bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Risks Associated With Weight Loss and Obesity Treatment Programs
Authors: Berg Frances M.
Published: March 2003

Because treating obesity through weight loss has been a major public health priority, a large number of people are trying to lose weight at any given time. Many weight loss techniques widely available and widely used have adverse physical effects. This article reviews the research on risky weight loss methods, including prescription and over‐the‐counter diet pills, semistarvation and other food restriction diets, stomach reduction surgery, purging, laxatives, diuretics, vomiting, and fasting. These weight loss methods can lead to a range of serious health problems, including life‐threatening conditions and death. Additionally, the author summarizes the research establishing that weight loss itself can cause physical changes that may be adverse to health or may escalate the risk of death. Given these findings, the author suggests a new approach toward health, one that provides a sound framework for dealing realistically with eating and weight problems by recognizing the interrelatedness of the four major eating and weight problems: overweight, eating disorders, dysfunctional or disordered eating, and size prejudice. This approach recognizes that each of these problems is increasing in prevalence, has health risks, and needs to be dealt with in ways that do no harm. The new paradigm emphasizes, first of all, prevention of these problems, enhancing overall health and well‐being, and second, research‐based treatment that promotes healthy, normal eating, and does not disrupt normal, internally regulated eating patterns.
Horizontal Hostility; Relations Between Similar Minority Groups
Authors: White Judith B. , Langer Ellen J.
Published: March 2003

Two studies were conducted to examine the relations between similar minority groups. We predicted that minority group members would show horizontal hostility, a form of prejudice, against members of a similar, but more mainstream, minority group. The results of both studies confirmed this hypothesis. In Study 1, members of 3 Jewish congregations (reform, conservative, orthodox) showed prejudice against a member of a similar but slightly more secular congregation. In Study 2, members of a college varsity soccer team showed prejudice against junior varsity players. We conclude by suggesting that horizontal hostility is the result of social changes since Allport (1954) wrote The Nature of Prejudice. Members of minority groups value their minority social identity, even when the group is stigmatized. The positive value of minority social identity causes group members to look down on members of similar, more mainstream groups.
New Ways of Thinking about Environmentalism: Elaborating on Gender Differences in Environmentalism
Authors: Zelezny Lynnette C. , Chua Poh‐Pheng , Aldrich Christina
Published: March 2003

A review of recent research (1988 to 1998) on gender differences in environmental attitudes and behaviors found that, contrary to past inconsistencies, a clearer picture has emerged: Women report stronger environmental attitudes and behaviors than men. Additional evidence of gender differences in environmental attitudes and behaviors was also supported across age (Study 1) and across 14 countries (Study 2). As a single variable, the effect of gender on proenvironmental behavior was consistently stronger than on environmental attitudes. Explanations for gender differences in environmentalism were examined in Study 3. It was found that compared to males, females had higher levels of socialization to be other oriented and socially responsible. Implications for theory, social action, and policy are discussed.
New Ways to Promote Proenvironmental Behavior: Expanding and Evaluating Motives for Environmentally Responsible Behavior
Authors: De Young Raymond
Published: March 2003

This article contends that while striving to promote environmentallyresponsible behavior, we have focused attention too narrowly on just two classes of motives. There is a need to expand the range of motives available to practitioners and to provide a framework within which motives can be evaluated for both their immediate and long‐term effectiveness. The article then examines a strategy for promoting environmentally responsible behavior that has significant potential. This strategy is based on a particular form of motivation called intrinsic satisfaction. Nine studies are reviewed that have outlined the structure of intrinsic satisfaction. A key theme discussed is the human inclination for competence. This fundamental human concern is shown to have both a general form and a resource‐specific version.
New Ways to Promote Proenvironmental Behavior: Promoting Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community‐Based Social Marketing
Authors: McKenzie‐Mohr Doug
Published: March 2003

Most programs to foster sustainable behavior continue to be based upon modelsof behavior change that psychological research has found to be limited. Although psychology has much to contribute to the design of effective programs to foster sustainable behavior, little attention has been paid to ensuring that psychological knowledge is accessible to those who design environmental programs. This article presents a process, community‐based social marketing, that attempts to make psychological knowledge relevant and accessible to theseindividuals. Further, it provides two case studies in which program planners have utilized this approach to deliver their initiatives. Finally, it reflects on the obstacles that exist to incorporating psychological expertise into programs to promote sustainable behavior.
Welfare Reform in America: A Clash of Politics and Research
Authors: Zuckerman Diana M.
Published: March 2003

The 1996 welfare reform law radically changed welfare as we knew it, after many years of debate and concerns across the ideological spectrum. Research should have provided essential information to revise the program, but instead, research was used as an ideological weapon to support conflicting points of view. President Clinton promised to end welfare as we know it but his welfare reform plan was superceded by the election of a Republican majority of the House and Senate in 1994. The resulting welfare bill included key elements from the Republican Contract with America. The purpose of this article is to describe how political pressures resulted in a dramatic change in law, despite doomsday predictions and almost no solid information about the law's likely impact.
Everyday Sexism: Evidence for Its Incidence, Nature, and Psychological Impact From Three Daily Diary Studies
Authors: Swim Janet K. , Hyers Lauri L. , Cohen Laurie L. , Ferguson Melissa J.
Published: March 2003

Three daily diary studies were conducted to examine the incidence, nature, and impact of everyday sexism as reported by college women and men. Women experienced about one to two impactful sexist incidents per week, consisting of traditional gender role stereotypes and prejudice, demeaning and degrading comments and behaviors, and sexual objectification. These incidents affected women's psychological well‐being by decreasing their comfort, increasing their feelings of anger and depression, and decreasing their state self‐esteem. Although the experiences had similar effects on men's anger, depression, and state self‐esteem, men reported relatively fewer sexist incidents, suggesting less overall impact on men. The results provide evidence for the phenomena of everyday prejudice and enlighten our understanding of the experience of prejudice in interpersonal encounters from the perspective of the target.
Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Differences in Responding to Distinctiveness and Discrimination on Campus: Stigma and Common Group Identity
Authors: Dovidio John F. , Gaertner Samuel L. , Niemann Yolanda Flores , Snider Kevin
Published: March 2003

The present article examines how the salience of group membership can moderate or diffuse feelings of stigmatization for members of racial and ethnic minorities. A series of studies is presented that demonstrate that the development of a common group identity can diffuse the effects of stigmatization, improve intergroup attitudes, and enhance institutional satisfaction and commitment among college students and faculty. Strategies and interventions designed to address the effects of stigmatization, however, need to consider the different value and importance of racial and ethnic group identities for Whites and for people of color.
Effectiveness of L2 Instruction: A Research Synthesis and Quantitative Meta‐analysis
Authors: Norris John M. , Ortega Lourdes
Published: March 2003

This study employed (and reports in detail) systematic procedures for research synthesis and meta‐analysis to summarize findings from experimental and quasi‐experimental investigations into the effectiveness of L2 instruction published between 1980 and 1998. Comparisons of average effect sizes from 49 unique sample studies reporting sufficient data indicated that focused L2 instruction results in large target‐oriented gains, that explicit types of instruction are more effective than implicit types, and that Focus on Form and Focus on Forms interventions result in equivalent and large effects. Further findings suggest that the effectiveness of L2 instruction is durable and that the type of outcome measures used in individual studies likely affects the magnitude of observed instructional effectiveness. Generalizability of findings is limited because the L2 type‐of‐instruction domain has yet to engage in rigorous empirical operationalization and replication of its central research constructs. Changes in research practices are recommended to enhance the future accumulation of knowledge about the effectiveness of L2 instruction.
Learning Spanish as a Second Language: Learners' Orientations and Perceptions of Their Teachers' Communication Style
Authors: Noels Kimberly A.
Published: March 2003

Students in lower‐level Spanish classes (N = 322) completed a questionnaire assessing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for learning Spanish, feelings of autonomy and competence regarding language learning, integrative orientation, and perceptions of teachers&;apos; communication style. The results of a path analysis showed that the more controlling the teacher was perceived to be, the less the students felt they were autonomous agents in the learning process, and the lower was students&;apos; intrinsic motivation. Integrative orientation was found to be related to intrinsic motivation, although it independently predicted effort and persistence and was the stronger predictor of various intergroup variables. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for multiple motivational substrates and the importance of teachers&;apos; communication style for students&;apos; motivation.
Repair Sequences in Spanish L2 Dyadic Discourse: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Buckwalter Peggy
Published: March 2003

This article reports on a qualitative study of dyadic discourse between university students of Spanish as a foreign language (FL). In light of the common acceptance of pair work as an effective pedagogical practice in the FL classroom, the study was designed to explore the social and cognitive behavior of learners as they participated in second language speaking activities. The construct of repair as it is formulated in the ethnomethodological approach to conversation analysis provided the lens through which data were examined. Trouble sources were identified and repair sequences were classified in terms of which learner brought attention to the trouble source and which learner resolved it. A clear preference for self‐repair and for self‐initiated repair was found. Collaborative repair, as well as unsolicited other‐repair, operated almost exclusively on the lexicon, whereas self‐initiated self‐repair included morphosyntax. The study supports the Vygotskian notion that talk is used for cognitive as well as for social purposes.
A Collective Case Study of the Implementation Process of the Nebraska Foreign Language Frameworks by Six Teachers
Authors: Sarroub Georgia Janavara
Published: March 2003

This case study explores the process of implementing the Nebraska Foreign Language Frameworks in an urban, Midwestern school district. The participants were two elementary, two middle school, and two high school teachers; the languages taught were French and Spanish. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observations, and lesson plans. The findings show that the 6 teachers implemented the Frameworks and that the implementation process differed, depending mainly on teaching experience and involvement in the writing of the Frameworks document. Among the 5 Cs, communication was the easiest to implement, whereas communities was the most challenging. Connections was implemented in depth by the elementary teachers due to their interdisciplinary teaching. By implementing the standards, the teachers learned to set clear objectives focusing on the learner, to plan with the outcomes in mind, to create thematic units addressing the 5 Cs, and to use various assessments, including portfolio and rubrics.
High Resolution Still Video Camera for Industrial Photogrammetry
Authors: Peipe J. , Schneider C. T.
Published: March 2003

Still video cameras are easy to handle, portable, digital image acquisition devices for close range photogrammetry. They allow fast object recording without being connected to a computer. As an example of the new camera type, the high resolution Kodak DCS200 is presented in this paper, combined with the DPA digital photogrammetric station used for image measurement and object reconstruction. The performance of this three dimensional measurement system is illustrated by calibration results as well as applications to high precision dimensional inspection in industry.
An Application of Close Range Photogrammetry In Dolphin Studies
Authors: Bräger S. , Chong A. K.
Published: March 2003

Dolphins are agile animals and are very difficult to measure at sea. However, for the conservation of threatened or endangered species, measurement may be vital because it allows a demographic analysis of the population. Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) is a rare species living only in coastal waters around New Zealand where it is studied from small boats. This paper describes a stereophotogrammetric technique developed to measure body length accurately at sea without having to capture the individual. Constant calibration with the use of a control frame allowed accurate body length measurements of dolphins to be made with this low cost system, with a measurement error of 4 per cent to 6 per cent of actual length.
Vision Metrology and Three Dimensional Visualization in Structural Testing and Monitoring
Authors: Woodhouse N. G. , Robson S. , Eyre J. R.
Published: March 2003

This paper describes initial work carried out to advance the use of vision metrology and three dimensional visualization techniques in structural testing and monitoring. A description is given of a methodology for semi‐automatically generating dynamic three dimensional computer graphics models, which is employed to provide a three dimensional spatial framework for conventional engineering instrumentation. The use of techniques developed for two structural measurement applications is explained and opportunities for current and future research are reported.
Orthophotograph Production in Urban Areas
Authors: Skarlatos D.
Published: March 2003

This paper investigates possible solutions to the problem of urban orthophotography. Extensive work has been carried out to attain the best possible results, using all the existing software in the Department of Geomatic Engineering, University College London. Two of the most promising methods, which yield the best results, are analysed further. New routines were written in C language, as additions to the existing software, to allow for the special problems that arise in urban areas. The final results overcome the problem of double mapping (or occlusions) and will potentially enable even greater success to be achieved. A simple accuracy assessment of the results has been made. Difficulties and current limitations are analysed and presented.
From Rubble to Virtual Reality: Photogrammetry and the Virtual World of Ancient Ayutthaya, Thailand
Authors: Ogleby C. L.
Published: March 2003

For in excess of 100 years, photogrammetry has played a significant role in documenting the cultural heritage of nations and peoples. Many recent advances in the technique have enhanced the use of photogrammetry as a recording tool, enabling more complex representations of objects and moving access to the procedure from the expert to the interested user. Some of these recent developments include low cost digital photogrammetric systems, image sequence analysis, bundle adjustment and camera calibration procedures, and three dimensional laser scanning. An overview of some of these developments is given in this paper.

The University of Melbourne, in conjunction with Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, has been working on a project to create a computer visualization of the ancient Thai city of Ayutthaya. This project has blended three dimensional CAD models of the architectural features of Ayutthaya with historical research and artistic rendering to build a realistic representation of this city as it may have existed in the past.

The model of the city has been built up from historical “maps”, aerial photographs, field survey and the use of photogrammetry to derive models of individual wat, chedi, prang (see GLOSSARY) and statuary. The historical research conducted in Thailand has provided the basis for the determination of the most likely location and appearance of the missing structures. The CAD models created from the photogrammetry have been visualized by the addition of surface textures and materials and rendered in as realistic a manner as possible. The virtual city has also been augmented by the incorporation of live actors in the computer reconstruction.

When completed, the end product will be capable of producing an experience of daily life in Ayutthaya, with the potential for giving the user a level of interaction. The reconstruction will also be used as the basis of a variety of educational products to be produced in Thailand on a number of different media, including a bilingual CD‐ROM already developed to “proof‐of‐concept” stage.
Wavelet Compression and the Automatic Classification of Landsat Imagery
Authors: Kiema J. B. K.
Published: March 2003

Investigation of the influence of data compression techniques on the quality and further processing of satellite sensor imagery is a research and development topic which remains both current and important. In principle, this extends the scope of data compression in remote sensing beyond the classical applications of data transmission and storage. Against this background, the main objective of this study is to examine the effect of data compression on the automatic classification of Landsat imagery. The main focus of this is on the built environment. In order to obtain better segmentation results, the feature base is expanded to include both spectral features, such as spectral signature and texture, and non‐spectral features such as shape, structure and topology. This expansion enables the integration of context information into the feature extraction process. The image is systematically compressed (channel by channel) at compression rates ranging from 5 to 100 using wavelet‐based software. An integrated, pixel‐based classification approach is then used to segment the compressed imagery. The analysis of the results obtained indicates that a compression rate of up to 20 can conveniently be used without adversely affecting the segmentation results. The suitability of wavelet compression schemes for the compression of heterogeneous data is also underlined.
Xixth International Congress of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Authors: Kirby Roger P. , Joseph George , Doqman Ian J. , Huang Yi Dong , Petrie Gordan , Robson Stuart , Sausen Tania Maria , Downey Ian D. , Walker A. Stewart
Published: March 2003

The XIXth International Congress of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing was held at the Amsterdam RAI International Exhibition and Congress Centre, the Netherlands, from 16th to 23rd July 2000. Reports are given on the Congress as a whole, including the General Assembly, some Technical Commission activities and the Congress Exhibition. Papers from the Congress are published in the International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 33.
Welfare and Work: Job‐Retention Outcomes of Federal Welfare‐to‐Work Employees
Authors: Gooden Susan Tinsley , Bailey Margo
Published: March 2003

On March 8, 1997, President Clinton announced the federal government's Welfare‐to‐Work Initiative, a major effort to provide job opportunities for welfare recipients in federal agencies. Using data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Central Personnel Data File, the authors compare differences in job‐retention outcomes for Welfare‐to‐Work employees and similar non–Welfare‐to‐Work employees in federal agencies. This approach provides an innovative way to measure job‐retention by comparing job‐retention outcomes of Welfare‐to‐Work employees against non–Welfare‐to‐Work employees. The findings suggest that Welfare‐to‐Work employees have greater odds of retaining their jobs than non–Welfare‐to‐Work employees. The results provide useful insights into the dynamics of job retention among welfare recipients who are hired into federal‐sector employment.
Realizing the Promise: Government Information Systems and the Fourth Generation of Information Technology
Authors: Landsbergen Jr. David , Wolken Jr. George
Published: March 2003

Interoperability is more than “digital plumbing”—making sure that computers talk so that bits of data flow properly. Fundamentally, interoperability is people talking and sharing information. Sharing information reduces the “paperwork burden”on the citizen, streamlines work processes, and enriches the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policy. Building on prior theory and research, this research has developed empirically derived, practical findings and recommendations to support thedevelopment of appropriate interoperable systems.
Priorities for 2001 and Beyond
Authors: Heady Ferrel
Published: March 2003

In July 1995, ASPA's Endowment Board established the Donald C. Stone Fund to honor the memory of this public administration legend. Income from this fund is used to sponsor a lecture or symposium at ASPA's national conference, which reflects Stone's varied interests and contributions to the field. This year marked the sixth Donald C. Stone Lecture. On March 13, Ferrel Heady was ASPA's Stone Lecturer and gave the following speech.
Do Networks Really Work? A Framework for Evaluating Public‐Sector Organizational Networks
Authors: Provan Keith G. , Milward H. Brinton
Published: March 2003

Although cooperative, interorganizational networks have become a common mechanism for delivery of public services, evaluating their effectiveness is extremely complex and has generally been neglected. To help resolve this problem, we discuss the evaluation of networks of community‐based, mostly publicly funded health, human service, and public welfare organizations. Consistent with pressures to perform effectively from a broad range of key stakeholders, we argue that networks must be evaluated at three levels of analysis: community, network, and organization/participant levels. While the three levels are related, each has its own set of effectiveness criteria that must be considered. The article offers a general discussion of network effectiveness, followed by arguments explaining effectiveness criteria and stakeholders at each level of analysis. Finally, the article examines how effectiveness at one level of network analysis may or may not match effectiveness criteria at another level and the extent to which integration across levels may be possible.
Disconnect in the Hollow State: The Pivotal Role of Organizational Capacity in Community‐Based Development Organizations
Authors: Fredericksen Patricia , London Rosanne
Published: March 2003

Partnerships between government and community‐based development organizations (CBDOs) have proven to be central to long‐term neighborhood revitalization in many settings. These successes, coupled with the political popularity of community‐driven projects, have stimulated further reliance on this approach. Unfortunately, scant research has been done on the organizational capacity of local community‐based development organizations to administer these projects. It may be that many of them do not have the capacity to do the job.

This article examines elements of organizational capacity in CBDOs developing affordable housing in a United States‐Mexico border community. Evidence of capacity was limited, raising serious questions about the implementation of public policy in the hollow state. In their haste to contract with not‐for‐profits to create affordable housing, government officials may not be considering the serious possibility that CBDOs do not have the capacity to deliver services or effectively administer projects over time.
Outsourcing Public Health Laboratory Services: A Blueprint for Determining Whether to Privatize and How
Authors: Avery George
Published: March 2003

In a continuing effort to reform and reinvent the way public organizations do business, the outsourcing of services has become a popular tool, particularly as resource constraints limit options available to governments. All too often, the decision is made, for reasons of ideology or resource constraints, to outsource services without giving careful consideration to the impact of privatization on the core missions of an agency, or whether privatization, in fact, offers real cost savings. Purchasing tools designed for traditional commodity purchases are often grossly unsuited for making decisions on specialized technical services.

This article suggests a process for the evaluation of an option to outsource laboratory services. It suggests that, prior to contracting or privatizing services, the concerned agency should evaluate:

the impact on the agency's core mission

the availability, stability, and reliability of private sector service providers

the relative costs of internal and external (public or private sector) service providers

the potential impact on regulatory enforcement

the ability to monitor the performance of external providers

potential conflicts of interest

Based on this model, the ongoing internal evaluation of services offers public agencies management tools to obtain the best value for the taxpayer dollar, not only in terms of the raw cost per test, but also in managing the quality of the services.
Red Tape and a Theory of Bureaucratic Rules
Authors: Goodsell Charles T.
Published: March 2003

Books reviewed:

Barry Bozeman, Bureaucracy and Red Tape
A Shrinking “Digital Divide”? The Provision of Classroom Computers across Urban School Systems
Authors: Hess Frederick M. , Leal David L.
Published: March 2003

Objective. To determine the extent of the urban school “digital divide”—the varying provision of computer technology to students of different races and classes—and whether it has changed in the 1990s. Methods. Ordinary least squares and logit regression analysis is conducted on the 1995 Council of Urban Boards of Education survey, encompassing 72 urban school districts. Results. Districts with a higher percentage of African American students provided fewer computers per student, whereas community educational level, family income, and Latino enrollment had no effect. On the other hand, districts with more African American students reported recent decreases in the student‐to‐computer ratio, and comparisons with recent research suggest that the magnitude of this digital divide has decreased. Conclusions. Urban school districts appear to be addressing the digital divide, although inequalities in computer access remain.
Socialist Pacifism and Nonviolent Social Revolution: The War Registers League and the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939
Authors: Bennett Scott
Published: March 2003

For much of the twentieth century, the War Resisters League (WRL) has offered a “socialist” pacifist critique of the existing world order and capitalistic system. Virtually alone among the secular Left in America, the WRL repudiated the use of armed violence to promote class war, advance social revolution, and defeat fascism during the Spanish Civil War. Unlike international wars, which it considered the product of capitalist rivalries and power politics, the League viewed the Spanish conflict as a class war/social revolution and championed a nonviolent social revolution and Republican victory. Also, WRL members both played a prominent role the Socialist Party (SP) debate over the Spanish conflict and formulated a pacifist critique of the SP and those radicals who embraced armed defense and armed social revolution in Spain. Largely unknown, this socialist pacifist current comprises an important alternative vision in the American socialist tradition, and one with continued relevance to nonviolent social change.
Constitution‐making and the Transformation of Conflict
Authors: Hart Vivien
Published: March 2003

A constitution has traditionally been seen as the documentary record of a settlement of conflict. This traditional constitution is an enactive document, consummating the creation of a polity. Constitution‐making has been a widespread practice in the many conflicted and divided societies of the late twentieth century. The issues of recent conflicts are concerned with the recognition of identities as well as with provisions for the legitimate exercise of power. This agenda necessitates a process as important as the product, both open‐ended and open to participation. I propose that we reconsider constitution‐making as itself a part of the process of conflict transformation. Defining constitution‐making as a forum for negotiation or a continuing conversation amid conflict and division draws attention to the distinctive characteristics of modern constitutionalism and to the ways in which this process helps or hinders the transformation of conflict. Examples are drawn from recent constitution‐making in Canada, Northern Ireland, and South Africa.
How Americans Perceive Foreign Policy Threats: A Magnitude Scaling Analysis
Authors: Sulfaro Valerie A. , Crislip Mark N.
Published: March 2003

This paper evaluates three hypotheses about the structure of threat perceptions in the post‐Cold War era: the replacement of a military conception of threat by an economic one; fluidity in threat perceptions because of an absence of a polestar nation; and Huntington's clash of civilizations theory. Using psychophysical magnitude measures of threat perception, these findings provide no support for the notion that threats are perceived economically. There is limited support for the theory that threat perceptions are unstable; most countries are clustered around a core of weakly hostile or friendly perceptions, which is suggestive of instability. At the same time, however, there does appear to be stability in perceptions of strong friends and enemies. The hypothesis best supported by these data is Huntington's theory that culture determines threat perceptions. In this study, not a single Western country is perceived as hostile, and all nations that do receive hostile scores are non‐Western.
The Humdrum of Rhetorics: A Reply to Durrheim's “Theoretical Conundrum”
Authors: Meloen Jos
Published: March 2003

Durrheim's core argument appears upon close inspection not to be very convincing, nor his use of rhetoric. His argument is now shown from the—presumably exemplary—four theories, he cites. He unwarrantly strengthens his argument by preselection, overgeneralization, oversimplification, and by confusing and misconceiving key concepts, and using an arbitrary selection of theories. His suggestion that he knows the vast literature of authoritarianism is not substantiated, considering the unbalanced use of citations, some along the line of Jaensch, Ray and Eysenck. Rhetoric is portrayed as an alternative scientific method, but seems in this way rather to regress into a neodogmatic approach devoid of empirical testing and emancipatory content.
The Impact of Cognitive Diversity on Crisis Negotiations
Authors: Santmire Tara E. , Kraus Sarit , Santmire Toni E. , Wilkenfeld Jonathan , Holley Kim M. , Gleditsch Kristian S.
Published: March 2003

This paper reports on a series of experiments designed to assess the impact of grouping decision makers by level of cognitive complexity on the outcomes they attain in crisis negotiations. The participants—University of Maryland undergraduates who took roles in a simulated international hostage crisis—used a computer decision support system and a controlled network environment for communications. The goal of the experiments was to better understand the dynamics that lead certain types of groupings to have greater success in negotiations, and that lead certain groups of adversaries to achieve more mutually beneficial outcomes such as compromise and agreement. The findings point to a positive relationship between the level of homogeneity in cognitive complexity among decision makers and the achievement of positive outcomes in crisis negotiations.
Personality Profiles and Political Parties
Authors: Capara Gian Vittorio , Barbaranelli Claudio , Zimbardo Philip G.
Published: March 2003

This paper explores relationships between basic personality profiles of voters and their political party preferences. The Italian political system has moved recently from previously extreme, ideologically distinctive parties to form complex coalitions varying around more centrist orientations. Significant evidence was found for the utility of the Five‐Factor Model of Personality in distinguishing between voters' expressed preferences, even given this greater subtlety in proposed values and agendas. More than 2,000 Italian voters who self‐identified as having voted for new center‐left or center‐right political coalitions differed systematically in predicted directions on several personality dimensions measured by the Big Five Questionnaire. In the context of the model, center‐right voters displayed more Energy and slightly more Conscientiousness than center‐left voters, whose dominant personality characteristics were Agreeableness (Friendliness) and Openness; Emotional Stability was unrelated to either group. This relationship between individual differences in personality and political preferences was not influenced by the demographic variables of voters' gender, age, or education. Thus, personality dimensions proved to be stronger predictors of political preference than any of these standard predictor variables. Implications are discussed regarding links among personality, persuasion, power, and politics.
The Effects of Investments in theSocial Capital of Youth on Political and Civic Behavior in Young Adulthood: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Smith Elizabeth S.
Published: March 2003

This paper uses the National Education Longitudinal Study to examine whether early investments in the social capital of young people produce greater political involvement and civic virtue in young adulthood. Parental involvement in a young person's life, youth religious involvement, and voluntary association participation were some of the forms of social capital hypothesized to influence adult political behavior. Structural equations modeling was used to trace the effects of the presence of social capital as early as the 8th grade year in shaping young adult political and civic behavior. The analysis shows that early extensive connections to others, close familial relationships, religious participation, and participation in extracurricular activities in one's youth are significant predictors of greater political and civic involvement in young adulthood.
Knowing Versus Caring: The Role of Affect and Cognition in Political Perceptions
Authors: Dolan Kathleen A. , Holbrook Thomas M.
Published: March 2003

This paper examines the importance of political knowledge in shaping accurate perceptions of the political world—specifically, how levels of general political knowledge influence the accuracy of specific political judgments, how those judgments might also be shaped by “wishful thinking,” and how political knowledge attenuates the impact of wishful thinking on political judgments. Predictions of who would win the U.S. presidential election in 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996, as surveyed in the National Election Studies conducted in those years, were used as a measure of the accuracy of political perceptions. Analysis of these data reveals that both political knowledge and wishful thinking are important determinants of the accuracy of people's perceptions; in addition, the impact of wishful thinking on perceptions is attenuated by political knowledge.
The Making of Female Presidents and Prime Ministers: The Impact of Birth Order, Sex, of Siblings, and Father‐Daughter Dynamics
Authors: Steinberg Blema S.
Published: March 2003

Although research into the factors that may affect male achievement of political leadership is relatively robust, very few studies on the making of female presidents and prime ministers exist. This paper examines the literature on birth order, sex of siblings, and parent‐daughter dynamics to see whether the findings for male political leaders—that first‐born individuals will be overrepresented as compared with later‐born siblings—also hold for female ones. Two other hypotheses were tested concerning differences in birth order and sex of siblings between female political leaders and a larger sample of women. A review of the literature on parent‐daughter dynamics suggests that this may be another important variable for future research into explanations for the success of women who achieve senior‐level positions of power. The findings suggest that first‐born women, like first‐born men, are overrepresented among political leaders; that first‐born women are overrepresented among female political leaders as compared with their numbers in a larger sample population; and that fewer female political leaders have an older brother than would be expected to occur in a larger sample population. The last finding applies only for women who come to power in the period 1960–1989, not those who gained office more recently.
The Many Faces of SocialIdentity: Implications for Political Psychology
Authors: Brewer Marilynn B.
Published: March 2003

Social identity is a concept that has been invented and reinvented across the social and behavioral science disciplines to provide a critical link between the psychology of the individual and the structure and function of social groups. This paper reviews the various definitions of social identity as it is used in different theoretical frameworks, drawing distinctions among person‐based identities, relational (role‐based) identities, group‐based identities, and collective identities. The implications of these different conceptualizations of social identity for political psychology are discussed, with a call for integrative theory that draws on all four definitions interactively.
Are Nativists a Different Kind of Democrat? Democratic Values and “Outsiders” in Japan
Authors: Watts Meredith W. , Feldman Ofer
Published: March 2003

This paper combines three elements: a discussion of democratic values and the status of outsiders in Japanese political culture, the development of new measures to examine sensitive issues of nativism and foreigner perception in Japan, and an empirical exploration of the relationship between democratic values and antipathy toward outsiders. Two forms of democratic orientation were investigated in a sample of about 1,000 university students in Japan: a defensive version, which adheres to the formalistic requirements of democracy but is exclusionary and illiberal, and a universalist version that is liberal and tolerant. A defensive orientation is associated with greater chauvinism, a greater sense of threat emanating from foreigners, and a heightened anxiety about economic competition. A universalist orientation is associated with low perceived threat and low chauvinism, a lack of fear of economic competition, and a positive view of the cultural contributions of outsiders. Nativism may indeed be compatible with democratic values, but only with the defensive, exclusionary form. In short, the defensive form is democracy for xenophobes. Such an orientation is not unique to Japan, but is likely to be found in developing democracies as well as in advanced democracies that feel threatened.
The Racial Components of “Race‐Neutral” Crime Policy Attitudes
Authors: Peffley Mark , Hurwitz Jon
Published: March 2003

Past studies have found evidence of a connection between race and crime in the minds of many white Americans, but several gaps remain in our knowledge of this association. Here, a multimethod approach was used to examine more closely the racial component of whites’ support for ostensibly race‐neutral crime policies. Conventional correlational analysis showed that negative stereotypes of African Americans—specifically, the belief that blacks are violent and lazy—are an important source of support for punitive policies such as the death penalty and longer prison terms. A survey experiment further showed that negative evaluations of black prisoners are much more strongly tied to support for punitive policies than are negative evaluations of white prisoners. These findings suggest that when many whites think of punitive crime policies to deal with violent offenders, they are thinking of black offenders.
The Symbolic Racism 2000 Scale
Authors: Henry P.J. , Sears David O.
Published: March 2003

The concept of symbolic racism was originally proposed 30 years ago. Much research has been done and the society itself has changed, yet many of the original items measuring symbolic racism remain in use. The primary objective of this paper is to present and evaluate an updated scale of symbolic racism. The scale proves to be reliable and internally coherent. It has discriminant validity, being distinctively different from both older forms of racial attitudes and political conservatism, although with a base in both. It has predictive validity, explaining whites' racial policy preferences considerably better than do traditional racial attitudes or political predispositions. Evidence is presented of its usefulness for both college student and general adult population samples, as well as for minority populations. Data using this scale contradict several critiques of the symbolic racism construct (most of which are speculative rather than based on new data) concerning the consistency of its conceptualization and measurement, the coherence of the symbolic racism belief system, possible artifacts in its influence over whites' racial policy preferences (due to content overlap between the measures of independent and dependent variables), and its differentiation from nonracial conservatism and old‐fashioned racism.
Questioning desertification in dryland sub–Saharan Africa
Authors: Tiffen Mary , Mortimore Michael
Published: March 2003

Signs of desertification in Africa in the 1970s and 1980s were closely linked to rainfall fluctuations. There may now be an upward trend in the Sahel, but climate change models do not yet provide reliable predictions of rainfall. As family farms become smaller under conditions of population growth, some people move to new areas or new occupations (urban population is growing much faster than rural) and farmers attempt to raise the value of output (crops or livestock) per hectare. Long–term data for selected countries and areas provide some evidence of positive trends. Case studies show that adaptive strategies of small farmers include techniques to improve fertility, conserve water, manage trees, increase livestock, and take advantage of changing markets. However, their investments in improving land and productivity are constrained by poverty. Governments can best help by improving market access and opportunities for non–farm activities. The region’s climate is characterized by variable rainfall, which means that droughts will continue to occur unpredictably.
Random Number Generation from Right‐Skewed, Symmetric, and Left‐Skewed Distributions
Authors: Voit Eberhard O. , Schwacke Lorelei H.
Published: March 2003

Monte Carlo simulations have become a mainstream technique for environmental and technical risk assessments. Because their results are dependent on the quality of the involved input distributions, it is important to identify distributions that are flexible enough to model all relevant data yet efficient enough to allow thousands of evaluations necessary in a typical simulation analysis. It has been shown in recent years that the S‐distribution provides accurate representations for frequency data that are symmetric or skewed to either side. This flexibility makes the S‐distribution an ideal candidate for Monte Carlo analyses. To use the distribution effectively, methods must be available for drawing S‐distributed random numbers. Such a method is proposed here. It is shown that S‐distributed random numbers can be efficiently generated from a simple algebraic formula whose coefficients are tabulated. The method is shown step by step and illustrated with a detailed example. (The tables are accessible in electronic form in the FTP parent directory at http://www.musc.edu/
Risk of Extreme Events in Multiobjective Decision Trees Part 1. Severe Events
Authors: Frohwein Hendrik I. , Lambert James H.
Published: March 2003

Earlier work with decision trees identified nonseparability as an obstacle to minimizing the conditional expected value, a measure of the risk of extreme events, by the well‐known method of averaging out and folding back. This first of two companion papers addresses the conditional expected value that is defined as the expected outcome assuming the exceedance of a threshold β, where β is preselected by the decision maker. An approach is proposed to overcome the need to evaluate all policies in order to identify the optimal policy. The approach is based on the insight that the conditional expected value is separable into two constituent elements of risk and can thus be optimized along with other objectives, including the unconditional expected value of the outcome, by using a multiobjective decision tree. An example of sequential decision making for improving highway capacity is given.