Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Age Of Change? Young Adults And Third Party Politics In America, Ava M. Schroeder

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This is a capstone research poster looking at college students' opinions on political parties in America. The research focuses on third parties and more particularly why they have failed in the past and what to expect as younger generations become increasingly involved in American politics. The research was conducted, via Qualtrics, by surveying Winona State University college students as a requirement of the Political Science and Public Administration program at Winona State University.

Why Do We Serve?: Motivators And Barriers To Volunteering Among Undergraduate Students., Adam Bellis, Geneva Ferro, Kyla Slaughter

Campus Research Day

Volunteerism during an individual’s college years can potentially influence a lifetime of service. This research focuses on the motivators and barriers undergraduate students at a private Christian university face, focusing on differences between helping and non-helping majors. Data is gathered through convenience sampling via surveys administered to current undergraduate students at Southern Adventist University. With the importance universities place on service learning, this research will show ways in which students can be motivated to engage in service opportunities. It will additionally showcase potential barriers that can be addressed to further service engagement among students leading to a lifetime of service.

Praise In The Collegiate Classroom: How Narcissism, Entitlement, Empathy, And A Desire For Fame Impact Student’S Preferences For Praise, Alexandra Crissman

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits, namely narcissism, entitlement, empathy, and a desire for fame, and a preference for public praise in a student population. Past research has shown that those who are higher in narcissism are also higher in entitlement and that these rates have been rising with future generations. Past research has also indicated a negative relationship between narcissistic tendencies and empathy, inferring that those higher in narcissism tend to score lower on empathy measures. In this study, undergraduate students were surveyed online to determine scores on four measures of traits …

East Vs. West And Its Relationship With Violence Among College Students And Myanmar, Bryce Davis

Student Scholar Showcase

With over 10 million men and women being targeted by domestic violence every year it has increased the need for research on the issue. Previous research has been conducted on how various crimes involving interpersonal violence can occur. The current study looks to expand on this previous research by assessing how interpersonal violence can occur. The study examines Eastern and Western cultures and how they can impact interpersonal violence. Previous research has shown that people born in eastern countries such as Asia have more of an acceptance of dating violence and rape. One hundred and thirty-six participants participated in the …

Open Together: Empowering Public Libraries With Community-Driven Open Source Tools, Ed Veal, Jessica Zairo

All Things Open

As pillars of community knowledge and access, public libraries have a unique opportunity to embody the principles of open source by adopting its tools and fostering collaborative environments. This presentation for the 2024 All Things Open Week, proposes an exploration into the symbiotic relationship between open-source communities and the McKinney Public Library. By spotlighting some of the open-source tools we embrace such as Koha, Aspen Discovery, Metabase, GIMP, LibreOffice, and our custom-developed Self-check system, our presentation will demonstrate the power of these technologies in revolutionizing how public libraries operate, engage with their patrons, and facilitate access to a wide array …

Improving Dementia Symptoms Through Personalized Music, Lindsay Grainger

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) is a prevalent, costly, and complicated disease. With over 6 million Americans affected and the cost of treatment soaring to over $320 billion dollars annually, there is a growing need for low-cost interventions to treat symptoms. Routinely listening to personalized music selections has been shown to reduce agitation—the most common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The purpose of this study was to provide a personalized music listening (PML) intervention of thirty minutes to 10 nursing home residents with dementia. Thirty-minute PML sessions occurred multiple times a week over six weeks. The inclusion …

The Evolution Of The Nonprofit Sector In Nepal, Charles Harrington, Davis Jones

SC Upstate Research Symposium

The nonprofit sector in Nepal has grown exponentially over the last decade. Significant growth in the areas of education, economic development, health and human services, tourism, and environmental conservation has created a demonstrable need for nonprofit organizational support and development to address these emerging needs. This paper and accompanying oral presentation will address the underlying factors that have driven the growth of the nonprofit sector in Nepal, including, but not limited to the history of national philanthropy and community service, early formulation of the nonprofit sector, development of civil society, non-government organizational proliferation, earthquake response and resilience, the emergence of …

Proposed Charlotte To Atlanta High-Speed Passenger Rail Line: An Economic, Infrastructural, And Developmental Analysis In The Upstate Of South Carolina, Ian C. Macurda, Kimberly Whitehead

SC Upstate Research Symposium

This research paper is an in-depth analysis of the high-speed passenger rail line proposed between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA and its impact on the economy, infrastructure, and future development of the Upstate of South Carolina. Currently, passenger rail service between Charlotte and Atlanta is offered on Amtrak at late hours throughout the night on its long-distance passenger rail line The Crescent from New York City, NY to New Orleans, LA. The train is often delayed and is operating at a deficit for Amtrak, like most of their long-distance routes. Traffic on Interstate 85 through the Upstate is another issue …

Stop Churning Relationships By Avoiding The Relationship Slide, Hailey Reel, Hailey J. Mccool

Undergraduate Research Conference

Previous research has identified a link between romantic relationship formation (sliding vs. deciding) and satisfaction (Clifford et al., 2017; Vennum et al., 2015). During college, the decision to enter and maintain a romantic relationship can play a role in the relationship-churning process among young adults (Brandes & Doron, 2020; Grower & Baldwin-White, 2021). Specifically, some college students may slide into marriage or having kids (Loeb et al., 2020; Priem et al., 2015) due to financial, social, and psychological barriers that keep them from ending an unhealthy relationship (Loeb et al., 2020). To explore the effect of sliding into a relationship …

Hgs-3 The Influence Of A Tandem Cycling Program In The Community On Physical And Functional Health, Therapeutic Bonds, And Quality Of Life For Individuals And Care Partners Coping With Parkinson’S Disease, Leila Djerdjour, Jennifer L. Trilk

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Purpose Statement: Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on alleviating symptoms experienced by individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite this evidence, the potential benefits of exercise for both PD patients and their care partners (PD dyad) remain unexplored. This research project investigates the effectiveness, therapeutic collaborations, and physical outcomes of a virtual reality (VR) tandem cycling program specifically designed for PD dyads.

Methods: Following approval from the Prisma Health Institutional Review Board, individuals with PD were identified and screened by clinical neurologists. The pre-testing measures for PD dyads (N=9) included emotional and cognitive status …

Psy-7 Peer Effects Of Seeking Mental Health Help From A Professional, Devanshi Patel, Susan Ruppel

SC Upstate Research Symposium

How does peer support effect the ability of students to seek out mental health help from a professional? In this study, the experimenter investigates the type of support the students receive from their peers and how that affects their ability to seek out help from a professional. Accurate intention-seeking of students was recorded for both the behavioral concerns and their support types. A Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale was used to measure the data collected in this study. It was found that the behavioral concern (mental, physical) of a student does not matter in this study, nor did the type …

The Ethical And Legal Implications Of Iot Data In Business Organizations, Kennedy Bellamy

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed how our day to day lives by implementing and evolving technology that allows data to be exchanged between interconnected devices without the need for human involvement. This paper investigates the implications of IoT expansion and development in corporate organizations, focusing on both the opportunities and challenges it brings. IoT encompasses a wide range of data kinds, from sensor readings to user interactions, across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. However, greater connection raises ethical and legal challenges, especially over data privacy, ownership, and control. Potential breaches of privacy and illegal data access …

Profiling Cybercriminals: Behavioral Analysis And Motivations Behind Cybercrime Activities, A'Shya Latrice Reynolds

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The study of cybercriminal behavior and motivations is crucial for understanding and combating the evolving landscape of digital crime. This paper delves into the intricate realm of cybercrime profiling, employing a multidisciplinary approach to dissect the behavioral patterns and underlying motivations of cybercriminals. Drawing from psychology, sociology, and criminology, the research examines the intricate interplay of individual traits, social dynamics, and technological factors that shape cybercriminal activities.

Through analysis of case studies and research, this paper uncovers the diverse range of motivations driving individuals towards engaging in cybercrime. From financial gain and ideological extremism to thrill-seeking and revenge, cybercriminals exhibit …

Gender Bias In The Hiring Process: The Sexism You Don’T See, Jessica Nibbelink

Celebration of Research

Men and women have often been seen as opposite sides of a spectrum. The tension between masculinity and femininity is created through forced stereotypes. These gendered stereotypes along with implicit gender bias work together to enforce gender discrimination. An area of society that is impacted by this gender discrimination is the workplace. The current study looks to investigate the gender discrimination that is found in the workplace, and more specifically in the hiring process. Through the use of fake gendered resumes, participants report employer perception scores which are used to dissect gender favoritism in the hiring process. Though this study …

Dementia Worry In A Young Adult Population: Investigating Its Relationships With Anxiety, Coping Strategies, And Memory, Anneka Sterk

Celebration of Research

Dementia worry is a specific form of health-related anxiety in which individuals worry about or fear developing or having dementia. To a severe degree, this may affect their psychological well-being. Previous literature has only studied dementia worry in middle-late aged adults. This study investigated dementia worry in a young adult population and focused on its relationship with possible correlates, coping skills, trait anxiety, and memory. A multiple regression analysis was performed in which only subjective memory and trait anxiety showed significant, positive correlations. All other variables included in the regression analysis showed no significant correlations. There were no significant differences …

Does Testing Help Learning? Mindset And Testing’S Impact On Memory And Accuracy Of Judgments, Jessica Nibbelink, Anneka Sterk, David Grandel

Celebration of Research

To conduct a replication of a previous experiment (Kornell & Son, 2009) to measure the accuracy and judgement of learning between two ways of studying and if receiving feedback after testing altered their learning. Participants were tasked with learning 4 lists of Indonesian words, half of the participants learned by re-exposure to the words while the other half learned by test-taking. The test-taking group was further divided into feedback or no-feedback conditions. Contrary to the previous study we found that testing did not impact memory. However, self-testing did make learners more accurate in their judgments of what they knew. Students …

Phun With Phages: Discovering Novel Bacteriophages In The Soil, Julia Kutz, Ryan Dodds, Logan Dykstra, Taylor M. Rentschler, Emma Steinhardt, Megan Vangarven, Jacie Vanderwaal, Shayler Vangelder, Byron Noordewier, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

We used three bacterial hosts: Mycobacterium smegmatis, Microbacterium foliorum, and Gordonia terrae, to isolate novel bacteriophages from soil samples. We named these phages, created high titer lysates, and purified their DNA genomes. We have archived the high titer lysates at Northwestern College and the University of Pittsburgh. The genomes of three of our phages were sequences at the University of Pittsburgh and we will be sequencing the remaining genomes this summer. Additionally, we are planning to image our phages with transmission electron microscopy at the University of Iowa or Nebraska yet this semester.

Exploring The Dilemma Of Innocent Defendants In The Plea Bargaining System, Taylor Van Ostrand, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study investigates the challenges faced by innocent defendants in the plea bargaining system. The dilemma arises from the choice between a risky trial and an immediate conviction for a reduced charge. The research, conducted with fifty-six undergraduate students, the rationality of innocent defendants, the influence of jail threats, socioeconomic status, and gender differences. Using hypothetical scenarios, participants review documents related to a fictitious charge, and ANOVA as well as chi-square statistical analyses are employed to assess the impact of various factors on plea decisions. Surprisingly, the presence of jail time did not significantly influence the likelihood of innocent defendants …

Perceived Severity Of Trauma: The Impact Of Gender And Exposure, Macy Hajek

Celebration of Research

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may influence the perceived severity of traumatic events. Perceived severity scores were examined in a 2x2 factorial ANOVA with the factors of gender and trauma exposure. A qualitative measurement of the most feared trauma was also investigated. Participants were a convenience sample of 98 Northwestern College Students ranging from ages 17 to 22. Perceived severity scores and the most feared trauma were obtained using an adapted version of the Trauma History Questionnaire. A Trauma History Screener was used to divide participants into trauma exposure groups. It was hypothesized that females …

Prepplates: Meal Prep For Busy Lives, Alec Coronado Garcia, Luc Roelofs, Kade Fey

Celebration of Research

PrepPlates is an innovative meal idea based in Sioux County. Our purpose is clear: to transform the way people approach mealtime by providing not only nourishment but also a comprehensive dining experience suited to their preferences and lifestyles. Our business venture aims to revolutionize the meal kit industry by providing convenient, affordable, and high-quality meal solutions tailored to the preferences and lifestyles of our demographic. Through research and strategic planning, PrepPlates emerges as a beacon of innovation in the competitive landscape of meal preparation services. Rooted in a comprehensive understanding of demographic and market trends, our business model is tuned …

Co2 Pricing Impact On Partially Regulated Market, Love Gami

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

With climate change becoming a growing concern, carbon trading has gained attention as a key solution to reducing carbon emissions. However, this raises a concern about whether polluters pass the cost of carbon to electricity prices. This study aims to assess the impact of CO2 pricing on electricity prices in the PJM market where some areas are regulated by carbon trading while others are not. Our findings reveal a significant impact of CO2 prices across all regulated areas, encompassing both real-time and day-ahead markets. Moreover, the impact extends to non-regulated areas, indicating a spillover effect within the PJM market. Interestingly, …

Comparing Autobiographical Memories Evoked By Different Sensory Cues For Younger And Older Adults, Akira Durbin

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Music has the power to take us back in time. Previous research indicates that music is a potent autobiographical memory cue, and that recall often happens with no effort on the part of the listener. Our research is also informed by the reminiscence bump phenomenon, which describes the tendency of older adults to recall autobiographical memories formed from the ages of 18-35. Informed by this phenomenon, we presented older participants with stimuli that were relevant during their youth. We displayed different stimuli to younger and older adult participants on a desktop computer. The stimuli we presented were popular music clips, …

The Influence Of Sensory Modality On Aesthetic Judgments Of Poetry, Jessica Frame, Kendra Mehl

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Previous research has shown that vividness of evoked imagery is the strongest contributor to aesthetic pleasure for poetry. However, it is 19 unknown whether modality of the poem has an effect on the relationship between vividness and aesthetic appeal, as past work has only used written poems. In this study we want to evaluate rating of vividness, valence, arousal, and aesthetic appeal based on the modality in which poems are presented (listening only, reading only, or combined). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three modalities: text-only (N=81 ), audio-only (N=74), or combined audio/text (N=78). Our results showed that …

Neurodiversity And Openness In Responses To Al In Writing, Joely Grace Hall

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Neurodivergent individuals encompass a broad spectrum of cognitive profiles, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, depression, anxiety and other neurological differences and learning disabilities. Over the past decade, artificial intelligence (Al) technologies have rapidly evolved, permeating various aspects of society, from healthcare to education and employment. Al often makes mistakes when analyzing papers written by neurodivergent students and flags them for plagiarism, when there is no plagiarism in the paper. We want to investigate why this happens and ways to work around this. We have put together a Prolific survey to get general opinions on Al, neurodiversity types and writing classes. With …

Silent Bystanders Facing Bias. Is Silence Always Harmful, Sophie Firle

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

In STEM, women face bias that lowers their sense of belonging, identity safety, and self-esteem. These biases often occur in daily interactions with male peers in STEM, such as subtly sexist comments that doubt women's competence in STEM. A previous study that we conduction titles "Effects of Ally Confrontation on Target Outcomes" tested whether a subtly sexist comment that was confronted by a male ally would help increase women's sense of belonging, identity safety, and self-esteem relative to when a male bystander remained silent and did not confront the comment. We found that confrontation does help women feel better than …

Modality's Effect On Aesthetic Ratings Of Poetry, Jessica Frame

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Previous research has shown that vividness of evoked imagery is the strongest contributor to aesthetic pleasure for poetry. However, it is 114 unknown whether modality of the poem has an effect on the relationship between vividness and aesthetic appeal, as past work has only used written poems. In this study we want to evaluate rating of vividness, valence, arousal, and aesthetic appeal based on the modality in which poems are presented (listening only, reading only, or combined). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three modalities: text-only (N=81 ), audio-only (N=74), or combined audio/text (N=78). Our results showed that …

Are You Now, Or Have You Ever Been, Cleopatra? A Study Of Past Life Regression, Practitioners, And The Impact Of Reincarnation Beliefs, Victoria Hoover

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

An Interactive Web Map Of Historical Buildings Of Downtown Nacogdoches, Texas, Cari Mitchell

Undergraduate Research Conference

Objective: The goal of this project is to use GIS to create a product that allows users interested in the history of downtown Nacogdoches, Texas to explore descriptive and pictorial information about the present historical buildings within the area of interest.

Does Perceived University Support Moderate Health Living And Job Satisfaction?, Makinzy Hoxsey, Patricia Frisby, Ju’Lea Bravo-Geche, Riley Patterson, Katheryne Wood

Undergraduate Research Conference

The present study examines the relationships between and the moderating effects of perceived university support (PUS) on engagement in health promotion (HP) behaviors and job satisfaction (JS) in a sample of university professors in Texas (n=70, 71% female). Consenting participants provided their responses to three scales measuring these constructs and then completed several demographic questions. Regression analysis revealed that PUS was the only factor in predicting JS. Adding the interaction term did not explain any further predictions for the model. However, correlations suggest that greater JS was associated with higher reports of PUS. PUS was also associated with reports of …

Empowering Youth Through Social Justice: A Mixed Methods Case Study Of The Deaf Community Travel Trunk Project, Emma Halliburton, Lisa Moore

Undergraduate Research Conference

As part of my honors requirement in my d/Deaf Education program, I crafted a Travel Trunk for humane education focusing on the area of social justice. Within that, due to my own personal connections, I elected for my Travel Trunk to center the Deaf Community. Using the book Listen, which details Evelyn Glennie's achievements, the project aimed to instill empathy. Students engaged with Glennie's story through a YouTube video and hands-on percussion activities, including wearing noise-canceling headphones. The research included pre- and post-surveys in an elementary classroom, assessing perceptions of deaf individuals as well as a field observation protocol. Utilizing …