How elevated blood alcohol concentration level and identification format affect eyewitness memory: A field study

Research shows that alcohol has a small and inconsistent effect on eyewitness recall and no effect on witnesses' lineup decisions. Much of this literature has tested participants with low‐to‐moderate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels, and no study has directly examined how identification procedure impacts intoxicated witnesses' decisions. In the present study, bar patrons' (N = 132) BAC levels were recorded before participating in a task. Midway through the task, they were interrupted by an intruder. Participants then recalled the incident via a staged interview and attempted to identify the intruder from a target‐present or target‐absent showup or lineup. Although elevated BAC levels (high as 0.24%) reduced the quantity and quality of information provided, BAC had no effect on witnesses' identification decisions regardless of format. Results highlight the importance of testing witness memory across a broad BAC spectrum and provide evidence that alcohol does not affect witnesses' identification ability.     

Violence in Ideological and Non‐Ideological Groups: A Quantitative Analysis of Qualitative Data1

Multiple models have been proposed to account for violence among ideological groups. To identify critical variables contributing to violent behavior in these groups, violent ideological groups were compared to relevant comparison groups. A historically based content analysis was conducted to assess these groups with respect to a number of variables examining leader, group, organizational, and environmental attributes held to influence violence. Discriminant analyses revealed that violent ideological groups differed from comparison groups with respect to leader extremism, group righteousness, organizational indoctrination, and environmental conflict and disruption. Regression analyses revealed that these discriminant functions predicted a number of notable violent and ideological criteria. The implications of these findings for understanding the origins of violence in ideological groups are discussed.     

Relations Among Dimensions of Feminism and Internalized Heterosexism in Lesbians and Bisexual Women

This study was designed to examine the relations among dimensions of feminism and internalized heterosexism in 227 lesbian and bisexual women. In addition, psychometric support for 2 newly created multiple-item scales, Self-Identification as a Feminist (SIF) and Involvement in Feminist Activities Scale (IFAS), is provided. Results indicate that internalized heterosexism is correlated significantly with most of the feminist dimensions assessed in this study (i.e., self-identification as a feminist, involvement in feminist activities, attitudes toward feminism, feminist identity development, and various feminist ideologies). Interesting relations among feminist identity development and feminist ideologies were found. In addition, involvement in feminist activities was uniquely predicted by self-identification as a feminist and the Embeddedness-Emanation and Active Commitment dimensions of feminist identity development. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

VIZ: the visualization assessment and training web site.

The VIZ Website (http://viz.bd.psu.edu/viz/) was developed as a free and open portal for assessment and training of spatial skills. Using Macromedia Authorware, it allows the collection of response times and accuracies from four spatial tasks: mental rotation, paper folding, water level judgments, and spatial working memory. Additional tasks are under development. The site has been used for a variety of teaching and research purposes. For example, incoming engineering students have completed the tasks to assess their spatial skills before beginning their graphics courses. Those with poorer skills can then receive the appropriate remedial instruction. The VIZ site has also been used to teach about spatial cognition and to do research outside the laboratory setting. Finally, we are using the site to conduct basic research on spatial cognition, including an examination of the factors that may reduce gender differences in performance.     

Can we still be friends? Resources and barriers to friendship quality after romantic relationship dissolution

Using a social exchange framework, this study examined the influence of resources, satisfaction with resources, and barriers on friendship quality between former dating partners. Three hundred and eighty‐six college students were surveyed regarding their current relationship with their most recent former romantic partner. Results indicated that participants who received more resources reported higher levels of friendship quality with their former partner. Satisfaction with resources moderated the relationship between receipt of resources and friendship quality. Lack of family or friends’ support, involvement in a new romantic relationship, and the use of neglect as a disengagement strategy were all found to be barriers to friendship quality.     

A Collaborative Approach to Genetic Testing: A Community Hospital’s Experience

The field of cancer genetics is evolving rapidly, and much has changed over the past ten years in the way services are being provided and by whom they are being provided. We recount here our experience with the evolution of cancer genetic services in a community setting, focusing on collaboration with non-genetics providers to offer genetic testing for hereditary cancer. This approach allows for the most effective use of genetic counselors’ expertise for challenging cases, and enables the patient to remain within their community to allow for better access to resources for long-term follow-up.