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The Button Orchid
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]]>Full paper: www.kon.org/urc/v11/rojas2.html
Abstract This paper, applying Hofstede's (1997) dimensions of culture and Hall's (1990) contextual paradigm, explored and analyzed the stressed relationship between China and Norway. The paper notes that the stressed relationship is most notable in recent negotiations between the two countries. Further, the paper concluded that at least in the area of negotiations, relief for this stressed relationship could manifest if both sides were more aware and willing to respect the power index differential.
]]> Introduction This manuscript will discuss the subject of why negotiations between cultures tend to fail by citing the interactions between China and Norway. These two cultures have struggled when negotiating, due to differences in negotiation styles, in the context of communication, and in cultural dimensions. This manuscript will define key terms and explain the history between these two cultures.Definitions Before the subject of cross-cultural negotiations can be investigated, it is important to have an understanding of certain vocabulary. The first and most obvious of these terms is negotiation. Along with negotiation, some specific styles will be discussed. Second, the author will define culture. This is of the utmost importance in order to understand the cross-cultural milieu. Topics such as high- and low-context, along with other negotiation contingencies will be defined. These definitions are necessary to comprehend the reasons that cross-cultural negotiations tend to fail or succeed.
Full paper: www.kon.org/urc/v11/rojas2.html
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Abstract Generosity, defined as one's willingness to give, has been studied in a variety of contexts. The present study sought to uncover the effect of perceived social norms on generosity. Undergraduate students completed an electronic questionnaire supposedly examining community engagement. We exposed participants to one of three different social norms for generosity by embedding different statistics regarding the behavior of the average undergraduate student within the questionnaire. Following this manipulation were two evaluative questions measuring generosity via participants' allocation of funds to outreach and charity, followed by an abbreviated version of the Interpersonal Generosity Scale (IGS).
]]> The provided social norms did not affect participants' allocation of funds to outreach and charity. Alternative interpretations of these results are discussed, including the possibilities that: (a) social norms influence generosity only when both the provided social norms and the assessment of generosity refer to the same specific act, and (b) our manipulation of social norms was not strong enough, and (c) our measure of generosity was not sensitive enough, given that we assessed participants' hypothetical allocations to two broad categories.Full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v11/hagler.html
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Abstract Daily, we see the unethical hijacking of e-contents in the "high sea" of intellectualism--of materials, literature, and other resources of worth--without regard to its original proponent. Upon reflection on the ethics of ownership and place of ethics in research, we seek a solution to this act of infringement, which for centuries has been of knotty problem. The Internet with its TCP/IP network protocols can facilitate data transmission and easily scan selected parts of works that become instances of plagiarism.
My motivation is personal, having being a victim of this villainous act. A few years ago, I purchased a book that had interspersed in it the exact ideas I posted on my blog. For this reason, I answer some ethical questions, share perspectives, and then proffer possible solutions that could be helpful in curbing this intellectual fraud.
]]> This paper offers novel ways of avoiding a "copy-and-paste" practice by applying the research questions of "What," "Why," and "How":Introduction Plagiarism. The act of taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own. It is obvious that some people supplement their lean books with the work of others. But could it be true, like Burton (2001) postulated, that "We can say nothing but what hath been said" (p. 144). Could it be possible that words might have been written by someone unknown? Clifton Fadiman (1963) in his argument opined, "We prefer to believe that the absence of inverted commas guarantees the originality of a thought, whereas it may be merely that the utterer has forgotten its source" (p. 87). But what really is plagiarism? Wilson Mizner (2007), a US Playwright, once presented a rib-tickling suggestion: "When you steal from one author, it's plagiarism; if you steal from many, it's research" (p. 234). The question on the minds of many is what really is the template of plagiarism?
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Abstract: After studying the literature on the effects of SAT preparation programs, it was found that students who received coaching had more positive outcomes. No study considered the affective effects among students who received some kind of formal SAT preparation nor did the studies address how to increase access to preparation programs to serve the needs of lower-income populations. The authors of the present study designed and implemented a small-scale SAT program to deliver preparation to an underserved community and measured its impact on students' achievement scores and attitude towards the SAT. This study confirmed the findings of other studies in that students who were coached exhibited higher achievement scores; additionally, it was found that students who were coached developed a more positive attitude towards the SAT and college.
]]> Introduction The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a SAT prep course on a group of students who would not normally seek out coaching due to socio-economic need. After considering the literature on SAT preparation, we developed our own program for SAT preparation and sought out an urban high school with high need and low socio-economic status. We delivered services free of charge to students who otherwise might not have received SAT preparation (due to cost and travel) and analyzed our program's impact on students' achievement and attitude towards the SAT. We asked the following questions:Read the full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v11/cannova.html
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Abstract: The following study examined the prevalence and impact of workplace bullying. To achieve this goal, a survey was administered through Amazon.com's Mechanical Turk (n =122). The study set out to determine if workplace-bullying experiences could be correlated with other emotional states. Positive correlations were found among workplace bullying intensity, workplace incivility, and paranoia, while a negative correlation was discovered between workplace bullying intensity and self-esteem.
]]> The Emotional Impact of Workplace Bullying Bullying is defined as persistent, nonphysical, and inappropriate treatment expressed towards one or more people (Namie & Namie, 2004, as cited in Namie & Namie, 2009), which occurs at least once a week for six months or more. Workplace bullying or incivility is defined as an act that is not a blatant attempt to harm but nevertheless causes distress (Cortina, Magley, Williams, and Langhout, 2001). Although the public has recently become more aware of school bullying, the media often ignores workplace bullying. According to Namie and Namie (2009), counseling for workplace bullying began just 12 years ago in the United States, while research on the topic has only spanned a decade.There is no agreed upon statistic denoting the severity of workplace bullying (Martin & Lavan, 2010). This finding may be due to the fact that there is widespread disagreement as to the behaviors that constitute workplace bullying (Lutgen-Sandvik, Sarah, Alberts, & Jess, 2007). Therefore, the prevalence of this behavior may in fact be higher than the current reported incidence rate suggests.
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Abstract: This qualitative study examined the extent to which expatriates accommodate local worldviews and the implications of such accommodation on intercultural relations. Participants were interviewed and transcripts were analyzed and coded for themes. Most participants did not accommodate local worldviews per se, but most recognized the ecological benefits of the other cultural traditions. Various factors influenced the degree to which they accommodated local perspectives. Those who empathized with local perspectives expressed more positive relations with the host culture.
]]> Introduction: In an age when technological, political, and economic trends make the world smaller, research on intercultural relations has become increasingly important. Samuel P. Huntington (2008) argued that "in this new world . . . the great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural" (p. 203). Further, Richard A. Nisbett (2003) demonstrated that cultures (in this case, East Asia and the West) "have maintained very different systems of thought for thousands of years" (p. xvi). Hence, research on cultural ideologies and how to facilitate positive human relations across cultural boundaries is more relevant than ever.Read the full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v11/hyde.html
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Abstract The purpose of this project was to discover differences in the referential communication skills of bilingual and monolingual children. The children participated in two barrier tasks, one in which each child followed verbal directions and one in which they gave verbal directions, each without benefit of visual cues. Differences were found between the two groups of children with the monolingual children outperforming the bilingual children with receiving and giving verbal directions, even though the bilingual children were considered fluent in English.
]]> Literature Review "The ability of a speaker to select and verbally code the characteristics or attributes of a given referent in a manner that will enable a listener to accurately identify that referent is known as referential communication" (Bowman, 1984, p. 93). There are five basic components of referential communication: speaker, listener, task, message, and listener response (Preston, 1984). Referential communication is a skill that crosses several different language components, including semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. Semantics is a system of rules that govern the meaning or content of words and their combinations (Owens, 2008). This is important to referential communication so that an individual knows the meanings of words as well as which words overlap vs. which ones are mutually exclusive. For example: "to the right of" and "beside" share meaning, though "beside" and "underneath" do not. Syntax is the structure of sentences. Referential communication requires an individual to understand syntax in order to properly give or follow directions. For example, "Put the arrow above the house," has a different meaning from, "Put the house above the arrow." Pragmatics is the study of language in context and involves the social rules of a language. It involves how one uses language to communicate an idea (Owens, 2008). Pragmatics are used when individuals vary their speaking style to match their audience; they would speak differently to a preschooler than to a coworker. Another pragmatic skill, one used in referential communication, is taking another's perspective and involves speaking so that the listener will comprehend the information.Read the full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v10/rindahl.html
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Abstract The present research investigates the ratio of male to female characters in a selection of 92 children's picture books chosen at random from the local library of a small Atlantic Canadian city. Results indicate that, consistent with past findings, male characters are depicted more often than female characters in the titles, cover illustrations, main characters, and page illustrations of the sample. When the results are broken down, however, it is apparent that human male and human female characters are depicted relatively equally, while male animals are represented significantly more often than female animals. Reasons for these findings and the implications for young readers are discussed.
]]> Introduction When considering the purpose, role, and importance of children's literature in early childhood development, the solidification of ideas about gender and the relative visibility (or invisibility) of males and females is likely not the first thought to spring to mind. Indeed, picture books are often thought of as being politically neutral; they are assumed to be healthy and essential tools that benefit children by improving reading levels and providing mental stimulation that will lay the groundwork for future learning and education. Although there is little question that these advantages of early reading do exist (e.g., Cunningham & Stanovich, 2001), it is important that another function of these books also be acknowledged: they provide information to young readers about social norms and values (Arbuthnot, 1984; Weitzman, Eifler, Hokada, & Ross, 1972). As pointed out by Weitzman et al. (1972), children's literature can facilitate the internalization of ideas regarding self and others, social roles, and the surrounding environment.Read the full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v10/macarthur.html
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Abstract This paper reviews the major findings and controversies relevant to military-related Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from various disciplines (mainly psychology, medicine, and neuroscience). The aim is to aid readers in examining the topic from a multidisciplinary perspective that takes into consideration the interconnection of the various domains of functioning affected by a military TBI in order to better understand the complicated challenges faced by military personnel who are returning to our communities with such injuries. I will begin by briefly defining TBI and explaining how a TBI may occur, followed by a review of studies regarding biopsychosocial outcomes that represent the most commonly noted changes, complications, and challenges an individual with a military TBI may face. Then, the implications of the research are presented, the connections that can be made between them, and the new directions the research community should pursue in order to further our understanding of the military TBIs on all levels of functioning and from injury to outcome.
]]> Introduction The impact of military traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) has grown to become so great that it is now considered one of the prominent signature war wounds of the Global War on Terror and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) (Moore & Jaffee, 2010). Thus, it is important for the public, families of service members, and the clinicians and health professionals who will be working closely with soldiers and veterans who return to their communities with a TBI, to understand just what a TBI is, how it will impact the individual in various domains of their life, and what factors influence the progress of TBI from injury to long-term outcomes.Read the full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v10/summers.html
Full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v10/brenneman.html
Abstract Despite extensive research and widely-held belief supporting the fact that educators call on males more than females in the classroom, the sex of students may overshadow the importance of the body language typical of each sex in classroom interactions between educators and students. This study sought to explore how significantly body language influences professor-student interactions through the use of classroom observation and self-reported surveys at a small Midwestern university. Results of both observation and surveys were analyzed primarily by using frequencies and percentages in order to measure the extent to which the independent variable, body language and sex of students, is correlated to the dependent variable, student participation and professors' interactions with students based on sex. Results indicated that a combination of a student being a male and exhibiting several specific positions of male-associated body language is correlated with more professor-student interactions than any other variable combination. When combined with data about females displaying certain elements of each sex's body language, results strongly suggested that a combination of sex and sex-associated body language determine frequency and quality of educator-student interactions.
]]> Introduction The following statement has been supported through the work of many researchers and hours of study and observation: Teachers call on boys more than girls (Altermatt, Jovanovic, & Perry, 1998). Although some work refutes the idea, most who study classroom dynamics in association with sex agree that educators have most of their positive interactions with male students through giving them more question-answering opportunities, feedback, encouragement, and individual attention and instruction than females (Altermatt, Jovanovic, & Perry, 1998). A potential cause for this phenomenon is the difference between how males and females use body language and how educators interpret the body language typical of each sex. Elements of body language associated with males tend to communicate more engagement, responsiveness, confidence, eagerness, and intelligence (McGinley, LeFevre, & McGinley, 1975), which presents the possibility that educators' apparent biases toward males in classroom interactions may actually be natural proclivities to select the students whose body language makes them seem most eager, capable, and ready (Altermatt, Jovanovic, & Perry, 1998).Read the full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v10/brenneman.html
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Abstract Communism is a political ideal that is often viewed negatively by democratic societies. Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation has experienced a rising mortality rate. It is clear that the political turmoil of the country played a key role in the eventual demographics of Russia. Coinciding with the onset of democracy a number of factors including economics, lifestye, healthcare, and disease incidence have contributed to the decline in population. The current demographic state, underlying causes, and next steps will be explored within the paper.
Introduction The Russian Federation experienced a surge in death rates of almost 40 percent since 1992, with numbers rising from 11 to 15.5 per thousand (Bhattacharya et al., 2011). The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought with it many social, political, and economic changes that continue to affect Russia to this day. Although all countries progress along the demographic transition model differently, general trends are shown. Nonetheless, Russia appears to be experiencing a unique transition of its own. Each country experiences population decline for varying reasons, such as disease diffusion as experienced by Africa with the AIDS epidemic; others can be caused by societal advancements that lead to lower fertility rates.]]>
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Abstract Diabetes is a rapidly growing disease across the world. It manifests itself by unusually large amounts of sugar in the blood and urine and afflicts various populations. There are numerous causes for this disorder, and genetics often plays a role. This paper discusses types of diabetes, their causes, and the treatments. Diet, medical care, and self-management techniques play roles in dealing with diabetes.
Introduction: Diabetes is a disease caused by flawed carbohydrate metabolism and manifests itself by unusually large amounts of sugar in the blood and urine (Jacobs & Fishberg, 2002, p. 1). There are numerous causes for this disorder, some strengthened by genetic predisposition. This paper will focus on the disorder as it manifests itself in the Jewish, Latino, and African-American populations with regard to diet, access to medical care, and compliance with self-management techniques.
]]>Discussion A rapidly growing disease across America and the world is diabetes, lesser known as diabetes mellitus (Marso & Stern, 2004, p. 179). There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7 percent of the population, who have diabetes. Diabetes is a syndrome in which the afflicted person has a distorted metabolism. There are three traditional types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is expressed as loss of beta cells that produce insulin, leading to an insulin deficiency. Type 2 is characterized as diabetes due to insulin sensitivity, combined with reduced insulin secretion .
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]]>Full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v10/chen-b.html
Abstract The Greater Central Asia Region (GCAR) has been playing an important role in the trade between the East and West. In this paper, we will discuss the economic relationship between the United States and the GCAR. We will demonstrate the significances of economic connections between the two regions and analyze the economic situation and rationales that the GCAR keeps continuous and stable connection with the United States, in terms of both international and regional trading cooperation. We will also highlight the major strategic economic interests and the current economic policies of the United States. Finally, we will probe the problems that the United States needs to identify and solve.
]]> Introduction Before the sixteenth century, the Greater Central Asia Region (GCAR) bridged Europe and East Asia as well as North and South Asia, becoming a location of religious, scientific, and cultural development of the Islamic world.1 By becoming part of Tsarist Russia in the mid 1700s and, after the Russian Revolution in 1917, part of the Soviet Union, the GCAR was greatly shut out from the rest of the world--only trading between the enclosed region and the Soviet Union. Because of the seventy years of Soviet rule that followed the Russian Revolution, the region's economies became closely linked with one another, and international trading was scarce and almost non-existent.The Soviet Union's economy was once considered to be the second largest in the world. However, the Soviet economy became sluggish when responding to change, adapting cost-saving technologies, and providing incentives at all levels to improve growth, productivity, and efficiency, which lead to its eventual dissolution after sixty-nine years of rule. In 1991, the Soviet Union was disintegrated, and five new countries in Central Asia were established: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These five countries, as well as Xinjiang and Afghanistan, now constitute what is known as the GCAR, the Greater Central Asia Region.
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Abstract Current research suggests college students have fluctuating eating patterns and are confused about what constitutes a healthful diet. The purpose of this study was to identify the sources by which college students receive nutritional information and what constitutes the best dietary plan for maintaining a healthful lifestyle. The survey instrument used in this study measured the perceptions of college students about their practices in healthful eating and the sources they consulted to receive healthful eating information. It aligned with research that suggests college students choose to consult peers and the Internet for nutritional information over the consultation of a professional. The survey also suggested that college students understand fast food to be contradictory to a healthful lifestyle and choose to minimize their carbohydrate intake but are confused about the best dietary plan to maintain a healthful lifestyle. The results indicate that college students consult their peers and the internet over a professional with regards to healthful eating and that professionals in nutrition should find creative ways to demonstrate proper nutritional habits through the use of peer teaching and through avenues such as the Internet.
]]> Introduction Current college students and twenty-first century adults assimilate a wide spectrum of opinions on what determines if a person is healthy or not. Keeling's research revealed that "female dietetics majors used both healthy and unsound weight-loss strategies (and depended upon both reasonable and questionable sources of information)" (Keeling, 2001, p.154), which may indicate that the general population is muddled by the mixed messages and nutritional propaganda they receive from both the government and weight-loss program marketers.Read the full manuscript: www.kon.org/urc/v10/tsang.html
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