Characterizing the Musical Phenotype in Individuals With Williams Syndrome

Williams Syndrome (WS), a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder, is characterized by peaks and valleys in mental function: substantial impairments in cognitive domains such as reasoning, arithmetic ability, and spatial cognition, alongside relatively preserved skills in social domains, face processing, language, and music. We report the results of a comprehensive survey on musical behaviors and background administered to the largest sample of individuals with WS to date (n = 118, mean age = 20.4), and compare the results to those obtained from a control group of typically developing normal individuals (n = 118, mean age = 20.9) and two groups of individuals with other neurodevelopmental genetic disorders, Autism (n = 30, mean age = 18.2) and Down Syndrome (n = 40, mean age = 17.2). Individuals with WS were found to be rated higher in musical accomplishment, engagement, and interest than either of the comparison groups, and equivalent on most measures to the control group. Compared to all other groups including the controls, the WS individuals displayed greater emotional responses to music, manifested interest in music at an earlier age, and spent more hours per week listening to music. In addition, the effects of music listening (whether positive or negative) tended to last longer in the WS group. A factor analysis extracted seven principal components that characterize the musical phenotype in our sample, and discriminant function analysis of those factors was able to successfully predict group membership for the majority of cases. We discuss the neurobiological implications of these findings.     

Publishing a Master’s Thesis: A Guide for Novice Authors

Publication of original research, clinical experiences, and critical reviews of literature are vital to the growth of the genetic counseling field, delivery of genetic counseling services, and professional development of genetic counselors. Busy clinical schedules, lack of time and funding, and training that emphasizes clinical skills over research skills may make it difficult for new genetic counselors to turn their thesis projects into publications. This paper summarizes and elaborates upon a presentation aimed at de-mystifying the publishing process given at the 2008 National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference. Specific topics include familiarizing prospective authors, particularly genetic counseling students, with the basics of the publication process and related ethical considerations. Former students’ experiences with publishing master’s theses also are described in hopes of encouraging new genetic counselors to submit for publication papers based on their thesis projects.     

Brokering the Research–Practice Gap: A typology

Despite widespread recognition of a research–practice gap in multiple service sectors, less is known about how pre‐existing communication channels facilitate the flow of information between researchers and practitioners. In the current study, we applied an existing typology of brokerage developed by Gould and Fernandez (Sociol Methodol 19:89–126, 1989 ) to examine what types of brokerage facilitate information spread between researchers and educational practitioners. Specifically, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with 19 school administrators and staff in two public school districts regarding their experiences searching for information about instructional, health, and social skills programs. Using deductive content analysis, we found evidence of all five types of brokerage identified by Gould and Fernandez ( 1989 ). However, only three types of brokerage—gatekeepers, representatives, and liaisons—were involved in the flow of information between school administrators and researchers. Moreover, information transfer often occurred in longer chains that involved multiple, distinct types of brokerage. We conclude with the broad implications of our findings for narrowing the research–practice gap by improving researchers’ dissemination efforts and practitioners’ search for information.     

Meta-analysis of work–family conflict mean differences: Does national context matter?

Work–family conflict continues to be a topic of considerable interest to researchers and practitioners across the globe. In the current study, meta-analysis is used to compare cross-national mean differences in work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict across cultural, institutional, and economic aspects of context. No significant differences in work-to-family conflict were detected. Reports of family-to-work conflict were higher in more collectivistic versus more individualistic cultures, in countries with a higher versus a lower economic gender gap, and in countries other than the U.S. versus the U.S.     

Gun Enthusiasm,Hypermasculinity, Manhood Honor,and Lifetime Aggression

Links between gun enthusiasm, hypermasculinity, manhood honor maintenance, trait antagonism, and lifetime aggression were examined in this national sample of American men (N = 861). Regression analysis identified honor ideology for manhood and emotion devaluation as the factors that accounted best for gun enthusiasm. Large effect sizes (d > .70 in more than half of the contrasts) were found between cohorts harboring extreme positive versus negative gun attitudes. Gun owners (26.7% of sample) also showed elevations in most of these same trait dimensions, but not lifetime aggression. Gun owners and enthusiasts did not show evidence of childhood maltreatment or current emotional distress. Gun enthusiasts instead seemed to convey a sense of self-assurance and preparedness to respond aggressively to perceived affronts, particularly as they pertained to maintenance of their masculine ideals.     

Visual distraction increases the detection of an unexpected object in inattentional blindness

Distraction is typically thought to be detrimental to performance and concentration, and stimuli are classified as “distractions” if they take attention away from a primary task. However it has been shown that, under certain circumstances, distractors can also improve task performance. The current study extends this literature by exploring the role of a single discrete transient visual distracting event in increasing attention to an unexpected visual object in an inattentional blindness (IB) paradigm. Experiment 1 investigated the impact of a 48 ms visual distraction stimulus on rates of IB; a second experiment used a shortened, 16 ms visual distracting event. Both the long 48 ms and brief 16 ms distractors significantly reduced overall IB rates, by approximately 50% compared to a no distractor condition. Moreover, this reduction in IB is obtained independent of whether the visual distracting event was noted by the observer. Our findings demonstrate that a single discrete visual distraction can improve the detectability of an unexpected object in an IB task. Implications for theories of distributed attention in such tasks are discussed.     

Commitment to the GLBT community: an investment model analysis of its antecedents and consequences

The present research applied the investment model to the study of how gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) persons become committed to the broader community of sexual minorities. In addition, the present research examined the potential consequences associated with such commitment. In Study 1, satisfaction, investments, and alternatives each uniquely predicted an individual's commitment to the GLBT community. In Study 2, commitment to the GLBT community predicted higher levels of GLBT identification and stronger intentions to be involved in the community in the future. This research has important implications for understanding the factors that promote strong commitment to minority communities and how such commitment may play a vital role in facilitating social and political change for lower status groups.     

Stigma Management of Male and Female Customers to a Non-Urban Adult Novelty Store

Previous studies on adult bookstores focused almost exclusively on stores located in large urban settings and confined most of their analyses to the behaviors of male customers. For the present study, ethnographic data were collected in an adult store located in a non-urban environment to examine the full range of behaviors of both females and males. Although adult store norms that were previously identified were also noted in this study, additional stigma management strategies and customer behaviors were observed. Additionally, patterns in the types of strategies employed were observed among men and women. Several hypotheses are offered to explain the range of stigma management strategies used.