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Articles 1 - 30 of 86
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Assessing Genetic And Environmental Predictors Of Infant Reflexive Attention, Rebecca Lundwall
Assessing Genetic And Environmental Predictors Of Infant Reflexive Attention, Rebecca Lundwall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
My students and I have been very productive during the two funding years of this grant. Together, we have published three peer-reviewed papers (one in an undergraduate research journal) and submitted six papers that are now under review (one in an undergraduate research journal). In addition, I have mentored student submissions of eight poster presentations at local, regional, and national conferences. These papers and presentations have involved 25 students as co-authors.
Measuring Uncertainty In Assessments Through Mouse Tracking, Dr. Ross Larsen, Dr. Jeff Jenkins, Dr. Charles Graham
Measuring Uncertainty In Assessments Through Mouse Tracking, Dr. Ross Larsen, Dr. Jeff Jenkins, Dr. Charles Graham
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Several developments during data collection caused some of our methods to change. For example, we ended up using Multiple Regression rather than Confirmatory Factor Analysis to understand the relationships between the mouse tracking metrics and self-reported uncertainty. Nevertheless, we had success in making a predictive model and have presented our findings at the Americas Conference on Information Systems (Jenkins, Larsen, Bodily, Sandberg, Williams, Stokes, Harris, & Valaicich, 2015). The full paper can be seen in Appendix A. We have not spent all of our research funds so we are taking the next steps in researching mouse tracking as described below.
Avicenna’S Astrolabe, Peter Rich
Avicenna’S Astrolabe, Peter Rich
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The goals of this project were to bring students from various disciplines across campus to create a digital game for beginning Arabic learners. The initial expectation of the project was to implement the game in an Arabic 101 classroom on BYU campus and evaluate it for further development. An initial conceptual prototype was evaluated in a summer Arabic course (Star Talk Arabic Language Camp). Due to changes in client expectations, an advanced prototype of the game was then created for online users. Dr. Rich worked with Matthew Bird, an IP&T doctoral student, who in turn mentored students in several disciplines …
Mid-Season Coaching Changes In The Nba, Kenan Spruill, Adam Roberts, Joseph Price
Mid-Season Coaching Changes In The Nba, Kenan Spruill, Adam Roberts, Joseph Price
Journal of Undergraduate Research
“When the going gets tough, we fire the coach”, this quote from former coach and current ESPN analyst Jeff van Gundy represents part of the current trend in sports. Management fires the coach in the hope that the new one can lead the team to glory. Replacing coach’s midseason does not happen often, but when it does, it is the best choice for the team? We are attempting to see if there is a legitimate reason for firing a coach midseason. Considering the fact that changing coach’s mid-season requires the team to pay for both the old and new coaches’ …
The Effect Of East Asian Religions On Feminism And Post-Materialist Values In Modern Japan, Charlene Humpherys, Greg Wilkinson
The Effect Of East Asian Religions On Feminism And Post-Materialist Values In Modern Japan, Charlene Humpherys, Greg Wilkinson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Japan is known worldwide for its rich and complex history and culture as well as its rankings as a global frontrunner in the fields of economics, globalization, education, technology, entrepreneurship, quality of life, and cultural influence.1 Fascinating to many political theorists is how socioeconomic prosperity within thriving countries changes their societal principles and policies. Renowned political scientist Dr. Ronald Inglehart crafted the economic theory of postmaterialism, which states that because of their increased physical and financial security, Western states adapted to social values that emphasized autonomy and individualism.2 In my Orca proposal I outlined my plan to study …
Comparing The Effects Of Tredmill Desks And Cycling Desks On Cognitive Performance, Nicholas Randall, Michael Larson
Comparing The Effects Of Tredmill Desks And Cycling Desks On Cognitive Performance, Nicholas Randall, Michael Larson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Sedentary lifestyle and obesity are growing concerns that are responsible for at least 300,000 premature deaths and $90 billion spent on health care per year in the United States (Manson et al., 2004). Many jobs today contribute to a sedentary lifestyle by requiring prolonged periods of sitting. Recent studies show that breaks in sedentary time results in less metabolic risk and a smaller waistline (Healy et al., 2011). Treadmill desks (desks that enable individuals to walk at a slow speed while working) along with cycling desks (workstations where individuals can cycle at a slow speed while working) have been shown …
Oxytocin And Infant Development: A Study Of The Genetic Underpinnings Behind Social Behavior In Rhesus Macaques, Spencer Waters, James Dee Higley
Oxytocin And Infant Development: A Study Of The Genetic Underpinnings Behind Social Behavior In Rhesus Macaques, Spencer Waters, James Dee Higley
Journal of Undergraduate Research
It is widely accepted that the neuropeptide oxytocin helps mediate pro-social behavior and bonding between humans as well as other primates. Current genetic research has shown a link between variants in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and measures of social skills in humans. Demonstrating a link between oxytocin genotype and sociality, implies biological underpinnings for social bonding and affiliation in both human and nonhuman primates, suggesting that neurophysiological mechanisms may function to modulate a wide variety of social behaviors.
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol To Establish Dependence, David Matthews, Scott Steffensen
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol To Establish Dependence, David Matthews, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Excessive alcohol consumption in the United States is costing hundreds of billions of dollars in the United States alone. Addiction is a corrosive disease whose impact spreads across a broad spectrum including monetary damages, social disruption, health concerns, and life-ending decisions. Trailing a path of 88,000 alcohol-related deaths annually, government studies in 2006 reported that costs of excessive alcohol consumption reached $223.5 billion (Bouchery et al., 2011). In addition to monetary cost of alcohol abuse, the impact of this addiction can be devastating to personal and family life. Furthermore, addiction alters neural circuitry and becomes a self-absorbed behavior that robs …
Meth Causes Expression Of 8-Ohg In The Addiction Pathway And Leads To Increased S-Glutathionylation Of The Vesicular Monoamine Transportor Via The Sigma Receptor, Taylor Hyde, Scott Steffensen
Meth Causes Expression Of 8-Ohg In The Addiction Pathway And Leads To Increased S-Glutathionylation Of The Vesicular Monoamine Transportor Via The Sigma Receptor, Taylor Hyde, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive drug of abuse and which results in serious financial, societal, and individual consequences in the United States. In 2005, METH abuse costs the country billions dollars each year. Societal and individual costs as a result of METH use are also high. Knowing how METH acts in the brain is a significant step in developing a pharmocotherapeutic treatment for METH addiction.
An Investigation On The Neural Correlates Of Testing Encoding And False Memories, Seth Spencer, Brock Kirwan
An Investigation On The Neural Correlates Of Testing Encoding And False Memories, Seth Spencer, Brock Kirwan
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Memory is an essential component for day to day living. Recognition memory in the brain has been associated with specific neural structures such as the medial temporal lobe (MTL), including the hippocampus and the adjacent MTL cortex [1]. The hippocampus is known for its ability to encode and retrieve memories through the distinct processes of pattern separation and pattern completion [2]. Pattern separation is the process of separating two similar stimuli to create distinct memories (i.e. discerning which of 2 similar toothbrushes belongs to you). Pattern completion is the retrieval of an old representation given a noisy or degraded cue …
Dynamic Multi-Industry Firm Computational Model, Donald Rex Mcarthur, Rick Evans
Dynamic Multi-Industry Firm Computational Model, Donald Rex Mcarthur, Rick Evans
Journal of Undergraduate Research
My ORCA Grant allowed me to spend my time building a Macroeconomic Tax Policy scoring model that was used in open source research with the Tax Policy Center. I used the money to fund my time coding and contributing to the project found on the github repository at https://github.com/OpenSourcePolicyCenter. My focus was especially in developing the tax analysis on the side of the firms in the model. Under the direction of Rick Evans, we made some progress in that development, but it soon became apparent that the needed work was more based around the heterogeneous agents, and their respective income …
Estimating Polarization In The United States Congress, Hayden Galloway, Michael Barber
Estimating Polarization In The United States Congress, Hayden Galloway, Michael Barber
Journal of Undergraduate Research
I investigated if commonly accepted ideology estimates in Congress change when restricted to the modern era. I used these estimates to determine if previous measures of political polarization are accurate.
Effects Of Tetrabenazine On Basal Methamphetamine, Taylor Tribett, Scott Steffensen
Effects Of Tetrabenazine On Basal Methamphetamine, Taylor Tribett, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
It is easy to see how much METH hurts the lives of its users and leads to high costs for society. Methamphetamine abuse is linked to higher healthcare costs, child abuse, and higher rates of theft and incarceration (Dobkin & Nicosia, 2009). Additionally, prescriptions for amphetamines (which are theorized to work by the same mechanisms) almost doubled in the United States between 2006 and 2011 (Sembower, Ertischek, Buchholtz, Dasgupta, & Schnoll, 2013). As the presence of these drugs becomes more widespread, the number of those at risk for abuse and addiction increases as well. In order to develop pharmacological treatments …
Habituation To Electronic Security Warnings, Corinne Devault, Brock Kirwan
Habituation To Electronic Security Warnings, Corinne Devault, Brock Kirwan
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Habituation is the phenomenon that exhibits itself after repeated exposure to a stimulus; the brain response to it is decreased. This is seen in many different mediums, like tastes, touch, sound, etc., and thus could be observed in experiencing electronic security warnings as well. The brain needs constant vigilance when seeing warnings because large amount of personal information are saved on computers and other forms of technology. Ignoring a warning after it has appeared once or twice could result in a huge breach of information. Thus, it is important to study patterns of habituation of security warnings. There have been …
S-Glutathionylation Of Vmat By Acute Methamphetamine, Spencer Mccarthy, Scott Steffensen
S-Glutathionylation Of Vmat By Acute Methamphetamine, Spencer Mccarthy, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Methamphetamine (METH) has long been regarded as a potent addictive drug and psychostimulant. The addictive effects can be localized to the VTA, specifically activity of dopaminergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Overactivity of these neurons results in the pleasurable and addictive of METH. Various theories have been proposed as to the mechanism of this excess dopamine release; including a role for reactive oxygen species. In a recent publication, our lab has already demonstrated that METH induces the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the axon terminals of dopaminergic neurons in the nucleus accumbens and that blocking the formation …
The Role Of Peripheral Mechanisms On Da Enhancement In The Rodent Brain, Christian Carr, Scott Steffensen
The Role Of Peripheral Mechanisms On Da Enhancement In The Rodent Brain, Christian Carr, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Dopamine is an important brain neurotransmitter regarding brain disorders such as substance abuse, Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) are inhibited by DA via DA D2 autoreceptor (D2R) activation (Adell and Artigas, 2005). D2R expression in the brain is a well-known biomarker for brain DA levels, drug abuse, and dependence. Many previous studies have demonstrated that D2R expression is directly proportional to DA levels in the brain. Thus, D2Rs are highly responsive to brain levels. This provides an aid in diagnosing …
Mri Tissue-Based Intensity Standardization For Multi-Site Neuropsychological Outcome Studied: Problems And Potential Solutions, Trevor Huff, Erin Bigler
Mri Tissue-Based Intensity Standardization For Multi-Site Neuropsychological Outcome Studied: Problems And Potential Solutions, Trevor Huff, Erin Bigler
Journal of Undergraduate Research
In this era of the human connectome, automated image analysis techniques, and large scale multi-site neuroimaging databases examining neuropsychological outcome across a broad spectrum of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, there is a particular need to address how to combine neuroimaging studies that use different volumetric sequences or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies performed on different platforms. Currently, there is a large volume of studies that utilize data from multiple scanning locations. This data, while important, cannot reliably be used for comparisons without taking into account the various differences that exist between MRI equipment. The purpose of this study is to …
The Role Of Dopamine In Vasocontricting Cytokines And Restless Leg Syndrome, Jared Peterson, Scott Steffensen
The Role Of Dopamine In Vasocontricting Cytokines And Restless Leg Syndrome, Jared Peterson, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is characterized by strong and often unpleasant urges to move ones legs while at rest and affects approximately 10% of the U.S. population1. The exact cause of RLS is not known, and the mechanism by which the urges are generated is poorly understood. One theory proposes that decreased oxygenation of tissues caused by increased levels of vasoconstricting cytokines may be the cause of these urges. The purpose of this project was to investigate the role that blood dopamine (DA) plays in this mechanism.
Women’S Autonomy And The Effect On Family Planning In Nepal, Margo Anderson (Taylor), Scott Sanders, Renata Forste
Women’S Autonomy And The Effect On Family Planning In Nepal, Margo Anderson (Taylor), Scott Sanders, Renata Forste
Journal of Undergraduate Research
In 2010, maternal death rates globally reached as high as 210 per 100,000 (United Nations, 2013) and resulted in part from a lack of maternal health services. Maternal health services like family planning play a critical role in improving women’s reproductive health in developing countries (Bhatia and Cleland, 1995). Today there are an estimated 225 million women in developing countries that would choose to delay or stop childbearing but are not using any method of contraception (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015). Linked to low contraceptive use, women in these regions also have low levels of autonomy. These male-dominated regions place …
National Identity After Brexit, Samantha Heley, Renata Forste
National Identity After Brexit, Samantha Heley, Renata Forste
Journal of Undergraduate Research
In June of 2016 the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. Known as ‘Brexit’ the majority decision was for the UK to leave with 52% of the vote. The Brexit vote was fueled in part by anti-immigration and racist propaganda that promoted a national identity centered on being “English” rather than “British.” With the decision to leave the European Union, the United Kingdom must now act carefully to not upset its economy, while grappling with the issue of immigration. The direction that the UK takes is tied to views of national identity (Rothì, Lyons & …
Expanding Influence Of Carepartner Program At Byu, Angela Gulisane, Todd Manwaring
Expanding Influence Of Carepartner Program At Byu, Angela Gulisane, Todd Manwaring
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Our project found a sustainable way to provide “care for the caregivers” and reduce the need for institutional care by temporarily relieving caregivers from their duties. Originally, our plan was to use TimeBanking principles to create a pilot program that relieved caregivers of their duties by giving respite to the caregivers in the form of student volunteers. Before beginning to create our program, we performed an initial needs assessment. As part of this assessment, we learned of the CarePartner program both from CarePartner’s website and one of Shannon’s (student who worked on the program for a semester) friends. Initially, we …
Up In Smoke: Conservation And Gender On Mount Kilimanjaro, Garret Nash, Greg Thompson
Up In Smoke: Conservation And Gender On Mount Kilimanjaro, Garret Nash, Greg Thompson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Initially, this project aimed to examine cultural factors influencing fuel sourcing habits around Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In 2008, a study conducted by Prof. Jeffery Durrant of the BYU Geography Department found that the Chagga (an ethnic group which lives on the lower slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro) hold a negative opinion towards the National Park and its staff. Specifically, I wanted to know if giving locals an opportunity to experience the park as tourists would change these perceptions and behavior when it came to conservation. However, as research progressed, it became clear that there were deeply seeded issues related to gender …
Primed For Porn, Investigating The Nuanced Relationship Between Problematic Pornography Consumption And Impulse Control, Celeste Hook, Scott Braithwaite
Primed For Porn, Investigating The Nuanced Relationship Between Problematic Pornography Consumption And Impulse Control, Celeste Hook, Scott Braithwaite
Journal of Undergraduate Research
As pornography becomes infinitely more accessible through the internet, the number of consumers increases at a rapid rate. Pornography abuse is shown to be a subcategory of hypersexuality (Grubbs, Volk, Exline, & Pargament, 2015), which is defined in the DSM-V as “a repetitive and intense preoccupation with sexual fantasies, urges, and behaviors, leading to adverse consequences”. Hypersexual behaviors have been linked to poorer impulse control (Miner et al., 2009; Prause, Steele et al., 2015; Reid, Cooper, Prause, Li, & Fong, 2012), and poorer impulse control has been related to many addictive behaviors such as substance abuse (Hardy, Steelman, Coyne, & …
Differential Number Of Days Lived Among Utah Centenarians, Haley Bronson, Jeremy Yorgason
Differential Number Of Days Lived Among Utah Centenarians, Haley Bronson, Jeremy Yorgason
Journal of Undergraduate Research
As a result of the nearly 77 million people born during the Baby Boom, older adults are the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States1. Centenarians, those who live to be 100 years of age or older, are a burgeoning subgroup of the older adult population. They surpass the current life expectancy by 20 to 25 years. There is increasing interest regarding the antecedents to “ageing well” and the factors that hinder it. Insecure attachment and loneliness have been found to be related to lower well-being in older adults2, as well as functional …
Who Takes The Baby? The Effect Of Question Ordering On, Alejandra Gimenez, Christopher F. Karpowitz, Jeremy Pope
Who Takes The Baby? The Effect Of Question Ordering On, Alejandra Gimenez, Christopher F. Karpowitz, Jeremy Pope
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 mandates that employees be given a minimum of 12 weeks unpaid leave for qualified family and medical needs, including the birth of new children. Unlike many other advanced countries however, the United States does not require employers to provide paid parental leave. Given changing parental roles that often result in both parents equally contributing to the care and rearing of the children, there has been an increase in fathers asking for paternity leave or extended leave around the birth of a child (O’Brien 2009). However, very little work has been done to …
International Attitudes On Scientific Deference In Politics, Matthew Walden, Celeste Beesley
International Attitudes On Scientific Deference In Politics, Matthew Walden, Celeste Beesley
Journal of Undergraduate Research
This study seeks to extend a 2015 study by Blank and Shaw, which seeks to understand what factors shape American attitude towards scientific deference in policymaking. My study ran the same experiment among an international sample, making a cross-cultural comparison of the correlation between political and religious beliefs and preferences for science in the political sphere. Specifically, I focused in on the relationship between nationality and scientific deference. The purpose of this specific investigation is to see if Americans display a unique level of anti-science sentiment compared with the rest of the world.
How Partisan Identification On The Ballot Affects Individuals’ Vote Choices, Jennica Petersen, Rebecca Shuel, Michael Barber
How Partisan Identification On The Ballot Affects Individuals’ Vote Choices, Jennica Petersen, Rebecca Shuel, Michael Barber
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Researchers agree that partisanship is the main predictor of how any given individual will vote, but previous researchers have been unable to determine to what exact quantifiable extent party labels determine individuals’ voting choices. This is because previous research has been purely observational in nature, meaning that any inferences about how party labels affect voting behavior could have been impacted by any number of confounding variables. We isolated the independent effect of party labels on determining voters’ choices by conducting a novel survey to measure partisans’ vote choices for two hypothetical presidential candidates in simulations of both nonpartisan and partisan …
The Party Unties? An Exploration Of Divisiveness Among Donors To 2008 And 2012 Presidential Campaigns, Andrew Jensen, David Magleby
The Party Unties? An Exploration Of Divisiveness Among Donors To 2008 And 2012 Presidential Campaigns, Andrew Jensen, David Magleby
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Politics is a contentious business. When candidates and parties are not fighting each other to win elections, they fight among themselves for nominations and for their competing visions of platform and policy. This intraparty tension has been a prominent feature of the 2016 election as progressivism fought centrism in the Democratic party and conservatism struggled with populism. While primary battles can be vicious, do separate factions unite to support their party’s candidate in the general election or are they more likely to withhold their support? While the literature has studied this phenomenon amongst voters, no study has examined divisiveness among …
Role Of Sigma Receptors In Low-Dose Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Gilbert Marchant, Scott Steffensen
Role Of Sigma Receptors In Low-Dose Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Gilbert Marchant, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive drug of abuse and METH use is a growing problem in the United States. The current dogma states that psychostimulants such as METH attack the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system, leading to abnormally high DA release when drugs of abuse are taken (Volkow et al., 2004). A key target area of the mesocorticolimbic system is the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Specifically, DA release in the NAc has been associated with reward and motivation (Oleson et al. 2012).
Effects Of Relationship Quality On Daily Ambulatory Blood Pressure, Kyle Eversole, Wendy Birmingham
Effects Of Relationship Quality On Daily Ambulatory Blood Pressure, Kyle Eversole, Wendy Birmingham
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Positive spousal support and relationships that are high in positivity are beneficial in terms of health-outcomes, including lower clinical and ambulatory blood pressure, an indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. Such positive relationships have been associated with lower mortality and morbidity. Conversely, relationships with more negative social interactions have been shown to cause high stress. This stress can cause both psychological and physiological problems, including higher resting and ambulatory blood pressure. In fact, some studies suggest that remaining single is more beneficial than a negative marriage or relationship. However, most marriages are not strictly positive or strictly negative, but rather, a …