The Application of Bystander Intervention Scripts: Implications for Guardianship in Action

Responding to high rates of interpersonal victimization and perpetration among adolescents, schools have implemented bystander intervention (BI) training to educate students to intervene to prevent or stop violence. These trainings function much like an application of scripts for guardianship in action. The current study builds on the overlapping and complementary bodies of BI and routine activities research by testing whether participation in BI training, namely Green Dot (GD), influences individuals' underlying ability to intervene. Using four years of survey data collected from high school students (N = 2,374-3,443), we use item response theory to model the difficulty of engaging in different BI behaviors. We then estimate multivariate ordinary least squares regression models, one for each year, to estimate the effect of GD training on students' ability to intervene. The item response theory results show that BI behaviors differ in terms of how "difficult" they are for respondents to engage in. Findings show that in each year, GD training increased students' underlying ability to intervene. Our findings suggest BI training and guardianship in action scripts should take into account this varying difficulty of intervention behaviors to best train individuals for successful intervention to prevent victimization.

Examining the Effect of Perceived Responsibility on Online Bystander Intervention, Target Hardening, and Inaction

Failure to take responsibility for intervening has been identified as a primary barrier to bystander intervention. Building on these findings, we examine how perceptions of responsibility affect responses to witnessing victimization in the online realm-a topic that has received limited attention. Using a maximum-likelihood selection model, we analyze data from the Pew American Trends Panel (N = 3709) to estimate the effects of respondents' perceptions of the role different groups should play in addressing online harassment on their likelihood to engage in intervention, target hardening, or inaction in response to witnessing online harassment, conditioned upon their likelihood of having witnessed such behavior. Findings indicate that the greater role respondents believe online users should have in addressing online harassment, the more likely they are to intervene. (b = .310). The greater role respondents believe law enforcement or elected officials should have in addressing online harassment, the less likely they are to intervene (b = -.135 and -.072, respectively). These findings have implications for future efforts to curb online harassment through users' crime prevention efforts.

Who Are the Mavens of Bystander Intervention? Implications for the Social Diffusion of Intervention Norms

A recent randomized controlled trial reported that Green Dot (GD)-a bystander intervention training program that targets popular opinion leaders for intensive training-reduced school-level interpersonal violence perpetration and victimization. Expanding GD's targeted group members to include "mavens" of bystander intervention-those who spread bystander intervention norms to others by communicating with peers-may increase the effectiveness of such training. Self-report data collected from students at the 13 intervention high schools in Kentucky are analyzed to identify characteristics of those who engage in discussions with peers about preventing interpersonal violence. Findings show that students who engage in more frequent bystander behaviors are more likely to have such conversations with peers, but GD participants were no more likely than nonparticipants to discuss preventing interpersonal violence with peers.

Potential exposure to diazinon during yard applications

Applicators applying diazinon to yards were monitored to determine potential exposures received while using this commonly available pesticide around the home. Diazinon was applied to lawns and shrubs using compressed air or hose-end sprayers. Even with minimal clothing, the largest mean exposure received during any of the applications was estimated to be less than 0.2% of a lethal dose per hour. Exposure to the hands accounted for 85% or more of the total exposure, so simply protecting the hands would have essentially eliminated exposure.

Methyl parathion persistence in soil following simulated spillage

Simulated spillage of emulsifiable concentrate (E.C.) and microencapsulated formulations of methyl parathion on soil were studied. Persistence of residues from both formulations spilled as concentrates and as simulated from rinses were followed for up to 45 months. Spillage of encapsulated formulation resulted in the formulation of a solid cake-like deposit on the soil surface, which could be a particularly attractive hazard to small children. At 45 months, soil residues had decreased by 64% for emulsifiable concentrate spills, and 68% for the soil beneath the microencapsulated cake. Residue in the cake itself only decreased by 31%. Soil residue levels from simulated drum rinses were essentially innocuous by 45 months for the emulsifiable concentrate and by one year for the microencapsulated material. The leaching of methyl parathion from the microencapsulated cake into soil and the relationship between available residue and wet weather were also investigated.

Reductive degradation of dieldrin and endrin in the field using acidified zinc

The reductive dechlorination of dieldrin and endrin was investigated as a possible procedure for field disposal of small quantitites of these pesticides. The objective was to convert the parent compounds to environmentally less objectionable materials. Emulsifiable concentrate formulations of the pesticides in a soil slurry were mixed with powdered zinc, dilute acetic acid, and acetone to facilitate reaction. Analysis of the mixtures by GC-MS indicated essentially complete conversion of endrin and partial conversion of dieldrin to products probably formed by replacement of the bridge anti chlorines with hydrogen. Partial confirmation of the desired anti dechlorodieldrin product was made by nmr. Disappearance of the parent compounds and production of conversion products was monitored for 2 1/2 years by GC in an outside soil plot, and accelerated destruction of parent compounds was achieved by the treatment. By analogy to the bridge anti dechloro products of aldrin and isodrin, the anti dechloro products probably are much less toxic than the parent compounds and are therefore environmentally less objectionable.

Field disposal of methyl parathion using acidified powdered zinc

The degradation of methyl parathion in soil with various amounts of acidified powdered zinc under field conditions was studied. Treatment was progressively more effective with increasing amounts of zinc. Disappearance of parent compound was followed for 2 1/2 years. The expected conversion product aminomethyl parathion and its N-methyl derivative were formed. In addition, N,N-dimethylamino, and the azo and azoxy condensation products were characterized by high resolution mass spectrometry. Aminomethyl parathion was shown to be identical to an authentic standard. The other specific positional isomers were considered likely, but were not proven by mass spectrometry. Structure elucidation was made with high resolution mass spectrometry, using the direct insertion probe, and with gas chromatography/low resolution mass spectrometry.