Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Socioeconomic Status, Physical Inactivity, And Bmi In Transitional Urban China: Contextualizing The Theory Of Fundamental Causes, Jun Xu, Fang Gong, Wei Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Drawing insights from the theory of fundamental causes of disease, this study examined the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and selected risk factors in transitional urban China. Specifically, under China’s distinct institutional and sociocultural environment, we examined how contextualized SES (i.e., party membership, hukou status, housing ownership, and subjective social status) and conventional SES indicators (i.e., education, income, and occupation) were associated with physical inactivity and body mass index (BMI). Utilizing the urban subsample of the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), we found that individuals with higher education, income, Communist Party membership, and urban hukou status had lower risks …

Overseas Military Parental Support: Local Test And Results, Cameron S. Gunnels

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service learning project researched the lack of parental support for military families stationed at overseas locations. Often the available resources which could combat this lack of support do not provide services to families with children older than one year old. I created flyers and posted them around my unit advertising a free event to provide childcare for local military families. The flier for the event was also shared over official military email, through social media, and provided to various stakeholders involved in the project to share on their own social media pages or websites. This event provided fully funded …

Simplicity Of Wildlife Information, Brandon Joseph Kosiancic

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project came from curiosity and to help connect information to the community both locally and for tourists. Connecting with people from different backgrounds of the community helped solidify my deliverable and creativity that was made. After receiving feedback and doing field research of examples I came to my final product of what could benefit the community with the least amount of money or resources needed. By learning new sets of skills like graphic design and forming new relationships regarding wildlife and just what wildlife ecosystems do for the environment. I was able to help out in a way where …

Weekly Wellness Program, Rogene Rux

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project brings to light some reasons why employees do not participate in in-house wellness programs which can worsen the feelings of burnout and isolation at work. A weekly wellness program, consisting of short and fun wellness activities, will help people be resilient physically and mentally.

Onboarding Program For Hospitality Managers, Reid C. Fawcett

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Examines the issues faced by new team members who are hired or promoted into management positions, with an emphasis on the segment of Sodexo college campus dining hospitality. Investigates the issues related to poor employee morale, deficiencies in performance, and lack of overall job knowledge upon being thrust into a leadership position. Provides solutions to current inadequacies based on recent experiences, manager and peer feedback, and turnover data to create a more productive program for new managers and company stakeholders.

The Board - A Place For Veterans To Build Their Professional Networks, Anthony Dale Bench

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

I chose to complete a service-learning project where I created a website that allows veterans to build their professional networks. I also identified that veterans often have a hard time communicating their military qualifications on their resumes. This led to the creation of a forum on my website where veterans can submit their resumes and receive feedback from other veterans.

Donate A Book Community Book Drive, Camille R. Slack

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

I chose to do a community book drive so that the more underprivileged people in our community could be provided with something they may not have the option of obtaining otherwise. Reading materials! The biggest step in order for this to be a success was taking action to get the word out in the community among those that can provide the donations that would be needed. Everyone at each stage of this project worked together to make it a success. I have to admit, this project went a lot easier and smoother than I had originally thought it would.

Library Signage, Aleena Ann Gingerich

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

While working at the Eastern Florida State College Library and interacting with patrons I have gained insight for the areas which can be altered to improve our patrons’ experiences. I decided to apply the skills I’ve gained through my higher education experience to step outside of my current role at the Eastern Florida State College library, to improve the library’s signage.

The goal is to make the library more accessible and easier for patrons to use, promoting more book loans and encourage students to use library services.

Making Resources Available - A Capstone Project, Colleen Seay

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project began as an attempt to make connections within my community. Connections between people in need, and the resources and services available to them. Making these connections involved research, discovering all of the wonderful organizations available locally and statewide and compiling those into an organized list with contact information. From there, I built a website that was easy to navigate and provided anyone who wanted access, every resource I had found. This website assists not only those who are looking for a little extra help, but also those who are trying to do good within their community. Those who …

The Maintenance Support Initiative, Quentin T. Turner

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The Maintenance Support Initiative, my capstone project, was designed to address inefficiencies in maintaining sensitive medical equipment, where precision and reliability are crucial. Inspired by the potential to enhance quality and safety, I developed user-friendly checklists specifically tailored to our organization. By collaborating closely with stakeholders, I gathered diverse perspectives to ensure the checklists were practical and effective. Emotional intelligence and innovative thinking proved to be essential along the way. These skills helped me navigate challenges and foster a collaborative environment where everybody got to be involved in the project. The post-implementation surveys revealed the project's success, showing reduced maintenance …

Instructional Video On Mental Health, Sarah Angelica Cruz Salum

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project is an instructional video promoting mental health in educational and workplace settings. Sharing important information regarding mental health. What it looks like, techniques to help those struggling with their mental health, and programs that could be implemented.

Alternative College Program, Juan Francisco Alvarado

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

I wanted to create another option for students who do not wish to go to college after high school for whatever reason they have. I was in the staffing industry for three years and know there are opportunities for kids. Students have free periods during the day which they do not use effectively. I recommended using those hours to have kids go work at manufacturing plants and pick up useful trades. It evolved to something greater and the community was great. In helping out.

Learning With A Bang!, Jesse Poseley

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project focuses on a polarizing topic in America today, firearms. The Supreme Court of the United States has been very clear on the topic and therefore private ownership of firearms is here to stay for the foreseeable future. What can be done to ensure that their ownership and use is done in a way that is both safe and effective? Training. This project introduces the sport of USPSA as a training ground for the owners of firearms to learn and hone skills for the safe and effective use of firearms. This project consisted of 5 hours of mixed classroom …

Does The Phrase “Conspiracy Theory” Matter?, M. R. X. Dentith, G. Husting, M. Orr

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Research on conspiracy theories has proliferated since 2016, in part due to the US election of President Trump, the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasingly threatening environmental conditions. In the rush to publication given these concerning social consequences, researchers have increasingly treated as definitive a 2016 paper by Michael Wood (Political Psychology, 37(5), 695–705, 2016) that concludes that the phrase “conspiracy theory” has no negative effect upon people’s willingness to endorse a claim. We revisit Wood’s findings and its (re)uptake in the recent literature. Is the label “conspiracy theory” a pejorative? If so, does it sway or affect people’s belief …

Flight Attendant Mental Health Awareness, Breanna Lyle

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project was to create a Facebook group for flight attendants that allow them to be able to find a location with resources for mental, and physical health struggles that come along with the job. It was private so that others can feel safe within the group, and know that the resources that are being posted have correct, and valid information.

Helping The Homeless Communities, Rylee R. Raz

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

In my community, I have talked to stakeholders about doing a donation drive. For my project, I decided to collect donations for The Valley House Homeless Shelter in Twin Falls, Idaho. As part of my project, I aimed to collect donations that would be beneficial and helpful for families in need. The main focus of my project was collecting donations such as household items. There are a number of items I would like to get for the children, including bedding, bathroom supplies, boxed foods, baby supplies, and educational materials. In addition to creating flyers to post around the community, I …

Community Family Game Night, Adrianna Green

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

In the community of Tetonia, where social opportunities outside of church events or bars are limited, organizing a community game night emerged as a solution to enhance engagement, particularly for young children. Through a service-learning project, the project began with discussions with the Tetonia First Ward young women's group and the Mayor of Tetonia, gathering valuable feedback, including insights from about the need for increased involvement for senior citizens. Recognizing the potential for intergenerational connection, the event aimed to bring youth and older community members together.

Walkability And Pedestrian Safety In Nampa, Idaho, Laura J. Q. Shoemaker

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service-learning capstone project explores the pressing concern of walkability in Nampa, Idaho, driven by a rise in pedestrian fatalities. The project is designed to foster citizen advocacy for a more walkable town by creating a booklet. After research and collaboration, I created a concise booklet that shares the benefits of walkability, pedestrian safety tips, local laws, and organizations citizens can contact or be involved in.

Results include city support for distribution, media coverage, and engagement through social media and community events. While successful, the project could benefit from increased opportunities for community engagement and broader dissemination to promote pedestrian …

Onboarding And Training Plan Development: Adapting To Remote Work, Nick Jerome Sobczak

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This professional action capstone project was done to address my work department’s lack of preparedness to onboard and train new employees since our office moved to remote work. The focuses of this project were ensuring we had the technical ability to train a remote employee with options to interact with them via screen sharing and video conference, a new comprehensive training plan, and the storage of that plan and all related files or documentation in a shared and easily accessible location.

Meeple Mondays!, Kyle Robert Trigg

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Meeple Mondays are a prospective bi-weekly event dedicated to playing tabletop games of all weights and genres. I hosted this night with the intention of providing a space in which newcomers can experience and learn how to play board games. In providing this for the community as a whole, I have helped open up a new way for younger individuals to try their hand at something new but expensive. This entire project manifested as a single night event with collected feedback to make it recurring.

Easy Peasy Low Carb Meals, Sophia Maria Sanders

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder. Complications of this disease can cause metabolic syndrome (high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol, and high blood pressure) and Type 2 diabetes. Doctors suggest a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and healthy carbohydrates to help control symptoms. PCOS is one of many health issues that can be managed with a low-carb diet. My capstone project is a recipe book filled with quick or easy low-carb dinners created with a busy parent in mind.

Family Cookbook Recipe, Cecilia Julia Bonoweme

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The idea of the Family Cookbook Project stemmed from a profound love for cooking and a desire to preserve cherished culinary traditions. Inspired by the memories created in the kitchen with loved ones, I started a project to gather all our family recipes together into something we can hold onto and keep. As family members moved away or passed on, I realized the importance of preserving these culinary treasures for future generations. Thus, the Family Cookbook Project was born. It's all about celebrating different traditions, bringing families closer, and helping people cook healthier meals. The project wants to help families …

Non-Profit Grant Writing: Supporting A Local Breed Specific Dog Rescue, Kamy Godoy

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For this action project, I chose to pursue a project that would help support the needs, specifically medical, of a local non-profit, no kill dog rescue called Boise Bully Breed Rescue (BBBR). I chose this rescue because it is breed specific and because it is bully specific, this rescue must work a little harder to acquire sources of funding to aid them. After receiving guidance from the rescue’s founder, I decided that the most optimal way to help this rescue was through finding and applying for grants that could offer funding to support their growing medical costs. Funding through grants …

Food Brings Us All Together, Lisa N. Hernandez

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

When you move to a new neighborhood, it’s hard to get comfortable at first. You may have concerns or questions about how some things are accomplished and even more so if you are a part of an HOA. For this capstone project, I wanted to create a space for the people of my housing community to come together and network. This was going to be a place where they could talk and get to know each other as well as have a discussion session on items they may have questions about. In a society that’s new, you have to adapt …

Professional Development Handbook, K. D. Moreland

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This action research project was designed to help lower enlisted Soldiers receive additional knowledge that will help with their career progression and knowledge within the military. This handbook is quick and easy to access with some additional resources if they want to dive into the material a little deeper. This handbook would be great for someone who is getting ready to go to a promotion board and wants to study up on basic Army knowledge and some additional regulations that are important to know.

Savannah’S Customs: Automotive Passion, Savannah M. Doran

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This capstone project is a service-learning podcast to provide information, research, and inspiration to those in the automotive community. Specifically, focused on changing stereotypes of women in automotive. There are not many spaces for women in the automotive industry to gain inspiration or be involved in a community. The podcast helps create a community where individuals can help inspire one another to follow their passion. It impacts the general public (listeners) and myself by providing an innovative approach to automotive passions.

Supporting Young Children Through Big Feelings, P. Diane Stoecker

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This is a service-learning project centered around solving the problem of how I can provide support to young children and their adults as they work through big emotions. Specifically, I wrote a children’s book titled My Big Feelings, which tells a narrative from a child's perspective about what they need from their adult as they experience big feelings. The second part of this project is a companion section in the back of the book focusing on emotional intelligence concepts. Included in this section are quick tips, ideas, and other resources designed to help adults provide support for children as they …

Scholarship Awareness Of Idaho, Gabbriella G. Lifferth

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Many young adults who are about to start on their educational journey lack awareness of scholarships, hindering their ability to access financial support for their education. My blog is designed to be used as a helpful guide for individuals facing this similar issue that I once faced myself. Using a blog to deliver current and available information on local scholarship opportunities. The project's main goal is to create an easily accessible platform for scholarship awareness and empower young adults to gain a higher education. The website is designed to allow students to actively search for and apply for scholarship opportunities …

Implementing An Office Training, Ashley Michelle Connolley

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my capstone project, I chose to develop a training course with corresponding materials regarding the Return to Title IV Funds (R2T4) process in the Financial Aid Office. I have been working in this office for over a year, and I have been the manager and main processor of R2T4 for over six months. When I took a step back, I realized that our office has very little in terms of proper training materials, instead relying on new employees to learn through written out procedures. While this is okay for some of the easier processes, it does not foster an …

Emerging Young Readers: The Melba 9-1-1 Emergency Reading Program, Tammi K. Crnkovich

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service-learning project focused on elementary-aged children and the community that supports them. It focused on building a community-supported reading program to create excitement and passion for reading in our young children and build a strong community and appreciation for service workers. To do this, I created the Melba 9-1-1 Reading Program to engage our young readers. The Melba elementary-aged children were tasked to read ninety (9) minutes per week (1) for one month (1). They were able to manage how much they read per day and week but were given a goal of 360 minutes for one month. Upon …