Efficiency of Spearcon-Enhanced Navigation of One Dimensional Electronic Menus

This study simulated and compared cell phone contact book menu navigation using combinations of both auditory (text-to-speech and spearcons) and visual cues. A total of 127 undergraduates participated in a study that required using one of five conditions of alphabetically listed menu cues to find a target name. Participants using visual cues (either alone or combined with auditory cues) outperformed those using only auditory cues. Performance was not found to be significantly different among the three auditory only conditions. When combined with visual cues, spearcons improved navigational efficiency more than both text-to-speech cues and menus using no sound, and provided evidence for the ability of sound to enhance visual menus. Research results provide evidence applicable to efficient auditory menu creation.Gregory Corso - Committee Member/Second Reader ; Bruce Walker - Faculty Mento

Agentic and communal traits and health: adolescents with and without diabetes.

<p>The authors examined whether agentic and communal traits are associated with relationship and health outcomes among adolescents with and without diabetes. They interviewed 263 teens (average age 12; 132 Type 1 diabetes; 131 healthy) on an annual basis for 5 years. The authors measured agency, communion, unmitigated agency, and unmitigated communion as well as parent and peer relationship quality, psychological distress, and diabetes health. In concurrent and lagged multilevel models, unmitigated communion and unmitigated agency were associated with poor relationship outcomes and greater psychological distress for those with and without diabetes. In lagged analyses, unmitigated communion predicted deterioration in diabetes health. Communion and agency were associated with positive relationship and health outcomes, with the former being stronger than the latter. These results underscore the need to focus on unmitigated agency and unmitigated communion when studying the implications of personality for health during adolescence.</p

Efficiency of Spearcon-Enhanced Navigation of One Dimensional Electronic Menus

Presented at the 14th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD2008) on June 24-27, 2008 in Paris, France.This study investigated navigation through a cell phone menu in the presence of auditory cues (text-to-speech and spearcons), visual cues, or both. A total of 127 undergraduates navigated through a 50-item alphabetically listed menu to find a target name. Participants using visual cues (either alone or combined with auditory cues) responded faster than those using only auditory cues. Performance was not found to be significantly different among the two auditory only conditions. Although not significant, when combined with visual cues, spearcons improved navigational efficiency more than both text-to- speech cues and menus using no sound, and provided evidence for the ability of sound to enhance visual menus. Research results provide evidence applicable to efficient auditory menu creation

Learning Rates for Auditory Menus Enhanced with Spearcons Versus Earcons

Increasing the usability of menus on small electronic devices is essential due to their increasing proliferation and decreasing physical sizes in the marketplace. Auditory menus are being studied as an enhancement to the menus on these devices. This study compared the learning rates for earcons (hierarchical representations of menu locations using musical tones) and spearcons (compressed speech) as potential candidates for auditory menu enhancement. We found that spearcons outperformed earcons significantly in rate of learning. We also found evidence that spearcon comprehension was enhanced by a brief training cycle, and that participants considered the process of learning spearcons much easier than the same process using earcons. Since the efficiency of learning and the perceived ease of use of auditory menus will increase the likelihood they are embraced by those who need them, this paper presents compelling evidence that spearcons may be the superior choice for such applications

Adolescents, parents and physicians: a comparison of perspectives on type 1 diabetes self-care.

<p>OBJECTIVE: No research to date has compared the beliefs of adolescents, parents and physicians with respect to type 1 diabetes mellitus self-care perceptions and barriers. This study examined how adolescents with type 1 diabetes, their parents and physicians perceive 4 key diabetes self-care behaviours (testing blood glucose, taking insulin, exercise and diet) and what influences those behaviours.</p> <p>METHOD: Forty-eight adolescent/parent dyads and 21 pediatric endocrinologists rated importance, difficulty and proficiency for 4 self-care behaviours, and provided up to 5 perceived influences on these behaviours. We compared adolescents to parents and families to physicians.</p> <p>RESULTS: Groups rated all self-care behaviours as important, with taking insulin as most important. Families rated behaviours as relatively easy compared to physicians. All groups agreed that diet was both the most difficult self-care behaviour and the behaviour at which adolescents were least proficient. Although families rated teens as proficient overall, physicians disagreed. Adolescent and parent perception of diet difficulty was related to poorer glycemic control, and blood glucose testing and insulin administration proficiency were linked to better glycemic control. Compared to other groups, teens were especially likely to mention internal and hindering influences, and more likely to mention other people as negative influences.</p> <p>CONCLUSIONS: Although all groups agreed that all self-care behaviours are important, there are key areas of discrepancy in perceptions, particularly between families and physicians. Further research should connect the beliefs examined in this study to actual self-care behaviours.</p

Friends or foes? A review of peer influence on self-care and glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed studies published from 1990 to 2010 examining the relation of peer influence to diabetes outcomes for adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We searched PsychInfo and MedLine databases and personal archives for studies meeting our criteria. 24 articles were included in the final review. RESULTS: Qualitative studies revealed that teens believe peers have an impact on diabetes behaviors, but quantitative findings are inconclusive. We found more evidence that social conflict was harmful than social support was helpful. Associations were more likely in studies that measured specific support and specific self-care variables. Studies addressing how individual differences interact with social context had promising findings. CONCLUSIONS: The literature linking peer relations to diabetes outcomes is mixed. Future research should consider moderator variables, expand the conceptualization of peer relationships, and consider interactions between person and social context.</p

Implications of Psychosocial Factors for Diabetes Outcomes among Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Review

<p>We adopt a risk and resistance framework to review the literature on the psychosocial factors that influence diabetes outcomes—specifically self-care behavior (blood glucose monitoring, diet, exercise, insulin administration) and glycemic control. We examine both personal and social/environmental risk and resistance factors. We conclude by suggesting conceptual and methodological directions for future research. Conceptually, we suggest that researchers examine the synergy among variables that cut across domains, mechanisms linking psychosocial factors to diabetes outcomes, and the impact of goals on health. Methodologically, we suggest that researchers examine age, gender, and race as moderator variables; utilize momentary data collection technology; and employ more sophisticated longitudinal analyses.</p