Daniel J. Weigel, Ph.D.

Professor, Cooperative Extension/Human Development and Family Studies Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno M. A., University of Nevada, Reno M. S., Colorado State University B. S., Colorado State University

Research Interests:

My research interests have evolved along two tracks. First, in collaboration with other faculty members, I have focused on interpersonal communication and relationships. In particular, I have been interested in the aspect of commitment in romantic relationships. I have explored cognitive, affective, and behavioral elements of commitment, and have employed social cognitive, developmental, and communication frameworks.

My second research track has pursued aspects of early literacy development in young children. Specifically, I have investigated the influences of the parent and home environment, in conjunction with influences from child care, upon children's early literacy and language development. In addition, I have examined the impact of several community education programs designed to improve parent's skills in fostering the early literacy and language development of their young children.

In addition to my research interests, as a Human Development Specialist for UNR Cooperative Extension my role is to develop, deliver, and evaluate community education programs in human development and family living. Most of my teaching efforts have centered on issues of early literacy and school readiness, parent education, and child care. My teaching methods include presentations, workshops, curricula, simulations, workbooks, games brochures, pamphlets, media, display, and service delivery.

Recent Publication Activity:

Weigel, D. J., Lowman, J. L., & Martin, S. S. (2007). Language development in the years before school:  A comparison of developmental assets in home and child care settings. Early Child Development and Care, 177(6), 719-734.

Weigel, D. J. (2007). Parental divorce and the types of commitment-related messages people gain from their families of origin. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 47(1/2), 15-32.

Weigel, D. J., & Martin, S. S. (2006). Identifying key early literacy and school readiness issues:  Exploring a strategy for assessing community needs. Early Childhood Research and Practice 8(2), http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v8n2/weigel.html.

Ballard-Reisch, S. D., & Weigel, D. J. (2006). Established and promising models of family communication research. In L. H. Turner & R. West (Eds.), The family communication sourcebook (pp. 61-82). Thousand Oaks , CA : Sage.

Weigel, D. J., Bennett, K. K., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (2006). Roles and influence in marriages: Both spouses’ perceptions contribute to marital commitment. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 35, 74-92.

Weigel, D. J., Bennett, K. K., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (2006). Influence strategies in marriage: Self and partner links between equity, strategy use, marital satisfaction, and commitment. Journal of Family Communication, 6, 77-95.

Weigel, D. J., Martin, S. S., & Bennett, K. K. (2006). Mothers' literacy beliefs: Connections with the home literacy environments and pre-school children's literacy development. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 6(2), 191-211.

Weigel, D. J., Martin, S. S., & Bennett, K. K. (2006). Contributions of the home literacy environment to preschool-aged children’s emerging literacy and language skills. Early Child Development and Care, 176, 357-378.

Weigel, D., Martin, S., & Bennett, K. K.  (2005).  Ecological influences of the home and the child-care center on preschool-age children’s literacy development.  Reading Research Quarterly, 40, 204-233.

Weigel, D., Martin, S., & Brown, R.  (2005).  What Cooperative Extension professionals need to know about Institutional Review Boards:  Risks and benefits.  Journal of Extension, 43 (1), Available Internet: http://www.joe.org/joe/2005february/tt1.shtml.  

Martin, S., Weigel, D., & Brown, R.  (2005).  What Cooperative Extension professionals need to know about Institutional Review Boards:  Obtaining consent.  Journal of Extension, 43 (2), Available Internet:  http://www.joe.org/joe/2005april/tt1.shtml. 

Weigel, D., Brown, R., & Martin, S.  (2004).  What Cooperative Extension professionals need to know about Institutional Review Boards.  Journal of Extension, 42 (5), Available Internet:  http://www.joe.org/joe/2004october/tt1.shtml. 

Brown, R., Martin, S., & Weigel, D.  (2004).  What Cooperative Extension professionals need to know about Institutional Review Boards:  Recruiting participants.  Journal of Extension, 42 (6), Available Internet:  http://www.joe.org/joe/2004december/tt1.shtml. 

Special Section Editor with Deborah Ballard-Reisch (2004). Special Double Issue on Advancing Family Communication Theory and Research: Innovative Methods for Studying Family Communication, Journal of Family Communication 4(3&4), 261-345. 

Weigel, D., & Martin, S.  (2004).  From uncertainty to support: communicating with new parents through newsletters.  The Forum for Family & Consumer Issues, 9 (3), Available Internet:  http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/pub/9_3/newsletters.html.

Weigel, D. J., Bennett, K. K., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (2003). Family influences on commitment: Examining the family of origin correlates of relationship commitment attitudes. Personal Relationships, 10, 453-474.

Weigel, D. J. (2003). A communication approach to the construction of commitment in the early years of marriage: A qualitative study. Journal of Family Communication, 3, 1-19.

Behal, P. A., Bennett, K. K., Crites, A. M., & Weigel, D. (2003). Money on the Bookshelf: Using children's books to reach limited resource families with money management education. Journal of Extension, 41 (3), Available Internet: www.joe.org/joe/2003june/ent-iw.shtml.

Ballard-Reisch, D. S., Weigel, D. J., & Zaguidoulline, M. G. (2003). Maintaining marriages in Russia: Managing societal influences and communication dynamics. In D. J. Canary & M. Dainton (Eds.), Maintaining relationships through communication: Relational, contextual, and cultural variations (pp. 255-275). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. (2002). Investigating the behavioral indicators of relational commitment. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 19, 409-429.

Bennett, K. K., Weigel, D. J., & Martin, S. S. (2002). Children's acquisition of early literacy skills: Examining family contributions. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 17, 295-317.

Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. (2001). The impact of maintenance behaviors on marital satisfaction: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Family Communication,1, 265-279.

Weigel, D., Behal, P., & Martin, S. (2001). The Family Storyteller: A collaborative family literacy program. Journal of Extension [on line], 39(4). Available http://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/iw2.html.

Weigel, D. J., & Murray, C. (2000). The paradox of stability and change in relationships: What does chaos theory offer for the study of romantic relationships? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 425-449.

Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (1999). Using paired data to test models of relational maintenance and marital quality. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 16, 175-191.

Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (1999). All marriages are not maintained equally: Marital type, marital quality, and the use of maintenance behaviors. Personal Relationships, 6, 291-303.

Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (1999). How couples maintain marriages: A closer look at self and spouse influences upon the use maintenance behaviors in marriages. Family Relations, 48, 263-269.

Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (1999). The influence of marital duration on the use of relationship maintenance behaviors. Communication Reports, 12, 59-70.

Ballard-Reisch, D., & Weigel, D. J. (1999). Communication processes in marital commitment: An integrated approach. In W. H. Jones & J. M. Adams (Eds.), Handbook of interpersonal commitment and relationship stability (pp. 377-394). New York: Plenum.

Evans, W. P., Fitzgerald, C., Weigel, D., & Chvilicek, S. (1999). Are rural gang members similar to their urban peers? Implications for rural communities. Youth and Society, 30, 267-282.

Ballard-Reisch, D. S., Weigel, D. J, & Zaduidoulline, M. G. (1999). Relational maintenance behaviors, marital satisfaction and commitment in Tatar, Russian and mixed Russian/Tatar marriages: An exploratory analysis. Journal of Family Issues, 20, 677-697.

Contact Info:

You can e-mail Dr. Weigel at dweigel@unr.nevada.edu