Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationTheoretical and conceptual accounts of environmental concern have traditionally followed two approaches: concern as attitudes, or evaluations of environment-related problems and behaviors, and concern as values or objects of import to the individual, threatened by negative environmental conditions. Each approach has laid foundational knowledge and guidance for studying how environmental concern is implicated in proenvironmental behaviors, though an integrated framework that clearly specifies the psychological mechanisms comprising concern has been largely absent. In the current paper, a new conceptual model of environmental concern is proposed, premised on the idea that concern for environmental problems can be organized around two understudied psychological dimensions: the degree of perceived threat associated with the issue, and the degree of desired change (motivation) exhibited for effecting behavioral action. Using a survey-based methodology, cross-sectional data (N = 455) were collected for three environmental issues: air pollution, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. Confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling procedures confirmed the validity of the proposed model, while also revealing the unique and interactive effects that perceived threat and desired change have on proenvironmental intentions, and in turn, effects on self-reported behavior. These relationships appeared to be moderated by personal relevance and self-appraised knowledge for the issues. The ability of the conceptual model to predict proenvironmental intentions was also explored in the context of integrated models incorporating Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs. The relative impact of the conceptual model dimensions and the TPB constructs varied with the particular environmental issue studied, highlighting the diversity of multiple predictors for explaining intentions and behavior. Implications of this research, as well as future directions, are discussed

The politics of unionization: the impact of politics on the strength of Kentucky coal miners’ unions.

Extensive research has examined the decline of organized labor in the United States and the political implications that have accompanied it (Goldfield, 1989; Tope and Jacobs, 2009). However, only a small number of works have addressed the political implications specific to Kentucky’s relationship with coal labor unions, and very few works have examined reasons for the current possible rebirth of labor organizing. By examining primary and secondary sources such as newspaper articles and previously conducted case studies, this study explores the ways, if at all, political affiliation or control of a state influences the existence and activity of labor unions, specifically when it comes to coal unions. It also builds on previous hypotheses that contend that the political shift Kentucky faced from Democratic to Republican control lead to a decline in coal unions, and argues that Democratic control has in the past been typically more union friendly than Republican control has been in the past. Finally, this study will explore whether a noticeable trend in recent years has developed that shows coal labor organizing is on the rise again in Kentucky

Walkable route perceptions and physical features: converging evidence for en-route walking experiences

ManuscriptGuided walks near a light rail stop in downtown Salt Lake City, UT, were examined using a 2 (gender) x 3 (route walkability: low, mixed, or high walkability features) design. Trained raters confirmed that more walkable segments had more traffic, environmental and social safety; pleasing aesthetics; natural features; pedestrian amenities; and land use diversity (using the Irvine-Minnesota physical environment audit) and a superior social milieu rating. According to tape recorded open-ended descriptions, university student participants experienced walkable route segments as noticeably safer, with a more positive social environment, fewer social and physical incivilities, and more attractive natural and built environment features. According to closed-ended scales, walkable route segments had more pleasant social and/or environmental atmosphere and better traffic safety. Few gender differences were found. Results highlight the importance of understanding subjective experiences of walkability and suggest that these experiences should be an additional focus of urban design

Microscopic Characterization of Nonmicrobial Gray Sapstain in Southern Hardwood Lumber

Southern red oak, ash, and hackberry sapwood containing nonmicrobial discolorations was examined by both light and scanning electron microscopy to determine the causes of these discolorations. Ray parenchyma cells in discolored sapwood of all three species contained globose to amorphous pigmented globules of starch. Ray parenchyma cells in nondiscolored sapwood occasionally contained a few globules. Results indicate that the formation of pigmented starch compounds occurs during normal air-drying operations and is intensified by slow-drying conditions. This results in the macroscopic sapwood discoloration commonly called gray stain

Using the development of and differences on self-report measures to learn data analysis

The purpose of the current study was to collect data from self-report measures (happiness, extraversion, depression, self-image, and self-esteem) created by laboratory students in conjunction with validated measures of state self-esteem, sensation seeking, and demographic variables that would allow for the reasonable application of a variety of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to learn data analysis. An undergraduate under faculty supervision performed reliability analysis, correlational analysis, independent samples t tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and created a multiple regression model to better understand the application and conceptual logic underlying many of the statistical tests used in contemporary psychology. It was predicted this model would further develop critical thinking and provide additional practice conducting research

AN EXPLORATION OF BODY IMAGE PERCEPTION IN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION

This study examined body image perception among participants of the Healthy Black Family Project (HBFP) through the Center for Minority Health. As part of this examination, body image perception of the participants' social networks, differences between ethnicities, and the association of disease risk with body image perception were studied. METHODS: The participants' perceptions of body image were assessed using responses in words as well as pictures. Body image satisfaction was assessed by comparing current and ideal bodies selected from a pictorial scale. Chi-square analysis and Fisher's Exact tests were performed to assess the accuracy of the participants' perceptions of body image in comparison to measured BMI. Body image perceptions of the social networks were compared with the participants' perceived and measured BMI using ANOVA and linear regression analysis. Comparisons between ethnicities were also assessed using Fisher's Exact test and 95% confidence intervals. Risk perception between weight categories was assessed using ANOVA and Fisher's Exact tests.RESULTS: This analysis revealed body image perceptions underestimated measured BMI's. Consistent with other published studies, females wished to lose weight, while males wished to remain the same or gain weight. Obese participants were more accurate in assessing their weight category using the pictorial scale, while normal weight participants were more accurate in words. The majority of social networks were perceived as obese and participants of both genders associated with female family members of similar size. HBFP participants perceived larger bodies as obese than a previously studied Caucasian population and female participants chose larger bodies as ideal. Disease risks were not consistently associated with body image perceptions.CONCLUSIONS: In this population, significant differences in body image perception exist. Accuracy of body image differs between weight categories and body image satisfaction differs between genders. In contrast to Caucasian populations, different perceptions of obesity exist and larger female bodies are perceived as ideal. PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE: Programs involving disease prevention and weight management should involve components of body image perception education. In order for these education programs to be more effective, they should include factors that encompass differences in ethnicity, gender, and weight class

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction, Organizational Culture, And Perceived Leadership Characteristics

The purposes of this study were to determine if (a) there is a relationship between job satisfaction, organizational culture, and perceived leadership characteristics at a dual-residential private university based on location, gender, level of education, and length of employment and, (b) to measure those relationships if they were present. Understanding how these areas relate may enhance strategic planning and personnel decisions for leaders within organizations. The population of this study was the 1,478 full-time faculty and staff located on the residential campuses of the participating university. Participants in the study were asked to complete three test instruments: an Employee Demographic Survey, Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and the Organizational Description Questionnaire (ODQ). The Employee Demographic Survey was designed by the researcher to collect demographic data from the population. The JSS was designed by Spector (1994) as an instrument to assess an employee\u27s attitude toward variables such as pay, promotion, supervision, operating procedures, and communication. Designed by Bass and Avolio (1992), the ODQ measures how a member of the organization perceives the organizational culture in terms of transactional or transformational leadership characteristics. Findings indicated that the only statistically significant mean score differences between total scores on the JSS and ODQ occurred when length of employment was the independent variable. Statistically significant correlations were also observed between the mean total JSS score, the ODQ transactional leadership score, and the ODQ transformational leadership score. Further, the scores obtained from the ODQ were used to define the organizational culture typology. A Moderately Four I\u27s, as described by Bass and Avolio (1992), was the dominant culture identification across all levels of independent variables