Smaller, Closer, Dirtier: Diesel Backup Generators in California

Quantifies the threat to air quality and human health by backup generators, and examines air quality in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Fresno, with some analysis of San Francisco as well

Factors Impacting Program Delivery: The Importance of Implementation Research in Extension

Cooperative Extension is in a unique position, given its relationship with research-based, Land-Grant Universities, to advance the scholarship of implementation research. A stronger shift towards evidence-based practice has been occurring, oriented towards the assessment of programs for outcomes. This paper explores core concepts related to program implementation and delves into factors that influence successful implementation of Extension programs and services. The importance of implementation within the Extension Program Development Model is explored, along with emerging issues and trends

I Know What Not To Do. Now What? Rethinking Business Ethics Education

Most business ethics classes are supplemented with cases, the majority of which have a negative orientation. We empirically measure the preponderance of negative-oriented cases found in the top selling textbooks used in many business ethics courses.  However, neuroscience research indicates that a negative orientation is less effective than a positive or balanced approach for learning.  An ethics course focused on scandal, corruption, fraudulent behavior, and misdeed often leaves students with a view for avoiding ethical pitfalls, but not much clarity on achieving moral excellence in the marketplace.  We offer some pedagogical suggestions for creating ethics courses which strengthen students’ moral resolve by demonstrating what excellent ethical business looks like

Assessing the Effectiveness of Reality-Based Focusing Events Across the Curriculum

A mythical Democratic-Republican National Convention (DRNC) was created as a focusing event which serves as the overarching theme for all newly redesigned courses in the graduate Criminal Justice Department at Saint Leo University. The study examines the effectiveness of focusing events in a graduate level curriculum. Students in the newly redesigned DRNC courses were surveyed. The results indicate that the overarching theme was perceived as being a valuable learning tool. The respondents indicated that the DRNC scenarios were highly realistic and would strengthen decision-making skills in their individual criminal justice careers. Somewhat surprising was the finding that the newly designed courses were perceived as not being any more interesting than the non-DRNC courses. Another concern was that some of the students did not seem to be aware that an overarching theme existed at all. This finding may indicate a weakness in the initial presentation of the concept to the students

Assessing the Effectiveness of Reality-Based Focusing Events Across the Curriculum

A mythical Democratic-Republican National Convention (DRNC) was created as a focusing event which serves as the overarching theme for all newly redesigned courses in the graduate Criminal Justice Department at Saint Leo University. The study examines the effectiveness of focusing events in a graduate level curriculum. Students in the newly redesigned DRNC courses were surveyed. The results indicate that the overarching theme was perceived as being a valuable learning tool. The respondents indicated that the DRNC scenarios were highly realistic and would strengthen decision-making skills in their individual criminal justice careers. Somewhat surprising was the finding that the newly designed courses were perceived as not being any more interesting than the non-DRNC courses. Another concern was that some of the students did not seem to be aware that an overarching theme existed at all. This finding may indicate a weakness in the initial presentation of the concept to the students

Assessing the Effectiveness of Reality-Based Focusing Events Across the Curriculum

A mythical Democratic-Republican National Convention (DRNC) was created as a focusing event which serves as the overarching theme for all newly redesigned courses in the graduate Criminal Justice Department at Saint Leo University. The study examines the effectiveness of focusing events in a graduate level curriculum. Students in the newly redesigned DRNC courses were surveyed. The results indicate that the overarching theme was perceived as being a valuable learning tool. The respondents indicated that the DRNC scenarios were highly realistic and would strengthen decision-making skills in their individual criminal justice careers. Somewhat surprising was the finding that the newly designed courses were perceived as not being any more interesting than the non-DRNC courses. Another concern was that some of the students did not seem to be aware that an overarching theme existed at all. This finding may indicate a weakness in the initial presentation of the concept to the students

Les effets de la cyberintimidation chez les filles qui en sont la cible

La présente étude s’est appuyée sur le modèle transactionnel de stress de Lazarus dans le but de s’intéresser aux mauvais impacts de la cyberintimidation sur les victimes de tels actes, ainsi qu’aux différents facteurs susceptibles de diminuer ou d’amplifier cet effet,comme les représentations cognitives, les aspects contextuels de la situation, ses propriétés stressantes et les stratégies d’adaptation adoptées par les victimes. Les analyses ont été réalisées à partir d’un échantillon de 844 victimes de cyberintimidation âgées de 14 à 21 ans, dont 700 filles. Ces participants ont été recrutés dans des groupes d’intérêt sur le site de réseautage social Facebook et ils ont complété un questionnaire en ligne portant sur la situation de cyberintimidation qu’ils ont vécue. Les résultats indiquent d’abord que les victimes de sexe féminin seraient prédisposées psychologiquement à être affectées plus négativement par des situations de cyberintimidation, qu’elles auraient tendance à subir des situations de cyberintimidation d’une plus grande gravité intrinsèque que celles des garçons et qu’elles choisiraient des stratégies d’adaptation d’une moins grande efficacité. Il est donc peu étonnant alors qu’elles subissent des conséquences d’une plus grande gravité à la suite de leur situation de cyberintimidation. Il appert également que les situations de cyberintimidation qui comprennent aussi de l’intimidation hors ligne auraient tendance à être d’une plus grande gravité intrinsèque que les situations de cyberintimidation qui se déroulent en ligne seulement. Enfin, les résultats d’analyses de pistes causales semblent montrer que le modèle transactionnel de stress de Lazarus permet d’analyser efficacement comment les situations de cyberintimidation peuvent avoir ou ne pas avoir d’impact sur les jeunes filles qui les subissent. Le plus important facteur de risque de la gravité des conséquences subies est l’adoption de la fuite en résultat de la situation, suivie de l’occurrence d’intimidation hors ligne, de l’adoption du contrôle de soi, de la variété de gestes, du sentiment de responsabilité, de la perception de durée de la situation et de la fréquence de victimisation par intimidation hors ligne dans le passé. La possession d’optimisme et d’estime de soi constituerait toutefois un facteur de protection important contre l’impact de la cyberintimidation sur les filles.This study is based on Lazarus’ transactional model of stress in order to discover what impact cyberbullying has on young people and the various factors that may reduce or amplify this effect, such as cognitive representations, contextual aspects of the situation, its stress properties and the coping strategies adopted by the victims. Analyses are based on a sample of 844 cyberbullying victims aged 14 to 21 years, which includes 700 girls. These participants were recruited in groups on the social networking site Facebook and they completed an online questionnaire on the cyberbullying situation they have experienced. The results indicate first of all that female victims are more psychologically predisposed to be affected by situations of bullying, tend to experience cyberbullying situation that are more severe than those suffered by male victims and choose less effective coping strategies. It is little wonder then that they suffer more severe consequences in result of their cyberbullying situation. It also appears that instances of cyberbullying with offline bullying tend to be more severe then cyberbullying situations taking place online only. Finally, the results of path analyses suggest that the transactional model of stress of Lazarus can effectively analyze how cyberbullying situations may or may not have a negative impact on young female victims. The biggest risk factor for the severity of consequences is the adoption of the escape-avoidance coping strategy, followed by the occurrence of offline bullying during the situation, the adoption of the self-control coping strategy, the variety of cyberbullying acts, the victim’s level of self blame, the victim’s perception of the duration of the situation, and the frequency of offline bullying victimization. However, the possession of optimism and self-esteem reveals itself to be a significant protective factor against the impact of cyberbullying among girls

Looking Ahead: Envisioning the Future of the Extension Program Development Model

This article synthesizes key points from this special issue of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension and provides recommendations for and predictions about the evolution of the Extension Program Development Model. A foundational question addressed by each of the authors of this special issue and summarized in this chapter is, “If your recommendations regarding the Extension Program Development Model were followed, what would Extension look like in five years?