significant differences among the three newspapers. However, while the newspapers dominantly portrayed the government, they sparsely covered individuals, victims and perpetrators in their reports. The newspapers depended heavily on their own staff writers and dominantly adopted textual reporting as against the use of visuals. …

Negotiating Dialectic Tensions In Intercultural Marriage, William Scott Hinson

Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis concentrates on the way in which discursive struggles are negotiated by intercultural married couples. Intercultural couples experience a unique set of challenges in maintaining a healthy relationship. I use the dialectical perspective to ground this study's approach to understanding intercultural couples. Relational dialectics states that all relationships experience conflicting and contrasting needs. These dialectical tensions make change central to relationship. To take a richer look into these relationships, I conducted a qualitative research study on five intercultural couples. I asked five married couples to talk about adjusting to married life as an international couple. This study will help …

The List: The Death Of Robert Champion, Donelson R. Forsyth

Jepson School of Leadership Studies articles, book chapters and other publications

The list grows ever longer: Names like Harry Lew, Chucky Stenzel, Chad Saucier, Gabe Higgins, Donna Bedinger, J. B. Joynt…and now Robert Champion. Its the list of people killed by hazing. Champion died of “blunt force trauma” that occurred during the FAMU marching band’s “Crossing Bus C” ritual, when his classmates punched and slapped him as he walked down the aisle of the band bus. He suffered so many injuries, inflicted by so many hands, that prosecutors charged 11 members of the band with felony hazing.

Hazing should never happen, but it does. Hank Nuwer’s Wrongs of Passage documents in …

Introduction Of Stephen Rowe, Delivered At The Gvsu Grand Forum On May 7, 2012, Arend D. Lubbers

Presidential Speeches

Introduction of Stephen Rowe, delivered at the GVSU Grand Forum on May 7, 2012 by Arend D. Lubbers, who served as President of Grand Valley from 1969-2001.

The Individually Focused Interview: Methodological Quality Without Transcription Of Audio Recordings, Aksel Skovgaard Clausen

The Qualitative Report

In this paper, I argue—with an example—that under certain conditions replacement of audio transcriptions with a combination of simultaneously taken and jointly produced notes can be done without affecting reliability, validity, and transparency. These conditions are: (1) professional or otherwise relatively “strong” interviewees (interview persons: IPs) with diverse backgrounds; (2) thorough planning of the interview with well-focused themes; and (3) a thorough and repeated introduction to the interview. The omission of audio transcriptions is an obvious solution to the researcher who wants a breadth of range of statements stemming from the use of many more interviewees than is often possible. …

Assessment Of The Utilization Of Hiv Interventions By Sex Workers In Selected Brothels In Bangladesh: An Exploratory Study, Nafisa Lira Huq, Mahbub Elahi Chowdhury

The Qualitative Report

In this qualitative study of brothel-based Female Sex Workers (FSWs), the authors explored factors that influence safe sex practices of FSWs within an integrated HIV intervention. Qualitative methods, including focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews and key informant interviews were applied in four brothels in Bangladesh. Young and elderly FSWs, Sordarnis (Madams who own young FSWs and who may be either active or inactive sex workers themselves), program managers and providers were the participants for this study. Findings showed that condom use was high but not consistent among bonded FSWs (those who are under the control of a Sordarni) who …

Qualitative Research Gains Equality: A Review Of Research Methodology: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners, Li Jin

The Qualitative Report

In this book review of Kumar’s 2011 edition of Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, I provide a summary of the book’s main content and a critical review of its content and structure including both the strengths and weaknesses. I conclude that this new edition of the book with Kumar presenting qualitative research as an equal methodology to quantitative research is an appropriate resource for students who are just starting to learn how to conduct empirical research studies. Two suggestions are provided for its future edition: (a) more classic resources about research methodology; and (b) more discussions about IRB …

Parent-Teen Communication About Dating Behaviors And Its Relationship To Teenage Dating Behaviors: From The Teen’S Perspective., Kimberly S. Reeb

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Research on parent-teen communication and teen sexual behavior has found that differing levels of parent-teen communication play a role in shaping their teens subsequent behaviors. This study examined teen reported parent-teen communication about dating behaviors and its relationship to the teen’s own dating behaviors. The differences and relationships among communication between mother and father and male and female participants is reported. 1st year college students were invited by e-mail to take an on-line survey about parent communication topics and different dating behaviors. The college student-based sample consisted 90 teens aged 18-19. Results present correlations and differences between the teen reported …

The Link (Or Lack Thereof) Among Communication Networks, Organizational Commitment, And Job Satisfaction: A Case Study, Corey Jay Liberman

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether and to what extent one’s communication networks (both social and task) come to influence commitment to, and satisfaction with, one’s organization. Using Social Identity Theory as the theoretical framework, the main argument is that employees will have similar levels of organizational commitment and satisfaction as compared to those considered part of their socially constructed networks. After conducting a social network analysis of an organization involved in the creation, production, and distribution of foot care products, and conducting multivariate statistical tests, results indicate that neither commitment, nor satisfaction, is predicted by network …

"Because I Said So" And Other Notions Of Authority: An Advanced Course On Communication And Power, Maureen M. Louis

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Many college students have inconsistent knowledge of historic and policy contexts where communication and power have played a key role. As Anton Ego, Ratatouillefood critic would say, “What we need is some perspective.” We have found one avenue for the development of such perspective is an advanced course for the consideration of power or, more accurately, the examination of powerlessness and how communication can be brought to bear for both the manifestation and limitation of power. By examining those factors that render one less powerful and historic instances that are glaring in this regard, the student can better understand …

Public Relations: A Role For Women?, Victoria Geyer

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

In an effort to seek coherence, continuity and connection in the communication discipline, this paper explores the issue of gender and culture within the field of public relations. This paper examines how gender affects the disciplinary detachment of public relations from the many communication disciplines. Secondary research that has emerged over the last 25 years is analyzed by discussing the feminization and perspectives of gender’s influence in the discipline of public relations. Future opportunities for both universities and the industry are explored, in order to help bridge the gap of detachment of public relations to that of similar disciplines.

The Loss Of Culture: The Changing Role Of Communication, Suzanne N. Berman

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Although, tradition serves as a core common ground for a culture’s identity, today, technology has been instrumental in breaking down cultural tradition into specialized areas within the communication discipline. When examining various contexts of media and technology, we see the role of tradition begin to fragment. However, this same media and technology also presents future possibilities of coherence and continuity for the discipline of communication. Through examining differing contexts of technology’s affect on tradition in culture, we can explore tradition(s) lost and found; traditions that may limit, integrate, or even establish a new found structure to help promote the common …

Dispelling Rape Myths Through Prison Theatre, Lorraine F. Moller

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of College-Aged Women’S Personal Relations, Amanda E. Hamilton

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Current communication literature regarding personal relations is limited by its focus on romantic, friendship and friends with benefits relations. To better understand the types of relations college-aged women practice, this study sought to explore (a) the types of cross-sex relations college-aged women practice (b) the reasons they give for practicing the relations and (c) the identities they construct by practicing the relations. Results indicated a myriad of relational types. Types were categorized under three supra-categories and were explored in terms of their description, initiation, maintenance and communication rules, as well as their benefits and drawbacks. Identities associated with the relations …

Behaviors That Eliminate Health Disparities For Racial And Ethnic Minorities: A Narrative Systematic Review, Truman Ryan Keys

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Within the health care provider-health care recipient relationship the communication must be culturally competent to eliminate barriers to equitable health care for all Americans. This assertion has conceptual grounding in Public Law 106-129 (the Health Care Research and Quality Act of 1999) and Public Law 106-525 (the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000). This narrative systematic review examines this assertion by using selection and exclusion criteria to gather interventions, assessments, and testimonies conducted from 2000-2007. Reports that were not eliminated via these criteria were analyzed to determine the effect of specific practices that were undertaken …

Understanding Space And Time Through The Exploration Of A Cafe As A Workplace, Erin Christie

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

This paper examines a café as a workplace. The position adopted is the constitutive view, whereby patrons of the café were observed as they worked. Data was obtained from thirteen ethnographic participant-observations, two hours each in length, conducted over a two-month period. It is argued that the environment provides a “sense of place” that normalizes patrons’ use of space and time, resulting in the typology of a leisure time-space worker. Themes include: patrons’ use of space to work, type of work done, and lastly, that the multi-functional work-leisure context allows for patrons’different use of time to work. This project contributes …

Roundtable Discussion Examining Ritual, Technology, And Community In Urban Communication, Victoria Geyer, Mary Ann Allison Phd, Suzanne N. Berman, Gary Gumpert

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Pervasive technologies that now exist in the urban setting have greatly improved the ability to connect on a macro-level, but have minimized the intimate shared experience of community on a micro level. This paper explores how technology has changed rituals within the global community and has contributed new methods to the process of human interaction. Technology’s influence on civic engagement, business meetings, shopping and socializing are examined to assess the impact technology has on human connections.

Keynote Address: On The Binding Biases Of Time, Lance A. Strate

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Lance Strate is Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University, and Executive Director of the Institute of General Semantics. He is a Past President of the New York State Communication Association, and a recipient of NYSCA's John F. Wilson Award. He is a founder and Past President of the Media Ecology Association, and author of Echoes and Reflections: On Media Ecology as a Field of Study. This is the text of his Keynote Address presented at the 67th Annual Conference of the New York State Communication Association, Ellenville, NY, October 23-25, 2009.

Parallel Session: Building Pakistan’S Country Of Origin Image Through The Corporate Image: Exploring Optimal Corporate Brands For The Image Transfer, Ishrat Hussain

International Conference on Marketing

Pakistan is facing a multi-dimensional attack on its country image. While it is imperative to triumph over negative factors causing Pakistan’s bad country image, it is also necessary to explore additional images to strengthen favorable associations with Pakistan and support a distinguishing image. Such image will be beneficial for increasing tourism, foreign investment, exports of goods/services and generating favorable condition for achievement of economic and other strategic objectives in the world. Corporate image is one such image. But what are the optimal corporate brands for image transfer to build Pakistan’s country of origin (CoO) image overseas? This research aims to …

Keynote: The Role Of Marketing In Economic Development And Business: Trends And Challenges For Pakistan, Mushtaq Luqmani

International Conference on Marketing

This paper examines the role of marketing in economic development and business for developing countries and the marketing challenges for Pakistan within the context of some key emerging global trends.

Keynote: Branding A Nation In The 21st Century, Kriengsak Chareonwongsak

International Conference on Marketing

The concept of a ‘’Nation as a Brand’’ is not new, but has already been a historical reality. In the 21st Century however, it is necessary for each country to pay much more attention to this topic due to the greater and increasing interconnectedness and globalization of our world in every aspect; economically, politically and socially, as illustrated by the KOF Index of Globalization in 2011 which collected the data of 186 countries from 1970 to 2008, concluding that our world is more globalized (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, 2011).