Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Undergraduates And Stress, Mahra Crone

Honors Projects

America is facing a serious mental health crisis, which may be an effect of increased chronic stress. Students, in particular, are vulnerable to this hazard as most face a moderate to extreme amount of stress. The programs which colleges and universities have put into place are outdated. Ineffective treatment of mental health crises leads to disastrous consequences. The present study analyzed the effects of major and grade level on stress level and sources of stress for undergraduate universities at both a large, public university and a small, private college. The author found that a student’s grade level and choice of …

Using Critical Race Theory To Examine Race And Racism In Social Work Education, Ebony Nicole Perez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Race and racism have proven to be a core concept of U.S. society that impacts People of Color through a set of challenges which have created and maintained enduring racial disparities and inequities. The social work profession has a time-honored commitment to working with and advocating historically marginalized populations. Social workers work with individuals, groups, and communities to help assess needs, strengths, support networks, respond to crisis situations, and advocate for social justice. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the experiences of undergraduate social work educators (BSWEs) who teach to encourage the development of students’ knowledge, …

“Are We Getting There? Human Services Community College Students’ Experiences With Evidence Based Practice (Ebp) In Field Placement”., Anya Y. Spector, Krimili Infante

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Community college students’ experiences with Evidence Based Practice (EBP) in the field placement are not well understood, despite the importance of EBP for students’ future social work academic training and job performance. This longitudinal, qualitative, exploratory study examines journal entries of second year community college students at two time points, in the beginning and at the end of the field placement, where students reveal the types of EBP skills and experiences that they engage, as well as their perceptions of their experiences along the way. This study helps to shed light on the experiences with specific interventions and practices that …

Academic Disciplines And Use Of Library-Based Online Resources For Learning Activities By Undergraduates In University Of Ibadan, Nigeria, Michael Oladiran, Tolulope Balogun

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of academic disciplines on the use of library-based online resources for learning activities by undergraduates in the University of Ibadan.

The paper adopted the quantitative research method. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted in selecting the undergraduate students from each faculty and department with the sampling fraction of 2.5%. The sample size for the study is 303 undergraduates of University of Ibadan. Questionnaire was the instrument used to gather data for the research. 286 (94.4%) questionnaires were properly completed and analyzed.

The study revealed that that the Internet is the …

Investigating How Faculty Social Networks And Peer Influence Relate To Knowledge And Use Of Evidence-Based Teaching Practices, J. P. Ziker, B. Earl, S. E. Shadle

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Calls for science education reform have been made for decades in the USA. The recent call to produce one million new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates over 10 years highlights the need to employ evidence-based instructional practices (EBIPs) in undergraduate STEM classes to create engaging and effective learning environments. EBIPs are teaching strategies that have been empirically demonstrated to positively impact student learning, attitudes, and achievement in STEM disciplines. However, the mechanisms and processes by which faculty learn about and choose to implement EBIPs remain unclear. To explore this problem area, we used social network analysis to …

Choosing Information Systems As A Major: Factors That Influence Selection, Carole L. Shook

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine student perceptions of factors affecting the decision to select information systems as an undergraduate major. Additionally, information systems students were compared to other business students to see if significant differences existed between groups. The four factors studied included: (a) personal interest in the major, (b) student competence, (c) value and utility, and (d) external influences of other people and academic experiences.

A convenience sample was used at a public university in the Southeastern region of the United States. Two hundred junior/senior students were selected as participants. One hundred of the students were …

Evaluation Of Students’ Perceptions Of Library Service Quality Using Libqual Model: The Case Study In Hospitality Institute In India, Jyothi Mallya, Valsaraj Payini

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hospitality students’ perception of library service quality provided by the institute using a well-known measurement model LibQUAL. A structured questionnaire with 22 items on three dimensions of LibQUAL was distributed to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students using Google forms. The mean differences between the UG and PG were analyzed using independent sample t-test. The findings suggest that there is a significant difference in the mean perception of undergraduate and postgraduate students about the library services provided by the institute. This study provides practical insight to library managers about the perception …

An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Academic Pressure And Non-Medical Prescription Stimulant Use Among University Of South Carolina Undergraduate Students, Arslan Valimohamed

Senior Theses

One hundred and six undergraduate students of the University of South Carolina were surveyed to understand misuse of prescription stimulants and how perceived academic pressure may play a role in this behavior. Overall, the survey revealed that 33.0% of participants reported illicit use of prescription stimulants in the last 30 days, and 52.8% reported illicitly using prescription stimulants at least once during their time in college. Data from the survey responses indicated that students perceiving academic pressure were more likely to have misused prescription stimulants at least once during their time in college, but only if these students also reported …

Perceived Impact Of Internet Services On Computer Science Undergraduate Research In Universities In Benue State, Nigeria, Tofi Simon Ternenge

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT: The study investigated the perceived impact of internet services on Computer Science undergraduate research in universities in Benue State, Nigeria. The study looked at the extent of availability of internet services, e-mails, World Wide Web, File Transfer Protocol and challenges that affect effective utilization of internet services. Five (5) objectives with corresponding research questions guided the study while three hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was 401 final year undergraduate students of Computer Science Department from three (3) universities in Benue State. The sample size for the study was …

Prehypertensive Risk Among African-American Undergraduates: Do The Extra Pounds Really Matter?, Cecile N. Yancu, Amber Debono, Anna K. Lee, Correll Mcrae, Daphne Witherspoon

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The objective of this study is to examine prehypertension among young African American adults and evaluate the predictive value of easily obtained standard measures of adiposity. Data for this study of 155 primarily African-American undergraduates was collected between April 2010-11. Participants provided family health history and anthropometric measures, including body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist to hip (WHR) ratio. Percentages were calculated for demographics. The average systolic blood pressure measured over two time periods within a single semester generated prehypertension rates. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression examined the impact of BMI, WHR, weight, and family medical history on …

Microaggressions And Ally Support Among Undergraduate Minority Students, Caitlin Phillips

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a way to distribute important information to a group of undergraduates that might otherwise not receive it. This project was to create a resource/handout that would educate individuals who have not personally experienced discrimination and do not know how to be an ally. It is common for individuals to not consider the full effects of their thoughts, feelings, or actions on others if they believe they are not acting in an overly aggressive or ill-intentioned manner. There are a lot of resources that discourage extreme, overtly discriminatory, and offensive behavior, but there …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Cognitive And Metacognitive Factors And Bulimic Symptoms In Undergraduate Women, Lauren Eileen Ehrlich

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Rumination, a passive, perseverative, self-focused style of thinking about negative emotions and events, is a cognitive factor that has been empirically linked to a variety of harmful outcomes, particularly negative affect and depression. Recently, rumination has been proposed as a transdiagnostic risk factor that predicts numerous mental health conditions, including eating disorders. Taking into consideration the potential harm of rumination, researchers have sought to explain why individuals continue to ruminate. Metacognitive theories posit that negative and positive beliefs about rumination influence how frequently an individual ruminates and the consequences of repetitive, negative thinking. However, there is a dearth of evidence …

Engagement And Stem Degree Completion: An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Time-To-Completion And Engagement And Pre-College Variables, Karina (Harstad) Clennon

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This quantitative analysis explored measures influencing time to STEM-degree-completion in a correlational, non-experimental analysis of archival data (N = 745). FGCS represent a significant portion of individuals pursuing a post-secondary degree in the United States however, FGCS are less likely to persist to graduation as compared to their continuing-generation peers. FGCS are entering colleges and universities declaring STEM majors yet, are changing their major and or leaving college without a four-year degree (Chen, 2013). FGCS, who identify as female, face additional barriers, whether perceived or actual, in the pursuit of earning a STEM degree. FGCS choose to pursue STEM majors, …

Intentional Leadership For More Just Experiences: Supporting Black Males On College Campuses, John D. Egan

Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs

This essay explores the unjust experiences of Black males and minority faculty on college campuses that perpetuate inequality in higher education. The literature shows Black male undergraduates experienced both overt racism and more subtle insults on some college campuses, which serve as a barrier to integration into the college system. This essay also connects the underrepresentation of minority faculty as a contributing factor to the climate that inhibits the integration of Black male students into the college system. Through intentional leadership, educators should create or support existing Black male initiative programs on their campuses as this evidence-based practice contributes to …

Telling Our Stories: Exploring The Path Toward Successful Mathematics Degree Attainment At An Under-Resourced Predominantly Black Institution, Lauren E. Mckittrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The under-representation of Blacks in mathematics related professions stems from an American educational system of inequity. Many Black students, including a substantial proportion of those who enroll at Predominantly Black Institutions, attend elementary and secondary schools in under-resourced districts with limited access to quality teachers and rigorous, culturally-relevant instruction that would adequately prepare them for college attainment in mathematics.

The primary research question guiding this study was: What are the challenges and opportunities associated with building and sustaining a successful mathematics degree program at an under-resourced Predominantly Black Institution? Concurrently, this interpretive case study examined and documented the experiences of …

The Use And Effect Of Smartphones In Students’ Learning Activities: Evidence From The University Of Ghana, Legon., Noah Darko-Adjei

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The use of a smartphone is gradually becoming a compelling learning tool used to enhance teaching and learning in distance education. Its usage ensures flexible course delivery, makes it possible for learners to access online learning platforms, access course resources and interact digitally. The purpose of this study was to examine the use and effects of the smartphone as a learning tool in distance education at the University of Ghana. The study was based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and included 294 total respondents. The survey research design and questionnaires were employed for the study. The major objectives of …