Digital Commons Network^™

Are Firm Emissions Data Likely To Be Accurate Under Carbon-Dioxide Cap & Trade Programs? An Economic Analysis, Kyle Beck

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Numerous policy makers around the world have implemented carbon dioxide (CO2) cap and trade programs in an effort to combat global climate change. However, under this policy option emitters face incentives to both overstate prior emission levels and then exaggerate emissions reductions induced by regulation. I first build a simple conceptual model which demonstrates these incentives for fraud, and then outline institutional conditions which could plausibly enhance, or else reduce, firm incentives to disseminate erroneous emissions data under this policy option. Next I analyze real world evidence suggesting that duplicitous emissions data, particularly for the pre-regulatory period, is a serious …

Do Policy Frameworks Affect Microfinance Participation In Kenya?, Matthew Reed

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The following paper explores the effectiveness of microfinance policy on the registered level of participation in Kenya. The research is conducted through the lens of Acemoglu and Robinson’s view of deep institutional issues restraining policy from its intended reform. Specifically, the paper looks at the effectiveness in increasing the total number of borrowers after Kenya’s National Microfinance Act of 2006 in regard to property right protection issues within the country. Ultimately, the research reinforces the idea that institutional issues, both political and economic, are a severe handicap to microfinance within a developing country.

Economic Development And Peace: To Be Pursued In Tandem, Allison Fisher

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Peace and economic development are often regarded as separate fields with little overlap. The association with the field of economics makes the latter seem more measurable, more tangible, and therefore more academic. However, a shift is taking place as peace practitioners and researchers discover ways to compare the level of peace within and between countries. Current research in peace studies shows a salient link between the level of economic development and the level of peace within societies. Researchers that work in these two fields must pursue them simultaneously and jointly. The purpose of this paper is to highlight evidence of …

Antwerp-Opedia: A Microsoft Sharepoint Site, Catherine Susco

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

As my Honors Capstone project, I implemented a Microsoft SharePoint site where JMU study abroad alumni from the College of Business Semester in Antwerp program can share their experiences and travel tips with other JMU students preparing to go to Antwerp. The goal of this project was to develop an online portal to host a collaborative, centralized site where students can find information regarding the Semester in Antwerp program. Resources on the site include information about the Antwerp program, tourist information and general international travel information. The Microsoft SharePoint site developed throughout this project includes a Wiki general information page, …

Expanding Business To Harrisonburg, Graham Maguire

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This study will attempt to determine whether Harrisonburg is a viable option for expanded retail options. Fifteen stores will be examined that have performed well throughout the United States over the past several years based on several different metrics. Data used to compared these stores will be collected via a survey distributed to James Madison University students and public census data. Additionally, several stores that are already in operation in Harrisonburg will be assessed to serve as a comparison group. By the end of this study, I will offer recommendations on which of the 15 stores in the study would …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Interprofessional Collaboration For Preprofessional Speech-Language Pathology And Occupational Therapy Graduate Students, Morgan Cornwell

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This study explores the effects of an emergent writing interprofessional collaboration experience for preprofessional speech-language pathology (SLP) and occupational therapy (OT) graduate students. The preprofessionals were split into two groups (SLP only and SLP-OT pairs) and delivered emergent writing interventions to preschoolers either individually (SLP only) or collaboratively (SLP-OT pairs). The purpose of this study was to investigate how working collaboratively versus working individually to deliver the interventions to preschoolers influences the preprofessionals’ knowledge of theInterprofessional Education Collaborative’s (IPEC) core competencies and emergent writing concepts. The results showed that paired preprofessionals reported higher levels of interprofessional competency than unpaired preprofessionals. …

The Reproducibility Crisis In Scientific Research, Sarah Eline

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Following the push for evidence based practice, came a huge proliferation of research journals and journal articles. With this increase in quantity came an increased concern about the quality of these articles being published, which led to a multifield investigation regarding the reproducibility of scientific research. With studies in the fields of psychology and biomedicine only reaching approximately a 30% reproducibility rate, a conversation has been sparked that spans across every field of research. Upon further investigation, various causes for this reproducibility crisis have surfaced which include, lack of data sharing/ transparency, statistical errors, funding corruption, and the culture surrounding …

The Correlation Between Undergraduate Students Who Attend The University Recreation Center And Students Exhibiting Symptoms Of An Eating Disorder, Olivia Daniels

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Background: The prevalence of eating disorders on college campuses indicates an important issue in contemporary society. As students experience a heightened level of freedom, they have the option to explore multiple forms of weight- management, including compulsive exercise.

Methodology: An online survey was distributed to female undergraduate students(n=206) at James Madison University.

Results: A significant relationship was found between eating disorder symptomology and where participants decided to spend their time at the University Recreation Center (UREC), as well as what type of physical activity they chose to perform. A significant inverse relationship between increasing muscle mass and burning calories was …

Participant Accuracy And Impact Of Biofeedback On A Skilled Swallowing Task, Caris Giessler

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Biofeedback is as a visual way to self-assess muscle contraction, particularly during rehabilitative exercises. Speech language pathologists and otolaryngologists have investigated the use of visual biofeedback in swallowing therapy, especially for volitional swallowing rehabilitative exercises such as the effortful swallow, which requires the patient to maximally swallow with all their strength. In contrast to the effortful swallow, “effortful skilled swallowing” is the ability to swallow with a specific and precise amount of effort, which is an emerging topic in dysphagia research. Dysphagia, also known as disordered swallowing, can be an organic congenital disorder treated via feeding tubes, or an acquired …

Life Variables Of College Students Who Report Helicopter Parenting, Faith Benton

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Emerging adulthood is a time when young people around 18 to 25 years old try out different experiences and work their way toward commitments in love and work (Arnett, 2006). Many emerging adults are in college and are expected by society to become independent from their parents by the time they graduate. Parents who remain high on warmth and support but high on control and low on granting autonomy inconsistent with the age of the child are considered helicopter parents (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). The current study examined the association between helicopter parenting, aggression, entitlement, materialism, and substance use of …

Understanding Awareness And Completion Of Advanced Care Directives: An Exploratory Study, Katherine Anna Chiu, Katherine Grace Topf

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Background: Advance Care Directives (ACDs) are forms that are beneficial for expressing end-of-life wishes during Advance Care Planning (ACP); however, few studies have focused on awareness and completion among college-aged populations. Completion of ACDs are more common among populations forced to think about potential of death, such as the elderly and chronically ill.

Methodology: This research is comprised of two parts in order to explore the availability of resources on four-year public institutions’ official websites (institutional level), and college-aged students’ beliefs and values. The institutional level took inventory of information available on the official websites of four-year public institutions (n=1,642). …

Family Of Origin Experiences And Young Adults’ Romantic Relationship Outcomes, Emily Isola

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This study seeks to identify the impact of one’s family-of-origin experiences on future young adult romantic relationships. It is hypothesized that greater conflict within parental and parent-teen relationships will predict poorer future romantic relationship outcomes. These associations will be mediated by anxiety, insecure attachment, and poorer conflict resolution skills. A mediating variable is a third variable that can help explain the connection between an independent and dependent variable. Buffering effects of positive friendship qualities will also be considered. Data were analyzed using an 18-year multi-method longitudinal study of 184 youth. Hierarchical regressions between family of origin predictor variables, mediators, and …

The Influence Of Body Composition, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, And Physical Activity On Serum Ggt In College Drinkers, Gillian Mackey

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: To test the effect of body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical activity levels on serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) among college students who consume alcohol. Methods: Seven male and nine female subjects over 21 years old completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification (AUDIT), a maximal treadmill test to measure maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), a DEXA scan for body fat percentage, and a venous blood draw for serum GGT. In addition, subjects were assessed with respect to average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) via continuously worn (while awake) accelerometer for one week. Subjects were grouped based on AUDIT scores [ …

Children Of Milagros: Bringing Aid To A Community Center In Need, Matthew Ashley

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Children of Milagros, Inc. (COM) was organized for the charitable purposes of providing tuition for educational and developmental services to underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic. Currently COM offers aid to a sole beneficiary, Espacio Infantil Madison (EIM). EIM is a community center in Gurabo, Dominican Republic that provides a safe, educational environment for young children of low-income families. To establish a rationale for funding the space, this project explores the needs of the community as well as the present and future benefits of early childhood education and socialization for individuals. The remainder of this project discusses the founding of …

Learning How To Learn, Kyle Duffie

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and create a discussion regarding the human science of learning. For the last two semesters, I have been involved in tutoring students in the principles of accounting. The key difference between these two semesters was my mindset towards learning. My first semester tutoring I taught “firing from the hip.” Simply answering questions or working problems myself and explaining them as I went along. And yes, I do believe this style of tutoring helped these students. Looking back however, I can’t help but think of myself as someone living in the 17^{th …}

Investigating The Role Of Integrin Beta 3 In Dendritic Arborization In The Supragranular Developing Cerebral Cortex, Zachary Logan Holley

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Integrin subunits have been implicated in axonal and dendritic outgrowth. In particular, a strong positive association has been found between mutations in integrin beta 3 (Itgb3) and autism spectrum disorder, but little is known about neuronal Itgb3 function in vivo. Many forms of autism spectrum disorder are thought to arise from dysfunctional dendritic arborization and synaptic pruning. Global knockout of Itgb3 in mice leads to autistic-like behaviors. Itgb3^-/- mice also have reduced callosal volume, a key neuroanatomical correlate of autism. Here, we test the hypothesis that Itgb3 is required for normal dendritic arborization in layer II/III pyramidal …

The United States' Shifting Relationship With Taiwan Due To Cold War Influences, Hunter Pratt

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The struggle between the Kuomintang (KMT) and Communist Party of China (CPS) shaped the direction of future American-Chinese relations by seismically uprooting the dynamics between the two states amidst the backdrop of the Cold War. President Harry Truman and later President Dwight Eisenhower were responsible for shepherding the United States through this new period of crisis as the ideological debates of the 21^st century were beginning to simplify into the East vs the West, communism vs. capitalism, and democracy vs. authoritarianism. China serves as one of the proto-battlefields of this ideological battle. Truman’s personal qualities, temperament, and beliefs influenced …

Do Emg Monitoring And Amplitude Normalization Reduce Cvemp Variability In A Pediatric Population?, Brenna Murray

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Untreated balance disorders can cause anxiety, social withdrawal, and even slow motor development in children, making early and accurate diagnosis crucial to patient care. One of the leading tests for the diagnosis of balance disorders is known as the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test. The cVEMP test is the only clinically available tool that assesses the integrity of the organ of balance known as the saccule and its afferent pathway through the inferior vestibular nerve. The test is noninvasive and easy to administer, making patient diagnosis quick and effective rendering it crucial in the assessment of vestibular function …

Detecting The Cold: Do Innexins Function In Cold Nociception?, Rachel Barborek

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Nociception is the perception of and response to harmful stimuli. Nociception is essential for minimizing tissue damage, but aberrant nociceptive pathways can result in chronic pain. Chronic pain in the U.S. is commonly managed with wide-acting opioids, and precisely defining the components of nociceptive pathways could uncover novel targets for pain therapies. I hypothesize that the vitally quick process of nociception would utilize electrical synapses because they transmit signals between neurons more quickly than chemical synapses do. This study, therefore, aims to uncover the potential role of the eight Drosophila melanogaster gap junction proteins, the Innexins, in cold nociception. Wild …

Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials (Cvemps): "Differentiation Of Inter-Neck Emg Symmetry Between Children And Adults", Ellen Jones

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

A cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential (cVEMP) is one of the few objective vestibular diagnostic tests available for pediatric populations. This test evaluates the functionality of the saccule end organ through an inhibitory reflex on the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle that inhibits the level of electromyographic (EMG) activity (Wiener-Vacher, 2013). Because the saccule response is measured as an inhibition of EMG in the SCM, it is imperative that the SCM have a tonic contraction prior to eliciting the response and that the contraction of the SCM is equal on the right and left sides. It is generally accepted that young, healthy adults …

"Playhouse Creatures:" A Study Of Restoration Actresses, Emily Laplante

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Creatures. Women. Actresses. We are here because of women like Mary Betterton, Doll Common, Nell Gwyn, Elizabeth Farley, and Rebecca Marshall. Theatre is about telling stories. Their story is a timeless one: of suffering, resilience, dedication, love, and comradery. Actresses were first permitted by royal decree to act upon the stage in 1669 by King Charles II of England. This decree created a spark within the playhouses to see actresses in the flesh perform. With this came a ripple effect of a host of expectations and suppression. This Honors Capstone is a comprehensive look into the themes of April De …

Learning In The Light Of Freedom: The Mississippi Freedom Schools Of 1964, Emma E. Appleton

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This paper investigates the “freedom schools” of the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1964. It argues through a combination of a powerfully designed curriculum, the implementation of student-centered pedagogy, and a focus on relationship building and personal efficacy, freedom school students were given the skills and confidence needed to become young leaders in their communities and bring change to Mississippi. Through this paper, I hope to encourage current educators apply freedom school principles and practices in their own classrooms to inspire our students in the same way.

How To Live: Lessons From Old English And Old Norse/Icelandic Wisdom Literature, Rhys Frazier

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Medieval wisdom literature is a genre that is difficult to define and it has not been extensively studied. Scholarship is typically concerned with translation and manuscript emendation concerns and with identification of sources in addition to an analysis of religious influences. There has not yet been any scholarship concerned with the ways in which religious themes and concerns about life after death are meant to influence the behaviors and attitudes of the living reader. The present study seeks to analyze the ways in which the Old English poems “Maxims I,” “The Gifts of Men,” and “The Fortunes of Men,” as …

Free Speech On Public College Campuses, Christopher Gothard

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The topic of free speech has become increasingly publicized and debated recently. With cases of speech being suppressed coming to light all across the country, it is apparent that there has been a tremendous shift in views on college campuses on the right to free speech. Through trying to balance an inclusive society with the right of all to speak freely, the First Amendment right to free speech and the applicable case law have begun to be inconsistently interpreted, specifically on public college campuses. Whether by imposing security costs on speakers, solely utilizing free speech zones, or allowing the heckler’s …

Donald Trump Did A “Very Good” Job: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Candidate Trump’S Campaign Speeches, Caroline Mohan

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Since mid-2015, Donald Trump has shaken the political arena with an unprecedented yet effective public rhetorical repertoire. Regardless of alleged scandals, frequent social media usage, and extemporaneous and fiery rally speeches, the president’s approval ratings remain steady and he continues to move forward in his international and local political endeavors. Though these factors often posed large obstacles for past presidents, Trump has overcome them by use of audience identification, transparency, honorific pandering, and shrewd control of a vulnerable political sphere. In this study, rhetorician Kenneth Burke’s fantasy-theme and cluster criticisms are used to analyze Trump’s overall rhetorical themes, in social …

Cause Campaign For Dating Abuse In College, Isabel Elaine Kerr

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Through a cause campaign and partnership with the James Madison University (JMU) Health Center (UHC), this project confronts the widespread social issue of intimate partner violence (IPV), or dating abuse, in college-aged relationships. Encompassing all forms and subsets of dating abuse, the campaign intends to initiate conversation, facilitate awareness, and express support within the university community. The campaign is scheduled for implementation in October 2019, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, in conjunction with the UHC’s other awareness efforts.

The Effects Of Nap Duration On Sleep Inertia And Physical Performance, Angela Petretta

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of 15 and 30-min naps on 3-km time trial performance and peak muscle strength. METHODS: Six recreationally trained college-aged participants visited the lab on 4 separate occasions. During each visit, participants completed a peak strength test, and a 3-km time trial following the nap condition. For the muscle strength test, peak isokinetic leg extension strength was assessed. The 3-km time trial was computer simulated time of completion and average power output was recorded. Nap conditions were: no-nap, 15-minute nap, and 30-minute nap. One-Way (nap condition) and Repeated Measures ANOVA’s (time x nap condition) …

Bringing The Norm To The ‘Burgs: Gender And Design At Two Virginia Normal Schools 1908-1928, Inga H. Gudmundsson

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this presentation is to compare James Madison University and the University of Mary Washington from their start with the passing of a 1908 General Assembly bill creating state normal schools for women in Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg, Virginia. The focus is on the two schools from their creation, with an emphasis on how gender contributed to the architectural styles of both campuses and how Southern cultural ideals and Progressive Era ideals of the early 20th century shaped the experiences of the women during the first two decades of the two institutions' histories.

A Lens On National Parks Past And Present: Bringing Conservation And Climate Change Into Collective Focus, Megan Phillips

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

My Honors Capstone Creative Project, A Lens on National Parks Past and Present: Bringing Conservation and Climate Change into Collective Focus, examines the effects of climate change in Joshua Tree National Park, Glacier National Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, and Shenandoah National Park through the research of historical photographers who documented the parks in the past, interviews with key figures on the subject at each park, and my own photographic documentation of the parks. I was awarded James Madison University’s 2018 College of Visual and Performing Arts Undergraduate Research Grant to travel and pursue my proposed research and photographic documentation …

China: Do The Uighurs Represent A Serious Threat?, Bridget Read, Ryan Walters

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) utilization of harsh ethnic control policies coupled with extreme and violent enforcement by the People’s Armed Police (PAP) will likely drive the Uighurs to become a security threat to the PRC and disrupt international relationships. The Uighurs do not currently constitute a security threat to the PRC based on their limited connection to terrorist organizations and attacks. Due to several underlying factors, the Uighurs represent a political concern to the PRC and the conflict between the PRC and the Uighurs is fueled by ethnic tensions. Ongoing security operations in the Uighurs’ home province of …