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Abstracts

Author Department Professor Title Year
Nicolette Bateson Political Science Joe Ohren Legacy Cost Funding: A Fiscal Indicator System for Decision Makers
The Great Recession of 2007-2009 revealed structural municipal fiscal stress in cities throughout the United States. One component of the fiscal stress is increasing employee pension and retiree healthcare expenditures, collectively known as legacy costs. In aggregate, research reveals that pension systems appear adequately funded. In contrast, retiree healthcare liabilities are often not funded beyond the current year. Using a sample of U.S. cities that have experienced population growth and decline, a better understanding of legacy cost funding is developed. From this analysis, a fiscal indicator system is formed to measure the sustainability of funding retirement benefits. This system provides decision-makers with a tool to make better-informed decisions to balance citizen service delivery needs with long-term commitments made to employees.
2012
Joshua Carr Political Science Claudia Petrescu Partisan Politics and Charitable Giving
Research related to charitable giving has suggested that political conservatives are more generous than political liberals. However, the literature on this topic has been largely limited to the connection between political ideology and level of charitable giving. I seek to examine the relationship between national political ideology as measured by partisan composition of the federal government and level of charitable giving.?Data from Giving USA and the National Center for Charitable Statistics were compared with possible partisan compositions of the federal government. My findings suggest that Republican control of the federal government is positively correlated with higher national levels of giving. Additional study using techniques to control for factors such as economic conditions are warranted.
2012
Patricia Rayl Political Science Joe Ohren Inter-local Agreements in Jackson County
Interlocal collaboration and consolidation are topics of special interest to those who observe local government. These topics have gained even more importance in today's economic environment with cities, townships, and counties slashing services in attempts to balance their budgets. The use of interlocal agreements gives public administrators some breathing room, as shared resources are used to provide the past level of service to residents, despite the depressed economic situation. There are many reasons to create interlocal agreements (ILAs), and the forms they take are just as varied. A survey of ILAs between the units of local government in Jackson County was conducted in the spring of 2011. I will report the results and analyze the data against similar local government surveys.
2012
Shane Redman Political Science Elaine Martin Structures of Local Governments: Mayoral Power and Ideal Types
The ideal types of mayor-council and council-manager forms of government structure have been used for more than a century to categorize American cities. Through the years, however, scholarship has found that cities have diverged from these ideal types. States granting cities home rule has led to many cities creating variations or combinations of these ideal types, forming 'hybrid' governmental structures. Consequently, mayoral power no longer indicates the form of government by which a city operates. By analyzing past and recent scholarship on forms of city government, I conclude in this study that the ideal types no longer represent most contemporary cities. While the scholarship in the field has so far used these ideal types to draw comparisons, I suggest that future scholarship would benefit by eliminating these types and classifying cities into more functional and relevant categories.
2012
Tiffany Abrego Psychology Carol Freedman-Doan Sex Talk: Religious Participation and Commitment and Parent-Teen Communication About Sex
One factor that has been explored relating to early sexual debut for teens is the communication between parents and children about sex. This is important because increased parental communication about sex is correlated with more consistent condom use, later sexual debut, and fewer sexual partners among adolescents. This study evaluated how parents' religious beliefs influence the communication and comfort level with their teenagers about sex. Parents of adolescents in local Parent-Teacher Organizations, churches, synagogues, and clinics for teenagers participated in the study. Results showed that parents' religious beliefs and participation and their beliefs about their own teenager's behavior were related to the sexual topics parents discussed with their teenager.
2012
Sarah M. Ahlfs-Dunn Psychology Alissa Huth-Bocks Abusive Intimate Partners' Use of Children to Victimize Mothers: The Impact on Infant and Toddler Development
This study investigated the effects of a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) on infant and toddler development that is often overlooked: the use of children by abusive intimate partners to victimize mothers. A community sample of 120 primarily low-income women participated in interviews at 1 and 2 years postpartum as part of an ongoing study on women's transition to motherhood. Preliminary t-test analyses revealed that children exposed during the first year of life to this particular type of IPV experienced significantly more social-emotional problems at 1 and 2 years of age, as well as more trauma symptoms at 2 years of age, than children not exposed to this type of IPV. There were no significant differences between groups in general development at age 1 or 2.
2012
Amanda Price and Caroline J. Broermann Psychology Steven Huprich Reliability and Validity of the TAT Oral Dependency Scale (TOD) in Clinical and Non-Clinical Samples
The TAT Oral Dependency Scale (TOD) is partially informed by Freud's concept of oral dependency. TOD content involves oral gratification, parental figures/nurturers, asking for/receiving help, passive dependence, helplessness, loneliness and/or depression, a belief in luck or magic, and optimistic story ending. This study examined the prevalence of oral dependency in clinical (n=191) and non-clinical samples (n=136). Non-clinical participants were recruited from an undergraduate population. Participants told stories based on four cards of the TAT and each was scored for the TOD based upon criteria from Huprich (2009). The correlations of TOD scores and criterion variables and interrater reliability were reported.
2012
Caroline J. Broermann, Valentina Ivezaj, Leslie Schuh (St. Vincent Carmel Hospital) and Melissa Pulcini Psychology Karen Saules Family History of Substance Abuse Predicts Percent Excess Weight Loss in Bariatric Patients
Although health care providers often conduct evaluations prior to bariatric surgery, little is known about factors predicting successful weight loss. This study examined factors that may contribute to percent excess weight loss (%EWL) after bariatric surgery. Participants were recruited from two bariatric treatment programs in the Midwest. Presurgical eating behavior, psychiatric history, substance abuse, and family history of substance abuse were assessed. Individuals with a family history of substance abuse had significantly lower %EWL than those without a family history of substance abuse, but personal pre-surgical substance abuse was not related to %EWL. Pre-surgical BMI and two coping styles were significantly associated with %EWL. No other variables assessed, including those related to disordered eating and psychiatric history, were significantly associated with %EWL.
2012
Rhonda Caldwell Psychology Jin Bo Sleep May Protect against Interference to Motor Sequence Learning
Acquiring a new motor skill normally relies on several phases of learning, including a consolidation stage in which sleep plays a vital role. Early studies showed clear sleep-dependent gains in motor learning, whereas later studies attribute these gains to confounds and averaging effects. The current study examines whether sleep could protect against interference to motor sequence learning by introducing a competing sequence either before or after normal nocturnal sleep. It is expected to show that sleep does, in fact, stabilize motor learning. These data may have practical implications of motor learning and rehabilitation.
2012
Maegan Calvert Psychology Alissa Huth-Bocks Child Protective Services Reports and Potential Indicators of Risk
Child Protective Services (CPS) is charged with protecting children from potentially unhealthy and harmful caregiving environments. Of the many risk factors that have arisen from CPS data, problematic parenting is one of the most common. This study will investigate the relationship between aspects of parenting such as maternal sensitivity, living conditions, caregiving helplessness, and CPS involvement over two years. Participants included a unique sample of 120 primarily low-income, unmarried, pregnant women and their infants after birth. Maternal sensitivity, caregiving helplessness, and maternal report of CPS involvement were measured at 1 and 2 years postpartum. Results may help identify those at risk for maltreatment.
2012
Shannon Clark and Summar Reslan Psychology Karen Saules Validating a Human Behavioral Economic Paradigm for Assessing Food Demand and Preference Shifts among Post-Bariatric Surgery Patients
Recently, our lab validated that the behavioral economic framework can be used successfully to develop a human laboratory model of food-appetitive behavior. This study sought to expand these findings to post-bariatric surgery patients, as food choice behavior may be important in determining weight regain following surgery. Participants completed a screening survey to ensure that those recruited would be non-pregnant; at least 24 months post-surgery; without carpal tunnel syndrome; and liking of food items offered. Subjects participated in two experimental sessions involving choices between a high-carbohydrate/high-fat vs. high-carbohydrate/no-fat food, and a high-carbohydrate/high-fat vs. low-carbohydrate/low-fat food.
2012
Alison M. Colbert Psychology Jin Bo Implicit Motor Sequence Learning and Working Memory Capacity in Typically Developing Children
The ability to integrate individual movements into complex action is an important developmental achievement, and recent research has noted the possible contribution of motor learning deficits in developmental disorders. Unfortunately, the developmental patterns of motor skill learning and related cognitive processes are unclear, and controversial results have been reported regarding the development of implicit learning in childhood. It has been suggested that working memory (WM) capacity plays a significant role in motor learning. A relationship between working memory capacity and implicit motor learning suggests interventions aimed at increasing WM could increase implicit motor learning ability and reduce adverse outcomes associated with motor learning deficits. My goal is to examine the contribution of WM to implicit motor learning.
2012
Amanda Ellis Psychology Carol Freedman-Doan Individual and Interactive Effects of Childhood Problem Behaviors and Maternal Discipline on Adolescent Problem Behavior and Alcohol Use
There is considerable literature on the individual and interactive effects of childhood behavior and parental discipline on adolescent problem behavior. However, few studies have examined these relationships in older children and how these effects may operate across a longer time span. This study examines the interactive effect of child behavior and maternal discipline in childhood and how that impacts adolescent engagement in later problem behavior, using an existing longitudinal data set of low-risk, middle class parents and children. Harsh discipline in childhood was found to be significantly positively related to child externalizing behavior and to significantly moderate the relationship between child externalizing behavior and school problem behavior in adolescence.
2012
Katherine L. Harris, Sarah M. Ahlfs-Dunn, and Maegan Calvert Psychology Alissa Huth-Bocks Change and Stability in Attachment Security from Age 1 to Age 2: The Effects of Maternal Mental Health, Stressful Life Events, and Economic Hardship
The importance of secure attachment on child development has been well documented. While attachment quality is considered to be relatively stable over time, significant environmental experiences may influence fluctuations. This study explores changes in the caregiving environment in relation to the stability of attachment security. Participants included a community sample of 120 primarily low-income, unmarried, pregnant women. Attachment security was measured at one (T3) and two years (T4) postpartum using the observer-rated Attachment Q-Set. Maternal and contextual risks measured at pregnancy (T1), T3, and T4 included maternal PTSD symptoms, negative life events, and monthly income. Repeated measures ANOVAs will be used to explore how changes in the caregiving environment are related to infant attachment patterns over time.
2012
Kathleen Hlavaty Psychology Carol Freedman-Doan Affective Relationship and Mothers' Actual Knowledge of Adolescent Activities
Research has indicated that a mother's actual knowledge of her adolescent's activities has a greater effect on problem behavior when compared to the number of attempts to gain this knowledge and that a positive parent/adolescent affective relationship is key in a mother's ability to gain this knowledge. The current study attempts to understand how the affective relationship between 397 mothers and their adolescents affects a mother's actual knowledge. This study uses the Childhood and Beyond sample from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. For female adolescents, a positive affective relationship with their mothers across adolescence is related to an increase in mother's actual knowledge of their activities and a decrease in problem behavior.
2012
Jamie King Psychology Alissa Huth-Bocks Familial Influences on Young Children's Language Development
Previous research has focused on the effects of problematic parental romantic relationships on parenting and a child's general development. However, less is known about the effects of parental relationships and a child's cognitive development. It is hypothesized in this study that problematic parental romantic relationships and high maternal depressive symptoms will significantly affect a child's expressive and receptive language development during the early preschool years. Data will be gathered from approximately 75 mother-child pairs when children are 2 and 3 years old. Mothers will complete measures on the quality of their current romantic relationship, experiences of partner violence, and depressive symptoms.
2012
Chi-Mei Lee and Y. Kwak, S. J. Peltier, J. Bernard, M. Buschkuehl, S. Jaeggi, J. L. Wiggin, J. Jonides, C. Monk, and R. D. Seidler (University of Michigan) Psychology Jin Bo Lifespan Changes in Cortico-striatal Resting State Connectivity
Using resting state functional connectivity (fcMRI), previous studies have identified distinctive cortico-striatal circuitries that serve cognitive, motor, reward, and affective processes based on connectivity between striatal seeds and cortical projection regions. The current study examined age-related differences in the cortico-striatal 'cognitive' and 'motor' circuitries in children, young adults, and older adults. We hypothesized that children and older adults would have more diffuse and weaker connectivity than young adults and that the cognitive circuitries would have stronger developmental and aging effects than the motor circuitries. Our preliminary analysis revealed a qualitatively similar pattern of cognitive and motor circuitries among the three age groups.
2012
Kelly E. Luce and Caitlyn B. Sorensen Psychology Renee Lajiness-O'Neill The Relationship between Joint Attention and Theory of Mind in School-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between joint attention (JA) and theory of mind (ToM) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). JA is a nonverbal communicative skill that takes place when one individual follows another's eye gaze to another individual or object, while ToM is the ability to infer another's thoughts and ideas. Previous literature has suggested that these two constructs are related; however, this relationship has not been directly examined. A better understanding of this possible relationship has implications for ASD treatment. Twenty children participated in this study. Results showed that ToM abilities correlated with social orienting behaviors and with age, receptive language, cognition, and ADOS scores.
2012
Summar H. Reslan Psychology Karen Saules Validation of an Online Questionnaire Measure of the Relative Reinforcing Value of Food
The relative reinforcing value of food (RRV-F) is influenced by food deprivation, stress, dietary restraint, and many other variables. While laboratory methods and paper-and-pencil questionnaires to assess the RRV-F have been validated, this is the first study to validate an online questionnaire measure. The online RRV instrument showed strong convergent validity with laboratory food choice behavior, BMI, and food craving. Discriminant validity was supported by a lack of association between data from the online measure of the RRV-F and unrelated constructs. Results supporting the validity of this instrument suggest that online methodology is cost-effective and time-efficient, affords greater anonymity, and enables recruitment over a broader geographic region.
2012
Jessica L. Riggs Psychology Alissa Huth-Bocks Associations between Maternal Social Support during Pregnancy and Later Infant-Mother Attachment Security
This study will examine how maternal perceived social support impacts mothers' relationships with their young children, including the quality of the mother-child attachment. More specifically, the purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between maternal PSSS scores at Time 1 (pregnancy) of a longitudinal study and infant AQS data at Time 3 (1 year post-partum). Data were collected on a sample of 120 mostly economically at-risk women and their infants across the transition to motherhood from before birth to age 2. It is hypothesized that greater perceived social support will be positively correlated with more secure infant-mother attachment.
2012

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