Applied Psychology Journal Articles

Infant's Detection of Visual-Tactual Discrepencies: Asymetrics That Indicate a Directive Role of Visual Information

Nanci Weinberger et al. — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:09:01 PDT

Infants' cross-modal functioning was investigated in two studies. In Study 1, 11-month-old infants were confronted with five different visual–tactual discrepancies created with a mirror arrangement. In Study 2, infants were confronted with discrepancies that were the converse of those which seemed to go unnoticed in Study 1

Young Children's Knowledge About Their Senses: Perceptions and Misconceptions

Nanci Weinberger et al. — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:47:06 PDT

Examines children's knowledge of their perceptual abilities. Children's predictions about their abilities to solve perceptual problems; Visual abilities; Metacognition and metaperception.

Environmental Consumerism: A Process of Children's Socialization and Families' Resocialization

Nanci Weinberger et al. — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:26:14 PDT

The development and impact of children's concern for the environment is addressed. A model is presented that illustrates that such development may be based upon children's cognitive status, their exposure to nature, and their exposure to particular socializing influences.

Day Care Room Transitions for Toddlers: Recommendations for a Supportive Physical Environment

Nanci Weinberger — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:10:28 PDT

The physical setting can be used to facilitate room transitions for toddlers in day care centers. A case study approach is taken to provide specific examples of supportive physical features for toddler transitions. Recommendations that support the transition process are provided.

Making a Place for Infants in Family Day Care

Nanci Weinberger — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:36:52 PDT

Assessing Object Mastery in the Home

Nanci Weinberger — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:55:36 PDT

In this study, the causal relationship between introduced noise and object clutter on infant performance was tested empirically.

Overcoming Obstacles To Create Retreats in Family Child Care

Nanci Weinberger — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:06:53 PST

Discusses the importance of creating retreat spaces for young children in child care settings. Identifies special challenges and opportunities for creating such spaces in family child care homes. Outlines research findings detailing the benefits of retreats for children, and discusses the contributions of location, form, and materials in creating retreats for various uses.

Children’s Use of Retreats in Family Child Care Homes

Nanci Weinberger — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:20:51 PDT

The use of retreat spaces by 65 children in 9 family child care homes was assessed in this study. Family child care providers used daily diaries to collect information about children’s retreat frequency and associated behavior. The findings revealed that nearly half of the children used informal, readily available retreats during the research period. Playing with toys was the most frequent and stable retreat activity across age groups. Yet the number of passive and engaged behaviors varied based on child characteristics such as age, gender, and child’s mood for the day. Retreat use can be viewed as a potentially adaptive environmental strategy that children apply as their needs change in a given day and from one developmental period to the next. Thus, it is recommended that child care professionals provide access to retreats and support children’s varied use of retreat space.

Relationship of Resident Assistant Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Positive Affect with Rated Performance

Ronald J. Deluga et al. — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 13:05:13 PDT

Three personality traits theoretically associated with effective Resident Assistants (RAs) were the focus for this study. Self-report conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive affect survey data were collected from 99 university RAs. The RAs performance data were gathered from 372 resident students. Hierarchical regression analyses supported the prediction that RA extraversion and positive affect would be associated with performance. Contrary to the prediction, RA conscientiousness was not related to the resident student evaluations. The extraversion and positive affect findings are explained in terms of the RAs' highly interactive relationship with resident students. Similar to earlier research (e.g., Hough, in press; Tett, 1998), the conscientiousness data are examined with regard to those occupational conditions (e.g., the need for quick decision making and flexible responses) where conscientiousness may not be strongly connected with performance.

Physical Activity Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Regular Exercisers vs Participants in a Physical Activity Intervention

Joseph J. Trunzo et al. — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:31:07 PDT

Background: Secondary prevention is of great importance in the cancer survivor population, given the substantial medical risks survivors face. Consequently, researchers have begun developing interventions that target behavioral risk factors, such as sedentary lifestyle, among survivors. This study represents a novel approach for evaluating the efficacy of a physical activity intervention for breast cancer survivors.

Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Breast Cancer Patients

Joseph J. Trunzo et al. — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 09:19:38 PDT

The efficacy of a home-based physical activity (PA) intervention for early-stage breast cancer patients was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.

Internet Abuse: Addiction? Disorder? Symptom? Alternative Explanations?

Janet Morahan-Martin — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:17:40 PDT

As Internet use has proliferated worldwide, there has been debate whether some users develop disturbed patterns of Internet use (i.e., Internet abuse). This article highlights relevant literature on Internet abuse and computer-mediated communication effects that supports and disputes major questions about Internet abuse. Is the addiction paradigm appropriate for Internet use? Is behavior that has been labeled Internet abuse symptomatic of other problems such as depression, sexual disorders, or loneliness? What are alternative explanations for this phenomenon? Is there adequate research to support Internet abuse as a distinct disorder?

Toward an Increased Understanding of User Demographics in Online Sexual Activities

Al Cooper et al. — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:16:53 PDT

Incidence and Correlates of Pathological Internet Use Among College Students

Janet Morahan-Martin et al. — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:23:14 PDT

This study surveyed 277 undergraduate Internet users, a population considered to be high risk for pathological Internet use (PIU), to assess incidence of PIU as well as characteristics of the Internet and of users associated with PIU. Pathological use was determined by responses to 13 questions which assessed evidence that Internet use was causing academic, work or interpersonal problems, distress, tolerance symptoms, and mood-altering use of the Internet. Approximately one-quarter of students (27.2%) reported no symptoms (NO) while 64.7% reported one to three symptoms (Limited Symptoms) and 8.1% reported four or more symptoms (PIU). Based on popular stereotypes as well as previous research, it was predicted that pathological Internet users would more likely be males, technologically sophisticated, use real-time interactive activities such as online games and chat lines, and feel comfortable and competent online. Further, it was hypothesized that pathological users would be more likely to be lonely and to be socially disinhibited online. Partial confirmation of this model was obtained. Pathological users were more likely to be males and to use online games as well as technologically sophisticated sites, but there was no difference in Internet Relay Chat use. Although reported comfort and competence with the Internet was in the expected direction, differences were not significant. Pathological users scored significantly higher on the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and were socially disinhibited online.

Women and the Internet: Promise and Perils

Janet Morahan-Martin — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 16:54:31 PDT

Focuses on the use of the Internet to promote women's rights. Overview on the online activism efforts of women; Advantages and drawbacks of women's increasing use of the Internet; Impact of the Internet on political activism.

How Internet Users Find, Evaluate, and Use Online Health Information: A Cross-Cultural Review

Janet Morahan-Martin — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 16:30:09 PDT

Information and Misinformation Online: Recommendations for Facilitating Accurate Mental Health Information Retrieval and Evaluation

Janet Morahan-Martin et al. — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 09:58:58 PDT

Recruitment Strategies for a Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Breast Cancer Patients

Joseph J. Trunzo et al. — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 11:53:29 PST

Recruiting cancer patients for randomized trials investigating psychosocial interventions presents several unique challenges. This paper describes the challenges and yields for different recruitment methods used in Moving Forward, a randomized trial of a home-based moderate-intensity physical activity program for early-stage breast cancer survivors. Recruitment methods included letters sent to patients by their oncologists, direct referrals from oncologists, in-person recruitment in oncology clinics, referrals from nurses and medical assistants, passive recruitment, other mailings, and community outreach strategies. Of the 424 screenings completed, 86 (20.3%) participants were randomized. Physician letters yielded the greatest number of initial screenings (147; 34.7%) and participants randomized (28; 32.5%). In-person recruitment also proved to be a productive recruitment strategy; 14 (16.3%) of the participants were recruited via this strategy. Community outreach efforts did not provide as great a yield and were labor intensive. We discuss suggestions for recruitment of cancer patients in future trials.

Gender, Internet and Computer Attitudes and Experiences

Janet Morahan-Martin et al. — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:37:45 PST

It is widely assumed that participation by females on the Internet is hampered by their attitudes towards computers, which in turn is reflective of their attitudes towards new technology. Research generally supports that females have less overall experience with computers and are more likely than males to have negative attitudes towards computers. Although limited, research on Internet experiences and attitudes has found parallel gender differences, with females reporting lower levels of experience and more negative attitudes. This paper explores whether Internet and computer experiences, skills and attitudes are related, using evidence from two studies of incoming college students, in 1989/90 and 1997. There were significant gender differences in many computer experiences and attitudes of incoming students in 1989/90. Males were more experienced with computers, more likely to have taken high school courses requiring computer use, and reported higher skill levels in applications such as programming, games and graphics than females. By 1997, incoming students were more experienced with using a computer than the earlier students. However, gender differences in computer experience and skill levels had diminished in some areas. The 1997 survey also assessed Internet experiences, skills, competence and comfort. Students had more exposure to computers than to the Internet. Males were more experienced and reported higher skill levels with the Internet than females, with the exception of e-mail. The overall competency and comfort level for students in 1997 was significantly higher for computers than for the Internet; 19% of the students did not feel competent and/or comfortable with the computer compared to 36% with the Internet, with females reporting higher levels of incompetence and discomfort for both. Competence and comfort levels with the Internet and computers were highly intercorrelated, and both predicted Internet skills and experiences.

Loneliness and Social Uses of the Internet

Janet Morahan-Martin et al. — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:15:12 PST

Loneliness has been associated with increased Internet use. Lonely individuals may be drawn online because of the increased potential for companionship, the changed social interaction patterns online, and as a way to modulate negative moods associated with loneliness. Online, social presence and intimacy levels can be controlled; users can remain invisible as they observe others’ interactions, and can control the amount and timing of their interactions. Anonymity and lack of face-to-face communication online may decrease self-consciousness and social anxiety, which could facilitate pro-social behavior and enhance online friendship formation. Support for this model was found in a survey of 277 undergraduate Internet users that was used to assess differences between lonely and not-lonely individuals in patterns of Internet use. Loneliness was assessed on the UCLA Loneliness Scale; students in the highest 20% (Lonely) were compared with all other students (Non-lonely). Lonely individuals used the Internet and e-mail more and were more likely to use the Internet for emotional support than others. Social behavior of lonely individuals consistently was enhanced online, and lonely individuals were more likely to report making online friends and heightened satisfaction with their online friends. The lonely were more likely to use the Internet to modulate negative moods, and to report that their Internet use was causing disturbances in their daily functioning.