The Language of Bias: A Linguistic Approach to Understanding Intergroup Relations

[Excerpt] This chapter explores the role of language in the relationship between diversity and team performance. Specifically, we consider how a linguistic approach to social categorization may be used to study the social psychological mechanisms that underlie diversity effects. Using the results of a study examining the effects of gender, ethnicity and tenure on language abstraction, we consider the potential implications for team processes and effectiveness. In addition, we propose a revised team input-process-output model that highlights the potential effects of language on team processes. We conclude by suggesting directions for future research linking diversity, linguistic categorization and team effectiveness

Don\u27t Bother Knockin\u27 ... Come On In!: The Constitutionality of Warrantless Searches as a Condition of Probation

This note will examine the Supreme Court\u27s decision in United States v. Knights. Part II presents factual background and the basis for the district court\u27s decision to suppress evidence seized during the search of Knight\u27s home, as well as the Ninth Circuit\u27s affirming opinion. The note then presents the Supreme Court\u27s analysis and reasoning for reversing the lower court. Part III discusses the jurisprudence leading to the Court\u27s decision and part IV addresses the impact of the Court\u27s decision

Person-Environment Interactions: the Psychological Implications of Behaviors, Confidence, and Self-Efficacy in Falls Management.

Background: Strong evidence supports medication review and management, health and safety education, and home modifications as a holistic approach to falls prevention. Current research demonstrates that individual interventions reduce the risk of falls yet do not statistically reduce the number of falls (Gallo, Stelmach, Frigeri, & Ahn, 2018). The problem this Capstone project addressed was the limited psychological considerations, awareness of behaviors, confidence, and self-efficacy, as they relate to falls prevention. These psychological factors have not been previously studied in a single study. Purpose: To determine the relationship or significance of psychological considerations as they relate to fall prevention. Increase older adults understanding of the multifactorial problems of fall risks, behavioral prevention strategies, and how fear can increase fall risk. Does increasing awareness through education, being mindful of the psychological considerations, improve adherence to home modifications with patient-environment interactions for the purpose of falls prevention? Theoretical Framework: Social Cognitive Theory: occupations are often influenced by what, where, and with whom the activity is performed (Law, 2002). Participation can be positively impacted by an individual’s self-efficacy (Law, 2002). The Transtheoretical Model: Occupational therapy plays a vital role in raising awareness, exploring the value, and facilitating the understanding of this connection and its effect of a person’s everyday life based on understanding and willingness to change. Lawton and Nahemow’s Press Competency Model or Environment Fit: A complex relationship exists between the person, environment, and participation in occupation (Law, 2002; Fange, & Iwarsson, 2007; Oakes, 2015). Methods: This was a quantitative pre-experimental design 30-day study of 21 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older with normal to mildly impaired cognition on the 6CIT. A pretest 6CIT, pretest and posttest FaB, ABC, FES-I, and Safe At Home assessments, along with fall risks, modifiable risk factor education, and individualized community resources. Results: Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test demonstrated statistical significance at the p \u3c 0.05 level, indicating positive OT intervention impact on behaviors, confidence, and self-efficacy on falls prevention. Spearman’s Rank-Order (RHO) Coefficient Test revealed moderate statistical significance for marital status on behaviors and prior number of falls history on self-efficacy. All of the participants had one or more areas of psychological scale improvements and home safety modification recommended. Over 74% were implemented within the 30-day study period, demonstrating improved adherence. Conclusions: Falls prevention is multifactorial and OT is a necessary service in the development of a truly comprehensive conceptual program model. Those without prior or recurrent falls may temporarily decline in one or more psychological factors when perceived risk is changed to actual risk as a result of OT falls prevention education

Probabilistic modeling of one dimensional water movement and leaching from highway embankments containing secondary materials

Predictive methods for contaminant release from virgin and secondary road construction materials are important for evaluating potential long-term soil and groundwater contamination from highways. The objective of this research was to describe the field hydrology in a highway embankment and to investigate leaching under unsaturated conditions by use of a contaminant fate and transport model. The HYDRUS2D code was used to solve the Richards equation and the advection–dispersion equation with retardation. Water flow in a Minnesota highway embankment was successfully modeled in one dimension for several rain events after Bayesian calibration of the hydraulic parameters against water content data at a point 0.32 m from the surface of the embankment. The hypothetical leaching of Cadmium from coal fly ash was probabilistically simulated in a scenario where the top 0.50 m of the embankment was replaced by coal fly ash. Simulation results were compared to the percolation equation method where the solubility is multiplied by the liquid-to-solid ratio to estimate total release. If a low solubility value is used for Cadmium, the release estimates obtained using the percolation/equilibrium model are close to those predicted from HYDRUS2D simulations (10–4–10–2 mg Cd/kg ash). If high solubility is used, the percolation equation over predicts the actual release (0.1–1.0 mg Cd/kg ash). At the 90th percentile of uncertainty, the 10-year liquid-to-solid ratio for the coal fly ash embankment was 9.48 L/kg, and the fraction of precipitation that infiltrated the coal fly ash embankment was 92%. Probabilistic modeling with HYDRUS2D appears to be a promising realistic approach to predicting field hydrology and subsequent leaching in embankments

Eighteen Million Cracks : Gender\u27s Role in the 2008 Presidential Campaign

In light of the 2008 presidential campaign, Gregory S. Parksand Jeffrey J. Rachlinski wrote an extensive analysis, titled A BetterMetric, likening the campaign to an interview process and hiringdecision for a high-ranking job. Though unpublished, their workspawned a number of published articles, book chapters, and a bookon the role of unconscious race and gender bias in the evaluations ofPresident Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Secretaryof State Hillary Clinton. In light of the analogy between voting andhiring decisions, this article argues that questions about sexism andgender bias along the campaign trail implicate the law. Title VII ofthe Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects individuals from gender bias inthe workplace. While modern conceptions of how such bias actuallyoperates, largely drawn from social and cognitive psychology, shouldaid legal decision-makers in determining whether bias indeed occurredin any particular case, greater insight into the intersection of psychologyand the law is needed. Here, we explore the roles that sexism andimplicit, or unconscious, gender bias played in the 2008 presidentialrace, analyzing these factors through the lens of Title VII. Further, webuttress the proposition put forth by a growing body of legal scholarsthat the role of implicit attitudes in decision-making has significantimplications for Title VII jurisprudence

Michelle Obama: A Contemporary Analysis of Race and Gender Discrimination through the Lens of Title VII

Pundits and commentators have attempted to make sense of the role that race and gender played in the 2008 presidential campaign. Whereas researchers are drawing on varying bodies of scholarship to illuminate the role that President-elect, Senator Obama\u27s race and Senator Clinton\u27s gender had on their campaigns, Michelle Obama has been left out of the discussion. As Senator Clinton once noted, elections are like hiring decisions. As such, new frontiers in employment discrimination law place Michelle Obama in context within the current presidential campaign. First, racism and sexism are both alive and well within the domains of politics and employment. Second, most racial and gender bias is not express, but unconscious. Third, under Title VII, employment discrimination may be directed at a third party for their association with members of a disliked group. Here, some voters\u27 unconscious race and gender biases against Mrs. Obama likely affected their voting decision vis-a-vis Senator Obama

Postbaccalaureate STEM Students’ Perceptions of their Training: Exploring the Intersection of Gender and Nativity

The number of international students in graduate school within STEM fields at US institutions has risen dramatically over the last few decades, whereas the numbers of US women attending graduate school in STEM fields has largely stagnated. These trends suggest the importance of intersectionality to understanding individuals’ pursuit of STEM careers. Here we examined doctoral (N = 270) and postdoctoral (N = 27) students\u27 satisfaction with their graduate training at a large, research focused institution in the US as a function of the intersection of participants’ gender and nativity. Participants completed measures of occupational values, perceived fit of their values with STEM research careers, perceptions of discrimination, mentor support, and satisfaction with their graduate training. Results indicated that both international and US-born women both valued family flexibility more than did international and US-born men. Importantly, international, but not US-born, women viewed careers in STEM research as affording, or providing a means of fulfilling, their values. Furthermore, US women were more likely than international women to perceive their gender as the target of discrimination. Stronger belief that research careers do not provide a means for fulfilling one’s values and greater perceptions of gender discrimination were associated with lower ratings of satisfaction with graduate training among women but not men

Michelle Obama: the Darker Side of Presidential Spousal Involvement and Activism

Pundits and commentators have attempted to make sense of the role that race and gender have played in the 2008 presidential campaign. Whereas researchers are drawing on varying bodies of scholarship (legal, cognitive and social psychology, and political science) to illuminate the role that Senator Obama’s race and Senator Clinton’s gender has/had on their campaign, Michelle Obama has been left out of the discussion. As Senator Clinton once noted, elections are like hiring decisions. As such, new frontiers in employment discrimination law place Michelle Obama in context within the current presidential campaign. First, racism and sexism are both alive and well within the domains of politics and employment. And within both domains, the intersection of these biases uniquely handicap Black women. As such, Michelle Obama, as an individual who has broken the socially acceptable constrictions of race and gender, has suffered some backlash as a result of her beliefs and actions. Second, most racial and gender bias is not express, but unconscious. And these unconscious biases influence behavior—including voting and hiring/promotion. In that vein, there are instances during the 2008 campaign where unconscious biases against Mrs. Obama have occurred. Such instances are similar to fact-patterns in employment discrimination cases. Third, under Title VII, employment discrimination may be directed at a third party for their association with members of a disliked group. Here, some voters’ unconscious race and gender biases against Mrs. Obama likely affected/affects their voting decision vis-à-vis Senator Obama

Measurements at low energies of the polarization-transfer coefficient Kyy' for the reaction 3H(p,n)3He at 0 degrees

Measurements of the transverse polarization coefficient Kyy' for the reaction 3H(p,n)3He are reported for outgoing neutron energies of 1.94, 5.21, and 5.81 MeV. This reaction is important both as a source of polarized neutrons for nuclear physics experiments, and as a test of theoretical descriptions of the nuclear four-body system. Comparison is made to previous measurements, confirming the 3H(p,n)3He reaction can be used as a polarized neutron source with the polarization known to an accuracy of approximately 5%. Comparison to R-matrix theory suggests that the sign of the 3F3 phase-shift parameter is incorrect. Changing the sign of this parameter dramatically improves the agreement between theory and experiment.Comment: 12 pages, RevTeX, 5 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.