Digital Commons Network^™

Putting A Slam On Alcohol Violators Through Dram- How The State Of Ohio Can Improve The Day-To-Day Safety Of Its Residents Through Dram Laws, Steven Iwanek

Honors Projects

In the realm of legal frameworks governing the service and consumption of alcohol, Dram Shop Liability Laws play a pivotal role in holding establishments accountable for the consequences of alcohol-related incidents. These laws, known as dram laws, vary across states, delineating the responsibilities of alcohol servers and establishments in preventing the overconsumption of alcohol and the resultant harm. This examination delves into a comprehensive background of dram laws, particularly focusing on their historical evolution, their present implications, and the imperative need for refinement.

As societal dynamics and patterns of alcohol consumption evolve, so too must the legislative mechanisms designed to …

The Effect Of Natural Light On Mental Health, Gianna Arquilla

Honors Projects

All students have experienced low motivation at one point in their academic career, but what are the factors that can affect this? Is it solely based on their personality and work ethic, or can the environment have an effect? This study discusses the effects on mental health through architecture. Can the amount of natural light in a building affect the motivation of students? Natural light is something that is often overlooked, mostly considered as a perk rather than a necessity. How can students truly feel passionate about their work sitting in a dark place? To evaluate this data, this study …

Communication Of Mental Health Diversity To The Early Childhood Age Group: “The Adventures Of Anxious Anderson, Distracted Daniel, And Organized Olive”, Jessica Gower

Honors Projects

In this project, I aim to explore various aspects of communication, cognitive ability, and mental health diversity in early child development. The three research questions guiding this project are: What cognitive and language abilities do children in the early childhood stage of development have? What are the most effective strategies for communicating information about mental health disorders to children ages 4 to 7 through storytelling? And lastly, how do anxiety, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) manifest, particularly in children? The storybook's purpose is to create a sense of empathy and understanding of mental health diversity in children …

Mental Illness In Modern Media, Grace Smith

Honors Projects

This paper will focus on the way mental illness is portrayed in modern media, specifically psychological thriller movies, as many of them feature main characters with some sort of mental illness. The specific mental illnesses present in the movies discussed in this paper are as follows: borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and dissociative identity disorder. Psychological thriller movies influence the way consumers view mental illness and those who suffer from mental illnesses. The potential effects of these portrayals will be explored through Stuart Hall’s theory of reception, as it was created based on television media, making it one of …

The Impact Of Experiential Avoidance On Vulnerable Disclosure, Perceived Responsiveness, And Social Connection, Kaylee Church

Honors Projects

Loneliness, comprised of perceived social connection and social isolation, can have a severe negative impact on one’s physical and mental health. Understanding its complexities can assist in addressing these harmful consequences. In particular, the aspect of social connection can be understood through the interpersonal model of intimacy which posits that connection forms as a function of reciprocal vulnerable disclosure and perceived responsiveness. Experiential avoidance may complicate the process of the vulnerable disclosure required to develop social connection as sharing emotional information about oneself can result in discomfort that individuals avoid. Despite this theoretical connection, the relationship between experiential avoidance and …

An Evaluation Of The Book Of Hosea And Its Impact For Our Lives Today, Nathan Fulton

Honors Projects

The book of Hosea provides a rich story of the life of the prophet Hosea and the constant woes of the nation of Israel. Through analysis of commentaries from past theologians and modern psychological studies, the contents of Hosea will be reinforced as viable literature to learn from. Despite belief in the historical legitimacy of the book, through research, we find humanity’s deepest desire is to be fully loved and fully known. Analysis of attachment theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs show us that the story of Hosea demonstrates our insecurities and the proper response to them.

Assessing Social Engagement Differences Across The Continuum Of Sexuality, Ariana Cunningham

Honors Projects

Individuals attracted to more than one gender identity, also known as non-monosexuals, exist in a unique place in the sexuality dichotomy. Often experiencing prejudice from both their heterosexual and homosexual peers, they are prone to increased rates of loneliness. Loneliness has been shown to increase both mental and physical health risks. Due to the dangers of loneliness, the current study set out to examine this relationship between non-monosexuals and loneliness. A two-phase study was created containing an online survey portion and an in-person interview procedure. Due to small sample sizes, no statistical significance was found but data has been trending …

The Relationship Of Psychology And Music, Thomas Pulling

Honors Projects

This paper discusses the relationship between psychology and music, examining some of the foundational research in the field, and looks at some of the historical context surrounding the psychological study of music and of music theory. The goal of this project is to use my experience as a performing musician and psychology student to emphasize the importance of furthering research into the psychology of music.

Combating Trauma And The Immigrant Paradox In Schools, Emma Bergman

Honors Projects

Over time, research on immigrant populations has revealed a trend known as the immigrant paradox in which, the further generations get from the generation of immigration, the poorer their outcomes are in areas such as mental health, delinquency, substance abuse, and education. Though a definitive explanation for this trend has yet to be identified, prevailing theories include several social, familial, and community-based factors such as the impacts of bilingualism, parental expectations, biculturalism, co-ethnic peers, quality of schools, and community support. Little attention has been paid to individual factors such as mental health and trauma. The present study proposes the transgenerational …

Social Media Among College Students, Julia Martorano

Honors Projects

Within the past decade, social media has become a huge part of most peoples’ everyday life. People use social media to keep up with old friends, to see what their current friends and family are up to, to follow celebrities, and so much more. Researchers and the general public have begun to wonder if this obsession with social media is detrimental to individuals and society. Throughout my research, I strived to answer two research questions. “How does social media affect a college student’s GPA, productivity, and life satisfaction?” and “How do celebrities and companies create social media content that drives …

Trauma Is A Wound: Demonstrating The Use Of Character Analysis To Practice Clinical Analysis, Madisyn Beare

Honors Projects

Evidence-based treatments of trauma require clinicians to base their treatments on the client’s specific and individual needs, experiences, cognitions, and place in recovery. Essentially, each new client is a new and unique case, and the practice of understanding how trauma may affect an individual only comes from clinical exposure.Literature provides the public with somewhat of an aid in these circumstances: fictional characters are not real people, and therefore can undergo limitless character analyses. Analyzing a fictional character allows clinicians the ability to practice their exploration of various behavioral indicators of mental health concerns while honoring the ethical code of non-maleficence, …

Self-Compassion And Perfectionism In College Music Students: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study, Celeste Uhl

Honors Projects

Perfectionism is a complex and multidimensional psychological phenomenon which is a proximal predictor for music performance anxiety, a risk factor associated with poorer musical performance. While existing literature emphasizes music performance anxiety as a deleterious outcome of perfectionism, less information exists regarding the relationship between perfectionism, self-compassion, and performance. There may be high levels of non- self-compassion in this population due to a folk belief that being self-critical is the best path to optimal performance. This study used a single-subject design to explore how self-compassion and perfectionism were related and if the use of daily self-compassion exercises would be linked …

Take A Closer Look: Combating Ageism Through The Use Of Children's Literature, Janice Buehrer

Honors Projects

This project was completed as my final honors project for Bowling Green State University in the spring of 2024. I wrote and illustrated the children's book, "Take a Closer Look," designed for kindergarten through second-grade children. The goal of the book is to be used as a value-socialization device to instill positive perspectives on aging within younger generations. The book itself is meant to be an intergenerational tool as adults read the book about older adults to children, reaching the entire lifespan.

The Relationship Between Stress Mindset And Burnout In College Athletes, Amber M. Shipherd, Creighton Avery, Sarah Gomez, Kelly B. Renner

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

High levels of stress can result in college athletes experiencing symptoms of burnout, and electing to terminate their sport participation. Research suggests there may be a relationship between athlete burnout and one’s view of stress (Avery et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stress mindset and burnout in college athletes, while controlling for gender, coping self-efficacy, and perceived stress. College athletes (N = 118) completed measures of stress mindset, athletic burnout, coping self-efficacy, and perceived stress via online survey software. Non-parametric partial correlations were conducted to determine relationships between variables while controlling …

Calculator Provision As An Accommodation For The Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (Cfat), Joseph W. Berry

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

The impact of calculator provision on the reliability and validity of a version of the Canadian Forces Aptitude Test—Problem Solving subtest was investigated in order to inform testing accommodation policy. Two hundred and fifty-four Canadian Armed Forces recruits undergoing basic training participated in the experimental research design, which consisted of a calculator and a no-calculator condition. Results supported that the convergent validity of the test was maintained in the calculator condition, as indicated by similar validity coefficients with other measures of cognitive ability in the two conditions; however, several items showed increased correct responding, and there was mixed support for …

Does Background Type And Blurring Affect Performance Ratings In Video Interviews?, Christina Scott, Nicolas Roulin

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Asynchronous video interviews (AVIs) have become increasingly popular as alternatives (or complements) to more traditional face-to-face interviews. Yet, AVI research has been largely focused on applicant reactions or behaviors, and we still know very little about what influences how applicants are rated. Importantly, because AVIs afford applicants the flexibility to record their responses from their homes, the background they choose could influence raters’ judgments. This study examines whether raters’ (N=276 Prolific respondents with prior hiring experience) initial impressions and final ratings differ if applicants record their AVIs from a home-office, a bedroom, or use background blurring settings, as …

Enhancing Consistency Of Maximal Responding In Behavior Description Interviews: An Exploration Of Priming And Response Length, Allen I. Huffcutt, Satoris S. Howes, Dianne D. Murphy, Sara A. Murphy

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

In a Behavior Description Interview (BDI), candidates are asked to describe past experiences that demonstrate skills and abilities important for the position (Janz, 1982). A recent study by Huffcutt et al. (2020) found that only around half of participants (48.1 percent) describe an experience reflecting maximal performance capability. Random mixing of maximal capability with day-to-day typical performance tendencies is problematic psychometrically because candidates are not all providing comparable information and top candidates could be overlooked. Given notable methodological concerns with Huffcutt et al.’s approach, our first purpose was to provide empirical confirmation that maximal responding in BDIs is, in fact, …

Effect Of Depression And Anxiety On Rehabilitation Adherence And Injury Recovery In Collegiate Athletes, Luis Torres, Shala E. Davis, Colleen A. Shotwell, Frederick A. Gardin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Introduction: The noted prevalence of depressive and anxious symptomology both pre-injury and post-injury in collegiate athletes raises concern regarding their ability to maintain appropriate rehabilitation adherence in their recovery from sports injury. The purpose of this study was to further explore the effect of depressive and anxious collegiate athlete symptoms on athletic trainers’ perceptions of rehabilitation adherence and return-to-play. Methods: NCAA Division II and Division III injured collegiate athletes (N = 19, M age = 20.58 ± 1.31) were observed throughout their rehabilitation programs by 5 separate collegiate athletic trainers. Collegiate athlete depressive and anxious symptoms were assessed during preseason …

Reviewing Research On Down Syndrome To Then Inform And Create A Children’S Book With A Child Protagonist Who Has Down Syndrome, Trey Williams

Honors Projects

Children's literature continually evolves, requiring a steadfast commitment to align with new insights into various disabilities for genuine and accurate portrayal. This project delves into leveraging research to craft a children's book featuring Bonnie Lynn, a protagonist with Down Syndrome, recognizing the growing presence of individuals with Down Syndrome in today's society and the imperative for empathetic understanding within this community.

Personality As A Predictor Of Hitting And Pitching Performances Among Professional Baseball Players, Tess M. Palmateer, Trent A. Petrie, Whitney Moore

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Research regarding personality as predictors of objective physical performances has been limited and equivocal. We examined longitudinally whether personality predicted baseball pitchers’ (n = 119) or hitters’ (n = 115) performances after controlling for past performances. Through regression analyses, we determined that personality did not significantly predict the player’ performances during their first year in Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Our results indicate that, at least in the short-term, personality may be a poor predictor of such performances. Research is needed to determine if personality’s effects may occur over a longer period of time, such as through the development …

Book Review: Kumar, Ashwani. (Ed.). (2022). Engaging With Meditative Inquiry In Teaching, Learning, And Research: Realizing Transformative Potentials In Diverse Contexts. New York, Ny: Routledge., Giovanni Rossini Phd

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Book Review of following text:

Kumar, Ashwani. (Ed.). (2022). Engaging with Meditative Inquiry in Teaching, Learning, and Research: Realizing Transformative Potentials in Diverse Contexts. New York, NY: Routledge.

Identifying Critical Psychological Characteristics Related To Successful Performance As A Contact Tracer: A Job Analysis, Dev K. Dalal, Jason Randall, Gabrielle C. Danna, Josh Ash

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a massive workforce of contact tracers to help end the global pandemic. Rapidly accelerating the recruitment, selection, and training of contact tracers proved to be difficult, though, due in part to the lack of a valid, structured, and systematic approach to hiring and training contact tracers. This demonstration presents the results of the first steps in developing a systematic selection and training program: a combined (worker- and task-oriented) job analysis of the contact tracer job. Using archival records and structured interviews with 15 subject matter experts, we identified 25 unique characteristics related to …

"That Is An Interesting Question!" Oddball Interview Questions And Organizational Personality Perceptions, Don C. Zhang, John-Luke Mccord

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Oddball interview questions have gained both popular and academic traction in recent years. Regardless of the intentions behind these questions, job seekers will form judgments about the employer based on its selection tactics. This paper examined the effect of oddball interview questions on organizational personality perceptions and subsequent attraction to the organization. In a time-lagged online experiment, we found organizations that asked oddball interview questions (vs. traditional interview questions) were perceived as more innovative and stylistic, which had a positive indirect effect on organizational attraction. Despite the positive effect of oddball interview questions on these organizational personality perceptions, oddball interview …

Effects Of Background Cues On Videoconference Interview Ratings, Deborah M. Powell, Maria V. Kavanagh, Bethany E. Wiseman, Audrey Hodgins

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Interviewers regularly make personality-related attributions in interviews, whether purposefully or not. In this study, we examined whether changing a contextual cue in a videoconference interview (the cleanliness of the room where the interviewee is located) influenced interviewers’ ratings of interviewee conscientiousness and interview performance ratings. We conducted a between-subjects experiment (N = 389) and manipulated three factors: background cleanliness (clean vs. messy) x location (office vs. home) x gender of job candidate (man vs. woman). The dependent variables were conscientiousness ratings and interview performance ratings. There was a main effect of cleanliness on conscientiousness and on interview performance ratings; …

Personnel Selection In Australia: Identifying Research-Practice Gaps And Understanding The Importance Of Culture Fit, Jaymon D. Kirk, Serena Wee, Patrick D. Dunlop

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

This study examined current personnel selection practices in Australia including (a) the types of assessments used, (b) the factors considered when choosing assessments, and (c) the characteristics targeted in successful applicants. Participants from 68 organizations responded to a questionnaire that asked about current selection practices. Several areas where current practice deviated from research-supported best practice were identified. First, psychometric tests were used rarely: Cognitive ability tests were used by 26% of organizations and self-report questionnaires (e.g., personality inventories) by 18% of organizations. Second, when choosing assessments, the three most important considerations (in order) were the candidate experience, reducing bias, and …

Interventions To Improve The Candidate Experience Of Structured Videoconference Interviews, Amanda Deacon, Jordan Moore, Deborah Powell

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Intense competition for talent has led to increased organizational focus on improving how applicants perceive and respond to selection tools. Because of the recent increased use of technology in selection, we tested whether modifying aspects of videoconference interviews could improve applicant reactions. We tested two interventions—structured rapport building and question provision—with 205 applicants applying for a research assistant position. Applicants were randomly assigned to either an experimental condition (rapport or question provision) or the control condition and participated in a structured videoconference interview, followed by a survey. Structured rapport building had no significant effect on applicant reactions. However, question provision …

The Impact Of Instagram Usage On Body-Esteem In Young Women In College, Kirsten Etzinger

Honors Projects

Instagram as a platform is increasing in popularity, especially among young women. Young women may use Instagram to keep up with their peers, follow trends, or as a way to express themselves. However, it is evident that young women can be negatively affected by the content they are exposed to on Instagram. This study examines the impact that increased Instagram usage can have on body-esteem in young women in college by evaluating their degree of Instagram usage, motivation to use social media for body comparison, and feelings of body-esteem. An online survey was conducted with BGSU college-age female students and …

Comparing Levels Of Situational Empathy Based On Medium Of Exposure To Covid-19 Mortality Information And Vaccination Status, Kaylee Ries

Honors Projects

Psychophysical numbing, compassion fading, and the singularity effect are strongly affecting the world amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Empathy motivated prosocial behavior is not consistent with the drastic number of lives lost due to COVID-19. The current study evaluated participants for situational empathy levels post exposure to either COVID-19 death statistics or a personal reflection on loss due to COVID-19. Alongside empathy, vaccination status was measured as a potential moderator on the relationship between medium of exposure to mortality information and empathy levels in the sample. 68 students were considered for this study. There was not a significant relationship between situational …

Targeting The Gap In Mental Health Advocacy For First-Year College Students, Hailey Kurtz

Honors Projects

The transition from high school to attending a university has been shown to have an impact on the mental health and well-being of first-year university students. First-year students struggle with anxiety and depression in relation to being in a new environment, feeling lonely, fitting in, and taking more academically rigorous coursework. Current students have an awareness of what mental health and well-being resources on their campus are available to them, but such resources are not widely used, though a majority of students indicate that they do or have struggled with their mental health. This indicates that though students are struggling …

The Effects Of Activation And Values-Enhanced Activation On Mood, Joshua Bock

Honors Projects

Behavioral Activation (BA) is a contemporary behavioral therapy that aims to lessen depressive symptoms by increasing the activity of depressed individuals. There are many protocols for implementing BA, with most protocols being relatively similar. One difference frequently observed between protocols is the inclusion or omission of values (Kanter et al., 2006, 2009). Despite this variation in protocol, there has yet to be an empirical exploration of whether including values in BA makes the therapy more effective. The current study examines the effect of values-based activation on mood by manipulating the inclusion of values in an activation prompt with a general …