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Relying on a series of four experiments, F. J. Boster, G. S. Meyer, A. J. Roberto, C. Inge, and R. E. Strom (2006) demonstrated that students exposed to videostreaming exhibited more improvement in examination performance than control students. In extension, this study tests the effect of using videostreaming with a very different topic (mathematics), with a very different student population (large urban), and with different grades (sixth and eighth). The results replicated Boster et al. (2006) and indicate that the mean examination performance for those in the video-streaming condition exceeds the mean examination performance of the control group. (Contains 2 tables.)

Faculty may learn of new pedagogies through mass communication channels such as Web sites, journals, and workshops. Faculty are likely to be persuaded to try these new pedagogies, however, by interpersonal communication with an opinion leader. Using literature and exploratory data we contrast awareness and persuasion and suggest that opinion leaders in departments can play a critical role in the diffusion of STEM pedagogies. We conclude with actions administrators can take on their own campuses to promote adoption of STEM pedagogies.

Although much contemporary thinking leads to the expectation that communication technology, such as video streaming, enhances educational performance on the average, a dearth of strong evidence consistent or inconsistent with this claim precludes a thoughtful evaluation of it. A series of experiments designed to examine this proposition contributes to filling this lacuna. Third- and eighth-grade students either received or did not receive exposure to one such application, unitedstreaming (TM), in either their science or social studies classes (or both). Results indicated that this video-streaming application resulted in higher mean examination performance in third-grade science, third-grade social studies, and eighth-grade social studies. No differences between those exposed to this communication technology and those not exposed to it emerged in the eighth-grade science experiment.

For decades, scholars have worked to understand the precise manner in which messages affect attitudes and ultimately behaviors. The dominant paradigm suggests that there are two methods or routes to attitude change, one based on careful consideration of the messages and the other based on simple decision rules, often referred to as heuristics (Gass & Seiter, 2003; Perloff, 2003). These heuristics or decision rules are powerful persuasion tools, precisely because individuals do not think carefully about the information, but rather respond to the information in a very predictable, almost robotic fashion. A thorough understanding of these automatic responses can enable the persuader to achieve attitude or behavior change, even though the effect may be temporary. In the movie "Catch Me if You Can", several characters have an excellent understanding of these heuristics. Multiple examples of each decision rule can be found in "Catch Me if You Can", the film that serves as the basis for this exercise. This film documents the true escapades of a young con artist who skillfully convinced others that he was an airline pilot, physician, and lawyer all while passing millions of dollars in bad checks. The objective of this article is to define, identify, and apply six persuasive strategies. A list of references and suggested readings is included. (Contains 1 table.)

Examines the ability of the theory of reasoned action to explain and predict adolescents' verbal (i.e., insulting) and physical (i.e., fighting) aggression, as well as behaviors that encourage aggression such as watching a fight or telling others about a fight that is going to happen. Reveals that attitudes and subjective norms predicted behavioral intent, and intent predicted behavior for watching a fight, spreading rumors about a fight, and insulting. (SG)

Finds that 175 individuals in seven hunter safety classes exposed to a gun safety video intervention listed significantly more gun safety practices, perceived greater susceptibility to accidental gun injuries, perceived gun injuries to be more severe, and perceived greater response efficacy toward some of the recommended gun safety practices. Shows all safety practices received high self-efficacy and behavioral intention ratings. (SR)

Abstract The computer graphic simulation of a common spray painting artifact, called orange peel, is discussed. Orange peel distorts surface reflections and is commonplace in product design applications. The orange [...]

ABSTRACT The Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) is the only oyster species native to British Columbia, Canada. Despite management regulations designed to protect this species, populations continue to decline in many [...]

This study was designed to test the effects of favor and apology on compliance and to explain any potential effect via indebtedness, gratitude, and liking. Two experiments were devised to accomplish these ends. In the first experiment favor and apology were varied in the absence of a transgression to see if apologizing for not providing a favor can be used proactively to increase compliance. In the second experiment favor and apology were varied in a more common scenario, following a transgression. Results show that favor has a positive effect on compliance mediated by gratitude when using a general prosocial request and by liking when using a more altruistic request. Results also suggest that apology has a positive effect on liking and that apology has an indirect effect on compliance under certain conditions. Keywords: favor; apology; compliance; reciprocity; persuasion

A radio public service announcement (PSA) focusing on the danger to children from an unlocked and loaded gun was designed and aired 340 times on three radio stations in one Michigan county. At the end of the message, individuals were given a toll-free number to call to receive a free gun trigger-lock. Three surveys were used to assess the effectiveness of this intervention: a general population telephone survey, an automated telephone survey, and a follow-up mail survey. Approximately 20 percent of individuals in the general population heard the PSA. There was a significant increase in uncued knowledge of the locking-related gun-safety practices in the treatment county between time one and time two. Further, individuals in both counties had very high levels of self-efficacy and response efficacy, moderate levels of perceived severity, and very low levels of perceived susceptibility at both points in time. Seven-hundred and ninety-nine individuals called the toll-free number to receive a free gun trigger-lock; or approximately 17 percent of gun-owning households exposed to the message. The majority of callers were males who owned guns primarily for hunting purposes and who planned to use the lock themselves. Follow-up survey results indicated that individuals were using the gun trigger-locks, and that they believed using gun trigger-locks was an easy and effective way to prevent gun injuries. Insights and practical implications of these findings are discussed. KEY WORDS: Firearm safety, gun trigger-lock, radio PSA, health belief model, extended parallel process model.

Computer rendering is used to simulate the appearance of lighted objects for applications in architectural design, for animation and simulation in the entertainment industry, and for display and design in […]