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  Marriage, Coparenting, & Family Work Over Time: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis

  Adam M. Galovan and Erin K. Holmes

  Using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (n = 1024 couples), we examined the associations between parenting, similarity in parenting, and emotional intimacy. Mothers’ initial level of family work responsibility was the most significant predictor of emotional intimacy for both Fathers and Mothers. More traditional, adult-centered parenting beliefs were also associated with decreased emotional intimacy for Mothers. Similarity in family work and parenting beliefs showed stability overtime. In general, similarity in parenting and consensus in family work activities was not as significantly associated with emotional intimacy as the individual parenting constructs.

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  The Effect of Positive Affect on Memory

  Jenna Gardner, Jeremy Ashworth, Brittney Rasmussen, and Erin D. Bigler

  The majority of positive affect research has been studied in relation to mental flexibility and creative thinking, with a smaller emphasis in the area of memory recall. Studies have specifically looked at the influence of positive affect as it relates to the following: creative problem solving (e.g., Mikulincer, & Sheffi, 2000, Estrada, Young, & Isen, 1994; Greene & Noice, 1988; Isen, Johnson, Mertz, & Robinson, 1985), improves recall of neutral and positive information (Isen, Shalker, Clark, & Karp, 1978; Nasby & Yando, 1982; Teasdale & Fogarty, 1979), promotes mental flexibility (Carnevale & Isen, 1986; Estrada, Isen, & Young, 1997; Isen & Geva, 1987; Isen & Means, 1983; Isen, Nygren, & Ashby, 1988; Murray, Hirt, Sujan & Sujan, 1990), improves the speed of conscious perception (Kuhbandner, Hanslmayr, Maier, Pekrun, Spitzer, Pastötter, Bäuml, 2009), improves text processing and recall (Egidi, 2007), improved peripheral vision detail recall (Talarico, Berntsen, & Rubin, 2009), information retrieval (Ellis, Thomas, McFarland, & Lane, 1985), free recall (Hill, Van Boxtel, Ponds, Houx, & Jolles, 2005). There is very little research on the effects of a positive mood and delayed memory recall, and none that specifically looks at delayed verbal memory recall. We have designed our study to determine if a relationship between positive affect and memory recall exists, specifically related to delayed verbal memory recall.

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  Positive to Negative Affect, Forgiveness, and Relationship Quality in Married Couples

  Rebekah M. Gardner and James Harper

  Gottman (1999) proposes that a 5:1 ratio of positive to negative behaviors is related to relationship quality. Current study examines forgiveness as a mediating variable. Halchuck et al. (2010) found that couples who recovered from attachment insecurities reported significantly higher levels of forgiveness.

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  Do the insured make greater use of medical services?

  Gregg Girvan and Sven Wilson

  Conventional wisdom states if policy-makers set the goal of increasing the number of patients with health insurance, visits to the emergency room (ER) will decrease while visits to a usual source of care (USC), such as a general practitioner, will increase. In examining year 2007 of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, this study seeks to test this hypothesis by answering two questions: 1. Whether having insurance affects ER and USC utilization, and 2. Whether greater USC utilization affects ER utilization. The analysis accounts for endogeneity issues with insurance and USC utilization. In order to account for the discrete, non negative nature of the dependent variable as well as endogenous regressors, a Poisson regression within an instrumental variable framework is utilized. The results confirm the notion that, in general, the insured have lower ER utilization but higher USC utilization, but only USC utilization is statistically significant. Also, when considering the effect of USC visitation on ER visitation, ER visits increase, albeit slightly, with an increase in USC visits.

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  African Americans in Politics: What Factors Lead to the Election of African American Representatives

  Keith D. Gonzales and Sven Wilson

  African Americans have triumphed over a difficult history in the United States. They have had to overcome prejudices in education, the workforce, and politics. Today, we have an African American president and many African Americans hold office on every level of government. It seems to be a good time to evaluate the political environment for African Americans. Data from Congressional districts has been gathered and evaluated. The data has shown three significant factors affecting the chances of African Americans to be elected as a representative from any district. The results hint that there may still be work to be done in race relations in the United States.

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  Effects of Mood on Error Processing

  Alexander Gray and Michael J. Larson

  In mood-induced states, anxious participants were most attentive, happy and calm participants were intermediately attentive, and sad participants least attentive. This study investigates if participants in mood-induced states will demonstrate ERN amplitudes that correspond to the outcomes demonstrated in the above study in which greater attentiveness should correspond to larger ERN amplitudes and visa versa.

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  Antecedents of Paternal Involvement: Is It More Than Just Being There?

  Heidi Harris, Nathan Jorgensen, Jessica Francis, and Stacia Svedi

  Our primary research question focuses on what predicts higher levels of father involvement. Previous research has only touched on the variables that influence a father's involvement and very few assess father involvement using a multiple factor definition of involvement and fewer still assess multiple predictors of involvement in one model. Using the Lamb-Pleck model (1987) father involvement was measured (see Marsiglio, Amato, Day, & Lamb, 2000; Hawkins et al., 2002) in three aspects: accessibility, engagement, and responsibility). In the current study, items measuring responsibility did not factor together in a way that allowed for further analysis and this element was dropped. Five predictors of involvement were assessed in our model in an effort to ascertain which contributes to each element of paternal involvement. These predictors are: father individual well-being (depression) (Radloff, 1977), partner relationship (commitment/ sacrifice) (Stanley & Markman, 1992), father identity (Lee et al., 2002), and level of differentiation (both emotional cutoff and emotional reactivity) (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998).

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  Making it: A Comparison of Hispanic and Asian Immigrants' Annual Income

  Ben Harrison, Deborah Erickson, Ham Mitala, and Lauren vanderHorst

  Research indicates that the number of immigrants in U.S. in 2006 was 37.5 million. The purpose of this study was to examine if Asian or Hispanic immigrants had a higher income and the factors that influence these differences. To gain a foundation on the subject the researches reviewed literature completed on Asian and Hispanic immigrants to the U.S. They discovered that Asians are considered the model minority by the American public. The researchers then looked at the New Immigrant Survey (NIS) from Princeton University done in 2003 and 2004. The variables explored are ethnicity, income, education, documentation, gender, and English fluency. A regression analysis and means comparison was used to analyze the data. Our findings support our hypothesis that Asian immigrants earn more annually than Hispanic immigrants.

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  Classical Music and Its Effects on Verbal and Nonverbal Memory Performance

  Clarence Holbrook, Emily Hadlock, Jentri Rasmussen, and Erin D. Bigler

  The purpose of this study was to test the effect that music has on memory. To date there have been several studies done that fail to agree on the question of whether music affects memory. The fairly well-known phenomenon called the Mozart effect found that spatial-temporal memory increased due to exposure to classical music. This research is intended to determine whether the Mozart effect in fact increases verbal and nonverbal memory, employing the Rey-Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT).

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  Between Two Worlds: Relationships between hearing children and their Deaf parents

  Corinne Hoskin and John Hawkins

  Hearing children of Deaf parents (HCDPs) — a population rarely addressed by researchers — are surrounded by the Deaf culture of their parents and Hearing culture of their peers and mentors. The differences in language and culture that they experience produce a confusing and potentially disorienting world. HCDPs accept Deafness as an integral part of their identity, as illustrated through the relationships between parent and child.

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  Benefits and Applications of Journaling: Exploring the Lower Boundary for Effective Dosage in Non-clinical Populations

  Ryan Hunsaker and Patrick Steffen

  Written expressions of emotion have been shown to produce favorable outcomes in both spheres of physicalhealth and mentalhealth (Murray, 2009; Pennebaker, 2000). Although scientists have identified to some degree what the effects of journaling are, much less is known regarding exactly whenthis impact is most likely to occur (Pennebaker, 2000). Several studies have shown clinically significant benefits for brief journaling interventions (e.g., Greenberg, Wortman, & Stone, 1996; Burton and King, 2008), but the long-term benefits and the lowest dosages necessary for these benefits are debatable. The current study provides an opportunity to assay the therapeutic effects of a brief journaling intervention. The author proposes that a 15-minute journaling intervention will lead to significant health benefits, which will still be apparent after two weeks.

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  Parental Involvement Among Immigrants: Examining Group Differences of Latent Means Using Categorical Data

  Wade C. Jacobsen and Joseph Olsen

  Bourdieu’smodel of cultural and social reproduction suggests that parents of mainstream backgrounds possess higher levels of cultural and social capital, thus magnifying their level of participation in their children’s educations. Previous studies supporting this theory, have categorized parents of racial-ethnic minorities by pan-ethnic categories (Black, Asian, Hispanic, etc.). This study is one of the first to explore parental involvement levels of parents from different nationalities.

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  Don't deny it: Cultural patterns in coping with stress

  Bryan J. Jensen, Julianne Lunstad-Holt, Patrick Steffen, and Bruce Brown

  Stress is a part of everyday life. One important way that stress influences our health is by increasing blood pressure. Research has consistently reported that foreign‐born Mexicans have lower blood pressure than Caucasians 1. This surprises many, since foreign‐born Mexicans are typically more socioeconomically under advantaged 2. Numerous psychosocial factors such as social support and perceived control have been shown to moderate this socioeconomic status (SES)‐health gradient3, but surprisingly li1le work has been done examining how perceived stress and coping strategies influence this relationship. The current study seeks to examine how the psychological factors of perceived stress and coping influence foreign‐born Mexican Americans and Caucasians. It is hypothesized that: 1. If foreign‐born Mexican Americans have lower blood pressure, then they will perceive less stress. 2. Similarly, if foreign‐born Mexican Americans have lower blood pressure and less perceived stress, then they will also use more adaptive ways of coping.

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  Demand for Terrorism: What factors make a country more vulnerable to attack?

  Timothy P. Jensen and Sven Wilson

  Factors used to explain terrorism range from economic inequality (Bailey, 2002) to religious fundamentalism and prejudice (Anderson & Taylor 2001). Taylor (1998) found that “Neither social background, educational opportunity or attainment seem to be particularly associated with terrorism.” In an econometric analysis of terrorism, Krueger and Maleckova (2003) found no causal relationship between poverty in individuals and their likelihood of becoming terrorists. They examined the supply of terrorism by looking at biographical information of individual terrorists, particularly in Palestine. They found that most terrorists had more education than other members of their home country and were in occupations of high social status. They also examined country-specific attributes that produce terrorists. Significant independent variables were log population, level of civil liberties, and proportion of population in five major religion categories. In significant independent variables tested were GDP per capita quartiles and the literacy rate. They found that a lack of civil liberties has a correlation with terrorist activities and that low income had no direct connection. While this and other research has focused on supply, I will examine what characteristics make a country more likely to be attacked.

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  Promontory Caves Revisited: Preliminary Analysis of Faunal Material from 42BO1 and 42BO2

  Lindsay Johansson and Joel Janetski

  Promontory Caves (42BO1 and 42BO2) are located on Promontory point and were excavated in 1930 and 1931 by Julian Steward from the University of Utah. The caves are the type site for Promontory Phase occupation in the Great Basin and the work being done currently concerning the caves is one aspect of a larger project by Jack Ives of the University of Alberta and Joel Janetski of Brigham Young University concerning the Promontory culture and its relationship to the Athapaskan migration. Based upon the presence of moccasins and ceramics recovered at the site, Steward (1937:87) concluded that Promontory cultures were neither Puebloan nor Shoshonean in origin. Recently, the upper levels of occupation at Promontory Caves have been dated to what is termed the Promontory phase of the Late Prehistoric, occurring from approximately AD 1300 to 1550 (Forsyth 1986:190; Janetski 1994:176). Here, I present preliminary data from my analysis of the faunal collection recovered by Steward. This is one portion of my thesis research, in which I will be comparing the faunal collections from various Late Prehistoric sites in the Eastern Great Basin.

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  Examining the Impacts of Habitat Fragmentation Along the Western Border of Yellowstone National Park

  Alex D. Johnson, Vania Hernandez, Janelle Sands, and Matthew Bekker

  Landscape Ecology combines the disciplines of geography and ecology to give a unique spatial approach, which allows extrapolation across scales Our area of study is located on the SW border of Yellowstone National Park and the adjacent National Forest. (Fig.1) Different land management practices between the National Park and National Forest, in particular, deforestation in the National Forest, can affect the ecosystem in the greater Yellowstone area. (Fig. 2)

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  Social Versus Memory Demands On Cognitive Set Shifting

  Oliver H. Johnston, S. White, A. Clawson, and E. Krauskopf

  Executive functions refer to brain processes needed for planning, flexibility, abstract thinking, and other everyday organizational tasks. There remains inconsistency in executive function (EF) studies in autism. A recent review of previous studies (Corbett et al., 2009) reports overall significant deficiencies in EF for autism groups, but it is uncertain how much of this may be due to the presence of ADHD symptoms in 30-50% of children diagnosed with autism (Yerys et al 2009). It has been shown that children with high-functioning autism perform the Wisconsin Card Sort, a test of set-shifting and perseveration, better when it is administered via computer than by a person (Ozonoff 1995). Ozonoff suggested this was due to social demands on cognition during the in person task that interfered with performance, rather than damaged executive functioning in set-shifting. We aimed to investigate this hypothesis by varying the amount of social input in the administration of the WCST, across three different conditions

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  EEG Responses of 5-Month-Old Infants to Static and Dynamic Face-Voice Synchrony

  Blake L. Jones, Sarah A. Ahlander, Joan M. Leishman, and M. Mangum

  IntroPrevious behavioral research with faces and voices demonstrates that at an early age infants notice, and prefer, synchrony between faces and voices 1, 2. However, little is known about how infants’ process information regarding face-voice synchronies neurophysiologically. Therefore, Study 1 examined infants’ electrophysiological responses during brief presentation of synchronous, as well as asynchronous, face/voice stimuli.

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  12-Month-olds’ Discrimination of Monkey Faces: Evidence for Perceptual Narrowing?

  Jacob C. Jones, Scott Stevens, Melissa Wright, and Amanda Phillippi

  It is well known from birth that faces are salient, preferred over other stimuli, and are readily discriminated. It has also been shown that over the course of development infants’ proclivity for face discrimination is influenced by their social environment. Pascalis, deHann, andNelson (2002), for example, demonstrate that 6-month-olds are able to discriminate various monkey faces as well as human faces whereas 9-month-olds can only discriminate different human faces. Importantly, however, if 6-month-olds receive 1-2 minutes per day of familiarization with photographs of monkey faces three months later the now 9-month-olds can still discriminate unfamiliar and familiar monkey faces. Like face perception, infants’ discrimination of speech also varies as a function of experience and exposure. Four-to 6-month-olds discriminate speech sounds in their native and non-native languages; however, by10-to12-months of age infants can only discriminate speech sounds common to their native language.

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  Male Dating Initiation at BYU

  Lara A. Jubber, Jessica Hansen, Tamara Fackrell, and Thomas B. Holman

  Through qualitative dating analysis, we interviewed 12 males from BYU and found several patterns regarding dating initiation. First, there was perceived male responsibility to initiate the date. Second, there were expectations that females should be straightforward with their interest. Third, males expressed concern about their readiness for marriage and the pressures for marriage. Fourth, dating is viewed as a game with rules that vary depending on the participant.

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  Female Dating Initiation at BYU

  Lara Jubber, Tamara Fackrell, Jessica Hansen, and Thomas B. Holman

  Through qualitative dating analysis, we interviewed 12 females from BYU and found several patterns regarding dating initiation. First, there was perceived male responsibility to initiate the date. Second, there was confusion that results in how a female should let a male know of their interest in him. Third, ambiguity resulted because the communication in dating initiation is not straight forward. Fourth, dating is viewed as a game with rules that vary depending on the participant.

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  Distancing and Hostility as Mediators of Parental Depression and Child Depression

  Ashley Kerns, Curtis Pearson, Jessica Hawkins, and William Dickerson

  Purpose: To identify parenting behaviors through which parental depression affects children’s depression Background: Parental depression increases the risk for depression in children (Turner, 2008; Goodman & Gotlib, 2002). Depressed parents are likely to use coercion (Bor & Sanders, 2004)& have decreased social involvement (Dix & Meunier, 2009). When depressed, men are more likely to exhibit irritability and women are more likely to withdraw. Such parental behaviors increase children’s risk (Elgar et.al, 2007) Hypotheses: 1) Mother’s distancing behavior during an observational task will mediate the relationship between mother’s depression and child’s depression 2) Father’s hostile behavior during an observational task will mediate the relationship between father’s depression and child’s depression.

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  Consistency of temperament of in group-housed infant rhesus monkeys (Macacamulatta) during the first months of life

  Joshua W. Kirton, Daniel Blocker, Kfir Orgad, and James D. Higley

  While a wide number of studies have assessed temperament as a predictor of future personality or behavior, few studies have assessed its interindividual stability over the first few months of life in nonhuman primates. This laboratory study examined temperament in group-housed infant rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) assessing interindividual consistency from the second through fifth months of life using objective behavioral measures. Stability of temperament was measured by correlating (Pearson Product-Moment tests) individual differences in the frequency of 25 behaviors over months 2-5 of life in 88 mother-reared subjects. Two 5-minute sessions were recorded for subjects each week and the mean for each month was the dependent variable. Results: Eleven behaviors exhibited a statistically significant consistency across at least three of the four months measured, with a significant positive r-value between .204 and .601. Statistically significant consistency was found for maternally-oriented behaviors of contact cling, mutual ventral, approach by infant, and leave by infant. This maternally-oriented trait may reflect maternal treatment, as well as temperament because receive groom by mother, and restrain by mother were also consistent across months. Consistency was found for the behaviors characteristic of activity including locomotion, environmental exploration, and inactivity. Consistency was also found in socialize with others, and anxiety-like self-directed behavior. This study suggests that objective measurements of temperament in infant rhesus monkeys are consistent across time and possibly situation.

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  Performance-Monitoring and Evaluative Control in High Functioning Autism

  Erin Krauskopf, A. Clawson, O. Johnston, and M. J. Crowley

  1. Understanding the neurobiology of how children with ASD make mistakes has implications for understanding biological causes and informing intervention strategies 2. This study aimed to determine how response monitoring (i.e., learning from mistakes) differs between those with ASD and controls

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  Abuse History and Therapy Participation Among Men and Women in Methadone Maintenance Treatment

  Alexandria Kunzler, Sasha Mondragon, Amy Welsh, and Scott Baldwin

  The differences between men (N = 26) and women’s (N = 27) self-reports of abuse and recorded therapy participation were examined among clients in a methadone maintenance treatment program. Results indicate that women report significantly more abuse. We found no significant difference in therapy participation between men and women.