Rose M. Perrine

EFFECTS OF PICTURE AND EVEN-A-PENNY-WILL-HELP APPEALS ON ANONYMOUS DONATIONS TO CHARITY'

The present research explored the effectiveness of a picture and the phrase “even a penny will help” on contributions to charity. Two experiments were conducted, one in the laboratory and one in the field. In both experiments the manipulation of a pleasant picture and the phrase created four types of signs: (1) picture-no phrase, (2) phrase-no picture, (3) picture-phrase, and (4) no picture-no phrase. In the field experiment patrons of local business anonymously put money in a donation box that displayed one of the four signs. In the laboratory experiment, 129 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to view one of the four signs placed on a donation box for a local charity. Analyses for both studies showed that more money was donated when the boxes displayed pictures. The phrase “even a penny will help” had no significant effect on donations.

Critters in the cube farm: perceived psychological and organizational effects of pets in the workplace.

This article reports the findings of an exploratory study examining the perceived functions and psychological and organizational effects of pets in the workplace. Participants were 193 employees from 31 companies allowing pets in the workplace who completed anonymous questionnaires. Results indicated that participants perceived pets in the workplace to reduce stress and to positively affect employee health and the organization. Participants who brought their pets to work perceived greater benefits than participants who did not bring their pets to work and participants who did not own pets.

Women at risk for homelessness: comparison between housed and homeless women.

The present study explored differences between women who are currently housed but are at risk for homelessness versus homeless women in a middle-sized city in the southeast. The research focused on experiences in the womens history which might explain some differences between homeless women and women who are at risk for homelessness but are currently housed through public-assistance programs. 98 women from a community emergency shelter and public-assistance programs were either interviewed or completed questionnaires. The questionnaires assessed the womens history of mental illness, employment and housing problems, physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol problems, and skills for building and maintaining relationships The women were young (18–35 years), about 80% were single mothers and about 50% had children living with them. t tests for independent samples indicated that compared to 48 at-risk housed women, the 50 homeless women reported a history of more symptoms of mental illness, more instability of employment and housing, more physical and sexual abuse, more drug and alcohol problems, and fewer skills for interacting with others. When all variables were entered simultaneously into a multiple regression equation, only skills for interacting accounted for a significant proportion of the variability between the two groups of women.

Impact of a Pre-Semester College Orientation Program: Hidden Benefits?

The present research was a two-year longitudinal study on the effects of a six-day, optional, pre-semester, freshman orientation program on academic credits earned, GPA and college retention. Regression analyses were used to remove the variance associated with other possible predictors of academic success (gender, age, race, developmental need, ACT, high school GPA, and transfer status) before testing these academic effects. Attendance at the orientation program accounted for less than 1% of the variability in one-year and two-year credits earned and grade point average. Attendance did not significantly predict one-or two-year retention. We discuss methodological issues, whether orientation programs might benefit institutions in non-obvious ways, and suggest avenues for future research.

Labradors to Persians: Perceptions of pets in the workplace

Abstract This article reports the findings of a study examining the effects of the presence of pets in an office on peoples perceptions of the work environment, the company, and the people who work there. Participants were 482 college students from a medium-sized university in the Southeast who were randomly assigned to view a slide of an office that contained one of six breeds of dogs, one of four breeds of cats, or no animal at all, and then completed a survey. Results indicated that pets are perceived to improve the moods of both customers and employees, to increase social interaction, and to make the employees appear less busy. However, they do make an office appear less professional and less clean and safe. There were few differences in perceptions based upon the various breeds of cats and dogs, with the exception of shorthaired black cats, which were generally rated less favorably.