Maranda McBride

Dispositional and situational factors: influences on information security policy violations

Insiders represent a major threat to the security of an organization’s information resources. Previous research has explored the role of dispositional and situational factors in promoting compliant behavior, but these factors have not been studied together. In this study, we use a scenario-based factorial survey approach to identify key dispositional and situational factors that lead to information security policy violation intentions. We obtained 317 observations from a diverse sample of insiders. The results of a general linear mixed model indicate that dispositional factors (particularly two personality meta-traits, Stability and Plasticity) serve as moderators of the relationships between perceptions derived from situational factors and intentions to violate information security policy. This study represents the first information security study to identify the existence of these two meta-traits and their influence on information security policy violation intentions. More importantly, this study provides new knowledge of how insiders translate perceptions into intentions based on their unique personality trait mix.

The effect of bone conduction microphone locations on speech intelligibility and sound quality

This paper presents the results of three studies of intelligibility and quality of speech recorded through a bone conduction microphone (BCM). All speech signals were captured and recorded using a Temco HG-17 BCM. Twelve locations on or close to the skull were selected for the BCM placement. In the first study, listeners evaluated the intelligibility and quality of the bone conducted speech signals presented through traditional earphones. Listeners in the second study evaluated the intelligibility and quality of signals presented through a loudspeaker. In the third study the signals were reproduced through a bone conduction headset; however, signal evaluation was limited to speech intelligibility only. In all three studies, the Forehead and Temple BCM locations yielded the highest intelligibility and quality rating scores. The Collarbone location produced the least intelligible and lowest quality signals across all tested BCM locations.

The effect of bone conduction microphone placement on intensity and spectrum of transmitted speech items.

Speech signals can be converted into electrical audio signals using either conventional air conduction (AC) microphone or a contact bone conduction (BC) microphone. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of the location of a BC microphone on the intensity and frequency spectrum of the recorded speech. Twelve locations, 11 on the talkers head and 1 on the collar bone, were investigated. The speech sounds were three vowels (/u/, /a/, /i/) and two consonants (/m/, /∫/). The sounds were produced by 12 talkers. Each sound was recorded simultaneously with two BC microphones and an AC microphone. Analyzed spectral data showed that the BC recordings made at the forehead of the talker were the most similar to the AC recordings, whereas the collar bone recordings were most different. Comparison of the spectral data with speech intelligibility data collected in another study revealed a strong negative relationship between BC speech intelligibility and the degree of deviation of the BC speech spectrum from the AC spectrum. In addition, the head locations that resulted in the highest speech intelligibility were associated with the lowest output signals among all tested locations. Implications of these findings for BC communication are discussed.

Conduction Equivalency Ratios: A Means for Comparing the Frequency Response of Bone and Air Conduction Auditory Displays

Soldiers in today’s military operate in environments where noise can make verbal communication and auditory awareness of incoming danger very difficult. Due to advances in technology and the development of bone-conduction (BC) communication systems, soldiers are now able to communicate via two-way radio without surrendering their ability to perceive surrounding events. However, despite rapid advancements in the application of BC systems, very little is known in regards to the perceived equivalency between the two modes of hearing. To better understand how BC technology can be utilized, this study sought to determine the relationship between spectral content of bone and air conducted sound using conduction equivalency ratios (CERs), whereby CER is defined as the difference in sound intensity levels between equally loud signals transmitted in both conduction modes.

Decision support display modeling for digital battlefield

A decision support display (DSD) was developed as a cognitive aiding tool to support the decision maker in a unstructured, dynamic, uncertain and information-intensive environment. Battlefield information is modeled as a context-dependent and an action-oriented object that adapts to a defined system goal or a mission statement. The DSD philosophy is applied to a graphical display of alternative courses of action designed to amplify the decision makers knowledge and experience levels.

Texting While Driving among Teens: Exploring User Perceptions to Identify Policy Recommendations

Texting while driving has emerged as a significant threat to citizen safety. In this study, we utilize general deterrence theory (GDT), protection motivation theory and personality traits to evaluate texting while driving (TWD) compliance intentions among teenage drivers. This paper presents the results of our pilot study. We administered an online survey to 105 teenage and young adult drivers. The potential implications for research and practice and policy are discussed.

Impact of a Bone Conduction Communication Channel on Multichannel Communication System Effectiveness

Objective: In this study, the impact of including a bone conduction transducer in a three-channel spatialized communication system was investigated. Background: Several military and security forces situations require concurrent listening to three or more radio channels. In such radio systems, spatial separation between three concurrent radio channels can be achieved by delivering separate signals to the left and right earphone independently and both earphones simultaneously. This method appears to be effective; however, the use of bone conduction as one channel may provide both operational and performance benefits. Method: Three three-channel communication systems were used to collect speech intelligibility data from 18 listeners (System 1, three loudspeakers; System 2, stereo headphones; System 3, stereo headphones and a bone conduction vibrator). Each channel presented signals perceived to originate from separate locations. Volunteers listened to three sets of competing sentences and identified a number, color, and object spoken in the target sentence. Each listener participated in three trials (one per system). Each trial consisted of 48 competing sentence sets. Results: Systems 2 and 3 were more intelligible than System 1. Systems 2 and 3 were overall equally intelligible; however, the intelligibility of all three channels was significantly more balanced in System 3. Conclusion: Replacing an air conduction transducer with a bone conduction transducer in a multichannel audio device can provide a more effective and balanced simultaneous monitoring auditory environment. Application: These results have important design and implementation implications for spatial auditory communication equipment.

Teen Texting While Driving Factors Influencing this Epidemic Behavior

This study was designed to identify key components that affect teenagers’ intent to text while driving by developing and administering a survey to identify psychological profiles of teenagers who are more or less likely to comply with TWD laws. Such profiles may be used to create unique TWD law compliance training protocols designed to address specific teenager characteristics. The method included the administration of a 108-item Likert-scale survey to young drivers age 15 through 21. The survey consisted of a set of demographic questions; a Big Five personality assessment; and items to assess attitudes, norms, and perceptions associated with TWD. The results of the regression analysis performed on the data indicate the following factors potentially impact teenager TWD behavior: perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and TWD concealment attitude.

Effects of Bone Vibrator Position on Auditory Spatial Perception Tasks.

Objective: This study assessed listeners’ ability to localize spatially differentiated virtual audio signals delivered by bone conduction (BC) vibrators and circumaural air conduction (AC) headphones. Background: Although the skull offers little intracranial sound wave attenuation, previous studies have demonstrated listeners’ ability to localize auditory signals delivered by a pair of BC vibrators coupled to the mandibular condyle bones. The current study extended this research to other BC vibrator locations on the skull. Method: Each participant listened to virtual audio signals originating from 16 different horizontal locations using circumaural headphones or BC vibrators placed in front of, above, or behind the listener’s ears. The listener’s task was to indicate the signal’s perceived direction of origin. Results: Localization accuracy with the BC front and BC top positions was comparable to that with the headphones, but responses for the BC back position were less accurate than both the headphones and BC front position. Conclusion: This study supports the conclusion of previous studies that listeners can localize virtual 3D signals equally well using AC and BC transducers. Based on these results, it is apparent that BC devices could be substituted for AC headphones with little to no localization performance degradation. Application: BC headphones can be used when spatial auditory information needs to be delivered without occluding the ears. Although vibrator placement in front of the ears appears optimal from the localization standpoint, the top or back position may be acceptable from an operational standpoint or if the BC system is integrated into headgear.

Exploring mathematical approximation for the time spans of transfer operations in parcel transshipment terminals

The parcel delivery industry (PDI) is a very labor intensive industry, from the drivers of the pickup and delivery vans, to the unloaders, sorters, and loaders in the transshipment terminals. The labor efficiency is a key performance measure in the PDI. In this study, the focus is on developing a framework for improving labor efficiencies in a parcel transshipment terminal. The objective is to minimize the time required to transfer parcels from inbound trailers to outbound trailers. This paper is an exploratory study to developing a framework for a solution approach to solve large-scale parcel hub scheduling problems (PHSP). A binary integer programming (BIP) model is proposed along with a branch and bound (BaB) algorithm with lower and upper bounds. The computational study shows that the BaB algorithm is able to generate solutions for small-size problems. The proposed BIP model sets the ground work for developing solution approaches to much larger size problems.