Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Theory: Recent Internet related
literatures showed that the Internet reinforces likely voters but fail
to recruits unlikely voters. However most researches did not account
the purpose of Internet usage, especially its use for political
purpose. Despite of uncountable political information within the
Internet, non-political internet users tend not to access political
information. Thus, Internet effects on voting are actually appeared
only among political-Internet users. Since netizens use the Internet
self-selectively, the research about the Internet effects on voting
should consider the purpose of the Internet usage and the degree of
Internet usage. Hypothesis: Since Internet is an active rather than
passive information access tool, political internet users are more
willingly to access political information than general Internet users.
It naturally reinforces likely voters to vote and recruits unlikely
voters to vote. However, for those non-political users as well as
non-users, the Internet is not a powerful political means no matter how
much they use the Internet.
Data: Telephone survey was conducted in the spring of 2003 (from March
to June) by Social Behavior Research Institution at Purdue University.
Method: Series of questions asked to measure respondents’ usage of
Internet for political purpose. Discriminant analysis is used for
clarifying likely voters and unlikely voters. Crosstable will be
produced to compare estimated turnout and actual turnout to see whether
Internet performs reinforce role or recruitment role among political
Internet users, general Internet users and non-users. Anticipated
result: For political users, both reinforcement role among likely
voters and recruitment role among unlikely voters will be confirmed.
For general Internet users, only reinforce role will be confirmed among
likely voters. However, there is no difference significantly between
general Internet users and non-users both reinforcement and recruitment
role indicating in fact no Internet effects for general Internet users
and non-users. Implication: Most Internet users are
specific-information finder rather than mindless suffers. The effects
of the Internet in political attitude as well as other attitude do
significantly rely on the degree of Internet usage and the purpose of
using Internet. To measure Internet effects appropriately, knowing how
much do they use and what their purposes is the first thing to do. It
will help Internet-Information-providers to draw maximum
effect.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper considers the problematic relationship between new media designers and “users” in texts written about user-centered design. Historically, users have been viewed as potential error-makers whose unpredictable behaviors cause problems for systems engineers. However, user-centered design approaches found within the fields of interaction design and information architecture place the user at the center of the technological system. To better understand and solidify the importance of the user within the technological artifact, these designers often create what are called “personas” – prototypical users with names, faces, interests, and preferences. Personas serve as boundary objects (Bowker & Star, 1999), used as conceptual stand-ins for users when making design decisions. Drawing on theoretical approaches from science and technology studies (STS) and cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT), I examined current texts written about user-centered design, information architecture, and interaction design to understand the ways in which users are discursively “written into” the design process. My analysis suggests that personas serve as a kind of simulacra (Baudrillard, 1995), and their use is as much motivated by political realities within new media organizations, as it is by the need to incorporate user needs within the design process. In addition, I argue that personas serve to reinscribe the conceptual separation between the user and designer despite technological developments (like Web 2.0) that blur this boundary.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The Internet has been regarded as a revolutionary information communication technology which brings us with a global information flow and free discussion forums. As an authoritarian country which hosts the largest population in the world and spares no efforts in boosting information technology, China’s future with the Internet has naturally become a key academic concern. More recent literature seems to stop short of the early optimistic ideas of the Internet’s liberalizing potential in China, and attributes the Internet’s failure to realize such a task to the rigorous regulation and controls of the Chinese government.This paper argues that it is necessary and valuable to rethink the political and social impact of the Internet in China from the Internet users perspective. The author combined a survey and in-depth interviews with Chinese net users of different backgrounds to uncover the underlying reasons for the usage patterns of Chinese net users. In conclusion, this paper finds that the Internet is not really a democratizing tool at China in its current stage, but it is not simply because of the control and regulations from the Chinese government. A number of cultural and social factors largely shape the usage patterns of the Chinese net users.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Kentucky has seen significant increases in OxyContin® misuse, and also ranks high in OxyContin®-related crime rates (Inciardi & Goode, 2003). Little is known about this emerging drug of abuse, including characteristics about those who misuse it. Given consistent associations in the literature between victimization, crime, and substance use among women, this study aimed to examine the extent to which female OxyContin® users differed from non-users in their participation in these three risk behaviors. As part of a NIDA-supported project examining brief HIV interventions among felony rural probationers, this study examined differences between 240 female probationers from rural Appalachia who used OxyContin® (n=108) and those who did not (n=132). Odds ratios indicate that OxyContin® users reported significantly more criminality and greater victimization. They also reported significantly more days of use for marijuana, cocaine, non-prescribed stimulants and opiates. Implications for research and treatment of rural female OxyContin® users are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Large numbers of drug-involved adolescents enter the juvenile justice system (JJS) at risk for the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) chlamydia and gonorrhea, treatable and often asymptomatic bacterial infections that increase HIV risk. However, current STI surveillance in the JJS is symptom-based and typically limited to incarcerated youths, likely resulting in many undetected cases. Implementing effective STI health interventions requires new data on how STIs among delinquents at the “front end” of the JJS and in the community are related to drug use and other risk behaviors. We report preliminary findings from a new project at the Hillsborough County (FL) Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), involving 450 male and 450 female delinquents tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea and assessed for drug and sexual risk behaviors. Data are presented on STI prevalence, comparing drug-involved youth to those who do not use drugs. Additional comparisons are made by gender, race/ethnicity, age, neighborhood of residence, previous STI testing experience, and sexual risk profiles. Future analyses will explore relationships among drug use and STI risk; the STI-related service needs of delinquent youth; individual and organizational barriers to expanding STI testing and treatment for delinquents; and the factors predicting receipt of STI treatment among infected youth.