bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The experience of defeat: Applying Goffman to examine a football tournament for socially excluded homeless individuals
Authors: Segura M Trejo Fernando , Attali Michaël , Magee Jonathan
Published: October 2015

The use of football programs as a vehicle for social change has increased exponentially in recent decades. This article utilizes Goffman’s sociology as a framework to approach the Homeless World Cup (HWC). Firstly, we examine how the participants interviewed refer to their journeys and how, throughout the HWC’s preparation, they were able to positively reconfigure their self-presentation. Secondly, we consider the frame of repeated defeats for participants whose expectations of success within this tournament were not fulfilled, reinforcing previously held feelings of stigma. Thirdly, the symbolic distance between winning and losing teams is discussed. Finally, we propose some reflections about the tournament’s format in order to remove, or at least reduce, negative experiences.
Where are the hooligans? Dimensions of football fandom in Poland
Authors: Kossakowski Radosław
Published: October 2015

The present paper aims to outline and explain the social world of the most committed football supporters in Poland. The analysis proceeds from the assumption that such a community is based on a particular culture established by its own discourses, constituting the habitus of individuals who generate strong social bonds and a normative structure, and is a source of social capital. Since this sub-culture can be understood as a multidimensional sphere, the article argues that fans can no longer be adequately described in terms of the ‘hooligan’ discourse. Although hooligan behaviour has not vanished entirely, it has been pushed out of the stadiums and increasingly functions in a niche outside the immediate context of football. The present article is intended as a contribution to the discussion on European football hooliganism/fandom and its transformation.
Intentionally Developmental Teaching
Authors: Treff Marjorie E. , Earnest Stephen E.
Published: October 2015

This article recommends strategies and process tools that teach learners to communicate with peers, observe specific behaviors in group processes, and share and analyze those observations to create increased awareness of their and others’ assumptions and behaviors. The authors apply these strategies and tools in ways that make explicit to learners the theoretical basis for the activities and highly structured methods for practice. Four changes to a course structure—dividing learners into triads, explaining theory that supports course activities, providing a detailed reflection model, and taking reflective writing breaks—created increased awareness of assumptions. Through practice, learners began to question the conditions of their lives, manage change, and intentionally foster their humanity. Class activities provided practice for critical thinking, preparing learners to join in academic and professional communities and engage with the political domains of public life.
“Give Me a Break—English Is Not My First Language!”
Authors: Eros John
Published: October 2015

Today’s K–12 music educators interact regularly with students from culturally diverse communities and backgrounds. Although research exists on culturally diverse students, there is comparatively little research on music teachers who do, themselves, represent diverse cultures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of three linguistically diverse music student teachers. The primary research question was the following: In what ways have the participants’ linguistically diverse backgrounds affected their student teaching experiences? Data were collected through a questionnaire, a journal response, observation/postobservation notes, individual semistructured interviews, and a focus group interview. The participants discussed experiencing tensions between using their native languages and using English, although they felt that their own experiences as English Learners (ELs) provided them with a useful perspective in working with EL students and helped them to develop EL-based instructional modifications. The participants had also considered how their linguistic backgrounds would fit into their career plans.
Reconstructing Autobiographical Memories and Crafting a New Self Through Dialogic Literary Gatherings
Authors: Racionero-Plaza Sandra
Published: October 2015

This article uses the biographical method with communicative orientation to deepen into the life experiences of an individual living in poverty who experienced a turning point in her life as a result of engaging in a successful educational action called Dialogic Literary Gatherings. The stories told by Lola, a female homeless from a deprived neighborhood, shed light on the transformative power that reading and discussing classical literature had for her: Rejected by her family, sharing classical readings in an environment of egalitarian dialogue gave Lola new possible worlds, which brought her to recover hope in life and craft a new self. The gathering provided her strong social relations and a new “family,” and motivated her involvement in transformative personal and social struggles. Lola’s biography informs about how the Dialogic Literary Gatherings facilitate moving from a current to a possible self over a journey of autobiographical memory reconstruction.
Measuring Economic Abuse in the Lives of Survivors
Authors: Postmus Judy L. , Plummer Sara-Beth , Stylianou Amanda M.
Published: October 2015

Recent attention has been given by researchers to understanding how abusers use economic abuse strategies. Unfortunately, limited measures are available to accurately understand the prevalence of economic abuse in the lives of survivors. Recently, researchers created the 28-item Scale of Economic Abuse (SEA) but further validation is needed. This article describes the psychometric evaluation of the SEA through confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses using data collected with 120 survivors of abuse. The findings provide evidence for the reliability and validity of the SEA-12 as a shorter instrument to measure economic abuse as a distinct form of abuse.
The Moderating Role of Attachment on the Relationship Between History of Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization
Authors: Smith Linda Sapanski , Stover Carla Smith
Published: October 2015

Exposure to trauma is a well-established predictor of intimate partner violence (IPV), although this relationship is not causal. The current study hypothesized that attachment-based anxiety moderated the relationship between trauma history and IPV revictimization in a sample of women who had reported IPV victimization 1 year earlier. Results confirmed the following hypotheses: When attachment-based anxiety was high, trauma history was positively associated with IPV victimization and use of violence. When attachment-based anxiety was low, trauma history was no longer positively associated with IPV victimization or use of violence. Secure attachments may protect female victims of IPV from the impact of trauma.
Citizen Complaints Against the Police
Authors: Terrill William , Ingram Jason R.
Published: October 2015

Building on prior research involving citizen complaints, the current inquiry seeks to add to the literature by examining citizen complaint data from eight U.S. cities. We assess the distribution of complaints and dispositions, along with the relationship between officer- and citizen-based characteristics. Further, we examine the extent to which varying types of investigatory models (e.g., internal affairs, command level, and external civilian oversight) influence whether complaints are found to have merit (i.e., sustained complaints). In line with prior research, we found that a small percentage of officers accounted for a disproportionate percentage of total complaints, excessive force and discourtesy were often the most common allegations lodged, and younger officers and those with less experience generally received a greater number of complaints. Adding to the literature, we found substantial variation across agencies with respect to the raw number of complaints generated, the extent to which use of force and discourtesy complaints accounted for the total number of complaints overall, and the extent to which various agencies sustained complaints. We also found that male and non-White complainants were more likely to lodge use of force allegations, with Black complainants less likely to have their complaints sustained. Moreover, cities where the police internal affairs unit served as the investigatory entity, but had their outcome decisions (i.e., dispositions) reviewed by an external civilian oversight agency, were significantly more likely to sustain complaints.
Screening of Glaucoma or Cataract Prevalence in Vitiligo Patients and Its Relationship With Periorbital Steroid Use
Authors: Khurrum Huma , AlGhamdi Khalid M. , Osman Essam
Published: October 2015

Background/Aim:

There is scarce literature connecting vitiligo and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Most literature reports that secondary complications are a direct consequence of corticosteroid treatment of vitiligo. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of ocular problems in patients with vitiligo and to determine its association with periorbital topical corticosteroid use.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 90 patients with vitiligo. The Vitiligo European Task Force questionnaire was completed for each patient. A control group comprising 90 healthy individuals who did not have vitiligo and who were matched on age and gender was used for comparison. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed. A family history of glaucoma and the use of topical steroids were recorded.

Results:

Two (2/90, 2.2%) of the patients with vitiligo had glaucoma compared with none of the individuals in the control group ( P = .25). Nineteen of the 90 patients with vitiligo used periorbital steroids, and of these patients, 10.5% (2/19) developed glaucoma. The duration of periorbital corticosteroid use was 4.50 ± 2.1 years. Eighty-nine percent (17/19) of the vitiligo patients who applied the potent topical corticosteroid (class I) clobetasol propionate to the periorbital area did not develop glaucoma. In contrast, glaucoma was not observed in 79% (71/90) of the vitiligo patients who did not use steroids. Cataract, uveitis, or fundus problems were not observed in either group.

Conclusion:

The study suggests that patients who have vitiligo and use topical steroids periorbitally do not have an increased risk of glaucoma or cataracts. Future studies that have a larger sample size and use a detailed steroid use protocol are needed.
Responding to growing European Union-skepticism? The stances of political parties toward European integration in Western and Eastern Europe following the financial crisis
Authors: Rohrschneider Robert , Whitefield Stephen
Published: October 2015

Using data from two expert surveys conducted in 2007–2008 and 2013 in 24 European democracies, we examine the response of political parties—especially mainstream ones—across the European Union to the growth in public European Union-skepticism since the onset of the financial crisis. Theoretically, we point to competing spatial and reputational pressures on mainstream and extreme parties to adjust their integration positions. We find that mainstream parties respond fairly little over time and that this has left a representational opening for extreme parties, which is especially filled by new European Union-skeptic parties.
Tourism development in the Dominican Republic: An examination of the economic impact to coastal households
Authors: Duffy Lauren N , Stone Garrett , Charles Chancellor H , Kline Carol S
Published: October 2015

Coastal tourism projects are promoted in the Dominican Republic as national-level economic development initiatives that will create jobs for local residents, subsequently benefiting the households in these communities. However, the economic benefits of tourism can be severely weakened as a result of the neoliberal economic policies that guide such projects. Like other economically developing countries—particularly small island nations—the Dominican Republic embraced neoliberal policies that have ultimately reshaped the country’s economic, political, cultural, and physical landscape. As a result, transnational companies, foreign investors, and large-scale enclave tourism projects are the dominant form of tourism development in the Dominican Republic. Though companies’ revenue and profit data are not available for analysis of economic leakage, households can be investigated to understand the level of economic benefits obtained by residents of the local communities. Toward this end, 360 household surveys were collected to examine household income and material assets across 12 coastal communities in three regions of the Dominican Republic. Because of the noted differences in previous development literature, gender of the head of households and whether the household was dependent on income from tourism employment were compared across these measures after adjusting for regional differences. Results indicate that the gender of the head of the household and tourism dependency positively predicted household income, while only gender of the head of the household predicted material assets.
Diesel combustion model for on-board application
Authors: Yasuda Kazuma , Yamasaki Yudai , Kaneko Shigehiko , Nakamura Yusuke , Iida Norimasa , Hasegawa Ryo
Published: October 2015

Diesel engines exhibit highly efficient, environmentally sound performance under good operational control; however, because of the demand of controlling multiple actuators under various environmental conditions, the conventional experimental method for controlling diesel engines has become increasingly difficult. Therefore, diesel combustion models with less calculation loads were ultimately developed with the aim of implementing such model-based controllers for engine control unit in the future. To achieve the on-board application of the diesel combustion model, the in-cylinder state of a single cycle was discretized into several representative phases such as a valve-opening and valve-closing phase, ignition phase, and maximum pressure phase. Temperature and oxygen quantities in residual gas were considered as the state variables of the system because they have a critical effect on combustion and induce cyclic coupling. The model could take account of the effect of actuators in diesel engines, and the states in each phase were calculated by fundamental thermodynamic equations and some empirical equations. The model was validated against experimental results and had a good agreement with in-cylinder pressures and temperatures at each phase. In addition, the calculation times of the model were confirmed to be capable of on-board application. Furthermore, as a demonstrative example and to show the added value of the model, it was used to synthesize controllers to enable multi-input/multi-output control of a diesel engine in simulation.
Negotiating tensions: The religious landscape of St. Eustatius, 1636–1795
Authors: Miller Derek R , Gilmore R Grant
Published: October 2015

The Dutch had a nearly blank slate on which to produce their new colony when they settled the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius in 1636. The colonists sought to create a productive agricultural colony, which would require a structured system of economic production and a means for social reproduction. The Dutch elites strategically situated churches on the island’s landscape to produce St. Eustatius as a social space. There were two key tensions that shaped the Dutch elites' decisions on where to construct religious places on the island landscape: how to maintain the Dutch Reformed Church as the sole public religion while respecting individuals’ right to the freedom of conscience, and how to find the proper balance between capitalist accumulation and Protestant aestheticism. While the Dutch elites hoped that their positioning of religious places would create a stable society, the majority of the population lived this space in a manner different from the Dutch elites’ plan.
Eye tracking evaluation of visual analytics
Authors: Kurzhals Kuno , Fisher Brian , Burch Michael , Weiskopf Daniel
Published: October 2015

The application of eye tracking for the evaluation of humans’ viewing behavior is a common approach in psychological research. So far, the use of this technique for the evaluation of visual analytics and visualization is less prominent. We investigate recent scientific publications from the main visualization and visual analytics conferences and journals, as well as related research fields that include an evaluation by eye tracking. Furthermore, we provide an overview of evaluation goals that can be achieved by eye tracking and state-of-the-art analysis techniques for eye tracking data. Ideally, visual analytics leads to a mixed-initiative cognitive system where the mechanism of distribution is the interaction of the user with the visualization environment. Therefore, we also include a discussion of cognitive approaches and models to include the user in the evaluation process. Based on our review of the current use of eye tracking evaluation in our field and the cognitive theory, we propose directions for future research on evaluation methodology, leading to the grand challenge of developing an evaluation approach to the mixed-initiative cognitive system of visual analytics.
Assessing Needs for Cancer Education and Support in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities in the Northwestern United States
Authors: Harris Raymond , Van Dyke Emily R. , Ton Thanh G. N. , Nass Carrie A. , Buchwald Dedra
Published: October 2015

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience significant cancer disparities. To inform future public health efforts, a web-based needs assessment survey collected quantitative and qualitative data from AI/AN community health workers and cancer survivors in the northwestern United States. Content analysis of qualitative responses identified themes to contextualize quantitative results. Seventy-six AI/AN respondents (93% female) described substantial unmet needs for education and resources to assist cancer survivors, including a shortage of patient navigators, support groups, and home health care workers. Fear of negative outcomes, a culturally rooted avoidance of discussing illness, and transportation difficulties were cited as major barriers to participation in cancer education and receipt of health services. Face-to-face contact was overwhelmingly preferred for community education and support, but many respondents were receptive to other communication channels, including e-mail, social media, and webinars. Survey results highlight the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to overcome barriers to cancer screening and education in AI/AN communities. Qualitative analysis revealed a widespread perception among respondents that available financial and human resources were insufficient to support AI/AN cancer patients’ needs.
Studies on needle-punched natural and polypropylene fiber nonwovens as oil sorbents
Authors: Renuka S , Rengasamy RS , Das D
Published: October 2015

This article reports on oil sorption behavior of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics made from milkweed, kapok, cotton and polypropylene fibers using air-lay and carding technologies. The effects of fiber and fabric parameters on oil sorption and retention capacities, and oil sorption rate and fabric strength were investigated. Fabrics made using natural fibers such as milkweed and cotton were found to selectively absorb oil over water. Milkweed and kapok nonwovens displayed higher oil sorption and retention capacities as compared to cotton and polypropylene nonwovens. Further, milkweed and kapok nonwovens exhibited higher oil sorption rate as compared to cotton and polypropylene nonwovens. The porosity of nonwoven fabric was found to play a vital role in determining the oil sorption capacity. Although the web-forming technology did not affect the oil sorption and retention capacities and oil sorption rate, it affected the fabric strength significantly. Cotton nonwoven kept on artificial sea water for 10 days displayed very low water sorption capacity, although the nonwovens produced using natural fibers exhibited preferential sorption of oil over water and high oil sorption and retention capacities; which are advantageous in using them as oil sorbents to cleanup oil spills on oceans, but they offered low fabric strength. These findings indicate that further research works are required to improve the strength of natural fiber nonwovens for sustainable oil spill removal.
Fabrication of curcumin-loaded gum tragacanth/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers with optimized electrospinning parameters
Authors: Ranjbar-Mohammadi Marziyeh , Kargozar Saeid , Bahrami S Hajir , Joghataei MT
Published: October 2015

This paper focuses on using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) to optimize the diameter of Gum tragacanth (GT)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers. However, producing curcumin-loaded GT/PVA nanofibers with using these optimized conditions is another aim. RSM methodology based on four variables (voltage, feed rate, distance between nozzle and collector, and solution concentration) with three levels and ANN technique were compared for modeling the average diameter of nanofibers. In the RSM method, the individual and interaction effects between the parameters on the average diameter of nanofibers were determined using Box-Behnken design (BBD). Data sets of input–output patterns were used for training the multilayer perceptron (MP) neural networks trained with back-propagation algorithm for modeling purpose. Experimental results for both ANN and RSM techniques showed agreement with the predicted fiber diameter. High-regression coefficient between the variables and the response displayed that the performance of RSM for minimizing diameter of nanofibers was better than ANN. Based on response surface model, optimum conditions (polymer concentration of 4.2% (w/v), distance between the capillary and collector 20 cm, applied voltage of 20 kV and flow rate of 0.5 mL/h) were obtained for producing GT/PVA nanofibers with minimized diameter. Then curcumin-loaded GT/PVA nanofibers were produced with acquired optimum condition and the effect of curcumin concentration (3 and 5% (w/v)) on the morphology, diameter and biological properties of nanofibers was investigated.
Low-Income Latino Students and California’s Early Assessment Program
Authors: Almeida Daniel J.
Published: October 2015

California’s Early Assessment Program is designed to notify students about their college readiness, encouraging them to take action to improve their skills during their senior year. The author uses qualitative methods and applies sense-making theory to examine how students attending majority Latino, low-income high schools make sense of the information the program provides. The findings suggest that participants’ limited prior knowledge of the program and shared views of standardized assessments influenced students’ perceptions of the program.
Exploratory Study About the Implementation of the Competency-Based Approach in Graduate Programs From Two Panamanian Universities
Authors: Duran Rodrigo Alberto , Estay-Niculcar Christian , Alvarez Humberto , Randolph James
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this case study wasMaster in Higher to explore the association between implementing the competency-based approach (CBA) in graduate programs and the student’s perception about the aforementioned approach. The research was conducted with 504 graduate students from Universidad Tecnologica de Panama and Universidad Tecnologica Oteima in the Republic of Panama to explore their perception about the CBA. The research is descriptive and the results show that 84% of participants will benefit in their future professional development through the CBA. Authors conclude that the CBA has had an international coverage and can be replicated in local scenarios as Latin American Alfa Tuning Project (2004-2007) has been implemented in universities from Panama.
Communication Protocols to Support Collaboration in Distributed Teams Under Asynchronous Conditions
Authors: Fischer Ute , Mosier Kathleen
Published: October 2015

The safety and success of future space missions will depend on the ability of crewmembers and Mission Control to collaborate effectively, even when communication between them is delayed. Communication protocols—i.e., structured communication templates—were designed with the goal to facilitate space-ground collaboration under time-delayed conditions. Their effectiveness was assessed in several space-analog simulation studies. Method: Astronauts and astronaut-like volunteers received communication training prior to their missions. Missions included 2 to 4 days on which communication with Mission Control was delayed. Surveys were administered throughout the mission asking participants to rate the effectiveness of the protocols and their interactions with Mission Control and in a final survey to provide feedback on individual elements of the communication protocols. Results and Discussion: Participants rated the protocols as fairly effective. Their ratings also suggest that the protocols mitigated the negative impacts of communication delay. Participants’ ratings of individual protocol elements were generally high but also point to specific training needs and technology requirements.
Preliminary Work Domain Analysis For Human Extravehicular Activity
Authors: Miller Matthew J. , McGuire Kerry M. , Feigh Karen M.
Published: October 2015

Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) has the potential to offer a contextually relevant, constraint-based perspective to the extravehicular activity (EVA) work domain, which is a proven critical component of human spaceflight. A work domain analysis (WDA) emphasizing the real-time execution of EVA is presented in this study as a first step towards establishing the EVA work domain within the CWA framework and guiding EVA decision support system design development. The results presented here define the EVA work domain boundary objects and illustrate the physical and operational constraints of the environment, hardware, and life support systems of the domain. Additionally, the WDA is used to guide potential avenues and identify functional needs for future EVA decision support system development.
Effectiveness of Force Feedback on Movement Time and Path for Target Selection in the Presence of Distractors
Authors: O’Connor-Dreher Ryan , Vu Kim-Phuong L. , Marayong Panadda , Strybel Thomas Z. , Battiste Vernol
Published: October 2015

Implementation of new, effective onboard computer technologies into commercial cockpits will alter the current role and actions taken by pilots. These new technologies will require precise and efficient input methods due to the unstable nature of a cockpit environment. The benefits of including haptic force feedback for input devices have been shown in previous research. The present study investigated the effects of force feedback distractors on movement time, movement path, and workload when force-enabled distractors were present. Results demonstrated that in the presence of distractors, resistive spring force levels most strongly influenced all performance measures. Attractive gravitational force levels had no impact on movement times and minimal impact on path of movement.
Human Performance Impacts Associated With Integrating Multiple NextGen Separation Management Concepts
Authors: Sawyer Michael W. , Berry Katherine A. , Liskey Devin , Rohde Richard
Published: October 2015

Separation Management capabilities aim to provide controllers with tools and procedures to more efficiently manage air traffic in a mixed equipage environment. This paper presents the results of an integrated human performance safety assessment of Separation Management concepts planned for implementation between 2016 and 2020. The assessment utilized the Human and Organizational Safety Technique (HOST) to provide a structured method for identifying potential human error modes and estimating their contribution to the human performance risk profile. The HOST assessment resulted in multiple potential human error modes across the individual Separation Management changes. As no concept will be implemented in isolation, key interactions among error modes were assessed utilizing an integrated Human-System Interaction Model. The findings from this research provide a proactive view of potential human-system integration challenges that can be used by stakeholders to proactively develop human factors mitigation strategies that will reduce implementation time and costs associated with each concept.
Effects of Display Location and Information Level on UAS Pilot Assessments of a Detect and Avoid System
Authors: Monk Kevin , Shively R. Jay , Fern Lisa , Rorie R. Conrad
Published: October 2015

Minimum display requirements and performance standards for Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems are currently being developed to safely integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System (NAS). The present study examines UAS pilots’ subjective assessments of four display configurations with either basic or advanced levels of information presented on a standalone or integrated display. Post-trial and post-simulation questionnaires queried pilots on their subjective ability to safely perform tasks and effectively utilize available information on each display. Responses indicated that the majority of pilots considered each display to be acceptable for a pilot-in-the-loop DAA task overall, but also revealed a strong preference for an integrated display with advanced information in the form of conflict resolution tools. Implications on the development of DAA display requirements, as well as the relation between the subjective evaluations and the objective performance data from previous studies are discussed.
Commanding Home Robots
Authors: Beer Jenay M. , Fisk Arthur D. , Rogers Wendy A.
Published: October 2015

Developing robots that are useful to older adults is more than simply creating robots that complete household tasks. Careful consideration of the users’ capabilities, robot autonomy, and task is needed. Perceived usefulness, according to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), is described as a person’s perception of how well the technology’s capability matches his or her own needs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the construct of perceived usefulness within the context of robot assistance and user capability. Two user groups participated: mobile older adults (N = 12; used no ambulation aid) and older adults with mobility loss (N=12; used walker or wheelchair). Participants took part in a think aloud task. We asked participants to discuss their robot control preferences for household tasks (e.g., clean, find and fetch). Older adults with mobility loss tended to prefer to command/control the robot themselves (low robot autonomy); however, mobile older adults’ preferences were split between commanding/controlling the robot themselves (low robot autonomy) or the robot commands/controls itself (high robot autonomy). Reasons for their preferences were task specific and related to barriers/facilitators of robot acceptance, such as trust, reliability, and user need. Findings provide practical guidance to choosing robot autonomy level, broadly defined, for different groups of older adults.
Investigating Perceived Usability and Choice Satisfaction of Alternative Search Engine’s Presentation for Older Adults
Authors: Abegaz Tamirat , Dillon Edward C. , Gilbert Juan E.
Published: October 2015

Information search and retrieval is a feature used by various software applications, in particular web search engines. When conducting information search and retrieval, a user exhibits perceptual, motoric, and cognitive capabilities. However, these capabilities tend to deteriorate as adults age. As a result, older adults have shown a tendency to exhibit superficial behaviors that ultimately influence their decision-making during search and retrieval.

It has been found that decision-making can be influenced by one’s emotional state. Meanwhile, unconscious exposure to certain elements such as visual stimuli can induce one’s emotional state. This article discusses a study that examined the employment of visual stimuli such as colors, shapes, and their combinations on user satisfaction and search performance with older adults while using search engine interface prototypes. Our findings show that the integration of certain stimuli within search engine interfaces potentially improves web search performance and experience for older adults.
Age differences in information search
Authors: Chin Jessie , Anderson Evan , Chin Chieh-Li , Fu Wai-Tat
Published: October 2015

Past research often found that older adults searched less in terms of browsing and generating keywords; few studies examined the processes and underlying mechanism that caused the age-related reduction on search. In the current study, about 20 younger and 20 older adults performed ill-defined search tasks with a search box we implemented. In addition to the age differences in the quantities of search, results showed that there were qualitative age differences in allocating resources to exploration and exploitation across tasks varying in the accessibility of target information. Older adults were found to do more exploitation in terms of spending longer time and viewing more information before initiating a new search. However, older adults were adaptive to task environments in terms of reducing the number of websites viewed before revising a keyword and increasing the time spent on initiating a new search in the low accessible task, in which more exploration was preferred. The links between difference in search process and the age differences in cognitive abilities were also discussed.
In Search of Virtual Social Facilitation Effects
Authors: Baldwin Natalee , Branyon Jessica , Sethumadhavan Arathi , Pak Richard
Published: October 2015

The social facilitation effect is a well-researched phenomenon in social psychology that has recently been reproduced through the use of virtual humans. This finding provides opportunities to increase certain human behaviors remotely, which could be crucial in behavior modification. The purpose of the current study was to replicate these findings. Through three manipulations aimed at mimicking this social facilitation effect demonstrated in previous research, no significant effects on performance could be replicated. This suggests that this social psychology principle may not be applicable in a human-machine interaction paradigm.
Effects of Task-Load Transitions on EEG Coupling in a High-Tempo Cooperative Task
Authors: Strang Adam J. , Funke Gregory J. , Satterfield Kelly , Miller Brent , Menke Lauren , Brown Rebecca
Published: October 2015

Research shows that teammates often exhibit similarities in their physiological and behavioral responses during cooperative tasks, a phenomenon termed physio-behavioral coupling (PBC). Recently, studies have extended the examination of PBC to include electrocephalography (EEG). In this study, we examined the coupling strength of EEG Fz responses from dyadic teams performing Air Force Spaceship Simulator (AFSS – a variant of Atari Asteroids) to explore the basic utility of EEG coupling measures for the real-time monitoring of team task-load in Air Force operations (e.g., remotely piloted vehicle navigation). Specific study goals were to, a) verify that Fz coupling during AFSS was driven by the team-task environment (and not simply a chance artifact), b) determine if Fz coupling was affected by periodic transitions from low-to-high task load (TL), and c) examine the relationship between Fz coupling and team performance. Findings confirmed that Fz coupling in this task was indeed driven by the team-task environment, that Fz coupling was affected by TL transitions, and that Fz coupling exhibited a moderate relationship with team performance throughout the experiment ( r ~ -.50). Specifically, high Fz coupling was shown to be associated with low TL, whereas low Fz coupling was associated with high TL. In addition, these TL-induced changes in Fz coupling exhibited minimal lag (less than 30-seconds), although changes in Fz coupling in response to high TL were transient and inconsistent. Together, these findings verify the potential of Fz coupling as an objective and physiology-based indicator of TL that could be used in the future to monitor human performance in team Air Force operations.
Workload Associated with Nuclear Power Plant Main Control Room Tasks
Authors: Reinerman-Jones Lauren , Mercado Joseph , D’Agostino Amy , Hughes Niav , Sollins Brandon , Leis Rebecca
Published: October 2015

Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) operators complete a variety of tasks to ensure the NPP is running safely and efficiently. However, the levels and types of workload associated with the different task types are not yet fully understood. The present investigation examined workload levels and types for three common NPP Main Control Room (MCR) tasks in a controlled experimental environment using a variety of subjective, physiological, and performance measures of workload. The results suggest that the three task types differ in the levels and types of workload. These findings can be used to better understand the types of NPP tasks that induce workload and the type of workload they induce. The full results of these experiments will be captured in future articles and technical reports.
Oxygenation of the Prefrontal Cortex during Sequential Planning in the Tower of London
Authors: Craig Curtis , Klein Martina I. , Rinaldo Shannon B.
Published: October 2015

To investigate the utility of neural theories for human planning, this study used near-infrared spectroscopy to investigate prefrontal (PFC) oxygenation for a well-established planning task: The Tower of London (TOL). Changes in prefrontal oxygenated hemoglobin from baseline were measured during task performance. Performing the Tower of London led to a significant increase in oxygenation in the left caudal region of the PFC in difficult trials moves relative to easier trials. The different degree of prefrontal oxygenation agrees with previous research and provides further evidence for a capacity utilization framework for measuring neurocognitive demand. Higher activity in the left rostral frontopolar region predicted better performance in the Tower of London, which agrees with a proposed rostral-caudal control hierarchy for the prefrontal cortex. Observed results support the feasibility of near-infrared spectroscopy to assess activity during tasks requiring planning ability and provide support for two neurocognitive models, capacity utilization and rostro-caudal control hierarchy.
Predicting Emotional Granularity with EEG Coherence
Authors: Young Lee Ja , Lindquist Kristen A. , Nam Chang S.
Published: October 2015

Understanding the system operator’s resilience to stressful situations is very important in designing adaptive systems. In this study we suggest a method to predict emotional granularity, a crucial personality trait that influences one’s ability to cope with highly demanding situations. To predict emotional granularity, we measured the coherence of brain activities with EEG, while participants were viewing affective images, and used random forest learning method for classification of participants. The results showed that EEG coherence could predict the individual’s emotional granularity with up to 88% accuracy.
Warfighter Acceptance of Future Physiological Monitoring and Augmentation
Authors: Menke Lauren E. , Best Christopher , Funke Gregory J. , Strang Adam J.
Published: October 2015

Combat operations are often high tempo, resulting in undesirable levels of operator workload and stress. Adaptive automation has been suggested as a solution to these issues. However, this augmentation approach is predicated on operator consent to monitoring. Acceptance of such systems may be influenced by concerns regarding the use of monitor data and mistrust of automation technology. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine operator acceptance of physiological monitoring and future augmentation strategies after limited exposure to one device. During a simulated exercise, eleven command and control operators were equipped with a physiological monitor prior to each mission. Following the exercise, operators were surveyed regarding their acceptance of monitoring and several potential augmentation strategies. The results of the survey suggested that the operators were generally open to both monitoring and augmentation, but that they may also be insensitive to the limitations of current technology.
The Human Factors of Intelligence Analysis
Authors: McNeese Nathan J. , Hoffman Robert R. , McNeese Michael D. , Patterson Emily S. , Cooke Nancy J. , Klein Gary
Published: October 2015

Intelligence analysis (IA) has long been a topic of interest for the human factors community, leading to an increased understanding of the analytical process and many new insights. Yet, the scope and breadth of IA is growing and evolving for many different reasons. IA is more dynamic and multi-faceted than it has ever been. The process of IA is changing due to expanding sensor data, new methods of work, new technologies, and new challenges. In addition, the scope and context of IA is greater than ever, including focuses such as healthcare, climate change, and cyber security (to name a few). In response to these changes, a few key questions emerge. Panel discussants will provide insights into how IA is changing, how researchers should adapt to this change, how researchers should acquire access to study IA, and if there are there underlying assumptions and themes of IA that are true across different domains.
Supporting Spatial Awareness with a Hand-Held GPS-Device – Effects of Degree of Support and Light Conditions
Authors: Oskarsson Per-Anders , Johansson Björn J.E. , Hellgren Charlotte , Svensson Jonathan
Published: October 2015

Navigating in the terrain and at the same time keeping track other groups in the unit, enemy targets, and important terrain positions is often a hard task for dismounted soldiers, especially in night-ops conditions. To investigate if performance can be improved by GPS support an experiment was performed. A platoon navigated in the terrain and squad leaders indicated direction and distance to other squads and fixed terrain positions, both in daylight and darkness. Tasks were performed with full GPS support both for navigation and indication, with limited GPS support only for navigation, and with no GPS support. Precision of indications of direction to moving positions improved with full GPS support. To improve indication of distance with GPS support, functions that provide distance information must be used. A GPS device in combination with a night vision device can be used to support these tasks in darkness.
Interaction With Television companion apps
Authors: Dowell John , Kim Hana
Published: October 2015

Companion apps for television programmes provide additional, synchronized and interactive content on mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones. With the television screen they create dual screen interfaces with multiple modalities and require viewers to actively manage their visual attention. We outline a model of interactions with companion apps used with information-rich television programmes where a primary purpose the app is to support understanding and learning. Our model summarises perceptual and cognitive processes involved by drawing on theories and findings from Human Factors and the learning sciences. We use the model to assess CompanionMap, an app for accompanying science documentaries with synchronized, animated concept maps. We show how the model provides explanations for four key results obtained from an experiment with CompanionMap, including how users managed their visual attention and how they learnt about astrophysics when using the app to watch an astronomy programme.
Understanding Decision Requirements for Selection of Assistive Technology
Authors: Ding Yao , Chourasia Amrish , Anson Denis , Atkins Tony , Vanderheiden Gregg
Published: October 2015

Individual consumers and clinicians have difficulty selecting computer access solutions and keeping up with the advances in access technologies. To design a decision support tool for consumers and clinicians, a thorough understanding of the decision-making process is important. A cognitive tasks analysis was conducted to reveal the underlying cognitive processes and decision requirements, and identify potential decision aids. The analysis used semi-structured interviews for consumers, and clinical observations followed by retrospective interviews for clinicians. Based on the identified decision needs and information needs, design implications are provided.
Understanding Automated Financial Trading Using Work Domain Analysis
Authors: Li Yeti , Burns Catherine , Hu Rui
Published: October 2015

Finance is a complex domain largely unexplored in the human factors literature. Modern financial trading systems involve a variety of coupled socio-technical systems (e.g. humans and technologies) and have become highly automated. Recent stock market crashes, such as the well-known Flash Crash, show automation-initiated dynamics. This suggests that a human factors understanding of this environment may be useful. In this article, we report an initial attempt to model buyer-side Automated Trading (AT) systems using a Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) approach. A Work Domain Analysis (WDA) model is presented to describe the automated financial trading domain. This work has implications for applying CWA to finance but also advances the understanding of how to model a highly automated domain.
Knowledge Elicitation for Resilience Engineering in Health Care
Authors: Hegde Sudeep , Hettinger A. Zach , Fairbanks Rollin J. , Wreathall John , Wears Robert L. , Bisantz Ann M.
Published: October 2015

The Critical Incident Technique (CIT) and the Critical Decision Method (CDM) have been employed successfully to elicit information about human activities, explicate expert knowledge and model decision-making in various domains. Because of their proven efficacy in naturalistic settings, we adapted these methods to develop a script for interviews about resilience in health care. The multi-stage, semi-structured format of the CIT and CDM was adopted as a broad template for the script. However, new questions and probe-types for each stage were created which conformed to the theoretical framework of resilience engineering (RE). Hollnagel’s Resilience Analysis Grid (RAG) was used to derive a majority of the probes for each of the capabilities of a resilient organization – monitoring, anticipating, responding and learning. The interview script was iteratively revised based on responses to pilot interviews as well as feedback by human factors and RE experts. The final script was used to successfully interview physician and nurse-providers at various organizational levels and units.
Missing Key Information
Authors: Morar Natan , Baber Chris , Starke Sandra , Fournier Fabiana
Published: October 2015

Human monitoring of systems in which sensors provide data to automated decision support algorithms create interesting challenges for Human Factors. In this study we are interested in exploring whether people are able to detect two types of automation failure: when decisions do not fit the data presented to the operator, and when data from different information sources do not agree. For those students that performed at a level of ≥ 97% correct (‘high performers), checking for both types of failure seemed easy. For those students that performed at a level of ≤ 95% correct (‘low performers’), checking for erroneous recommendations seems straightforward, but checking for information agreement seemed to be omitted. One suggestion is that the non-experts expended more effort on checking recommendation and ignored the need to check congruence across displays. The implication is that the ‘worth’ of the displayed information for one task (decision check) outweighed its worth for the simpler task (congruence check) for the non-experts.