title: Driving while conversing: Cell phones that distract and passengers who react

authors: Charlton, Samuel G.

subjects: cell phone

abstract: The research systematically compared the driving performance and conversational patterns of drivers speaking with in-car passengers, hands-free cell phones, and remote passengers who could see the driver's current driving situation (via a window into a driving simulator). Driving performance suffered during cell phone and remote passenger conversations as compared with in-car passenger conversations and no-conversation controls in terms of their approach speeds, reaction times, and avoidance of road and traffic hazards. Of particular interest was the phenomenon of conversation suppression, the tendency for passengers to slow their rates of conversation as the driver approached a hazard. On some occasions these passengers also offered alerting comments, warning the driver of an approaching hazard. Neither conversation suppression nor alerting comments were present during cell phone conversations. Remote passengers displayed low levels of alerting comments and conversation suppression, but not enough to avoid negative effects on driving performance. The data suggested that conversation modulation was a key factor in maintaining driving performance and that seeing the road and traffic was not sufficient to produce it. A second experiment investigated whether a cell phone modified to emit warning tones could alleviate some of the adverse effects typically associated with cell phone conversations. The modified cell phone produced discourse patterns that were similar to passenger conversations and driving performance nearly as good as that of drivers who were not conversing. This latter finding supported the argument that conversation modulation is a key ingredient in avoiding adverse effects of conversations with drivers, rather than the physical presence of an in-car passenger.

text: Driving while conversing: Cell phones that distract and passengers who react The research systematically compared the driving performance and conversational patterns of drivers speaking with in-car passengers, hands-free cell phones, and remote passengers who could see the driver's current driving situation (via a window into a driving simulator). Driving performance suffered during cell phone and remote passenger conversations as compared with in-car passenger conversations and no-conversation controls in terms of their approach speeds, reaction times, and avoidance of road and traffic hazards. Of particular interest was the phenomenon of conversation suppression, the tendency for passengers to slow their rates of conversation as the driver approached a hazard. On some occasions these passengers also offered alerting comments, warning the driver of an approaching hazard. Neither conversation suppression nor alerting comments were present during cell phone conversations. Remote passengers displayed low levels of alerting comments and conversation suppression, but not enough to avoid negative effects on driving performance. The data suggested that conversation modulation was a key factor in maintaining driving performance and that seeing the road and traffic was not sufficient to produce it. A second experiment investigated whether a cell phone modified to emit warning tones could alleviate some of the adverse effects typically associated with cell phone conversations. The modified cell phone produced discourse patterns that were similar to passenger conversations and driving performance nearly as good as that of drivers who were not conversing. This latter finding supported the argument that conversation modulation is a key ingredient in avoiding adverse effects of conversations with drivers, rather than the physical presence of an in-car passenger.

year: 2009

title: Memories of who we are: A preliminary identification of autobiographical memory functions in recall of authentic and inauthentic events

authors: Sutton, Anna

abstract: The story of who we are is central to our sense of authenticity and this story is constructed from our autobiographical memories. Yet we know surprisingly little about the functions that autobiographical memories of being authentic serve. This study provides a preliminary examination of the self, social and directive functions used in autobiographical memories of being authentic and inauthentic. Participants recalled times they felt they had been authentic or inauthentic at work. Analyses revealed that the self and directive functions were significantly more prevalent than the social function. In addition, authentic memories were most strongly associated with the self function while inauthentic memories were more likely to be used for the directive function. This may indicate that recall of an authentic experience serves to support one’s current self-identity, while recall of an inauthentic experience provides an opportunity to direct future behaviour towards a more authentic response. This study provides some of the first evidence for how autobiographical memories of being authentic or inauthentic may function in developing a coherent story of self that is needed for a sense of authenticity.

text: Memories of who we are: A preliminary identification of autobiographical memory functions in recall of authentic and inauthentic events The story of who we are is central to our sense of authenticity and this story is constructed from our autobiographical memories. Yet we know surprisingly little about the functions that autobiographical memories of being authentic serve. This study provides a preliminary examination of the self, social and directive functions used in autobiographical memories of being authentic and inauthentic. Participants recalled times they felt they had been authentic or inauthentic at work. Analyses revealed that the self and directive functions were significantly more prevalent than the social function. In addition, authentic memories were most strongly associated with the self function while inauthentic memories were more likely to be used for the directive function. This may indicate that recall of an authentic experience serves to support one’s current self-identity, while recall of an inauthentic experience provides an opportunity to direct future behaviour towards a more authentic response. This study provides some of the first evidence for how autobiographical memories of being authentic or inauthentic may function in developing a coherent story of self that is needed for a sense of authenticity.

year: 2021

title: Te Aka Roa o Te Oranga, the far reaching vines of wellness: The development of a framework to evaluate alcohol and drug treatment for Māori

authors: Robertson, Paul

subjects: Maori

abstract: The impact of alcohol and other drug
problems for Māori is well documented.
Substance use has been implicated in a
range of physical and mental health
problems, and a variety of negative social
statistics such as high rates of imprisonment. To date there has been
little systematic documentation of treatment
practices, and limited operationalisation of
Māori health frameworks. The evaluation
of the outcomes of alcohol and other drug
treatments is an area in which there is a
paucity of documentation, in terms of
methods and frameworks for evaluation,
and actual data. Te Aka Roa O Te Oranga (TAROTO)
was developed from a range of projects
undertaken by the National Addiction
Centre. The TARATO evaluation framework
embraces a holistic perspective: developed
to examine the interaction between the
client, whānau, practitioner, and
service/organisation. The aim of the
framework is to clarify the complex
relationships and interactions between
stakeholders within the context of
treatment. It will also help to elucidate the
strengths and weaknesses of individual
services. Within this framework, a range of
indicators and outcomes of “successful
treatment” will be explored. The current project is the first phase of
a broader project that will make a
significant contribution to improvements in
Māori health via further developing
effective treatments of alcohol and other
drug related problems.

text: Te Aka Roa o Te Oranga, the far reaching vines of wellness: The development of a framework to evaluate alcohol and drug treatment for Māori The impact of alcohol and other drug
problems for Māori is well documented.
Substance use has been implicated in a
range of physical and mental health
problems, and a variety of negative social
statistics such as high rates of imprisonment. To date there has been
little systematic documentation of treatment
practices, and limited operationalisation of
Māori health frameworks. The evaluation
of the outcomes of alcohol and other drug
treatments is an area in which there is a
paucity of documentation, in terms of
methods and frameworks for evaluation,
and actual data. Te Aka Roa O Te Oranga (TAROTO)
was developed from a range of projects
undertaken by the National Addiction
Centre. The TARATO evaluation framework
embraces a holistic perspective: developed
to examine the interaction between the
client, whānau, practitioner, and
service/organisation. The aim of the
framework is to clarify the complex
relationships and interactions between
stakeholders within the context of
treatment. It will also help to elucidate the
strengths and weaknesses of individual
services. Within this framework, a range of
indicators and outcomes of “successful
treatment” will be explored. The current project is the first phase of
a broader project that will make a
significant contribution to improvements in
Māori health via further developing
effective treatments of alcohol and other
drug related problems.

year: 2003