Contact Information: Office: TJM 243 Office Phone: (402) 872-2293 Email: jnevitt@peru.edu   Office Hours:   Mondays: 8:00am - 9:00am and 3:15pm - 4:15pm Tuesdays: 8:30am - 9:30am and 3:15pm - 4:15pm Wednesdays: 8:00am - 9:00am and 3:15pm - 4:15pm Thursdays: 8:30am - 9:30am and 3:15pm - 4:15pm Fridays: 9:00am - 11:00am by appointment

Spring 2013 Course Offerings:

PSYC 330 049A Research Methods (online)

PSYC 410 000A Experimental Psychology (campus)

PSYC 450 000A Abnormal Psychology (campus)

SOWK 410 000A Addictions (campus)

Fall 2012 Course Offerings:

PSYC 121 000A Introduction to Psychology (campus)

PSYC 330 000A Research Methods (campus)

PSYC 410 049A Experimental Psychology (online)

SOWK 310 000A Techniques of Counseling (campus)

Bio:

Dr. Nevitt received his Bachelor of Science degree from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas.  His graduate studies were completed at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater where he received a Master of Science degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology.

 

Dr. Nevitt's experience includes 21 years as a psychology instructor for Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, Nebraska.  He completed additional graduate studies in counseling at Wichita State University and worked as a substance abuse counselor for Comcare Addiction Treatment Services in Wichita, Kansas.  Comcare is the largest outpatient treatment center in the state of Kansas.

 

Dr. Nevitt is a member of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

 

Dr. Nevitt is a member of the Society for Teaching Psychology.

 

Dr. Nevitt is an Associate Professor of Human Services (April 2006).

 

Awards/Recognitions:

James Gibson-Student

Trio-Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program

Wichita State University, July 2001

James R. Nevitt, Ph.D.-Research Mentor

Environmental Determinants of Substance Abuse

This research assessed the environment as a determinant of substance abuse.  The study addresses substance abuse from the perspectives of the community, family, peer pressure and genetic predisposition.  The hypothesis that "no single variable causes substance abuse" was explored and tested.  Because individuals rely upon family and peers to meet emotional and social needs, deficiencies in the environment contribute to stress and frustration.  As an escape/avoidance mechanism, many turn to drugs with little advanced knowledge about their addictive properties.  This study was carried out in Options Adult Services, a substance abuse treatment facility in Wichita, Kansas.

School of Professional Studies "Instructional Innovation" Award, Spring 2006

Received Teacher Excellence Award in 2008

 

Publications:

Davis, Steve; Hersh, Leonard & Nevitt, James, Behavior Shaping Techniques and Personalized Instruction in an Archery Class

Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1976 (Dec), Vol. 43(3), 913-914.

 

Connelly, John F.; Connelly, Jacqueline M. & Nevitt, James R., Effect of Footshock Intensity on Amount of Memory Retrieval in Rats by Important Stimuli in a Drug-Dependent Learning Escape Design.

Psychopharmacology, 1977, Vol. 51(2), 153-157.

 

Harriman, Arthur E. & Nevitt, James R.

Preferences for Solutions of Sugars, Salts, and Acids by Ord's Kangaroo Rats Given Richter-Type Drinking Tests. Psychological Reports, 1977 (Oct), Vol. 41(2), 663-666.

 

Harriman, Arthur E. & Nevitt, James R.

Preferences by Deermice for Solutions of Sugars, Salts, and Acids in Richter-Type Drinking Tests. Journal of General Psychology, 1978 (Apr), Vol. 98(2), 207-214.

 

Nevitt, James R.; Truby, Wib & Harriman, Arthur E.

Ultrasonic Facilitation of Escape Responding and Disruption of Anal Body Temperature in the Golden Hamster. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1977 (Aug), Vol. 45(1), 35-38.

 

Nevitt, James R. & Hall, Roger

Correlation of Activity and Weight in Comet Goldfish (Carassius auratus) at Differing Water Temperatures. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1977 (Aug), Vol. 45(1), 81-82.

 

Nevitt, James R. & Harriman, Arthur E.

Taste Preferences in the Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus), Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1977 (Oct), Vol. 45(2), 379-385.

 

Nevitt, James R. & Harriman, Arthur E.

Effects of Differential Weight Gains on Activity Level of Young and Adult Hispid Cotton Rats. Psychological Reports, 1977 (Apr), Vol. 40(2), 512-514.

 

Co-editor - Encounters With the Self, by Donald Hamachek, (4th Ed.), 1992, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc.

 

Co-editor - The Psychology of Adjustment and Well-Being, by S.L. Brodsky, 1988, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston

 

Co-editor - Drug Use and Misuse, by S.A. Maisto, 1991, Wadsworth Publishing Company

 

Dr. James Nevitt and Dr. Joel Lundak are involved in an ongoing line of research related to the specific problems of substance abuse and dependency in the rural Midwest and the nature of substance abuse assessment itself.  Below are their latest contributions.  Click on the title to review the publications.

 

James Nevitt and Joel Lundak

"Accuracy of Self-Reports of Alcohol Offenders in a Rural Midwestern County."  Psychological Reports, 2005, 96, 511-514.

 

James Nevitt, Joel Lundak and Greg Galardi

"A Profile of Adolescent Alcohol Offenders in Two Rural Midwestern Counties."  Psychological Reports, 2006, 98, 279-384.

 

Galardi, G., Nevitt, J. & Gottschalk, C. (2006, October 12) Electronic Research in the Social Sciences. PSC Academic Resource Center.

 

James R. Nevitt, Joel Lundak, Jessica Codr and Robert Adams

"An Analysis of Audit Scores of Adolescent Offenders In Two Midwestern Counties"

Psychological Reports, 2007, 100, 700-706.

 

Nevitt, J. (2008, October). Using an Instructor-Created Graphic Novel To Teach a Course About Serial Murder. Poster session presented at the Criminal Justice and Pop Culture Conference, Missouri Cental University, Warrensburg, Missouri.

 

Dr. James Nevitt and Dr. Greg Galardi

"Analysis of Evil: Using a Graphic Novel to Teach an Interdisciplinary Honors Course Involving Psychology and Serial Murder"

American Criminal Justice Association L.A.E. Journal, 2009, 20-22.