Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Chick Clique: Persuasive Technology To Motivate Teenage Girls To Exercise, Tammy Toscos, Anne Faber, Shunying An, Mona Gandhi

Tammy R Toscos

We are developing a preventative health cell phone application that helps motivate teenage girls to exercise by exploiting their social desire to stay connected with their peers. We targeted girls because they are more likely to become less active throughout adolescence and are more likely to use dangerous techniques for losing weight. The intent of Chick Clique is to provide information at opportune times in order to modify the behaviors of girls and ultimately lead to improved health habits. Our study investigated how collecting, sharing and comparing personal fitness information impacts activity level and health awareness.

“What’S Your Number?” A Survey Of How Parents And Teens Cope With Diabetes In The Context Of Technology Support., Tammy Toscos, Kay Connelly, Yvonne Rogers

Tammy R Toscos

Teenagers make many transitions during adolescence toward adult lifestyles and responsibilities. Teens with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) have the additional burden of assuming responsibility for disease management. The findings reported in this paper represent the perspective of parents and adolescents who are coping with T1D - uncovering various tensions that interfere with the effective use of technology to manage the disease. Predominant themes from a set of semi-structured interviews are used to construct implications for the design of new technology intended to support families coping with T1D.

Electronic Health Records: Bridging The Gap In Nursing Education, Tammy Toscos, Carol Sternberger, Linda Meyer

Tammy R Toscos

No abstract provided.

Using Behavior Change Theory To Understand And Guide Technological Interventions., Tammy Toscos, Kay Connelly

Tammy R Toscos

No abstract provided.

Using Data To Promote Healthy Behavior In Children., Tammy Toscos

Tammy R Toscos

Childhood offers a number of opportunities for parents to shape the health related attitudes and behaviors of their children. The proposed research described in this paper aims to better understand the ways in which a child’s personal health data can be leveraged to educate and provide a transition to healthy adult behaviors. The target population for this project is children with Type 1 Diabetes and their parents but many of the design issues may be relevant to the management of other chronic diseases as well as general health in childhood.

Mobile Applications That Empower People To Monitor Their Personal Health., Kay Connelly, Anne Faber, Yvonne Rogers, Katie A. Siek, Tammy R. Toscos

Tammy R Toscos

Researchers have an opportunity to develop assistive applications that empower people to change unhealthy habits through monitoring their behavior. Mobile applications can enhance self-monitoring by providing real-time feedback and employing persuasive technology. The projects presented demonstrate the potential of persuasive, assistive applications for both chronically ill and healthy individuals.

"…Is It Normal To Be This Sore?": Using An Online Forum To Investigate Barriers To Physical Activity., Tammy Toscos, Sunny Consolvo, David Mcdonald

Tammy R Toscos

The importance of regular physical activity to overall health has been well established, yet U.S. adults are leading increasingly sedentary lives. Research suggests that lowering perceived barriers to physical activity is a critical part of interventions that encourage physical activity. In this paper, we describe the top five barriers—two of which have not been reported as principle barriers in the literature—that emerged from our systematic qualitative coding of an online forum used to support a three month healthy lifestyle intervention. Based on our analysis, we identify design considerations for technologies that encourage and support physical activity. Understanding the needs of …

Before You Write: Six Keys To Success - Creating Self Contained Information Literacy Modules, Shannon Johnson, Tammy Toscos

Tammy R Toscos

In today's competitive job market, many working adults are returning to graduate school with rusty information literacy and computer skills. Before You Write: Six Keys to Success was designed to re-introduce returning adult students to the basic skills they will need for success in a graduate program. These six modules are self-paced and utilize real world scenario based assessments. In this session, a librarian and an informatics professor will discuss the inception and implementation of this collaborative information literacy/informatics initiative.

Encouraging Physical Activity In Teens: Can Technology Help Reduce Barriers To Physical Activity In Adolescent Girls?, Tammy Toscos, Anne Faber, Kay Connelly, Adity Mutsuddi-Upoma

Tammy R Toscos

Physical activity levels of girls decline dramatically during adolescence and may be a contributor to the increasing number of obese teens in the United States. Research has shown that social support is positively correlated with physical activity levels in adolescents, particularly girls. We present the findings from a three week field study of a mobile phone application designed to create a support group for physical activity within an existing social network of adolescent girls. Our findings suggest design considerations for technologies that encourage physical activity for this user group.

The D Word: A Reexamination Of Diversity At Colby Opens The Door To New Possibilities, Stephen Collins

Colby Magazine

When Tennessee Watson '03 arrived at Colby two years ago from a suburb of Rochester, N.Y., she confidently threw herself into tough academic courses and settled on a double major in Latin American studies and government. In her first semester she played soccer on weekends with international students and made up for relative inexperience on the field with tenacity. In the winter she won competitions at Sugarloaf in the boardercross- a sort of snowboard-race-meets-roller-derby event. Almost instantly, Colby was her oyster. "I saw it as a pretty homogenous environment and realized it was comfortable for me," she recalled this spring. …

Indomitable Subtext, Stephen Collins

Colby Magazine

In the life and work of Hanna Roisman, the Holocaust is an ever-present undercurrent.

Impossible Image: Eating Disorders Can Develop When Societal Pressures Overwhelm Students, Alicia Nemiccolo Macleay

Colby Magazine

When Stephanie Looney '02 says she battled anorexia for six years, she means it. Every second, every day, was consumed by her obsession. Even sleep didn't bring a reprieve. "I used to dream about food," Looney said. "I'd have terrifying nightmares that I ate a bowl of cereal."

Looney, a bright, articulate woman who is now leaning towards a forensic science career, developed anorexia when she was 14 and became overwhelmed with pressures. She was participating in sports year-round, found she had to start working to earn those once-assumed A's and was experiencing a home life she describes as "miserable". …

The Midas Touch: In The World Of Network Television, Peter Golden Casts A Magic Spell., Kevin Cool

Colby Magazine

Peter Golden '80, head of casting at CBS, turns actors into stars.

In The Loop, Outside The Beltway: When The National Press Wants Perspective And Insight, It Turns To Colby's Political Pundits, Gerry Boyle

Colby Magazine

It was the opening night of the Democratic Convention and Anthony Corrado, headphones in place, was seated in a soundproof cubbyhole on the fourth floor of the Eustis Building at Colby awaiting a call from National Public Radio's Scott Simon. The NPR host was at the convention in Los Angeles. The interview was to be broadcast live. When Simon came on the line, his first question was whether the entertainment industry is more likely to give to the Democratic Party than to Republicans. "They certainly are," Corrado said, without missing a beat. "In fact, one of the groups that the …

Vying For Scholars, Jeff Wuorio

Colby Magazine

As students, parents and alumni watch college costs creep upward, the sound they make slapping their foreheads is often followed by a question: "Why so much?" Or "How has it come to this?" Jeff Wuorio '79 is a business and finance writer who returned to Colby this fall to try to answer those questions. In short, he found that competition among colleges has raised the quality of programs and services; the increased quality of programs and services has raised students' expectations; students' expectations have increased competition among colleges; and around again. Wuorio, who writes for Money, Worth and The New …

Troublemaker, Stephen Collins

Colby Magazine

Pakistani journalist Zafaryab Ahmed, who escaped the noose in his native country to come to Colby, reminds students that the struggle for human rights is far from won.

Where's My Million?, Kevin Cool

Colby Magazine

New research by Grossman Professor of Economics Jan Hogendorn hints at troubling issues surrounding the marketing of lotteries.

The Effects Of Expectancy Disconfirmation On Outcome Satisfaction In Police-Citizen Encounters, Michael Reisig, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

This study tests the expectancy disconfirmation model using survey data from citizens who recently had police encounters. We find support for the expectancy disconfirmation model's primary hypothesis that increased disparity between expectations of police performance and actual service inversely affects citizen satisfaction with the way the police handle encounters. This finding persists for both voluntary (e.g. breaking and entering victims) and involuntary (e.g. traffic citations) police encounters. Our results also suggest that the scope of the expectancy disconfirmation model is limited. For example, the disparity between expectations and actual service is not correlated with citizen satisfaction with the police in …

The Decision To End Abusive Relationships: The Role Of Offender Characteristics, Meghan Stroshine, Amanda Robinson

Meghan Stroshine

Much research has focused on the ways in which various community and criminal justice agencies attempt to intervene to break the cycle of domestic violence. Ultimately, this is the victim’s decision, yet few researchers have attempted to identify the factors involved in the decision to end an abusive relationship. In particular, researchers have tended to ignore the role offender characteristics may play in this decision. This study, based on interview data collected from domestic violence victims by members of an innovative community-based victim assistance program, suggests that these factors are important. Logistic regression analyses demonstrate that the most important predictors …

Race, Gender, And Tokenism In Policing: An Empirical Elaboration, Meghan Stroshine, Steven Brandl

Meghan Stroshine

According to tokenism theory, “tokens” (those who comprise less than 15% of a group’s total) are expected to experience a variety of hardships in the workplace, such as feelings of heightened visibility, isolation, and limited opportunities for advancement. In the policing literature, most previous studies have defined tokenism narrowly in terms of gender. The current research extends prior research by examining tokenism as a function of gender and race, with an examination of racial/ethnic subgroups. Particular attention is paid to Latino officers as this study represents the first known study of tokenism and Latino police officers. Quantitative analyses reveal that, …

Differential Police Response To Black Battered Women, Amanda Robinson, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

As the experiences of black battered women with the police remain an underresearched issue, the current study focuses on the police arrest decision for these victims compared to other victims. Two important research questions are answered: (1) is the arrest rate for black battered women significantly lower compared to other domestic violence victims, and (2) are there different factors influencing the police decision to arrest for these victims compared to others? Using data from a medium-sized Midwestern police department, a model of the arrest decision was analyzed using logistic regression to compare the police response to black battered women versus …

The Physical Hazards Of Police Work Revisited, Steven Brandl, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

This study examines the extent to which injuries to police officers have changed from 1996-1998 to 2006-2008. Data were obtained from injury reports filed by sworn officers of the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Police Department. Results indicated that the frequency and rate (injury incidents per officer) of officer assaults, other suspect-related injuries, and accidents declined during the study period. While the specification of the reasons for these changes remains a topic for future research, the decline in assaults and suspect-related injuries may well be a function of the increased availability and more routine use of less lethal technology, enhanced training, and the …

The Domestic Violence Arrest Decision: Examining Demographic, Attitudinal, And Situational Variables, Amanda Robinson, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

The effects of demographic, attitudinal, and situational variables on the domestic violence arrest decision were investigated using official data and officer attitudinal data. We examined some variables never before studied in this context (e.g., the demographic characteristics of officers) and improved on the measurement of many variables (e.g., victim cooperativeness, victim injury, and time of shift). Logit analyses clarified those factors that significantly impacted the arrest decision and identified how officers arrived at a determination of a victim's cooperativeness. The findings supported previous research that has highlighted the importance of situational variables in the arrest decision.

Policing: Continuity And Change, Geoffrey Alpert, Roger Dunham, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

Building on the successful foundation of Policing Urban America, the authors have collaborated on this concise text to offer readers a solid overview of police work today. Policing: Continuity and Change combines theory, research, policy, and practical experience in a very readable presentation of the current context of policing. Readers can track the evolution of policing from its origins in London through possibilities for the future, as the police respond to demands for accountability and learn to utilize technology to their advantage. Discussions about recruitment, socialization, and organization delineate who the police are and what they do. The text …

The Role Of Officer Attributes, Job Characteristics, And Arrest Activity In Explaining Police Use Of Force, Steven Brandl, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

While numerous studies have examined the causes, correlates, and control of police use of force, many questions remain. This study contributes to the literature on police use of force by examining the role of officers’ background characteristics, job characteristics (patrol area and shift assignment), and arrest activity in explaining variation in the frequency with which officers use force. Analyses were conducted on 1,084 police officers employed in a large municipal police department. Use of force data were obtained from 477 official departmental reports from 2010. Results suggest that a small proportion of officers are responsible for a large proportion of …

Toward An Understanding Of The Physical Hazards Of Police Work, Steven Brandl, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

Most of the existing research on the hazards of police work concludes that policing is a dangerous occupation. The operationalization of dangerousness used by most researchers, however, fails to account for injuries and deaths that occur as a result of accidents, relying instead on the analysis of assaults and homicides. Defining dangerousness in this manner not only provides an incomplete picture of the dangers associated with the job but also precludes the comparison of policing to other occupations. Using injury report data from a police department and fire department in a large Midwestern city, this study contributes to knowledge in …

Exploring Agreement On Appropriate Responses To Domestic Violence And Sexual Trauma Across Victim Advocates, Mental Health Service Providers, And Substance Abuse Treatment Providers, Denise Herz, Meghan Stroshine, Kristen Houser

Meghan Stroshine

Research suggests that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are more at risk than the general population for substance abuse and/or mental health disorders (Kendler et al., 2000). Additionally, research suggests that survivors of both crimes are at risk to be “multiply diagnosed-have” a history of victimization, a mental health diagnosis, and abuse of alcohol and drugs (Steele & Rechberger, 2002). While advocates have called for a change in the treatment of trauma survivors to treat their multiple needs, the availability of collaborative care between victim advocates and behavioral health professionals remains questionable. Using survey data collected from victim …

Meaningful And Effective Performance Evaluations In A Time Of Community Policing, Meghan S. Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

It is well recognized that the success of community-policing initiatives may be dependent on a variety of organizational changes, such as decentralization, increased officer autonomy and discretion, and permanent or stable geographic assignments. What is equally important, yet often overlooked, is the importance of a revised performance evaluation system that reflects the work to be performed in a community policing atmosphere. In a community policing context, performance evaluations do far more than simply evaluate police behavior; they serve as important vehicles for increasing awareness and understanding, conveying organizational expectations, and rewarding behavior concordant with a broadened police role (Oettmeier & …

Who Are The Complaint-Prone Officers?: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Police Officers' Attributes, Arrest Activity, Assignment, And Citizens' Complaints About Excessive Force, Steven Brandl, Meghan Stroshine, James Frank

Meghan Stroshine

This article identifies the characteristics of police officers (officers’ background attributes, arrest activity, and assignment) who most frequently receive complaints from citizens regarding the use of excessive force. The data for the study were obtained from a large mid-western municipal police department. The results show that arrest activity, officer age, and officer gender are most strongly related to the receipt of citizen’s complaints about excessive force and differentiate high-complaint officers from low-complaint officers. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Philosophy Into Practice? Community Policing Units And Domestic Violence Victim Participation, Amanda Robinson, Meghan Stroshine

Meghan Stroshine

Much research has focused on the police response to domestic violence; however, relatively little research has considered performance differences of various types of police officers. Although there has been widespread adoption of community policing by police departments across the country, it is not conclusive as to whether units with a specific community policing philosophy perform better than traditional units when handling domestic violence calls. The current study addresses this issue by analyzing the factors associated with victim participation; specifically, do officers and detectives operating under a specific community policing mandate produce higher rates of victim participation? Bivariate and multivariate analyses …