Measuring Impatience: Elicited Discount Rates and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale

We explore intertemporal decision making to test the extent to which elicited discount rates and a self-reported scale of impatience measure the same behavioral characteristic. We conduct experiments in which we elicit discount rates using monetary rewards and a self-reported measure of impatience (the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, BIS-11). Although researchers have utilized these measures to infer aspects of intertemporal preferences, we find no significant correlation between discount rates and the BIS-11 except in the special case where discount rates were elicited after individuals were primed with negative feedback.intertemporal choice; impulsiveness; discounting; experiments

Social Interactions and the Salience of Social Identity

In this paper, we explore the effect of identity salience on behavior in a simple social interaction. Specifically, we compare behavior in a ultimatum game across three treatments: priming subjects with a shared identity, priming subjects with an identity distinct from those with whom they will interact, and priming subjects with no particular identity. We find that subjects are most cooperative in the identity-priming treatment and least cooperative in the distinctiveness-priming treatment. Similarly, subjects reveal the highest demands in the identity-priming treatment and the lowest demands in the distinctiveness-priming treatment. We discuss the implications of these results with respect to literature on organizational identity.identity, experiments, bargaining

Free-roaming domestic cats and wildlife: Evaluating impacts through wildlife rehabilitation admissions

This study evaluates the role of free-roaming domestic cats (FRDC) as introduced predators by analyzing data obtained from a local wildlife rehabilitation facility. Overall project goals include the examination of FRDC impacts on both local wildlife and associated rehabilitation facility operations, evaluation of the roaming and ownership status of reported predating cats, and determination of rehabilitators’ education/outreach needs in terms of these variables. Ultimately, this project contributes to future studies related to FRDC management, associated wildlife impacts, and resulting wildlife management implications. Specifically, this study seeks to meet the following objectives: (1) Examine impacts of domestic cat predation on local wildlife presented to the Ohio Wildlife Center (2) Evaluate the roaming status and ownership of reported predating cats (3) Assess presenters’ basic understanding of the cat-predation events, and their willingness to complete a survey (4) Examine geographic trends related to reported predation events (5) Assess broader individual wildlife impacts related to the reported predation events. Methods used include gathering select data from the Ohio Wildlife Center’s admission/patient medical records, and administering a multi-focal survey to good-Samaritans who present injured wildlife as victims of cat attacks. Data collected from patient records include species, age, final disposition, and location of incident (zip-code). The survey involved a brief series of multiple-choice and open-ended questions relating to the event and the cat involved. Specifically, respondents were asked how they determined the incident was a cat attack, whether the cat was feral, stray, an inside pet, an outside pet, an inside/outside pet, or unknown, and to whom the cat belonged. Additionally, respondents were asked to provide numeric and disposition data regarding any un-hatched eggs, other young, or other adults that may have been involved in the incident but were not presented to the wildlife center. The overall survival rate for wildlife captured by free-roaming domestic cats and presented to the Ohio Wildlife Center appears to be slightly lower than the survival rate of all injured wildlife presented, making cat predation a significant concern for the facility. Because only 13% of the presenters completed the survey, surveying presenters of wildlife injured by cat predation may not be a useful method for future FRDC-related studies. Of those who completed the survey, nearly 45% owned the predating cat, and nearly 72% of the reported cats were inside/outside house cats (IOHC). Given the mission of the Ohio Wildlife Center of both wellness of local wildlife and education of the public, the facility should consider launching an education and awareness campaign regarding the concerns of free-roaming domestic cats. The intensity of clustering in the geographic information obtained indicates that evaluating location-of-incident data from predation events reported to a wildlife rehabilitation facility may not be useful in future studies, since reporting appears to be highly correlated with distance to the facility.The Ohio Wildlife Center & Donald Burton, DVMNo embarg

The A Word: Women\u27s Abortion Experiences in Georgia

Abortion is a common medical procedure, with twenty-one percent of all American pregnancies ending in induced abortion in 2011. Literature shows that abortion is highly stigmatized in the United States and even more so in the American South. The contentious discourse surrounding the moral and ethical viewpoints, “right” versus “wrong,” often overpowers women’s lived experiences. Although abortion has been studied extensively across multiple disciplines, literature on women’s lived experiences is limited. Previous research has focused on women in the Midwest, West, and Northeastern regions of the United States but the South has not been a significant focus of study. The purpose of this research is to provide an anthropological perspective on abortion experiences and abortion stigma and to bring the experiences of women to the front of the discussion. Eight qualitative interviews were conducted with women in Georgia who have had abortions. Ultimately, I argue that abortion experiences are unique and varying, and that abortion stigma is prevalent in the lives of the women interviewed

Use of Groups in School Social Work: Group work and group processes

A survey of 54 school social workers indicated that they use group work extensively in their practice to address a number of student issues. Cognitive behavioral theories were most commonly used to guide these groups, and workers rarely identified the use of small group theory as a conceptual framework. Groups were less frequent at the secondary level, and sessions were longer. Family change groups were more common at the elementary level. The method of funding the social work position had no affect on kinds or numbers of groups school social workers facilitated. Respondents did not identify use of small group theory as a conceptual framework, but they addressed group dynamics and group developmental stages. They used activities extensively and adapted published curriculum to meet member needs

Discovery and Targeted Monitoring of Biomarkers Using Liquid Chromatography, Ion Mobility Spectrometry , and Mass Spectrometry

The complexity of biological matrices makes the detection and quantification of compounds of interest challenging. For successful targeted or untargeted identification of compounds within a biological environment, the use of complementary separation techniques is routinely required; in many situations, a single analytical technique is not sufficient. In the present dissertation, a multidimensional analytical technique was developed and evaluated, a combination of new sample preparation/extraction protocols, liquid chromatography, trapped ion mobility and mass spectrometry (e.g., LC-TIMS-MS and LC-TIMS-MS/MS). The performance of these techniques was evaluated for the detection of polybrominated diphenyl ethers metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls metabolites in human plasma, opioid metabolites in human urine, and lipids in Dictyostelium discoideum cells. The new workflows and methods described in the body of this dissertation allows for rapid, selective, sensitive and high-resolution detection of biomarkers in biological matrices with increased confidence, sensitivity and shorter sample preparation and analysis time

Population genetics, phylogeography, and morphology of Notropis stramineus

Notropis stramineus, also known as the Sand Shiner, is a widespread, common minnow species in eastern North America that inhabits low-gradient streams and lake margins with sand or cobble substrate. The morphology of N. stramineus exhibits a distinct pattern of geographical variation which has compelled authors to recognize two subspecies within this species. In this study, I investigated both the genetic and morphological diversity of N. stramineus. First, I used microsatellite markers to investigate intraspecific genetic variation within a single stream corridor to evaluate population substructure and barriers to dispersal for N. stramineus. Population genetic analyses indicated that there is no genetic structuring between populations of N. stramineus in the Kansas River and that fish in the study area form one panmictic population. Additionally, the two dams within the study area do not appear to restrict dispersal among sample sites. Geographic distance, at least at the scale of this study, also does not appear to be a barrier to dispersal as there was no genetic signal of isolation by distance. Next, I investigated genetic variation across the majority of the distribution of N. stramineus using phylogeographic techniques to test the validity that nominal subspecies are reflective of evolutionary lineages. I also used this data to address hypotheses for the origin of a Texas disjunct population. Phylogeographic analyses rejected the validity of subspecies and instead revealed the existence of five exclusive evolutionary groups, possibly cryptic species, within the nominal N. stramineus. The analyses also support a hypothesis that the disjunct Texas population originated from the Ancestral Plains Stream sometime during the Pleistocene. Finally, I tested the hypothesis that the morphology of the exclusive evolutionary groups in the Great Plains has diverged and is concordant with genetic divergence. Discriminant Function Analysis of 29 morphological shape variables showed that each exclusive evolutionary group in the Great Plains has a unique morphological shape. These findings show that morphological divergence in N. stramineus is concordant with genetic divergence and highly supports the recognition of the exclusive evolutionary groups revealed by phylogeographic analyses as distinct species

Reducing School-Based Bullying

School staff often overlook bullying, because they do not recognize it or do not know how to respond. Many strategies are available to decrease bullying in school, including discussing bullying openly; refusing to accept bullying behavior; developing consistent, non-shaming consequences; creating a positive school climate; involving students, parents, and teachers; increasing hallway monitoring; keeping records on aggressive actions; creating support programs for victims; teaching victims problemsolving and assertiveness skills; and helping bullies become more empathic. Because preventing and reducing bullying requires a holistic system-wide approach, school social workers are in an excellent position to implement anti-bullying programs in their schools

Integrating Writing to Enhance Mathematical Skills at the Elementary Level

The recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Washington State Commission on Student Learning Essential Academic Requirements are addressed. The benefits of integrating mathematics and writing are studied. Integrated activities and materials for a first and second grade mathematics curriculum are developed. Recommendations for implementing the project are given