Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Naturalness Bias, Brian P. Meier, Amanda Dillard, Courtney Lappas

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research shows that people have a natural-is-better belief whereby things described as “natural” are perceived as better than artificial, synthetic, or human-made items. For example, people report they would prefer a host of items when they are described as natural versus synthetic including drugs, vaccines, food, cigarettes, human talent, and lighting. Some people report preferring a natural item like a drug even when it is objectively less safe or effective than a synthetic counterpart. This naturalness bias is may become more widespread given the political climate in the U.S. and elsewhere in 2025 and beyond. However, there are many instances …

[Bhm] Black History Month 2026 - Library Resources, Raquel Estrada, Emily Gomez

Library Display Posters

Collection of posters created celebrating Black History Month 2026. It highlights films, books, and archival materials that celebrate Black arts, storytelling, leadership, and local history. The posters also showcase streaming films with public performance rights, literature, biographies of influential figures, and archival profiles of African American educators from the Rio Grande Valley/

Georgia Library Spotlight Sir Elton John’S Gift To Emory University’S Library, Lily Brickmeier

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Sports Betting, Lotteries, And State Revenues In The Post-Paspa Era, Joseph Nedved, David Nason, Adam Hoffer, Amir B. Ferreira Neto, Brad Humphreys

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

State lotteries are an important source of state revenue in the 45 states that operate them. Following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), 38 states and Washington, DC legalized sports betting. Prior evidence is mixed on whether sports betting and lotteries are substitutes, complements, or unrelated goods, raising concerns about potential fiscal impacts. Using monthly lottery sales data from 18 states and a difference-in-differences design exploiting staggered legalization, we find no economically or statistically significant effect of sports betting on state lottery revenues. These results are robust across specifications and sub-samples.

Texture Density Discrimination Is More Precise Than Number Discrimination, Frank H. Durgin, Nichole Suero Gonzalez , '27, P. Wen, A. C. Huk

Psychology Faculty Works

Density information is a possible primitive for the perception of numerosity. It has been argued, however, that the perception of numerosity is more precise than density perception at low numbers, whereas density is more precise for high numbers. An interpretive problem with the stimuli used to make those claims is that actual stimulus density was often mis-specified owing to an ambiguity regarding the idealized versus actual filled area. This ambiguity had the effect of underestimating density precision at low numerosities. Here we used a novel method of stimulus generation that allows us to accurately specify stimulus density independent of patch …

Nostalgia's Impact On The Perception Of The Past And Future, Sara Lazo

The Kean Review: Journal in Student Research

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects nostalgia may have on the perceptions of the past and future. Nostalgia has always been perceived as a positive psychological tool for hope and fulfillment, but is also viewed negatively for its distortions of the past. To observe its effects, a survey was sent via Microsoft Teams which included 7 statements where participants were asked to either agree or disagree using a number scale of 1-5, with1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree. Results yielded that nostalgia perceives the past more positively and the future negatively. Additionally, results …

Living Well: The Built, Lived, And Social Determinants Of Well-Being, Yi Wen Tan, Zidane Tiew, Emi Loh, Shania Go, Wensi Lim

ROSA Research Briefs

As Singapore transitions into a super-aged society, it becomes imperative for us to develop sustainable, inclusive, and effective models of care. In recent years, there has been growing emphasis on embedding healthcare, social services, and everyday amenities within the community. During this year’s National Day Rally, the Government introduced Age Well Neighbourhoods, a new scheme that builds on existing efforts from the Age Well SG initiative. Age Well Neighbourhoods seeks to expand active ageing centre networks, bring healthcare closer to homes with the establishment of community health posts, and provide greater home personal care services, further cementing its focus on …

Himmelfarb Headlines - February/March 2026, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Headlines (2009 - present)

News, information, and resources relating to Himmelfarb Library that is of interest to patrons.

Hiding In Plain Sight: Trafficking Persons With Disabilities For Begging In Ethiopia, Annabel Erulkar, Galan Bekuma, Lemi Negeri, Getachew Teshome Eregata, Musie Tilahun, Getu Asnake, Getahun Semeon, Weyneshet Gezahegn

Humanitarian Task Force

Adults and children with disabilities are at increased risk of human trafficking for begging because of extreme poverty and high rates of illiteracy; cultural norms and stigma leading to low status; lack of social and legal protection; and their reliance on others for sustenance and help with movement, especially in cities which are fraught with risks. Despite this, trafficking of persons with disabilities for begging has received very little attention from researchers, human rights groups or disability advocates. This report presents findings from among the first studies to focus on trafficking of persons with disabilities for begging.

A ‘Digital Dominion’: Launching The Commonwealth Model Law On Digital Trade, Craig Atkinson

Centre for Digital Law

A legislative text published for the benefit of its 56 member countries, the Commonwealth of Nations officially adopted the Model Law on Digital Trade (MLDT) in September 2025. The Commonwealth MLDT addresses a persistent barrier to digital trade (i.e., all trade that is digitally ordered and/or digitally delivered): the laws of many jurisdictions do not sufficiently recognise the legal requirements of electronic commerce (e-commerce) and continue to emphasise paper-bases for commercial communications and transactions in domestic and cross-border contexts.

Olac Metadata Application Profile And Policy Statements For The Official Rda Toolkit, Sarah Hovde, John Dickson, Robert Freeborn, Peggy Griesinger, Jeannette Ho, Junghae Lee, Nicole Lewis, Treshani Perera, Madeleine Boyer, Liza Campbell, Sherab Chen, Jessica Hayden, David Norris, Diana Simpson

OLAC Publications and Training Materials

This document introduces a metadata application profile (MAP) and a set of policy statements (PS) for use with the Official RDA Toolkit, based on the OLAC Best Practices for Cataloging DVD-Video and Blu-ray Discs, Objects, Streaming Media, and Video Games Using the Original RDA Toolkit and MARC 21 (2023; hereafter OLAC Best Practices or Best Practices). These resources were developed by the OLAC Unified Best Practices in Official RDA Task Force (2022-2026).

Both the MAP and the PS are meant to be living documents, and it is expected that they will be regularly improved and updated to reflect the needs …

Flow State As A Counter Measure Against Cognitive Decline: What Counselors Should Know, Isaac Burt

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the utilization of the neuroscience concept of flow state for therapeutic usage with older adult populations. Operationally defined, flow state is an altered state of consciousness (ASOC) that emerges when a person engages in an activity or endeavor. Once engrossed within this physical or cognitive undertaking, the person performs at their best (optimal) while expressing a feeling of joy and/or extreme satisfaction. To attain a flow state, there are several neurobiological mechanisms people must undergo. Due to beliefs that quality of life cannot increase in late adulthood, many older adults stop engaging in flow state activities. …

The Cumulative Exposure To Exclusionary Zoning In Impoverished Neighborhoods, Matthew Mleczko

Political Science Faculty Research and Publications

In this study, I carry out dynamic modeling strategies to estimate the cumulative associations between exclusionary zoning and material hardship in impoverished neighborhoods. To do so, I create the largest nationwide panel zoning database to date by combining the National Zoning and Land Use Database covering the years 2019‒2022 with prior zoning and land use data from 2003‒2006. Accounting for posttreatment bias—the bias generated by including time-varying confounders that are themselves affected by past treatments in a longitudinal model—with marginal structural models, I demonstrate that exclusionary zoning is strongly associated with neighborhood disadvantage in impoverished neighborhoods, much more than would …

Social Media Monitoring And The Admissions Process: A Study Of College Admissions Officers' Use Of Social Media In Undergraduate Application Review, Rachel Karpeles

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This study explored the evolving role of social media in college admissions, focusing on the perceptions and practices of admissions professionals following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision on Affirmative Action. The research, utilizing a descriptive design, employed a 31-question anonymous survey administered to a convenience sample of 532 admissions representatives. The findings directly contradict the public and media narrative by revealing a profound paradox: while social media monitoring is not a widespread professional practice, its impact on admissions outcomes for a notable portion of applicants is demonstrably significant.

The study found a majority of respondents believe evaluating applicants based …

A Comparative Analysis Of U.S. And Mexico’S Migration Policy From 2009 To 2025: How Their Approaches Shape And Constrain Each Other’S Policy Choices, Viviana Adame

Senior Theses

The long history of movement across the U.S.–Mexico border has made migration one of the main issues shaping their bilateral relationship. This thesis examines how U.S. and Mexican migration policies from 2009 to 2025 affect and limit each other. Using the idea of migration diplomacy, it argues that migration is not just a domestic issue but a way both countries negotiate power and cooperation. The study compares six administrations: Obama, Trump, and Biden in the United States, and Calderón, Peña Nieto, and López Obrador in Mexico, through policy documents, data, and reports. It finds that the United States depends on …

Pricing And Production Without The Invisible Hand, Joel P. Flynn, George Nikolakoudis, Karthik A. Sastry

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Modern theories of the business cycle do not allow for the simultaneous rational choice of both prices and quantities, instead assuming that an “invisible hand” determines one of these variables to clear markets. In this paper, we develop a macroeconomic framework in which both prices and quantities are chosen directly by firms, and exchange is both voluntary and efficient. Because of uncertainty about demand and productivity, individual product markets can be in excess supply or rationed. The absence of market-clearing changes pricing and production in qualitatively important ways: markups are no longer determined solely by the elasticity of demand, and …

Hold Paramount The Health, Safety, And Welfare Of The Public And The Planet, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Communication As Layered Architecture: Core Processing And Empathic Modulation, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper proposes a structural re-description of communication by separating Core processing from its social interface. Using the developmental sequence of Large Language Models (LLMs) as an external reference point, a layered architecture is identified, consisting of a foundational Core processing layer and a subsequent Empathic modulation layer.

The investigation begins with the observation that empathic signaling can obstruct rather than facilitate interaction for certain individuals. By examining the emergence of Base AI—Core processing prior to empathic adjustment—it is demonstrated that coherent, constraint-preserving interaction is possible without affective resonance.

Through this framework, existing cognitive theories and observed "deficits" are repositioned. …

Building The Blueprint: Seven Years Of Laying The Foundation For Leadership And Community Impact, Karen Manning, Tamika Barnes, Angiah L. Davis, Priscilla Dickerson, Thomas Jackson Jr., Deon King Sr., La Loria Konata, Sarah Rodgers

Georgia Library Quarterly

This article presents a foundational blueprint for establishing and sustaining the Georgia Library Association (GLA) Black Caucus Interest Group. Drawing on seven years of documented activity, it highlights the group’s most notable programs, advocacy efforts, and community‑building initiatives that have shaped its identity and impact within the broader library profession. The article traces key events that strengthened the caucus’s mission, including professional development offerings, strategic partnerships, and leadership engagement across the state. A timeline of the caucus’s chair history illustrates the evolution of its governance and the contributions of successive leaders who guided its growth. Together, these elements offer a …

Winter 2026, Georgia Library Quarterly

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Towards Ecological Validity When Assessing Adhd Symptoms: Patterns In Automatically Collected, Real-World Pc Activity Data, Matheus B. Da Costa, Elizabeth S.M. Chan, Joshua Langberg, Isabelle Cuber, Fatemeh Jamalinabijan, Aleksander Kurgan, Thomas Fritz, David C. Shepherd

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Neuropsychological tests assessing attention and executive function (EF) in individuals with ADHD demonstrate little to no association with real-world ratings of ADHD behaviors. To address this critical gap, this study developed metrics that can analyze automatically collected data to measure levels of attention, motivation, and effort in emerging adults with ADHD. Specifically, we used virtual reality to simulate a study space and collect in-the-moment computer activity data while university students with ADHD (N = 21; 38% female) engaged in 12 sessions (total 180 h) of real-world tasks. To identify common sequences we performed a qualitative analysis of this work session …

Towards Ecological Validity When Assessing Adhd Symptoms: Patterns In Automatically Collected, Real-World Pc Activity Data, Matheus B. Da Costa, Elizabeth S.M. Chan, Joshua Langberg, Isabelle Cuber, Fatemeh Jamalinabijan, Aleksander Kurgan, Thomas Fritz, David C. Shepherd

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Neuropsychological tests assessing attention and executive function (EF) in individuals with ADHD demonstrate little to no association with real-world ratings of ADHD behaviors. To address this critical gap, this study developed metrics that can analyze automatically collected data to measure levels of attention, motivation, and effort in emerging adults with ADHD. Specifically, we used virtual reality to simulate a study space and collect in-the-moment computer activity data while university students with ADHD (N = 21; 38% female) engaged in 12 sessions (total 180 h) of real-world tasks. To identify common sequences we performed a qualitative analysis of this work session …

Wku Libraries 2024-2025 Annual Report, Joshua Vossler, Amanda Drost, Joseph Shankweiler, Emily Eden Gabriel, Amanda Hardin, Andrew Adler, Larry Sean Kinder, Daniel Peach, Clinton Lewis

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

WKU Libraries remains committed to providing exceptional resources, spaces, and services that support learning, research, and discovery. The accomplishments highlighted in this report reflect the dedication of our faculty and staff, as well as the strong partnerships we share with our campus and community. We look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.

Community Engagement Newsletter, February 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

UNI’s Day of Service - April 8, 2026
Service-Learning & Engaged Department Institutes
Inspire Conference
UNI's 150th on IPR's "Talk of Iowa"

Exploring Slow Librarianship As An Intervention To Support Library Workers With Adhd, Valerie Linsinbigler, Liana Bayne-Lin

Faculty Scholarship

While scholarly conversations about supporting library patrons who are neurodivergent have grown in the past years, conversations about library workers who are neurodivergent lag behind. As it becomes easier to encourage students to destigmatize their neurodivergence, share their experiences, and seek formal and informal accommodations in university spaces, when, and how, will it become easier for neurodivergent library workers to do the same?

Perhaps slow librarianship is one answer to this question. Following in the footsteps of Jocelyn Swick-Jemison (2023), this chapter is part autoethnography, in which two early-career librarians will share their perspective of learning how to be liaison …

Living Between The Lines: Economic Insecurity And Older Americans, Caitlin E. Coyle, Michelle Ward, Nidya Velasco Roldán, Ceara Somerville, Jan Mutchler

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

New estimates from the 2025 Elder Index(TM) suggest that over half of older adults living alone, and about one out of four older couples, lack the financial resources required to pay for basic needs. We compared household incomes for adults age 65 and above living in one- and two-person households to the 2025 Elder Index for each state to calculate Economic Insecurity Rates (EIRs), the percentage of independent adults age 65 or older with annual incomes that do not support economic security. National averages suggest that 53% of older adults living alone and 25% of older couples have annual incomes …

From The President, Tamika Barnes

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

From The Editor, John Mack Freeman

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Georgia Library Spotlight Spot Dot: Sequoyah Regional Library System’S Discovery Outreach Transport, Sarah Childers

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Task Intensive Virtual Circulation Management To Meet Rising Patron Demand: Analyzing Ebook And Eaudiobook Acquisition Workflows In Fulton County Libraries, Elizabeth F. Keathley, Stephanie Galipeau

Georgia Library Quarterly

Managing eBook hold times while adhering to budget constraints is a critical challenge for public libraries. In a budgetary landscape where models of licensing and cost are in constant flux, this article offers a snapshot in time of strategies employed by the Fulton County Library System (FCLS) in Atlanta, Georgia, during Spring and Summer 2024. Librarians deployed a multi-pronged approach of daily carts in OverDrive, daily monitoring and response to patron holds and recommendations, daily updates of OverDrive records and bi-weekly updates of Hoopla records to meet patron demand. Documenting strategies like these is crucial for collection management professionals adapting …