Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Governing Structures For Successful Regional Transit Coordination And Their Formation, Charles Rivasplata, Richard Lee, Michelle Derobertis, Christopher Ferrell

Mineta Transportation Institute

The expansion of metropolitan areas in California has further prompted the need to improve transportation options for all, more effectively linking origins and destinations through key enhancements to the existing network of transit services. This study provides planners and policymakers examples of effective regional transit coordination agencies. To improve multimodal connections and enhance transit services at the local and regional levels, this study explores regional coordination, focusing on entities charged with coordinating multiple transit agencies in a single metropolitan area. The study identified 16 regional transit coordinators (RTCs), identifying the structure, scope, and management of each. The results revealed that …

The Sacred Dimensions Of The Bri's Infrastructural Commons, Orlando Woods, David A. Palmer

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Whilst the idea of infrastructure has animated scholarship for the past twenty years at least, there remains a need for more expansive understandings of what infrastructure is, and what it can be. The speed, scale and material disruptiveness with which many of the infrastructural megaprojects that constitute China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have been developed both underpin and validate this need. Whilst the effects of the BRI are both manifold and diffuse, all of them expose situations of infrastructural complexity. Rather than considering the BRI simply as the imposition of new material infrastructures on a landscape, we posit the …

Addressing Transportation Construction Workforce Needs Through Innovative Policies And Practices, Thomas O'Brien, Ben Olson, Devin Martinez-Flores

Mineta Transportation Institute

A 2019 survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, found that construction firms across the country are struggling to fill open positions. Eighty percent of survey respondents indicated they have difficulty filling jobs in occupations that are essential to highway construction. This includes heavy equipment operators, cement masons, and iron workers, among others. This workforce shortage in California will become more problematic as public agencies and their contractors seek to implement projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). In California there are …

Book Review: Gendered Fortunes: Divination, Precarity, And Affect In Postsecular Turkeyin Postsecular Turkey, Canan Tanir

Sociology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing Engagement Across The Motivational Prep Cascade Among Latino Smm: A Mixed-Methods Analysis From The Perspectives Of Community Providers And Latino Smm, Juan Pablo Zapata, Manuel Hurtado, Andrés Alvarado Avila, Steven A. John, Carlos E. Rodriguez-Diaz, Ed De St. Aubin

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Latino sexual minority men (SMM) are a highly vulnerable population to HIV, and while pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has emerged as a promising biomedical tool for HIV prevention among them, its utilization remains disproportionately low in this community despite its potential. Understanding the barriers along the PrEP continuum of care, known as the “PrEP cascade,” is crucial for effectively implementing PrEP interventions. Therefore, the objective of our study was twofold: first, to explore the stage of Latino SMM in the PrEP cascade by examining disparities in demographics, social factors, and healthcare aspects; second, to gain insights from healthcare providers who have …

Getting To The Point: Contrasting Directness And Warmth In Motivational Embodied Conversational Agents, Michael O'Mahony, Cathy Ennis, Robert Ross

Conference papers

Enhancing long-term engagement with conversational agents remains a significant challenge. Controlling the perceived warmth or directness of an agent’s personality through the style of its generated text could be used to increase user likeability. This paper reports an investigation of a Wizard-of-Oz (WoZ) mediated study of two variants of a motivational embodied conversational agent to measure user perception of and attitudes towards warmth in interaction style. Results show a significant effect of users preferring an agent with a "more direct" personality for this scenario, though this effect is in many ways nuanced.

Enhancing Stance Classification On Social Media Using Quantified Moral Foundations, Hong Zhang, Quoc-Nam Nguyen, Prasanta Bhattacharya, Wei Gao, Liang Ze Wong, Brandon Siyuan Loh, Joseph J. P. Simons, Jisun An

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This study enhances stance detection on social media by incorporating deeper psychological attributes, specifically individuals’ moral foundations. These theoretically-derived dimensions aim to provide an interpretable profile of an individual’s moral concerns which, in recent work, has been linked to behaviour in a range of domains including society, politics, health, and the environment. In this paper, we investigate how moral foundation dimensions can contribute to detecting an individual’s stance on a given target. Specifically, we incorporate moral foundation features extracted from text, along with semantic features, to classify stances at both message-and user-levels using traditional machine learning and Large Language Models …

Gain-Loss Domain And Social Value Orientation As Determinants Of Risk Allocation Decisions, Ming-Hong Tsai, Verlin B. Hinsz

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

People often make less risky decisions for themselves than others. We examined how people allocated risks (i.e., determining the ratio of uncertain outcomes to certain outcomes) between themselves and others. We also investigated gain (vs. loss) domain and social value orientation as predictors of risk allocations. The results of three experiments demonstrated that participants were more likely to share their risks equally between themselves and others than distribute risk unequally. In the gain (vs. loss) domain, participants allocated fewer risks to themselves and more risks to the other person for unequal risk allocations. Compared to proselfs, prosocials were more likely …

Enhancing Asean-Eu Relations Through Cultural Cooperation: Realities And Unexplored Potential, David Ocon, Lluís Bonet

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Multilateral cultural exchanges are important to foster mutual understanding and address global challenges. With data gathered through historical analysis, targeted surveys, and expert interviews, the study provides targeted recommendations for policymakers in ASEAN and the EU in developing sustainable cultural cooperation at the multilateral level. How can culture serve as a bridge between Southeast Asian and European societies? How can multilateral cultural cooperation strengthen ASEAN-EU ties and complement existing bilateral cultural cooperation? How can culture support other forms of cooperation?

Territorialising The Cloud Or Clouding The Territory? Volumetric Vulnerabilities And The Militarised Conjunctures Of Singapore's Smart City-State, Orlando Woods, Tim Bunnell, Lily Kong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This article explores how the volumetric characteristics of cloud computing can create new expressions of territoriality, which in turn can reveal new axes of vulnerability and threat. Whilst recent work in political geography has sought to “locate” the cloud through analyses of data centre geographies and data-driven processes of smart urbanism, we look beyond the material plane and consider the amorphous territorialities of voluminous data instead. As much as these data are acted on by the legal-regulatory mechanics of the state in a bid to territorialise them, so too do these data volumes serve to cloud, and thus obscure, territory. …

A Comparison Of Four Approaches To Modeling Information Insufficiency, Pengya Ai, Sonny Rosenthal

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Information insufficiency, or the disparity between the level of knowledge needed to confidently judge an issue and the perceived level of current knowledge, is a key motivator of risk information seeking and processing. This study compared 4 approaches to modeling information insufficiency within the planned risk information seeking model. These approaches included the raw difference score, regression approach, partial variance score, and direct measure. Statistical modeling used data from large samples in Singapore (n = 2,124) and the United States (n = 2,125). The results of ordinary least squares regression analysis and structural equation modeling pointed to several issues. First, …

Commentary: No One Wants An Asian Nato, Except Japan’S New Pm Ishiba, Benjamin Ho, William A. Callahan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

In a joint commentary, SMU Professor of Political Science William A Callahan discussed the reluctance of Southeast Asian nations, excluding Japan under its new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, to embrace a collective defense system aimed at countering China. They explained why Mr Ishiba's proposal for an Asian North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would benefit Japan, how it works in Europe, and why it is unlikely to gain strong support in Southeast Asia.

How “Ceremonial Openness” Prevents Organizational Change : An Analysis Of Corporate Earnings Calls In The Oil And Gas Industry, 2007–2020, Isak Ladegaard, Annika Marie Rieger

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Incumbent firms resist change as they have much to lose if things go wrong. But inertia can also be costly, particularly in times of crisis. In a world on fire, does corporate transparency foster engagement with external threats to future organizational success? To answer this question, we conduct a mixed-methods analysis of 887 public earnings-calls meetings between executives, investors, and outside analysts from 24 major oil and gas companies in 2007-2020, a period marked by extreme weather events and increased popular and political pressure to slow global warming. We find that formal rituals that promote openness and debate to protect …

Nuanced Relationships Between Indices Of Smartphone Use And Psychological Distress: Distinguishing Problematic Smartphone Use, Phone Checking, And Screen Time, Yue Qi Germaine Tng, Hwajin Yang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Recent theoretical and empirical accounts maintain that different indices of smartphone use—including problematic smartphone use, phone-checking, and screen time—tap distinct facets of smartphone use. This highlights the importance of disentangling potentially unique associations between facets of smartphone use and psychological distress outcomes. The present study examined fine-grained relationships between several smartphone-use indices and facets of psychological distress. Further, we probed whether sex modulated the relationships between smartphone-mediated behaviours and distress outcomes. Using structural equation modelling, we analysed data from young adults (N = 364) and evaluated the associations of smartphone-related behaviours—problematic use, phone checking, and overall screen time—with depression, anxiety, …

Several Us Trade ‘Deals’ Later, There Are Still More Questions Than Answers, Locknie Hsu

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

For ASEAN countries, the immediate question is not whether United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs are legal but how to get greater clarity about trade agreements, says SMU law professor Locknie Hsu.

Toward Equitable Micromobility: Lessons From Austin E-Scooter Sharing Program, Shunhua Bai, Junfeng Jiao

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This study revealed the inequitable societal impacts of E-scooters on disadvantaged populations. The study conducted a population distribution analysis to compare the use opportunities and space intrusion burdens of E-scooter sharing on four vulnerable population groups in Austin, Texas. Nearly all minority population experienced fewer E-scooter use opportunities. Ten percent of the minority population waited for a disproportionately longer time before a disturbance could be resolved. Ten percent of the low-income population were in a disadvantaged position in high opportunities and moderate burdens. Twenty percent of the physically disabled population faced more moderate-level burdens. The result did not show significant …

Analyzing Racial Disparities In The United States Homeownership: A Socio-Demographic Study Using Machine Learning, Arya Farahi, Junfeng Jiao

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

While increasing homeownership has been a focal point for policymakers in the United States, the distribution of access to homeownership opportunities across all families within the country has not been equitable. The complex relation between social factors and economic conditions has significantly shaped the journey toward homeownership. Of particular concern is the persistent disparity in homeownership rates among Black households in the United States. Effectively addressing these disparities within urban communities necessitates comprehensive policy interventions and social initiatives. However, the success of such endeavors hinges upon a comprehensive grasp of the underlying causes of these inequalities. Drawing upon machine learning …

Lawyerless Litigants, Filing Fees, Transaction Costs, And The Federal Courts: Learning From Scales, Judith Resnik, Henry Wu, Jenn Dikler, David T. Wong, Romina Lilollari, Claire Stobb, Elizabeth Beling, Avital Fried, Anna Selbrede, Jack Sollows, Mikael Tessema, Julia Udell

Northwestern University Law Review

Two Latin phrases describing litigants—pro se (for oneself) and in forma pauperis (IFP, as a poor person)—prompt this inquiry into the relationship between self-representation and requests for filing fee waivers. We sketch the governing legal principles for people seeking relief in the federal courts, the sources of income of the federal judiciary, the differing regimes to which Congress has subjected incarcerated and nonincarcerated people filing civil lawsuits, and analyses enabled by SCALES, a newly available database that coded 2016 and 2017 federal court docket sheets. This Essay’s account of what can be learned and of the data gaps demonstrates the …

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, And Access Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2024, April K. Anderson-Zorn, Karmine Beecroft, Mallory Jallas, Laura Killingsworth, Maddi Loiselle, Rachel Scott, Lindsey Skaggs, Maria Tudela, Eric Willey

Milner Library Publications

Report of Milner Library's activities and initiatives related to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in Fiscal Year 2024.

Strengthening Person-Centered Management Through Mentorship: Building Library Community, Angela Yon, Grace Allbaugh, Susan Franzen

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Mentorship offers practical applications for cultivating person-centered management strategies for librarians, including a framework, assessments, and programming ideas. Evolving responsibilities due to staffing changes and technological updates have forced librarians to be agile for years. Librarians need to adapt to an environment where priorities shift quickly, coupled with challenging political and cultural polarization, mentorship offers a welcoming extra layer of support. Research indicates that effective mentorship programs allow employees the space to develop new skills and experience growth, thereby creating a more prepared pool of internal candidates to take on leadership roles. Facilitating professional fulfillment through mentoring contributes to success …

Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation For Complex Regional Pain Syndrome In Patient With Extensive Vertebral Surgical History: A Case Report, Munfarid A Zaidi, Mily Talati, Krishna Shah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has emerged as a novel therapeutic option for refractory complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). However, SCS placement is often complicated by a prior history of surgical manipulation and hardware implantation along the spinal column. Through this case exploration, we aim to expand the technical approach to SCS implantation in CRPS and encourage further research into innovative approaches for this treatment modality. Our patient is a 61-year-old female with a past medical history of bilateral C7 cervical pedicle fracture status and extensive surgical manipulation, including cervical laminectomy and hardware placement along the cervical spine. The development of …

Psychiatric Polygenic Risk Scores: Experience, Hope For Utility, And Concerns Among Child And Adolescent Psychiatrists, Amanda R Merner, Page M Trotter, Lauren A Ginn, Jason Bach, Katherine J Freedberg, Takahiro Soda, Eric A Storch, Stacey Pereira, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Recent advances in psychiatric genetics have enabled the use of polygenic risk scores (PRS) to estimate genetic risk for psychiatric disorders. However, the potential use of PRS in child and adolescent psychiatry has raised concerns. This study provides an in-depth examination of attitudes among child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAP) regarding the use of PRS in psychiatry. We conducted semi-structured interviews with U.S.-based CAP (n=29) who possess expertise in genetics. The majority of CAP indicated that PRS have limited clinical utility in their current form and are not ready for clinical implementation. Most clinicians stated that nothing would motivate them to …

A Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis Of All-Cause And Vascular Dementia, Mega Vascular Cognitive Impairment And Dementia (Megavcid) Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a multifactorial disease with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) pathologies making the largest contributions. Yet, most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) focus on AD.

METHODS: We conducted a GWAS of all-cause dementia (ACD) and examined the genetic overlap with VaD. Our dataset includes 800,597 individuals, with 46,902 and 8702 cases of ACD and VaD, respectively. Known AD loci for ACD and VaD were replicated. Bioinformatic analyses prioritized genes that are likely functionally relevant and shared with closely related traits and risk factors.

RESULTS: For ACD, novel loci identified were associated with energy transport (SEMA4D), neuronal excitability …

2024 September News Report, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The September 2024 Morehead State University News Report.

What Supports Are People With Intellectual Disability Living In Group Homes Provided To Access Health Care? A Case Study, Rachel Skoss, Paola Chivers, Glenn Arendts, Caroline Bulsara, Rena Vithiatharan, Jim Codde

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: People with intellectual disabilities living in group homes often have complex health needs, are high health service users and need support from their service provider to access health services. In Australia, little is known about the types and amounts of these supports. Methods: A case study was conducted on a large Western Australian disability provider of group homes to 160 people with intellectual disability. Over an 18-month period, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study quantified health service use in hospital- and community-based settings, ways by which the person was supported to access health care and the impact on …

The Role Of Regional Lgbtqi+ Festivals And Events In Promoting Social Movements: A Local Stakeholder Perspective, Oscar Vorobjovas-Pinta, Joanna Pearce, Anne Hardy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Festivals and events can foster a collective sense of purpose and foster shared commitment to a cause by engaging the numerous and diverse stakeholders necessary for the organisation and running of these events. It is from this stakeholder perspective that this paper explored how LGBTQI+ events can help regional communities resist marginalisation and become advocates for social movements. Interviews with ten key stakeholders involved in the planning and implementation of the Broken Heel festival in Broken Hill and the fabALICE Festival in Alice Springs, identified four overarching themes: resisting marginalisation; places of identity; value of inclusion; and emerging tensions. These …

Communities Disproportionately Affected By Carbon Monoxide Exposure After Winter Storm Uri, Elyse N Portillo, Casandra Quiñones, Zachary C Foughty, Ryan Ramphul, Asha T Morrow, Kathryn Fisher, Stephen A Harding, Elizabeth A Camp, Shubhada Hooli, Eric A Russell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Extreme cold in February 2021 precipitated prolonged power failure in Texas. In Houston, many patients presented for carbon monoxide exposure from neighborhoods with lower per capita income, higher rates of limited English proficiency, and greater median Social Vulnerability Indices than Greater Houston. Weather-related disasters disproportionately affect socially vulnerable communities.

Psychosocial Outcomes Of Pain And Pain Management In Adults With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Qualitative Study, Whitney S Shepherd, Andrew D Wiese, Hannah E Cho, W Conor Rork, M Usman Baig, Kristin M Kostick, Dianne Nguyen, Erin M Carter, Members Of The Bbdc, Chaya N Murali, Marie-Eve Robinson, Sophie C Schneider, Brendan Lee, V Reid Sutton, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder characterized by bone fragility and fractures, short stature, dental abnormalities, hearing loss, scoliosis, and chronic pain. Despite a growing literature on the functional outcomes of OI, limited research has explicitly examined the psychosocial outcomes of pain within OI.

Methods

Adults with OI (N=15) were interviewed to understand pain-related experiences through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interview data. Research team members, genetic research experts, and OI clinicians developed an interview guide focused on topics related to pain and mental health challenges. Participants’ transcripts were coded by two independent coders; codes were then merged …

Cover And Forewords, Steven M. Schnell

The Geographical Bulletin

Cover and Forewords

Using Willingness-To-Pay Surveys When Assessing Dam Removal: A New Hampshire Case Study, Jo Beth Mullens, Veronica Wanstreet

The Geographical Bulletin

As dams in the United States age and become obsolete and river restoration emerges as a new priority, dam removals have increased . Feasibility studies serve to detail the costs and benefits of such proposed dam removals; however, most do not consider intangibles such as the benefits derived from reconnecting seasonal fish habitat or improving the biological diversity within a river . In this research, a willingness-to-pay survey was used to assign a monetary value to intangible goods associated with the proposed removal of an historic dam on the Ashuelot River in southwestern New Hampshire . Within the town where …