Kevin D. McCaul
North Dakota State University
Psychology Department
115D Minard Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
(701) 231-7072
Kevin.McCaul@ndsu.edu
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Kevin D. McCaul
North Dakota State University |
Research Interests
I am generally interested in what motivates people to take actions that will protect their health. Recent projects have addressed this question in the context of flu shots for elderly folk, mammography screening, and cigarette smoking. We are presently focusing on risk perceptions and worry as predictors of self-protective health behaviors. For example, how does knowing that one is at risk for breast cancer affect motivation to obtain a mammogram? And does it matter if one is worried about getting breast cancer? Do smokers have negative thoughts about their smoking behavior? When and how often? And do they worry about the thoughts that they have?
I am presently teaching Introduction to Psychology: Psychology 111 (Section 1) and in Fall, 2006, I will be collaborating with students to discuss Health and Social Psychology: Psychology 771.
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Some Current Publications (for full Vita, click here: V)
In press (selected)
Dillard, A.J., McCaul, K.D., Kelso, P.D., & Klein, W.M.P. (in press). Resisting good news: Reactions to breast cancer risk communication. Health Communication.
McCaul, K.D., Magnan, R.E., & Dillard, A. (in press). Understanding and communicating about cancer risk. In S.M. Miller, D.J. Bowen, R.T. Croyle, and J. Rowland, Handbook of Behavioral Science and Cancer, Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
McCaul, K.D., Mullens, A., Romanek, K.M., Erickson, S., & Gatheridge, B.J. (in press). Thought, worry, and motivation to quit smoking cigarettes. Cognition and Emotion.
2004-2005 (selected)
Bergstrom, R.L., & McCaul, K.D. (2004). Perceived risk and worry: The effects of 9/11 on willingness to fly. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 34, 1846-1856.
Mullens, A.B., McCaul, K.D., Erickson, S.C., & Sandgren, A.K. Coping after cancer: Risk perceptions, worry, and health behaviors among colorectal cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology, 13, 367-376.
Peters, E., & McCaul, K.D. (Eds.), Basic and applied decision making in cancer control. Health Psychology, Special Issue.
Sandgren, A.K., Mullens, A.B., Erickson, S.C., Romanek, K.M., & McCaul, K.D. (2004). Confidant and breast cancer patient reports of quality of life. Quality of Life Research, 13, 155-160.
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NIH/NCI R21 research grant: “Thought, affect, and motivation to quit smoking." 2004-2006. Total costs: $260,000.
NIH/NCI Senior Investigator Grant (KO5): “Cancer Worry and Health-protective Behaviors.” (PI). 2002-2007. Total costs: $515,000.
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Graduate Students: 2005-2006
(from left to right) Desiree Zielke, Amanda Dillard, Paul Goetz, Amber Koblitz, Lindsay Ranstrom, Renee Magnan
What are they up to? Desiree and Lindsay are 1st-year students in the Behavior Therapy Program, Paul is a full-time Research Associate working mostly in Michael Robinson's lab, Amanda is a 4th (!) year Ph.D. student beginning work on her dissertation, Amber is a 2nd-year Ph.D. student working on her M.S. thesis, and Renee is a 3rd-year Ph.D. student working on novel research and her teaching.
Graduate Students: 2004-2005
(from left to right) Angie Beach Bagne, Paul Goetz, Amanda Dillard, Renee Magnan, Nick Finstrom, Amber Koblitz, Jamie Roth.
Where are they now?! Angie is in the process of completing her thesis, which examines the common sense beliefs that the family members of cancer patients hold. Nick finished his M.S. degree and now works at the University of Pennsylvania as a research assistant. Jamie entered a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The others are still with us as graduate students: 2005-2006!
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Family
David, the "old man", Laura, Harriette
From Christmas, 2004
lAURA, DAVID, HATTIE, KEVIN, STELLA
