Daniel Weigel, Ph.D.

Biography

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 parents' 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.

Selected publications

• Weigel, D. J., Martin, S. S., & Lowman, J. L. (2017). Assessing the early literacy skills of toddlers: The development of four foundational measures. Early Child Development and Care, 187, 744-755. (Invited).
• Weigel, D. J., Weiser, D. A., & Lalasz, C. B. (2017). Testing a motivational model of relationship maintenance: The role of approach and avoidance relationship goals. Western Journal of Communication, 81, 341-361.
• Weiser, D. A., & Weigel, D. J. (2016). Self-efficacy in romantic relationships: Direct and indirect effects on relationship maintenance and satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 89, 152-156.
• Weigel, D. J., Lalasz, C. B., & Weiser, D. A. (2016). Maintaining relationships: The role of implicit relationship theories and partner fit. Communication Reports, 29, 23-34.
• Brown, R. D., & Weigel, D. J. (2016). Beneath the tangles sheets: Examining sexual communication through ecological systems. In J. Manning & C. Noland (Eds.), Contemporary studies in sexuality and communication (pp. 46-60). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.
• Weiser, D. A., & Weigel, D. J. (2015). Investigating Experiences of the Infidelity Partner: Who is the "Other Man/Woman"? Personality and Individual Differences, 85, 176-181.
• Weigel, D. J., Davis, B. A., & Woodward, K. C. (2015). A two-sided coin: Mapping perceptions of the pros and cons of relationship commitment. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 344-367.
• Weiser, D. A., Lalasz, C. B., Weigel, D. J., & Evans, W. P. (2014). A prototype analysis of infidelity. Personal Relationships, 21, 655-675.
• Weigel, D. J., & Weiser, D. A. (2014). Commitment messages communicated in families of origin: Contributions to relationship commitment attitudes. Communication Quarterly, 62, 536-551.
• Walsh, B. A., Cromer, H., & Weigel, D. (2014). Classroom-to-Home Connections: Young children's experiences with a technology-based parent involvement tool. Early Education and Development, 25, 1142-1161.
• Weiser, D. A., & Weigel, D. J. (2014). Testing a model of communication responses to relationship infidelity. Communication Quarterly, 62, 416-435.
• Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (2014). Constructing commitment in intimate relationships: Mapping interdependence in the everyday expressions of commitment. Communication Research, 41, 311-332.
• Walsh, B. A., Cromer, H., Weigel, D., & Sanders, L. (2013). Reliability and preliminary use of a rubric to assess pre-kindergarten teachers' video uses. Early Childhood Education Journal, 41, 325-337.
• Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (accepted for publication). Constructing commitment in intimate relationships: Mapping interdependence in the everyday expressions of commitment. Communication Research.
• Weigel, D. J., & Weiser, D. A. (accepted for publication). Commitment messages communicated in families of origin: Contributions to relationship commitment attitudes. Communication Quarterly.
• Weigel, D., Weiser, D., Bales, D., & Moyses, K. (2012). Identifying online preferences and needs of early childhood professionals. Early Childhood Research & Practice, 14(2), http://ecrp.illinois.edu/v14n2/weigel.html.
• Weigel, D. J., Brown, C., & O'Riordan, C. K. (2011). Everyday expressions of commitment and relational uncertainty as predictors of relationship quality and stability over time. Communication Reports, 24, 38-50.
• Lalasz, C. B., & Weigel, D. J. (2011). Understanding the relationship between gender and extradyadic relations: The mediating role of sensation seeking on intentions to engage in sexual infidelity. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 1079-1083.
• Byington, T., Martin, S., Reilly, J., & Weigel, D. (2011). Teaching child care providers to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Journal of Extension, 49(2), http://www.joe.org/joe/2011april/rb3.php.
• Weigel, D. J. (2010). Mutuality of commitment in romantic relationships: Exploring a dyadic model. Personal Relationships, 17, 495-513.
• Weigel, D. J., Martin, S. S., & Bennett, K. K. (2010). Pathways to literacy: Connections between family assets and preschool children's emergent literacy skills. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 8, 5-22.
• Evans, W. P., Marsh, S. C., & Weigel, D. J. (2010). Promoting adolescent sense of coherence: Testing models of risk, protection, and resiliency. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 20, 30-43.
• Brosh, J., Weigel, D., & Evans, B. (2009). Assessing the Supports Needed to Help Pregnant and Parenting Teens Reach Their Educational and Career Goals. Journal of Extension, 47(1), article #1RIB8, http://www.joe.org/joe/2009february/pdf/JOE_v47_1rb8.pdf.
• Devereux, P. G., Weigel, D. J., Ballard-Reisch, D., Leigh, G., & Cahoon, K. Cahoon. (2009). Immediate and longer-term connections between support and stress in pregnant/parenting and non-pregnant/non-parenting adolescents. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 26, 431-446
• Marsh, S. C., Evans, W. P., & Weigel, D. J. (2009). Exploring models of resiliency by gender in relation to adolescent victimization. Victims and Offenders, 4(3), 230 - 248.
• Weigel, D. J. (2008). The concept of family: An analysis of lay people's views of family. Journal of Family Issues, 29, 1426-1447.
• Weigel, D. J. (2008). Mutuality and the communication of commitment in romantic relationships. Southern Communication Journal, 73, 24-41.
• Weigel, D. J. (2008). A dyadic assessment of how couples indicate their commitment to each other. Personal Relationships, 15, 17-39.
• Weigel, D. J., & Ballard-Reisch, D. S. (2008). Relational maintenance, satisfaction, and commitment in marriages: An actor-partner analysis. Journal of Family Communication, 8, 212-229.
• 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.

Ph.D. students

• Megan Rupnik