The choice of idols from a social psychological perspective

The study of adolescents’ idols has an over 100-year tradition. The meta-analysis of Teigen, Normann, Bjorkheim and Helland (2000) showed that idols, which are commonly understood as role models, changed over the last century which is attributed to changes in the social context. The present paper argues that Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979, 1986) offers an appropriate theoretical framework to conceptualize social context by hypothesising a functional relationship between idols and identity management strategies moderated by the status position of the adolescent’s group s/he belongs to. The hypothesised functional relationship was tested in two studies with white and black adolescent South Africans. The results of the two studies supported our assumptions that the functional relationship between idols and identity management strategies is indeed moderated by status position. The results also indicate that Social Identity Theory seems to be an appropriate theoretical framework when social context is particularly conceptualised as social change

The precision of experienced action video-game players: Line bisection reveals reduced leftward response bias

Twenty-two experienced action video-game players (AVGPs) and 18 non-VGPs were tested on a pen-and-paper line bisection task that was untimed. Typically, right-handers bisect lines 2 % to the left of true centre, a bias thought to reflect the dominance of the right-hemisphere for visuospatial attention. Expertise may affect this bias, with expert musicians showing no bias in line bisection performance. Our results show that experienced-AVGPs also bisect lines with no bias with their right hand and a significantly reduced bias with their left hand compared to non-AVGPs. Bisections by experienced-AVGPs were also more precise than those of non-AVGPs. These findings show the cognitive proficiencies of experienced-AVGPs can generalize beyond computer based tasks, which resemble their training environment

Just how expert are “expert” video-game players? Assessing the experience and expertise of video-game players across “action” video-game genres

Video-game play (particularly “action” video-games) holds exciting promise as an activity that may provide generalized enhancement to a wide range of perceptual and cognitive abilities (for review see Latham et al., 2013a). However, in this article we make the case that to assess accurately the effects of video-game play researchers must better characterize video-game experience and expertise. This requires a more precise and objective assessment of an individual's video-game history and skill level, and making finer distinctions between video-games that fall under the umbrella of “action” games. Failure to consider these factors may partly be responsible for mixed findings (see Boot et al., 2011)

Atypical development of the cerebellum : impact on language function

Children born very low birth weight (VLBW; \u3c1800 grams) and/or preterm (\u3c33 weeks gestation) frequently have cerebellar hypoplasia, and a constellation of cognitive deficits. The cerebellum, now shown to be involved in many non-motor functions, has a protracted maturation process similar to the frontal lobes, and new evidence suggests the cerebellum may be more vulnerable to environmental factors than subject to genetics. However, relationships between specific cerebellar structures and cognitive functions have not been extensively investigated. We examined relationships between the volume of four cerebellar regions of interest (ROI) and language performance in two age samples: 27 participants between 16 and 20 months of age and 20 participants between 3 and 4 years old. Language performance was significantly different between VLBW and control groups in both age samples. No significant relationships were evident between language performance and ROI volume in the 18-month-old sample. Anterior vermis volume was significantly correlated with VIQ scores in only the 3-year-old VLBW group, in the absence of a significant group difference in anterior vermis volume. This correlation remained significant in the VLBW group, even when controlling for number of days on ventilation. In terms of predicting group membership, VIQ was the most significant predictor in the 3-year-old sample, with increased specificity when adding right dentate nucleus volume. In terms of predicting VIQ scores, ethnicity was the most significant predictor for the control group, but days of ventilation along with anterior vermis volume best predicted VIQ in the VLBW group. The possibility of a differential relationship between anterior vermis volume and language ability in VLBW children, possibly emerging between 18 months and 3 years of age, may have implications for development of interventions, particularly given environmental vulnerability and the protracted cerebellar maturation process

Muslim Youth Identities Among Beur: An Analysis of North African Immigrants and Self-Perceptions in France

This paper explores the identities of Beur youth, both in terms of ethnic French perceptions of this group, as well as the Beur perspective of their individual and collective cultural identities. "Beur" refers to second and third generation immigrant youth in France of North African origins, and has become a nominator for an ethnic and cultural minority group in France. This minority group has spurred the development of activist groups, a unique sub-genre of hip-hop music, a slang dialect of French, and an entire French sub-culture. Noting this growing presence and influence of Beur culture in France, I posit the question: What roles do integration and inclusion in society play in Beur youth's development of individual identity and larger group identity, particularly in France? I examine this question through an exploratory qualitative research study to understand how Arab-Muslim immigrant youth, i.e. the Beurs, in France perceive their identity. Tensions are rising within Muslim immigrant communities in the western hemisphere. Such controversies as the 2005 riots around Paris, the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., and the ongoing headscarf debates have given negative attention to Muslims and Arabs in the West. These events, combined with the underlying issues of unemployment, poverty, crime, and civil violence are bringing to the forefront concerns with North African immigrants in France. While researchers have extensively studied and discussed broader policy issues relating to these minority populations from an external perspective, immigrant and Beur youth themselves have received little direct involvement in the interview and research process. Here, I am examine how Beur youth experience feelings of belonging, alienation, and a sense of personal self-worth through political and social action and popular culture

Surface and Interface Characterization of Solution-Processed Metal Oxides and PEDOT:PSS Using Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Solution-processed materials are appealing for use in printable electronics as a means to lower production costs, but precise control of the process is crucial for achieving the desired properties in the final materials and their interfaces. Electronic interface properties depend on both the involved materials and their fabrication processes, impacting the development and commercialization of these materials. Analyzing the chemical and electronic structure of these materials, particularly at the surfaces and interfaces, is important not only for insuring that the materials have the desired properties, but also for understanding the effects of the fabrication process and how to modify properties via processing for specific applications. To gain such insights into the chemical and electronic properties at the surface, photoelectron spectroscopy and inverse photoemission spectroscopy have proven to be powerful techniques. In the first part of this research, indium-based transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) were prepared by spin-coating precursor solutions of metal-acetylacetonate coordination complexes onto glass substrates. The precursor films were converted into TCO films by annealing in ambient air or in dry nitrogen. These were characterized with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS), and Inverse Photoemission Spectroscopy (IPES). The observed surface chemistries and electronic structures are reported, and the effects of ambient environment, low-energy (50 eV) ion treatments, and heating in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) will be discussed. The second part of this dissertation explores the surfaces of, and the interface between, two materials widely used in printable organic electronics: indium tin oxide (ITO) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). Spin coating was used to fabricate thin films of both ITO and PEDOT:PSS, which were then characterized using XPS, UPS, and IPES. Inhomogeneities in the PEDOT:PSS films involving differing ratios of PEDOT to PSS were observed using XPS, and the work function at different points on individual samples was measured. The impact of these findings on the surface electronic properties and the implications for printable electronic devices will be discussed