Kevin John Archives - BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

What If You Could Spot Skin Cancer Before It Got Too Serious?

admin — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 20:15:16 +0000

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. If you could visibly see signs of skin cancer on your body, would you be more likely to visit the doctor? A group of professors from BYU and the University of Utah asked that exact question as they looked for the most effective ways to influence people to screen themselves for cancer. The team found that visual stimulation had a significant impact on those whom they studied, a group of more than 2,200 adults ages 18-89 from across the country. The results demonstrate that UV skin damage visuals can cause viewers to feel fear, which then made these individuals more likely to participate in positive sun-safe behaviors such as wearing sunscreen or protective clothing. “Just talking about skin cancer, being inundated with facts and mortality rates, all of that is fear-inspiring language, but the images were so powerful that they moved people to intend to take action,” said Kevin John, an assistant professor in BYU’s School of Communications and study co-author. Read the full story at news.byu.edu.

The post What If You Could Spot Skin Cancer Before It Got Too Serious? appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Kevin John Discusses Finding Truth in April Faith + Works Lecture

Sydnee Gonzalez — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 16:12:37 +0000

In April’s Faith + Works lecture, School of Communications professor Kevin John discussed how people can overcome the notion that there is an inherent gap between religion and science and instead use both to discover truth. In his signature quirky fashion, John started out the lecture by showing a clip from “Nacho Libre.” “You only believe in science, that’s probably why we will never win,” said actor Jack Black in the clip. John then used the clip to point out that the hostility that so many people see between religion and science. “There is no room for moderation,” said John. “There’s extreme this side and extreme that side and they call it a conversation. But it’s not a conversation; it’s a shouting match.” At that point, John switched gears. He said at first he had been planning on discussing science versus religion and the friction between them, but he didn’t feel like any argument pitting the two against each other is ever really conducive to any growth. “The perception is that there’s a deep division, but there’s a lot of room for unity and there’s a lot of room for conversation,” said John. “Truth is truth, whether it’s labeled science or religion.” John went on to say that the only conflict is in the interpretation of fact and that there are different kinds of truth: Truth with capital “T” and truth with lowercase “t.” According to John, capital “T” truths are universal and unchanging, such as gospel principles. In contrast, lowercase “t” truths are contextual, provisional and perspective based, such as individual case studies. “Conflict occurs here because we’re comparing little bits of contextualized truth, hoping to hit at some of the larger principles that can give us a hint at the capital ‘T’ truths,” said John. This process of getting closer and closer to capital “T” truth is the practice that many people learned in grade school: the scientific method. John pointed out, however, that his process has its flaws. “There’s so much in science that we can’t measure,” said John. “[Scientists] don’t get to the nuts and bolts.” He continued by saying that we shouldn’t get so caught up in the scientific-method way of proving things that we let intellectual pride lead us to believe that we know everything because we’ve “proved” it. “Science is the best that we can do with what our eyes can see,” said John, adding that that doesn’t mean that we should ignore other ways of finding truth. “The Lord encourages us to use our brains and to use our faith,” said John. “We should use both — we need both.” “With the knowledge of the gospel, we realize that there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye,” said John. “Our vision — our perspective — is flawed because it is terrestrial.” John described finding out his father had cancer as a time when he had to learn not to rely on his secular knowledge. “My mind was a storm. At that moment I had two narratives that were fighting for space in my heart and my mind: my dad is going to live, or my dad is going to die,” said John. After doing all the research he could about his dad’s terminal cancer diagnosis, he said he was left with no hope. “For that time, the Lord was my teacher, and he taught me, ‘guess what, these are opposites to you, but they are not to me. Your dad will die, but he will certainly live, and he will live because of me,’” said John. “Sometimes we encounter things that shake our faith, or sometimes we encounter things where we don’t see a solution because it seems impossible to us,” continued John. “At that point, it becomes essential for us to turn to the Lord.” At the end of the day, there is capital “T” truth that people can count on said John. “Knowledge is great, knowledge is fantastic, but knowledge will not save us; faith will save us,” said John.

The post Kevin John Discusses Finding Truth in April Faith + Works Lecture appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Kevin John to Speak on Merging Science and Faith to Find Truth

Sydnee Gonzalez — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 20:04:47 +0000

The lecture will take place on Thursday, April 4 at 11 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall In April’s Faith + Works lecture, BYU School of Communications professor Kevin John will examine how to reconcile conflicts between secular and spiritual learning. “Learning is not limited to secular matters; there are spiritual underpinnings to all forms of learning we participate in during mortality,” said John. “These two forms of learning are inseparably connected — yet, significant conflicts can, and do, occur between what we learn from our secular research and what we know from our spiritual research.” John’s research has focused on health communication, or the development of strategic campaigns designed to promote beneficial health behaviors. His most recent projects have explored cancer, body image, substance use, narratives and end-of-life care. During the course of John’s research, he has routinely seen conflict between the research community’s recommendations and the standards set by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Luckily, he has found a way to balance these different viewpoints. “In these cases, while we necessarily give greater weight to spiritual truths, we should not disparage the path of gaining secular knowledge, even when it produces seemingly contradictory results,” said John. For John, these conflicts have not been a trial of faith but a building block for his testimony. “The tension that can sometimes exist between these two forms of learning is not unlike the duality of spiritual beings housed within temporal bodies, said John. “There is beauty in seemingly contradictory forms that come together to form something better. How we handle these conflicts, and the perspective we apply to them, will define us as both temporal and spiritual researchers.” To learn more about how John sees the world with both secular and spiritual eyes, attend the lecture on April 4.

The post Kevin John to Speak on Merging Science and Faith to Find Truth appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

BYU Professor Uses Eye Tracking Technology to Map How Men Process Body Image Issues

Sydnee Gonzalez — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 19:08:11 +0000

School of Communications Professor Kevin John used eye tracking technology to map how men process body image differently than women. Read more about his research here.

The post BYU Professor Uses Eye Tracking Technology to Map How Men Process Body Image Issues appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

CFAC FACULTY ACKNOWLEDGED AT BYU’S UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE

Mason Graham — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 20:58:27 +0000

Five faculty members were recognized, two with university awards and three with college awards. Five faculty members from the College of Fine Arts and Communications were acknowledged at this year’s University Conference for their extraordinary dedication and achievements. Faculty members Dean Duncan and Luke Howard were awarded with university level awards. Alex Woods, Kevin John and Linda Reynolds were honored with college awards. University awards were announced in the opening sessions of the University Conference on Monday August 27th. Recipients received their awards during a presentation by CFAC Dean Ed Adams at the college meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 29th, along with college award recipients. University Awards The University Conference Committee acknowledged 41 professors and staff members as having found “significant ways to contribute to the university.” The committee stated, “we recognize each one of them and thank them for helping us remember our foundations and build on new opportunities.” Professors Dean Duncan and Luke Howard were both awarded Alcuin Fellowships this year. The award recognizes professors who maintain high quality teaching, who have a history of service to Undergraduate Education programs and who have an interest in teaching interdisciplinary Honors courses. These professors then have the opportunity to teach interdisciplinary classes in the coming years and work closely with the Honors Program to help the students and the organization itself. Dean Duncan Duncan, an associate Professor in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, teaches a number of film classes at BYU. These classes range from more general classes, such as Introduction to Film Art and Analysis, to upper-level classes, such as non-fiction film. After receiving his BFA in Film Production at BYU, Duncan went on to earn his doctorate at Glasgow University in Scotland. He has contributed to BYU as a professor and his research and creative work focuses on studying and producing media for children. Duncan also contributes to BYU as the host of BYUradio’s “This’ll Take A While”. The show focuses on conversations around film, books, art, geography, and a host of other things. Its guests include a variety of professors from BYU and Utah Valley University, as well as a variety of other scholars. As stated by BYUradio’s website, the show is as engaging as it is digressive. Luke Howard Howard, an associate professor in the School of Music, teaches music history and General Education courses. Howard received his bachelor’s degree in Musical Education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia and went on to receive his master’s degree at BYU before earning his doctorate at the University of Michigan. Howard’s activities include research focused on the appropriation of classical music in popular culture, and he has published work in major journals such as ‘Musical Quarterly’, and “Paris New Music Review.” He has presented at national and international conferences and is an active program annotator and pre-concert presenter, having worked in this capacity with major performers. College Awards Recipients of these awards were selected from nominations given by department chairs and school directors. Professors were nominated because their “commitment to excellence and performance as a citizen, teacher and scholar is exemplary and merits recognition by the CFAC community,” said Dean Adams. Alexander Woods | CFAC Excellence in Research/Creative Work The creative efforts of Woods, an associate professor in the School of Music, are many. He is a well-respected musician throughout the world. Woods has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician in credible national and international venues. “The New York Times” hailed him in past reviews as a “showstopping” violinist and a “deft and sensitive accompanist.” Woods is also a recorded artist and has worked with some great modern composers. He has performed at numerous legendary venues, such as Carnegie Hall and the Trinity Wall Street Church and also regularly performs with “The Sebastians” and “The Talea Ensemble.” In the past, Woods studied with famous artists like Pinchas Zukerman and Syoko Ake. He now enjoys passing down this great violin tradition to his students at BYU. Woods also founded and currently directs the BYU Baroque Ensemble, which has “flourished under his tutelage,” according to Adams. The Dean also said, “Alex is a gifted musician and artist who is an exemplar of what we all aspire to become.” Kevin John | CFAC Excellence in Teaching John, an assistant professor in the School of Communications, has done a lot of work in psychophysiological measures and health communication. Having studied Communications at BYU, John spent a fair amount of his college and professional life in BYU’s Biometrics Lab. He has channeled his knowledge and skills to better the lives of others by improving end-of-life care for cancer patients and by optimizing alcohol warning messages, among other things. John also seeks to improve life for his students here at BYU. He is part of multiple committees and mentors in the Biometrics Lab. A student comment read by Dean Adams said, “Dr. John makes himself so available and so approachable and totally committed to helping students succeed.” Another student stated “he is more of my mentor than a professor.” Linda Reynolds | CFAC Excellence in Citizenship Reynolds, a professor in the Department of Design, has contributed to Brigham Young University in many ways since she began working as a professor in 1991. Dean Adams said, “In her time as a professor at BYU, she has served on more than twenty department and college committees, and on seven university committees.” Reynolds was also the chair of the Department of Visual design for a time and oversaw the reorganization of the department. Reynolds also helps mentor and encourage others studying design, having dealt with her own fears and insecurity while pursuing the discipline in college. She serves as a faculty mentor for Women in Design. This student organization focuses on providing role models to female students through programming, a lecture series, and social events. Click here for more about BYU’s Annual University Conference.

The post CFAC FACULTY ACKNOWLEDGED AT BYU’S UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Professor Kevin John Shares How Biometric Technology Can Change Communications Research

Amanda Shrum — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:12:13 +0000

School of Communications Professor Kevin John shared three biometric techniques that can improve the accuracy of self-reporting studies in 2018 Beckham Lecture Everybody lies. It’s human nature. While most of these lies are defined as harmless or “little white lies,” they have the ability to skew data when self-reporting techniques are used. At the Winter 2018 Beckham Lecture, the first since the passing of series founder Raymond E. Beckham, Professor Kevin John presented on the limits of self-reporting surveys used in the majority of communications research and how biometric technology can aid in improving the accuracy of results and data. John is a professor in the School of Communications and the director of BYU’s eye tracking lab. John began by explaining how over — or under — reporting is part of normal human behavior, even if the results are promised to remain confidential. In a study examining how often people consciously recognize they are lying, most participants were surprised by the number of lies they told in a short conversation, most of these being “little white lies.” This social desirability bias is influenced by social pressures, including gender norms. John used the idea of a young man and woman watching a scary movie as an example to demonstrate the idea. The man is likely to under-report his fear in order to appear more “masculine” while the woman may over-report her fear in order to appear more “feminine.” While this situation may be an innocent example, John provided examples of when under-reporting can be more dangerous, such as in health communications research. In order to combat skewing due to the human nature of self-reporting, John described three psychophysiological tools that can add additional data to create more accurate results. The first technique described was eye tracking, which uses pupil and corneal reflections to track where someone is looking. John displayed a photo with an overlay of a map that showed where participants in a study had looked first and the trail their eyes took. The uses of eye tracking include analyzing what elements of an advertising campaign work and where they may need improvement. For example, teenagers’ eyes may glance over a “Drink Responsibly” tag on an ad, illustrating how a different tactic may need to be utilized in order to achieve the desired results. Beyond advertising, John shared how eye tracking has been used to train the average person to identify potentially cancerous moles more accurately. Despite these advantages, the technique is dependent on knowing the context of what the participants are looking at and is not able to track or analyze a person’s emotions. Galvanic skin response (GSR) is another technique that can track changes in emotions by measuring changes in the electrical resistance of a participant’s skin. The technology can quantify the intensity of an emotional reaction but cannot distinguish the type of emotion. In order to do that, researchers need the last technique John demonstrated: facial recognition. Facial recognition uses 33 established points on a person’s face and tracks deviations in expressions. The participant cannot speak while being tracked and the technology can misread embarrassment or shame for joy, but facial recognition can lead to new data to enhance self-reported data. To demonstrate how facial recognition technology can be used, John showed a video of a domestic violence PSA alongside a video of a woman watching it and graphs that tracked her reactions. The graphs revealed her spikes in anger and frustration throughout but also revealed that her anger did not resolve by the end in the way the creators of the PSA expected and hoped. The creators were able to ask why she still felt anger at the end and evaluate how to better get their message across to get the desired response. Throughout the lecture, John emphasized that none of these techniques are meant to replace self-reporting data collection. Instead, they are tools that can be used to supplement research and studies by anticipating where human error can alter results. John concluded his lecture by adding a word of caution about weighing the dangers of potentially sacrificing privacy for the sake of research, but also expressed his hope for what biometric research can do in the future.

The post Professor Kevin John Shares How Biometric Technology Can Change Communications Research appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

Find Out Why ‘Everybody Lies’ at the Winter 2018 Beckham Lecture

Leslie Owusu — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 23:30:52 +0000

Communications Professor Kevin John will present the first lecture following the passing of Emeritus faculty Ray Beckham The Winter 2018 Raymond E. and Ida Lee Beckham Lecture will feature School of Communications Professor Kevin John on March 22 at 11:00 a.m. in 321 MSRB. His lecture, titled “Everybody Lies: Using Biometric Research to Discover Hidden Truths,” will focus on the pitfalls of self-reporting measures. John said he is honored by the opportunity to present at the biannual lecture. After having the privilege of watching many of his fellow colleagues present over the years, and attending as a student, he could not imagine he would be here now. The foundation of his lecture is based on survey research of how much trust is placed in the responses received from surveys. Although many may assume the results are true, the quality of a survey depends on the honesty of the people taking it. “Everybody lies,” said John, “and just like how everyone has a natural tendency to put their best face on when going out in public, they also answer survey questions in ways that paint them in the best possible light. So while someone might exaggerate how often they exercise, they might also downplay how much time they spend watching Netflix. This skews the data in socially desirable directions.” John denotes this as a problem for researchers as it can invalidate survey results. To address this problem, he brings up interesting biometric measures that can be used to capture factors that aren’t easily described in survey answers: gaze patterns, facial expressions, pulse and sweat, among others. These biometric measures give more data and add to the story to hopefully get closer to the truth. John became interested in biometrics during his undergraduate studies. While he was studying public relations, he said he was so focused on developing persuasive messaging that he never realized he was glossing over a more interesting question: how do media messages impact people? “When I came to this realization back in 2006,” said John, “I brought it to the attention of Dr. Steve Thomsen in the School of Communications and he introduced me to eye-tracking research. From that moment on, I was hooked because I realized we could detect how someone might be feeling without even asking them. Over the past 12 years I’ve gone deeper down the rabbit hole and now I spend my time researching body image, skin cancer, substance use and other issues while running the Biometrics Lab. “My goal in the lab is to share our capabilities with as many people as I can, because research is at its best when it satisfies curiosity, and we have some cutting edge tools to satisfy even the most curious individuals.” John hopes lecture attendees will learn how to reconcile normal human behavior with the clinical demands of research. He said, “We’re going to have some fun, talk about lying, play around with some technology, watch some videos and hopefully learn something along the way.” Story Highlights Date: Thursday, March 22, 2018 Time: 11:00 a.m. MST Location: 321 Karl G. Maeser Building (MSRB) Admission: Free, open to the public

The post Find Out Why ‘Everybody Lies’ at the Winter 2018 Beckham Lecture appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.

New faculty are the ‘new kids’ on the block

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 06:28:01 +0000

School of Communications faculty member Kevin John is one of the youngest professors here on campus and is teaching full time this coming fall semester. His collection of video game collectibles and consoles lining the walls of his office give testament of his youth.

The post New faculty are the ‘new kids’ on the block appeared first on BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications.