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Minnesota State University, Mankato

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Together: Exploring A Solution-Focused Activity For Parent And Young Adult Relationships, Ashley Bruehlman Oct 2022

Together: Exploring A Solution-Focused Activity For Parent And Young Adult Relationships, Ashley Bruehlman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Parents and young adults share an important and interdependent relationship that. This mixed-methods cross-sectional study examined the systemic impact of a brief solution-focused activity to promote empathy within parent/young adult relationships (paired, n = 73). Baseline well-being and empathy scores were recorded on 5-point Likert scales. Quantitative findings highlight above average well-being scores for parents and young adults. Researchers found a significant correlation between parent and young adult well-being and empathy scores suggesting an interdependent relationship. Additionally, researchers found a significant linear correlation for parent and young adult well-being scores as predictive of empathy scores. Qualitative findings from the brief …

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Masturbatory Behaviors Among Older Adult Populations: A Literature Review, Brandon Tischer Jul 2022

Masturbatory Behaviors Among Older Adult Populations: A Literature Review, Brandon Tischer

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Sexual behaviors, such as masturbation, extend into older adulthood (50+ years in chronological age) and are present at all stages of the aging process. Different living situations and circumstances for older adults can affect masturbatory behavior, such as death of spouse, living in long-term care facilities, and cognitive decline. This literature review evaluates extant research on older adult masturbation, comprising 29 articles included in the final review, all published between 1991 and 2021. They consist of literature reviews, meta-studies, cross-sectional studies, semi-structured interviews, systematic reviews, and case studies. Current evidence suggests that masturbatory behaviors are an important part of older …

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Wak'as, Mallkis, And The Inca Afterlife: The Hydrological Connection Between The Incan Empirical And Nonempirical Worlds, Marius C. Vold Jul 2022

Wak'as, Mallkis, And The Inca Afterlife: The Hydrological Connection Between The Incan Empirical And Nonempirical Worlds, Marius C. Vold

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The ruling elite amongst the indigenous groups of the Andes region, often referred to as the Incas, were, before European contact, a non-literal society. Therefore, our understanding of their religious beliefs pertaining to the relationship between life and death, and the intricate relationship between this belief system and the environment surrounding the Inca is heavily influenced by post-European contact, often clouded by European propaganda and a lack of cultural relativism. This project aims at exploring the relationship between the hydrological cycle and the Incan empirical and nonempirical worlds by comparing and synthesizing post-European contact written records, ethnohistorical records, archeological evidence, …

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Do National Tragedies Create Change? Kent State Shooting And The Actions Taken After., Rebekah M. Aiken Jul 2021

Do National Tragedies Create Change? Kent State Shooting And The Actions Taken After., Rebekah M. Aiken

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This article is about the Kent State shooting and the events that lead up to May 4, 1970. There is background on the Vietnam War and American involvement within the war. In addition information is provided on what caused the tragedy that happened at Kent State. The article also provides the changes that happened to the Ohio National Guard following the shooting.

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Forced Migration: A Syrian Exodus To Germany, Taylor Witt May 2019

Forced Migration: A Syrian Exodus To Germany, Taylor Witt

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The Syrian Civil War has killed over 500,000 people and displaced over 12 million since it began in 2011. The conflict has resulted in forced migration on a massive scale. Syrian people have been displaced within Syria, to the surrounding Arab states and to Europe. This has led to an immigration crisis in some parts of the European Union. Germany has become a primary destination for these refugees, but nationalist, xenophobic forces have started pushing back against what is perceived to be an invasion of foreigners into their land and their borders. This project examines the sentiments of German citizens …

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Environmental Degradation And Economics Growth: Testing The Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis (Ekc) In Six Asean Countries, Zhen Yang (Rex) Chng May 2019

Environmental Degradation And Economics Growth: Testing The Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis (Ekc) In Six Asean Countries, Zhen Yang (Rex) Chng

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Environmental issues have been widely reported in recent years. From climate change to plastic waste, environmental quality is deteriorating at an unprecedented speed in human history. Environmental degradation is believed to have tied to the different stages of a country’s economic growth, as the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis suggested. Despite the proliferation of research about the EKC hypothesis, no consensus has been reached in the field regarding the validation of the hypothesis. This paper employs time-series methods to empirically investigates the impacts of economic growth, trade openness, energy consumption, and foreign direct investment on environmental degradation in six selected …

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A Culture Of Memorialization: Examining Public Grief Through Funeral Programs, Bethany R. Rykhus Jul 2018

A Culture Of Memorialization: Examining Public Grief Through Funeral Programs, Bethany R. Rykhus

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Grief can be expressed in a vast number of ways, each unique to the person experiencing it. But are there wider trends in the manner in which this grief is displayed publicly? This research examines a collection of Christian funeral programs in Blue Earth County spanning the 1960s to the 2010s. By examining the linguistic and symbolic features of these programs, commonalities in the imagery, bible verses, poetry, or other tributes to the deceased are identified and analyzed across several factors including specific genders, ages, and time periods. This examination reflects a larger culture of memorialization amongst local Christian mourners …

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Msu-M Social Work Students' Perceptions Of Sexual Assault Reporting, Elizabeth M. Guss Jul 2018

Msu-M Social Work Students' Perceptions Of Sexual Assault Reporting, Elizabeth M. Guss

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Prior research on sexual assault reporting has identified several barriers to reporting, such as rape myths, negative perceptions about how the report will be handled, and misinformation about reporting rights. Due to these barriers, many cases of sexual assault go unreported. By increasing education about sexual assault policies and access to resources, it is hoped that college campuses can become safer for all students. Data for this study was gathered through an online, anonymous survey which contained twelve questions- six about reporting perceptions and knowledge, and six about socio-demographic information. The survey was sent to an intro-level Social Work class …

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Spaced And Expanded Practice: An Investigation Of Methods To Enhance Retention, Katherine Kalenberg Sep 2017

Spaced And Expanded Practice: An Investigation Of Methods To Enhance Retention, Katherine Kalenberg

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

In order to promote quality instruction and maximized student learning, it is essential for schools to integrate the most practical, effective, and efficient teaching methods into the curriculum. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of various spacing patterns between practice sessions on retention of information. This study investigated the effects of practice at consistent intervals (spaced practice), practice at increasing intervals (expanded practice), and no practice. Participants were taught a set of eight unknown math words and definitions using incremental rehearsal (IR). After the teaching session, students in expanded and spaced practice conditions participated in three …

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The Black Press In Minnesota During World War I, Alejandra Galvan Sep 2017

The Black Press In Minnesota During World War I, Alejandra Galvan

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

April 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the United States entering World War I. Many enjoy learning about the battles, the military, and the Homefront. But there is a need for more scholarship to understand the role African Americans played in the war. From my research, many African Americans disagreed with US involvement. Why would a country agree to fight for democracy overseas when its citizens need freedom at home? Racism in the United States concerned African Americans deeply. At the same time, however, African Americans viewed World War I as a way to demonstrate their patriotism. Black citizens …

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Comparison Between Mexican And American Parentese: A Qualitative Case Study, Elayna S. Dyke Sep 2017

Comparison Between Mexican And American Parentese: A Qualitative Case Study, Elayna S. Dyke

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This single case study examines possible cultural implications of the current definition of Parentese, also called caretaker speech, based on the personal accounts of a person who is bilingual in both English and Spanish. This case study was conducted in one interview in order to find possible differences in Parentese with the Spanish language in Mexican culture in contrast to Parentese in the English Language in American culture. The purpose of this study was to find if there were differences between parentese between these cultures, and in which ways they were different. According to the subject’s personal experiences within her …

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Perceptions Of Safety Within Residence Halls At A Midwestern College Campus, Alissa R. Shape, Ellen Hammerschmidt, Jade Anderson, Stephanie Feldman Aug 2016

Perceptions Of Safety Within Residence Halls At A Midwestern College Campus, Alissa R. Shape, Ellen Hammerschmidt, Jade Anderson, Stephanie Feldman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Sexual violence is a widespread issue in American society. Though sexual violence takes many forms, the topic of campus sexual violence is especially pressing as it has occupied a fair amount of controversy in American media. The experience of sexual violence for college students is often traumatic as they navigate through the administrative systems and criminal justice systems of their respective communities. From a feminist perspective, students that become victims of campus sexual violence are often met with institutional resistance and inadequacies. The purpose of this study was to assess college students’ feelings of safety in residence halls. This research …

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The Muscular Female Athlete: Negotiating Conflicting Identities And Bodies, Kelsey J. Mischke Sep 2015

The Muscular Female Athlete: Negotiating Conflicting Identities And Bodies, Kelsey J. Mischke

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Competing assumptions, expectations, and discourses surrounding the institution of sports, femininity, and the feminine body create a conflicting paradox for female athletes. Existing research was investigated to examine the ways in which female athletes negotiate their conflicting roles in society and how they feel about their muscular bodies. Feminist theory, gender-role conflict theory, and identity work are used. Results show athletes employ apologetic behaviors, defensive othering, and create fluid identities in response to experiencing gender-role conflict. In terms of their bodies, female athletes feel differing sentiments dependent on environment, reject conflicting messages about their body, and/or reject their musculature. Due …

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Pakistan's Partition: Search For National Identity, Akmal Abdulmuminov Sep 2015

Pakistan's Partition: Search For National Identity, Akmal Abdulmuminov

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Islam has played a major role in defining identity of people of Pakistan. General Zia-ul-Haq has played a major role in defining Pakistan’s national and political identity. His famous process of ruling is known as Islamization. He took several steps in doing so: first in July 1977 when he took control of the states, he established a close alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. This put Pakistan’s national identity heavily along Islamic lines. Also under Zia-ul-Haq, all textbooks were rewritten with an Islamic ideological agenda. He increased the role of religious leaders and Islamic clerics in …

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Msu Students' Use Of The Msu Web Site, Kristin Ruder Aug 2014

Msu Students' Use Of The Msu Web Site, Kristin Ruder

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

As part of ongoing usability studies of the MSU Web site, survey data was collected from convenience samples of MSU students to evaluate their self-assessed expertise using the Internet as well as their use of and satisfaction with the MSU Web site.

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A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Rethinking Aids Website, Jennifer Dettmann Aug 2014

A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Rethinking Aids Website, Jennifer Dettmann

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

A group of scientists known as the Group for Scientific Reappraisal of the HIV-AIDS hypothesis created a web site title, Rethinking AIDS. The group behind the web site argues that AIDS is not a sexually transmitted disease. They even question the existence of the virus entity. My analysis is driven by the critical question: Does the web site construct a reality that affectively alters our perception of HIV-AIDS? In order to answer this question, Goodnight and Poulakos 1981 article, Conspiracy rhetoric: from pragmatism to fantasy to public discourse (Western Journal of Speech), will be utilized.

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Project Close At Hand: Addressing Homelessness Through Community Engagement, Kristin Wibben Aug 2014

Project Close At Hand: Addressing Homelessness Through Community Engagement, Kristin Wibben

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This project examines the power of college students to positively sensitize their host community’s residents to the problem of homelessness and to implement “Project Close at Hand”, a project that focuses on breaking down the stereotypes associated with homelessness and collecting donations sufficient to save a local men’s homeless shelter from closing.

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Possible Psychological Effects Of Ultrasound Scanning On Women, Hang Wu Aug 2014

Possible Psychological Effects Of Ultrasound Scanning On Women, Hang Wu

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Questionnaires were designed and given to 30 female subjects to investigate the possible psychological effects caused by the use of ultrasound scanning. The answers were analyzed in a numerical way and correlation tests were run to explore the relations among various factors. No significant correlation was found between any pair of the four selected factors. Further interviews with the subjects and detailed qualitative study of the answers provided answers for the results, and suggested that the possible psychological effects introduced by the ultrasound scanning, if any, were very limited.

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Using Social Cognitive Theory To Predict Behavior, Gretchen Walker, Amy Posner Aug 2014

Using Social Cognitive Theory To Predict Behavior, Gretchen Walker, Amy Posner

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model where self-efficacy is hypothesized to influence people’s behavioral intentions directly and indirectly through effects on outcome expectancy. Data on self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, and intention to jog two consecutive miles were collected from 115 college students enrolled in general education classes. As anticipated, path analyses indicated that efficacy had both a direct impact on intention and an indirect impact through its effects on outcome expectancy. The more efficacious people were, the more positive the outcomes they associated with jogging and the surer they were they would jog. The model tested …

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Effects Of Popular Music On Memorization Tasks, Kristin Sandberg, Sarah Harmon Aug 2014

Effects Of Popular Music On Memorization Tasks, Kristin Sandberg, Sarah Harmon

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This study investigated the effects that popular music has on memory performance. It was proposed that popular music would adversely affect both studying and memory recall. Forty introductory psychology students participated in the study. Subjects were given a list of fifty words to study in 6 ½ minutes, with music either being present or absent. This was termed the learning stage. In this study, four conditions were tested. In all 4 conditions, subjects were assigned to either a “music” pre-period or a “non-music” pre-period and a “music” post-period or a “non-music” post-period. After they had studied the words, subjects were …

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Consolidating Democracy Or Stopping At Polyarchy? An Evaluation Of The Chamorro Administration In Nicaragua (1990-1997), Roland D. Mckay Aug 2014

Consolidating Democracy Or Stopping At Polyarchy? An Evaluation Of The Chamorro Administration In Nicaragua (1990-1997), Roland D. Mckay

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The period from 1990 to 1997, the tenure of the Chamorro administration, presents a salient and unique case study in Latin American ‘democratic consolidation’, although as we shall see, this concept is problematic when applied to Nicaragua. It is difficult to evaluate objectively the performance of the decade‐long tenure of the FSLN, since the government had civil war thrust upon it even as Sandinista tanks rolled into Managua’s Plaza Central in 1979. The process of democratic consolidation in Nicaragua began long before the 1990 election, however. The purpose of this paper, then, is to evaluate the Chamorro administration in terms …

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The Effects Of Room Color On Stress Perception: Red Versus Green Environments, Teresa M. Kutchma Aug 2014

The Effects Of Room Color On Stress Perception: Red Versus Green Environments, Teresa M. Kutchma

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of red versus green room colors on individual perception of stress. Room color was found through previous studies to have specific effects on psychomotor activity and emotional states. Correlations were found between red room color and emotional and physical stimulation, while green was associated with inhibitory effects. Additionally, Goldstein’s theory of color perception showed that red has stimulating effects on human behavior. Subjects consisted of 15 female and 15 male college freshmen at Minnesota State University, Mankato. An experimental booth was used for red, green and white room conditions. Subjects …

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Correlation Between Health And Stress, Hang Wu Aug 2014

Correlation Between Health And Stress, Hang Wu

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This study examined participants’ level of stress and their perceived level of stress and success in school. The subjects were given the stress questionnaire in order to determine the level of stress they were experiencing and the frequency of health issues experienced during the previous year. The results of the study suggest that although level of stress may be similar between individuals, how they perceived the stress impacted their health level. Students who perceived the stress in a negative fashion were more likely to be sick than individuals who were less impacted by the stress. By identifying the correlation between …

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Spatial Intelligence And The Ability To Comprehend And Execute Textual/Graphical Instructions, Anthony Wacholtz Aug 2014

Spatial Intelligence And The Ability To Comprehend And Execute Textual/Graphical Instructions, Anthony Wacholtz

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Performing a task such as solving a Rubik’s cube can be very difficult, but it can be done after enough twists and turns. However, only an individual with extremely high spatial intelligence could be expected to solve a Rubik’s cube in his or her head. Discussing the concept of spatial intelligence, Howard Gardner makes it clear that “...Spatial intelligence is closely tied to, and grows directly out of, one’s observations of the visual world.” The term spatial intelligence, as it pertains to my research, derives from the ability to visualize and manipulate three-dimensional objects in your mind. In this experiment, …

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Investigating Changing Moral Boundaries Through Tattooing, Nikolas L. Proehl Aug 2014

Investigating Changing Moral Boundaries Through Tattooing, Nikolas L. Proehl

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This study examines undergoing tattooing as a basis for understanding moral passage. Moral passage occurs when a social act undergoes a transformation from an undesirable or deviant act, to one that is generally tolerated or accepted by the greater society. Interviews were conducted with individuals who have undergone tattooing, and their experiences and encounters with others in social settings were documented and analyzed. Results indicate that while individuals often undergo tattooing because of their attraction to its deviant connotations, many of these same individuals do not identify themselves as deviant. At the same time, persons with tattoos typically find toleration …

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A Burkian Pentadic Analysis Of Msu Riot Narratives, Joseph Mohrfeld Aug 2014

A Burkian Pentadic Analysis Of Msu Riot Narratives, Joseph Mohrfeld

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

In the fall of 2003 a riot occurred very near the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus and in its aftermath many different narratives emerged describing the events. Using Kenneth Burke's pentad, this project examines those narratives in order to discover how different groups construct their accounts and which narrative elements different groups emphasize. By understanding how the narrative accounts given by these agents are influenced by their situation, the research allows us to see how riots emerge out of tensions within the conflicting productive contexts.

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Effects Of Race Of Attractiveness Ratings And Individuals Physical Attractiveness Stereotypes, Aaron Karst Aug 2014

Effects Of Race Of Attractiveness Ratings And Individuals Physical Attractiveness Stereotypes, Aaron Karst

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the “physical attractiveness stereotype”. Previous research suggests that the physical attractiveness plays an important role in how we ascribe certain personality traits. Weiten (2002) for example, noted the stereotype as people’s tendency “to ascribe socially desirable personality traits to individuals who are considered to be more attractive, seeing them as more sociable, poised, and well adjusted than those who are less attractive”. However, very little research has been conducted to explore the role race may have on the concept. The current study was conducted to explore the validity of the physical …

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Political Attitudes Towards The Bush Administration By Ethnic And Racial Groups, Amber Elzen, Mai Inoue, Julianna Koomen Aug 2014

Political Attitudes Towards The Bush Administration By Ethnic And Racial Groups, Amber Elzen, Mai Inoue, Julianna Koomen

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This project analyzes the attitudes towards political statements according to a person’s ethnic and racial groups. The statements relate to the Bush administration and some of its policies. The different responses are categorized by age, gender and location as well. It is hypothesized that Caucasians would have a more positive outlook on the administration and its policies while racial and ethnic minorities would have a less positive response to the questions. Overall, a total of 219 participants were surveyed from Minnesota State University, Mankato and from communities of southeastern Minnesota through questions asking them to indicate their political attitudes. When …

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Distinguishing Observed Inattentive Behaviors In The College Classroom As They Correlate To Brain Wave Activity Utilizing A Wireless Electroencephalograph, Christopher J. Aura, Matthew R. Stanton Aug 2014

Distinguishing Observed Inattentive Behaviors In The College Classroom As They Correlate To Brain Wave Activity Utilizing A Wireless Electroencephalograph, Christopher J. Aura, Matthew R. Stanton

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

A significant amount of research has been devoted to the behavioral correlates of inattention in children (A.P.A., 2000; Arnold, 2000; Gordon & Barkley, 1998). It is proposed by the authors that college students, in their several years of experience, are much more capable of masking these trademark behaviors. When a child loses interest they will begin to openly look around the room, shift in their seat, or chat with their neighbors (Sandberg, Rutter & Taylor, 1978; Arnold, 2000). College students however, are proposed to candidly fidget, shift in their seat, or even maintain eye contact with their instructor while “daydreaming”. …

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Campus Paper Waste, Joshua E. Randall Aug 2014

Campus Paper Waste, Joshua E. Randall

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The fall of 2004 at Minnesota State University, a new program called MavPrint was introduced. The user submits a document to be printed at a computer, the expense is deducted from their account, and then their document can be retrieved from any MavPrint station. In years past printing had been free, but seeing how according to Bryan Schneider, the director of Technical Services at Minnesota State University – Mankato, from the year 2003 to the year 2004 the printing costs for the University rose 200 percent, they felt it was time to make a change. MSU students printed out over …

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