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Bierman, A. (2012). Functional limitations and psychological distress: Marital status as moderator. Society and Mental Health, 2(1).35-52.
This research examines how marital status modifies the relationship between functional limitations and two aspects of psychological distress—depression and anger. Analyses of a multiwave national probability survey show that marriage weakens the relationship between functional limitations and depression, but this moderation is specific to older men. Functional limitations are not significantly related to anger once time-stable confounds are comprehensively controlled, and this association does not differ by marital status. This research shows that marriage may benefit mental health by preventing the deleterious effects of chronic stressors, but marital status intersects with additional social statuses and a life course context in creating these modifying effects. In addition, research that does not consider both internalizing and externalizing mental health outcomes and comprehensively take time-stable confounds into account may present an incomplete depiction of the mental health consequences of stress and social arrangements.

Dillman, D.A. and Christian, L.M. (2005). Survey mode as a source of instability in responses across surveys. Field Methods, 17(1). 30-52.
Changes in survey mode for conducting panel surveys may contribute significantly to survey error. This article explores the causes and consequences of such changes in survey mode. The authors describe how and why the choice of survey mode often causes changes to be made to the wording of questions, as well as the reasons that identically worded questions often produce different answers when administered through different modes. The authors provide evidence that answers may change as a result of different visual layouts for otherwise identical questions and suggest ways to keep measurement the same despite changes in survey mode.

Glavin, P., Schieman, S., and Reid, S. (2011). Boundary-spanning work demands and their consequences for guilt and psychological distress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 52(1). 43-57.
Using data from a national survey of working Americans (Work, Stress, and Health Survey; N = 1,042), the authors examine the associations between boundary-spanning work demands and self-reported feelings of guilt and distress. The authors document gender differences in the emotional and mental health consequences of boundary-spanning work demands, as indexed by the frequency of receiving work-related contact outside of normal work hours. Specifically, the authors observe that frequent work contact is associated with more feelings of guilt and distress among women only. Analyses also demonstrate that guilt accounts for the positive association between the frequency of work contact and distress among women. Statistical adjustments for levels of guilt reduce the positive association between frequent work contact and distress among women to nonsignificance. The findings underscore the importance of focusing on gender and emotions in work-family interface processes, as well as their implications for psychological health.

Encyclopedia Articles

“Anonymity.” Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods. (2004): 19-20.
Anonymity refers to the assurance that participants are not individually identified by disguising or withholding their personal characteristics. In conducting social science research, the protection of “human subjects” is a serious concern for institutional review boards and researchers alike. Guaranteeing and preserving individuals' anonymity is a key component of protecting their rights as research participants.