Miami Lantern
                Beth Dietz-Uhler
                        Professor of Psychology
                               Miami University               


                                                                                                                                                                        
Research Interests




Social Identity Theory		                                                                                                                                                                             


    My main research interests in social identity theory revolve around group members' attempts to resolve or eliminate various sources of threat to their social identity.  One program of research examines how group members deal with internal and external threats to their social identity.  Group members respond in a variety of creative ways, including derogating the source of the threat, minimizing the importance of the threatening information, or making external attributions for the threat.  Another program of research examines the "Black Sheep Effect".  A Black Sheep effect occurs when a bad or unlikable ingroup member is evaluated more harshly than a good or likable ingroup member, or than any outgroup member.  I have studied the Black Sheep effect in the context of political campaigns and the Oklahoma City Bombing.
 
Dietz-Uhler, B. & End, C., Demakakos, N., Dickirson, A. & Grantz, A. (2002). Fans’ reactions to law-breaking athletes. International Sports Journal, 6, 160-170.

Dietz-Uhler, B. (1999).  Defensive reactions to group-relevant information. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 2, 17-29.

Matthews, D. & Dietz-Uhler, B. (1998). Negative political advertising and the Black Sheep Effect. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28, 1903-1915.

Dietz-Uhler, B., & Murrell, A.  (1998). Effects of social identity and threat on self-esteem and attributions. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, & Practice, 2, 24-35.

Dietz-Uhler, B. & Murrell, A. J.  (1998).  Attitudes toward affirmative action applicants: Perceived fairness, human capital, or social identity? Sex Roles, 38, 933-951.

Dietz-Uhler, B. Sethi, R., & Murrell, A. (1997). Alumni contributions: The management of university identity.Journal of Public Management and Social Policy, 3, 77-85.

Dietz-Uhler, B. (1996). The escalation of commitment in political decision-making groups: A social identity approach. European Journal of Social Psychology, 26, 611-629.

Sport Fans and Spectators


    Much of my research has focused on sport fans and spectators.  Some of this research has examined sport fan identity and the consequences of strongly identifying with a sport team. Sport fans who identify strongly with a sport team often go to great lengths of maintain their positive association with a team.  I have also researched, along with the Sport Fan Research Group, differences between male and female sport fans.  Although males and females identify equally strongly as sport fans, they often engage in different sport fan behaviors and they define sport fans differently. Additionally, people perceive male and female sport fans differently.  Males are perceived to be more serious sport fans than females.
Dietz-Uhler, B. & Lanter, J. R.  (2008).  The consequences of sport fan identification.  In L. Hugenberg, P. Haridakis, & A. Earnheardt (Eds.), Media and mediate sports fandom. (pp. 103-113). McFarland & Company, Inc.

End, C. M.., Kretschmar, J., Campbell, J., Mueller, D., & Dietz-Uhler, B. (2004). Sport fans’ attitudes toward war analogies as descriptors for sport.  Journal of Sport Behavior, 26, 356-367.

End, C. M., Kretschmar, J., & Dietz-Uhler, B.  (2004).  College students’ perceptions of sport fandom as a social status determinant.  International Sports Journal, 8, 114-123.

End, C. M., Dietz-Uhler, B., Demakakos, N., Grantz, M., & Biaviano, J.  (2003). Perceptions of sport fans who BIRG.  International Sports Journal, 7, 139-149.

End, C. M., Eaton, J., Campbell, J., Kretschmar, J., Mueller, D., & Dietz-Uhler, B.  (2003). Outcome’s influence on sport fans’ computer-mediated attributions. International Sports Journal, 7, 128-139

End, C.M., Dietz-Uhler, B., Harrick, E.A., & Jacquemotte, L. (2002). Identifying with winners: A reexamination of sport fans’ tendency to BIRG.  Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 1017-1030.

Dietz-Uhler, B., Harrick, E. A., End, C., & Jacquemotte, L. (2000).  Sex differences in sport fan behavior and reasons for being a sport fan. Journal of Sport Behavior, 23, 219-231.

Dietz-Uhler, B., End, C., Jacquemotte, L., Bentley, M., & Hurlbut, V. (2000). Perceptions of male and female sport fans. International Sports Journal, 4, 88-97.

Dietz-Uhler, B. & Murrell, A. (1999).  Examining fan reactions to game outcomes: A longitudinal study of social identity. Journal of Sport Behavior, 22, 15-27.

Murrell, A. J. & Dietz, B.  (1992).  Fan support of sports teams: The effects of a common group identity. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 14, 28-39.

Computer-Mediated Communication


    Some of my research focuses on aspects of the Internet; namely, computer-mediated communication.  Specifically, I am interested in how computer-mediated communication can enhance subsequent face-to-face discussions.  I have found that those who engage in prior computer-mediated communication report more enjoyable and more lively face-to-face discussions.  I have also investigated the reactions of group members when a member of a discussion board engages in anti-normative behavior.


Dietz-Uhler, B., Bishop-Clark, C., & Howard, E.  (2005).  Formation of and adherence to a self-disclosure norm in an online chat.  CyberPsychology and Behavior, 8, 14-120.

Birchmeier, Z., Joinson, A., & Dietz-Uhler, B.  (2005).  Inductive norm formation in natural groups:  Storming and forming a normative response to a deception revealed online. Social Science Computer Review, 23, 108-121.

Joinson, A. & Dietz-Uhler, B.  (2002). Explanations for the perpetration of and reactions to deception in a virtual community.  Social Science Computer Review, 20, 275-289.

Dietz-Uhler, B. & Bishop-Clark, C.  (2001). The use of computer-mediated communication to enhance subsequent face-to-face discussions. Computers in Human Behavior, 17, 269-283.

Technology in Teaching and Learning

 
    I have strong interests in the use of technology in teaching and learning. I have combined my interests in technology and teaching with my research interests in social psychology.  The result has included projects examining group processes in computer-mediated settings (see Computer-Mediated Communication above) and the use of computer-mediated communication to illustrate social psychological principles.  Additionally, I have conducted research to examine the effectiveness of using technology in teaching and learning.  Some of the technologies include computer-mediated communication, Internet activities, and World Wide Web searching.
 


         

          Dietz-Uhler, B.  (2008).  Effectiveness of a web-based critical thinking module.  In D. S. Dunn, J. S. Halonen, & R. A. Smith (Eds).  Teaching critical thinking in psychology: A handbook of best practices. (pp.273-276). West Sussex, UK:  Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.

          Dietz-Uhler, B., Fisher, A., & Han, A.  (2007).  Designing online courses to promote student retention.  Journal of Educational Technology                  Systems, 36, 103.110.  

          Bishop-Clark, C., Dietz-Uhler, B., & Fisher, A.  (2007). The effects of personality type on web-based distance education. Journal of                           Educational Technology Systems, 35, 491-506.

          Dietz-Uhler, B., Howard, E., & Bishop-Clark, C. (2004). Uses of computer-mediated communication in educational settings.  OATYC Journal, 29, 19-26.

          Dietz-Uhler, B.  (2003). An exercise to critically examine information on the World Wide Web. Psychology Learning and Teaching, 3, 11-14.

Bishop-Clark, C. & Dietz-Uhler, B. (2003). Forming on-line impressions: A class exercise. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 31, 251-260.

Dietz-Uhler, B. & Sherman, R. C.  (2003).  Using the Internet to aid the research process.  In R. Sternberg The psychologists companion: A guide to scientific writing for students and researchers (4th ed.).  Cambridge University Press.

Bishop-Clark, C. & Dietz-Uhler, B. (2003).  Team teaching Psychology of the Internet.  AURCO Journal, 9, 57-66.

Dietz-Uhler, B. & Bishop-Clark, C.  (2002). The psychology of computer-mediated communication: Four classroom exercises.  Psychology Learning and Teaching, 2, 25-32.

                                   
Beth Dietz-Uhler, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Miami University
Middletown, Ohio 45042
Updated on September 22, 2008. © Beth Dietz-Uhler.  Contact the webmaster for questions or comments.
Beth Dietz-Uhler:
Research Interests,  Teaching Interests