Applied Behavior Analysis Commons^™

Building A Comprehensive Insider Threat Defense Program, Alan Saquella

Publications

Organizations today face a growing and evolving threat that often originates not from an outside hacker or criminal organization, but from within their own workforce, vendor networks, and trusted partnerships. Insider threats continue to represent one of the most difficult risks to identify, prevent, and mitigate because insiders already possess something external adversaries spend enormous resources trying to obtain: trust, access, and legitimacy.

For decades, many organizations relied heavily on pre-employment criminal history checks and reference verification as their primary safeguard against insider misconduct. While these tools remain important foundational elements of any hiring and risk management program, they are …

Beyond The Certificate: Why Real Expertise In Investigative Interviewing Comes From Practice, Alan Saquella

Publications

In today’s professional environment, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, training and certifications are often treated as the gold standard of competence. Profiles are filled with credentials, badges and completed courses that signal expertise. But in fields like investigative interviewing, there is a critical distinction that too often gets overlooked: the difference between being trained, being certified, and being truly effective.

This is a message to colleagues across security, law enforcement, corporate investigations, and intelligence: training is only the beginning. Certificates validate exposure. Application, repeated, disciplined, and ethical application is what creates mastery.

Behavioral Assessment Software: Enhancing Polygraph And Investigative Interviewing, Alan Saquella

Publications

In the rapidly evolving world of security, law enforcement, and investigative sciences, professionals are increasingly turning to advanced technologies to supplement tried-and-true methodologies. One emerging innovation is behavioral assessment software, designed to enhance both pre-employment screening and investigative interviewing. Acting as a form of modern human intelligence collection, these tools enable examiners and investigators to gather deeper insights directly from candidates and subjects, revealing behavioral cues and risk indicators that might otherwise remain hidden (Vrij, 2008).

Importantly, behavioral assessment software is not intended to replace polygraph or other traditional investigative methods. Instead, it functions as a complementary resource—one that provides …

Preventing Workplace Violence: A Strategic Imperative For Today’S Organizations, Alan Saquella

Publications

Workplace violence is a critical and growing concern for organizations across all industries. It encompasses a wide spectrum from bullying and verbal threats to physical assaults and, in the most tragic cases, homicide. While acts of extreme violence often dominate news headlines, they are typically preceded by missed warning signs and failed interventions.

Behavioral Assessment Ai Software: Enhancing Polygraph And Investigative Interviewing, Alan Saquella

Publications

In the rapidly evolving world of security, law enforcement, and investigative sciences, professionals are increasingly turning to advanced technologies to supplement tried-and-true methodologies. One emerging innovation is behavioral assessment software, designed to enhance both preemployment screening and investigative interviewing. Acting as a form of modern human intelligence collection, these tools enable examiners and investigators to gather deeper insights directly from candidates and subjects, revealing behavioral cues and risk indicators that might otherwise remain hidden (Vrij, 2008).

Spotting And Preventing Air Rage: Proactive Strategies For Pilots & Flight Attendants For Handling Unruly Passenger Behavior, Alan Saquella, Joe Frary

Publications

Unruly passenger behavior has become an increasingly common challenge for airline crews. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), more than 53,500 disruptive passenger incidents were reported globally in 2024, averaging one incident every 395 flights. In the U.S., the FAA recorded over 900 cases by mid-year, with more than 100 directly tied to intoxication. While the majority of flights operate without issue, the rise in verbal abuse, intimidation, and physical altercations is impacting both safety and morale in the skies.

Conducting Background Checks In The Corporate Security Environment, Alan Saquella

Publications

In the current threat landscape, the background check has become a critical frontline defense in protecting corporate assets, brand integrity and personnel safety. But as any security leader will tell you, the traditional background check — focused on criminal history, employment verification and references — has limitations, especially in today’s regulatory environment.

Federal and state restrictions continue to erode the depth and scope of what can be legally reviewed, and meanwhile, insider threats and deceptive candidates are becoming more sophisticated. In this context, it's no longer about whether to conduct background checks — it's about how to conduct them effectively, …

On The Provenance Of Software Systems: Automating Software Traceability With Knowledge Graph And Large Language Model Synergy, Tyler Procko

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The present dissertation delineates a system that enables those engaged in software development to automatically generate and maintain project life cycle provenance. All projects are implemented and made manifest with the development of artifacts, e.g., papers, code files, etc. Tools exist to accelerate artifact creation, but little focus is paid to the processes that produce them. In terms of Ontology, or, from Ancient Greek, the study of being, the two most basic entities in reality are Continuant and Occurrent, or, roughly, “Artifact” and “Process”. This dissertation posits that for any created artifact, its process of creation, i.e., its life …

A Critical Challenge: Understanding And Addressing Insider Threats, Alan Saquella

Publications

In today’s hyper-connected world, insider threats have become one of the most pressing challenges for organizations. While external attacks like ransomware and hacking often dominate the headlines, insider threats posed by employees, contractors, or others with internal access are equally, if not more, dangerous. Whether arising from malice, negligence or coercion, insiders have unparalleled access to sensitive systems and data, making their actions potentially catastrophic. The critical insider security issues organizations face and the actionable strategies for mitigation are actions that organizations must take.

The Effect Of Need For Cognition & Need For Affect On Human Reliance And Artificial Intelligence Interactions, Aliyah Mcgowan

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Abstract

With the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) automations in fields like medical diagnoses and mental health queries, there are concerns regarding an individual’s trust and reliance on the technology. Reliance on AI output may lead an individual to accept inaccurate or incorrect information without further analysis. Trust may influence reliance and trust formation may be a product of affective processing. This study investigated the relationship between Need for Affect (NFA), Need for Cognition (NFC), and trust and reliance on AI interactions. Participants were assessed on the NFA scale for willingness to approach or avoid emotional stimuli, the NFC …

Protect Small Businesses: Addressing Security Threats And Insider Risks, Alan Saquella

Publications

Small businesses face unique security challenges that make them highly vulnerable compared to larger organizations. While large companies often have dedicated teams of cybersecurity experts, fraud examiners, investigators and the resources to implement robust security measures, small businesses typically operate with limited budgets and minimal staff, making them prime targets for a variety of internal and external threats.

Revolutionizing Public Safety And Criminal Justice Through Ai, Alan Saquella

Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming public safety, criminal justice and security by fundamentally changing how crimes are committed, investigated and prevented. As AI tools become increasingly sophisticated, law enforcement and corporate security professionals are utilizing these advancements to enhance their capabilities. However, integrating AI into these sectors also brings significant challenges, including ethical concerns, recruitment difficulties, and the surge in crime rates. This article examines the transformative impact of AI, the ongoing efforts to unify AI applications across public safety and security sectors, and expert advice on overcoming the associated challenges.

A Workplace Security Framework: Mitigating Employee-Related Threats, Alan Saquella

Publications

In the modern discussion on workplace security, the focus often centers around preventing active shootings and violence stemming from terminated or disgruntled employees. The article “Publicly Humiliating Events: A Precursor to Workplace Violence” by Karie Gibson, Lauren Brubaker and Andre Simons rightly highlights the crucial role that public humiliation plays in triggering such violent acts. However, beyond the immediate threat of homicide, there exists a broader spectrum of potential risks posed by former employees, including acts of sabotage, espionage, vandalism and cyberattacks, all of which demand attention and proactive measures from security professionals.

High Times, Higher Stakes: Mental Health Impacts In New Recreational Marijuana Legal Landscape, Jason T. Lorenzon J.D., Chris Pezalla, Diana Semilia

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This presentation delves into the societal and mental health consequences arising from the increasing trend of legalizing recreational marijuana. Specifically, we will examine the potential normalization of unconventional behavior among aviation college students, who may grapple with substance use challenges due to stress, sleep difficulties, and the demands of college life. Given the rigorous nature of flight training, prioritizing the mental well-being of pilots becomes imperative.

With the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Ohio, this presentation integrates insights from Diana Semilia's 2022 study on Kent State Flight Students Ages 19-26. The study's objective was to extract practical recommendations applicable …

The Essential Roles Of Forensic Linguists And Expert Interrogators In National Security, Alan Saquella

Publications

Language is a multifaceted element intricately woven into the tapestry of human behavior, serving as a pivotal medium for comprehending and deterring crime. Within this realm, forensic linguists and expert interrogators emerge as distinct yet interconnected professions, playing vital roles in unraveling the complexities of language to ensure public safety and national security. This article sheds light on the shared responsibilities and significance of these professionals in crime prevention and explores why their expertise is crucial for Executive Protection and Security Professionals.

Unveiling The Power Of Pre-Employment Investigations: Safeguarding Organizations With Advanced Behavioral Assessments, Alan Saquella

Publications

Conducting workplace investigations can be a challenging and daunting task, especially when internal investigators have personal knowledge or relationships with the individuals involved. To ensure impartiality and objective fact-finding, organizations often rely on external sources for such investigations. Among the several types of workplace investigations, pre-employment investigations hold significant importance in mitigating risks and protecting organizations from potential losses.

This article explores the critical role of pre-employment investigations and emphasizes the integration of advanced behavioral assessments, such as Verensics, to effectively screen out undesirable applicants.

Ep And Security Professionals Help In The Fight Against Fraud, Alan Saquella

Publications

Fraud and corruption remain a significant issue for organizations worldwide, with the latest ACFE Report to the Nations indicating that it costs over $300 million, and corruption is one of the most prevalent methods of fraud. The lack of equal application of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in other countries due to cultural differences is one reason fraud and corruption persist. However, there are several ways in which organizations can curb the increase in white-collar crime, including the integration of security and executive protection into their fraud prevention strategies.

Effectiveness And User Experience Of Augmented And Mixed Reality For Procedural Task Training, Emily Rickel

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Use of augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies for training is increasing, due in part to opportunities for increased immersion, safer training, and reduced costs. However, AR/MR training effectiveness and user experience, particularly for head-mounted displays (HMDs), is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate user perceptions and retention of AR/MR training delivered through a HMD for a procedural task. This two-part study utilized a within-subjects experimental design with 30 participants to determine how instruction method (paper vs. AR vs. MR) and time of procedure recall (immediate vs. post-test vs. retention) influenced completion time, …

Investigative Interviews – A Refresher For Investigators, Alan Saquella

Publications

Whether you are interviewing a suspect, witness, or victim, let us review some basic reminders to make your investigative interviews more productive and successful in obtaining factual and truthful information.

To start understanding yourself.

Check your personal biases and prejudices at the door. Going in with your mind ready and set on a conclusion can lead you down the wrong path and waste valuable time.

Using The Best - Worst Scale To Assess The Relative Impact Of These Behaviors On Other Passengers On The Same Flight: The Disruptive Passenger Behavior, Quynh Thi Nhu Phan, Vi Tran, Nhan Huu Huynh, Thao Phuong Huynh, Duc Nhan Ho

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

A method called the best-worst scaling method is proposed to overcome these problems by asking respondents to make tradeoffs among the variables being assessed. This paper raises issues in respect of supplementing and developing a block of disruptive behaviors exhibited by passengers during flights and assesses the impact of these behaviors on other passengers. To illustrate the proposed method and evaluate its performance, we surveyed 240 passengers, and data from 203 survey samples were analyzed. The data analysis results revealed three behaviors that were considered the most disruptive, including (1) Threatening and causing distress, (2) Harassment and disrupting public order, …

Security Investigations: A Professional's Guide, Alan Saquella, Larry Nicholson

Publications

From the forward:

"Security Investigations A Professional’s Guide has been expertly crafted to equip both novices and experienced investigators with the essential knowledge and skill to excel in the field of investigations. Whether aiming for a career in law enforcement, private investigations, corporate security, or you are simply interested in unraveling mysteries, this book will serve as your ultimate companion on the journey to becoming a proficient investigator."

Chapters 1 and 2 are presented here.

The Effects Of Carry-On Baggage On Aircraft Evacuation Efficiency, Sang-A Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The most frequent obstacle of an aircraft evacuation is the passengers carrying baggage while evacuating. Passengers who insist on taking their carry-on baggage during an emergency evacuation not only slow down the evacuation process but also act as a significant risk to the safety of other passengers. This study investigated the factors that affect passengers’ behavioral intention to evacuate with carry-on baggage and the effects of evacuating with carry-on baggage on the total evacuation time. Overall, two studies were conducted to provide an outline of the factors that affect and affected by carry-on baggage.

Study 1 used an agent-based model, …

Longitudinal Applications Of Stepladder Technique For Enhancing Group Performance, Conner Lutterman

Discovery Day - Prescott

Stepladder technique is intended to improve decision making in small groups by structuring the entry of group members, ensuring that each member contributes to the decision-making process. Previous research has employed the stepladder technique for intellective exercises of short duration. Here, we examined a more realistic application of the stepladder technique to a longitudinal project team engaged in a design/build/ test engineering program. Application of stepladder technique beyond a laboratory/one-time setting is a unique addition to the team performance research. Preliminary data indicates that the stepladder technique is effective in a longitudinal project more aligned to typical organization applications; constraints, …

Know Your User: Building A Predictive Model Of Consumer Preference For Driverless Cars, Mattie Nicole Milner

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

INTRODUCTION: This dissertation identifies factors significantly predicting participants' preference for riding in an autonomous vehicle rather than flying on a commercial aircraft. A plethora of research has investigated these two transportation industries independently; however, scarcely any research has considered the impact these two industries will have on each other. Travelers’ preference for riding in an autonomous vehicle rather than a commercial aircraft was investigated through four different scenarios.

METHOD: A regression equation was created to predict participants’ preferred travel method and validated through a two-stage process. Stage 1 involved the creation of the regression equation, and a total of 1,008 …

Fixation Patterns Of Driving Scenes As A Function Of Task Load And Task Goal, Anastasia N. Diamond

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Distracted driving has been a heavily researched area, and the negative impacts it has on driving performance is well known. Eye movement patterns of distracted drivers have also been studied, though insight into what the driver specifically looks at is not as well known. Researchers have studied eye movement metrics like average fixation durations, eyes-off-road glance times, time to first fixation, among other eye movement variables, over an entire drive, but not as much attention has been given to what the driver is looking at in a specific moment in time. The current study uses the Tobii Pro X2-60 eye …

Impact Of Electronic Flight Bag (Efb) On Single Pilot Performance And Workload, Saravanan Suppiah, Dahai Liu, Sang-A Lee, Andrew Dattel, Dennis Vincenzi Ph.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The increase of automation in the aviation industry poses challenges to human performance. To attest this point, studies about aircraft accidents reveal that pilots’ response to automated systems is not always coherent. Research findings suggest that pilots’ interaction with automated systems in highly demanding task situations results in an increase in workload, and if they are unable to resolve it in time, it will compromise flight safety. Therefore, in the interest to further explore the impact of automation on human factor constructs, the study aimed to investigate the impact of Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) on pilot workload. The study measured …

Mindspace And Development Of Organizational Culture In Aviation Safety Management, Wilson Gilliam Jr

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Abstract

The organization’s role in establishing a culture fertile for safety development, risk management and mitigation is paramount. Barriers to the effectiveness of aviation safety systems may emerge when human biases interfere with the basic processes of safety management systems. Biases come in many forms and can serve as unconscious discriminatory behaviors against a person’s race, gender, sexual orientation, profession, skill level or other characteristic. Biases can also result from instinctive reactions and habitual patterns serving to protect one’s status, sense of belonging, desire to be viewed as normal and other characteristics. Minimizing biases within an organization is a key …

Effects Of System Reliability And Time Pressure On Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator Performance And Mental Workload, Dahai Liu, Rania Ghatas, Christina Frederick-Recascino, Dennis Vincenzi Ph.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are in the midst of aviation’s next generation. UAVs are being utilized at an increasing rate by military and security operations and are becoming widely popular in usage for activities such as search and rescue and weather research to homeland security and border patrol. In order for a safer integration of UAV’s within the National Airspace System (NAS), many research questions need to be addressed. This study examined the effects of system reliability and time pressure on UAV operator performance and mental workload. Twenty-four undergraduate and graduate students, male and female, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University participated …

The Influence Of Appearance In Hri Selection, Dani Somerville, William Volante, Tracy Sanders, Peter Hancock

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Event-Related Desynchronization Of The Mu-Rhythm: A Literature Review, Katy Lynn Odette

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.