Advanced Age Interference in the Stroop Color-Word Task
For more than 65 years, experimental psychologists have been concerned with studying the human brain: how it processes information (i.e., serial versus parallel distribution, and controlled versus automatic processing) and the role of attention and interference. One of the most famous and widely-used measures of this has been the classic Stroop Color-Word Task, or more simply the Stroop effect.

This experiment (and paper) attempts to assess how reaction times differ between younger and older subjects in the Stroop Color-Word Task. It also speaks to the issues of automaticity, selective attention, and interference.

Assessing Readability in Information Design
Readability deals with a reader's ability to understand text and graphics. Numerous instruments have been devised over time to determine the appropriateness of various materials, but all have areas of controversy and should be used in conjunction with other methods. These areas of controversy are discussed in the context of various popular readability indexes, and implications for clear communication are presented.

Health Literacy Brochure
Low health literacy constitutes a crisis in the United States, yet many healthcare professionals have heard little to nothing about it. This brochure provides general information about the problem, its scope, who's at risk, how to identify those with low health literacy, and suggestions on how to improve the situation.

Media Representation in Women's Sports
An exploration is made of media representation in women's sports. Are women treated equally in quantity and quality of media coverage? What are the fan demographics? What are the implications for the future of female athletes and athletics?

 

Monthly column in Business-to-Business Journal (joint column with Jane M. Everson, Ph.D.). This publication featured Chamber of Commerce organizations in a closely-linked four-county region, including Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba. Distribution included Chamber members, key business executives, and other subscribers in the general population. No longer in print.

NOTE: All samples written by Karen Summey.

Five Tips for Training Success
This article was published in February 2007. It focuses on executives' constant struggle to justify the expense of employee training, while showing little quantifiable gain. Five tips are offered for increasing return on investment.

Keeping Up with Rapid Change
Published in August 2007, this article focuses on globalization's impact on the state of North Carolina. It cites key trends taking place in the state and the role of higher education in meeting the challenges wrought by the new economic workplace.

Natives and Immigrants in the Digital Workplace
The purpose of this September 2007 article was to promote an inaugural 21st Century Technologies conference to be held at the Hickory Metro Higher Ed Center (Appalachian State University Center at Hickory, effective 2009). The article describes digital natives and digital immigrants, as well as the unique challenges they present to the modern work environment. They state the case for learning more about technology in order to be more productive in the new global knowledge economy.