Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Cowl - V.85 - N.6 - Nov 12, 2020

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 85 No. 6 - November 12, 2020. 24 pages.

The Cowl - V.85 - N.5 - Oct 29, 2020

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 85 No. 5 - October 29, 2020. 28 pages.

The Cowl - V.85 - N.3 - Oct 1, 2020

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 85 No. 3 - October 1, 2020. 20 pages.

The Cowl - V.85 - N.4 - Oct 15, 2020

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 85 No. 4 - October 15, 2020. 20 pages.

The Cowl - V.85 - N.2 - Sep 17, 2020

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 85 No. 2 - September 17, 2020. 24 pages.

The Cowl - V.85 - N.1 - Sep 3, 2020

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 85 No. 1 - September 3, 2020. 20 pages.

Lowering Disciplinary Rates: Looking At Social And Emotional Learning At Blackstone Academy Charter School, Ariel C. Davey

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

Social and emotional learning is a method that may benefit school culture and the environment for a student’s learning. Including social and emotional learning to school curriculums, specifically schools that have large numbers of students of color enrolled, allows students to learn how to manage their behavior and emotions and in turn benefiting themselves and others in present and future relationships. With more social and emotional learning is happening in the classroom, discipline towards students may be reflected on and seen as more harmful than helpful to students. As the days pass by, discipline rates for students of color in …

Funding Childhood Science: Life Or Death, Kathleen Garvey

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

This thesis draws the connection between an individual’s early childhood science education, health literacy comprehension, and quality of health. A better understanding of science leads to an increased understanding of health, benefiting the individual’s own health care as a result. Thus, proper and equitable educational funding of schools for all districts, regardless of income wealth, is essential to public health. In this thesis I propose that integrating effective science curricula into early education can work to reduce disparities in health literacy and ultimately benefit public health. I wish that this thesis will bring awareness to not only the importance of …

The Importance Of Properly Addressing Mental Health On College Campuses, Michaela M. Hunt

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

Michaela Hunt, in her Thesis titled, The Importance of Properly Addressing Mental Health on College Campuses, discusses an array of factors that contribute to the conversation around mental health relative to diagnosis, treatment, and adequate patient care. In Section III titled Proposal Paper, Michaela utilizes 10 peer-reviewed sources from her comprehensive literature review to dive into four major themes regarding appropriate ways to address mental illnesses. She discusses the climate of mental health on college campuses by studying trends in help-seeking behaviors and mental health literacy. She also delves into barriers to treatment, such as racial disparities, low …

Service Work In Youth Development: The Power Behind Extracurriculars, Lyndsy Cadet

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

At the heart of all underprivileged areas are underfunded public and charter schools that are not given a chance to properly educate the leaders of the future. The wealth disparities across school districts penalized students who live in low socioeconomic and non-dominant demographic neighborhoods. The biggest attack on educational rights is showcased through the achievement and opportunity gap in which the lack of funding and quality educational experience is limiting the quantity of knowledge students are obtaining in inner city, underfunded school districts. Students, regardless of socioeconomic or ethnic background deserve a chance at quality funded public schools in order …

The Cowl - V. 84 - N. 19 - Apr 30, 2020

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 84 - Number 19 - April 30, 2020. 8 pages.

A Study Of The Affects Of Religiosity On Mental Health At Providence College, Santanna Rocha

Sociology Student Scholarship

Major: Sociology and Philosophy

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon Martinez, Sociology

This research project aims to understand the connection, if any, between religiousness and mental health outcomes in college students. On a campus where many students and faculty engage in religious practices, either on campus or off, studying the affects of religion as a spiritual and psychological outlet proves to be a relevant concept for the Providence College community.

Determinants Of A Computer And Information Literacy Test Score: A Comparison Across 19 Countries, Tishay Davis

Economics Student Scholarship

Major: Finance and Business Economics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Fang Dong, Economics

The International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) is a computer-based international assessment of eighth-grade students’ capacities “to use information communications technologies (ICT) productively for a range of different purposes, in ways that go beyond a basic use of ICT” (Fraillon, Ainley, Schulz, Duckworth and Friedman 2018). It is sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and was first conducted in 2013 with 21 participating countries. The research papers that used ICILS 2013 data include Rohatgi, Scherer, and Hatlevik (2016), Scherer, Rohatgi, and Hatlevik …

Creating A Community: Stories Of Resilience At Providence College, Patrick Fuller, Nicholas Crenshaw

Psychology Student Scholarship

Patrick Fuller ’21
Major: Psychology

Nicholas Crenshaw ’20
Major: History

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mary O’Keeffe, Psychology

Creating a Community: Stories of Resilience is inspired by both the work of MIT Professor Daniel Jackson, in Portraits of Resilience, and the concept of StoryCorps, an audio catalogue of “humanity’s stories.” We recorded tales of resilience from students, faculty, and staff at Providence College using the video chat program Zoom and the audio recording platform Zencastr. In doing so, we emphasized the “ordinary” nature of resilience and how basic protections like a healthy brain, close relationships, committed families, and effective communities have all …

College Students’ Attachments To Mothers And Fathers: Comparing Social And Developmental Questionnaires, Elise W. Rogers, Brooke D. Vitulli, Samantha R. Leavey, Angelina M. Decapua

Psychology Student Scholarship

Angelina M. DeCapua ’20
Major: Psychology and Mathematics

Samantha R. Leavey ’22
Major: Psychology

Brooke D. Vitulli ’22
Major: Psychology

Elise W. Rogers ’20
Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentor: Kelly A. Warmuth, Psychology

This study explored the relationship between social and developmental measures of attachment, which tend to tap distinct but correlated dimensions of attachment (Crowell, Shaver, & Fraley, 2008). Participants (N = 161) completed the ECR-RS and the IPPA through Qualtrics. Results showed significant negative correlations between attachment-related avoidance and anxiety to attachment security, degree of mutual trust, and quality of communication, and significant positive correlations between attachment-related avoidance and …

Residential Segregation By Caste In The Indian States Of Gujarat And Karnataka, Alicia Terrero

Global Studies Student Scholarship

Major: Global Studies and Political Science

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Trina Vithayathil, Global Studies

This project looks at the Indian states of Gujarat and Karnataka and tries to identify why Gujarat has a higher degree of residential segregation than Karnataka. One factor that could explain this is the difference in level of solidarity at the subnational level for both states. Based on social expenditure data and inequality data, we find that Karnataka has higher levels of support for policies that further the collective good of the subnational (i.e. Kannada within Karnataka) community. This higher level of subnationalism and unity across social …

Low And Negative Foreign Interest Rates: Their Impact On The Level Of Foreign Holdings Of U.S. Treasury Bills, Christopher Arnold

Economics Student Scholarship

Major: Business Economics
Minor: Finance and Spanish

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Fang Dong and Dr. Leo Kahane, Economics

Largely motivated by the recent yield curve inversion, the paper examines the effect of a negative interest rate environment abroad on foreign countries holdings of U.S. Treasuries. The study uses a panel dataset covering 95 developed countries over 16 years, including economic and financial composition variables, as well as push and pull factors that impact capital flows. The study uses Poisson regression as its estimation method and ultimately finds that countries facing a negative real interest rate are expected to hold 24% more …

Undergraduates’ Interparental Conflict Mediation Based On Conflict Valence, Intensity, And Resolution, Angelina M. Decapua, Samantha R. Leavey, Brooke D. Vitulli, Elise W. Rogers

Psychology Student Scholarship

Angelina M. DeCapua ’20
Major: Psychology and Mathematics

Samantha R. Leavey ’22
Major: Psychology

Brooke D. Vitulli ’22
Major: Psychology Elise W. Rogers ’20 Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentor: Kelly A. Warmuth, Psychology

Undergraduates may be more likely to mediate interparental conflict when perceived as destructive, rather than constructive. Participants were 161 undergraduates who listened to six audio clips of disagreements and reported their perceptions as if those disagreements occurred in their families. Key findings suggest that undergraduates were more likely to mediate conflicts as perceived intensity and negativity increased, but not as resolution decreased. These findings emphasize the effects of …

Youth Homelessness And Rapid Re-Housing Programs In Rhode Island, Laura Fusco

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

Major: Public and Community Service

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Keith Morton, Public and Community Service

The purpose of this research was to study the effectiveness of Rapid Re-Housing programs in Rhode Island for youth 18-24. There is currently no published research that addresses the satisfaction or effectiveness of Rapid Re-Housing from the perspectives of the youth that are using the services. Additionally, youth are not included in conversations about the creation of these programs. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to shed light on youth’s experiences and dive into their evaluations and suggestions for the future of Rapid Re-Housing. I …

Mothers’ Social Contact As A Coping Strategy For Post-Disagreement Anger And Sadness, Abigail M. Fielding, Elizabeth R. Perrone

Psychology Student Scholarship

Elizabeth Perrone ’20
Major: Psychology, Neuroscience Certificate Program

Abigail Fielding ’20
Major: Psychology and Biology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kelly A. Warmuth, Psychology

The purpose of this study was to observe social contact as a coping mechanism for parents’ post-disagreement anger and sadness. Twenty-seven mother–father pairs completed a laboratory discussion followed by a short questionnaire. Consistent with the pattern of seeking emotional support, mothers who expressed higher levels of anger and sadness were more likely to use social contact as a coping strategy, while the same relationship was not found for fathers.

Creating Permanent And Temporary Inactivations In The Rat Posterior Parietal Cortex, Robert Vera, Carina Alessandro, Colin Call

Psychology Student Scholarship

Robert Vera ’20
Major: Psychology

Carina Alessandro ’21
Major: Biology and Psychology

Colin Call ’22
Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victoria Templer, Psychology

Previous studies have examined the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) as a multimodal hub using permanent lesioning techniques. However, when attempting to lesion the PPC as a whole, researchers have generally only managed to lesion the dorsal portion of the PPC (dPPC) without lesioning the caudal portion (cPPC). This study aimed to refine and improve the methods for successful targeting and lesioning the entire PPC. In two pilot lesions, we successfully created permanent excitotoxic lesions to the entire …

Perceptions Of Disability, Alexandria Powers

Psychology Student Scholarship

Alexandria Powers ’20
Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mary O’Keeffe, Psychology

Negative perceptions, discrimination, and bias contribute to compromised self-esteem among disabled individuals. Evidence suggests that those who reject ableism have higher self-esteem. The purpose of this research is to determine if exposure to individuals who reject ableism positively influences disability perceptions. We hypothesize that participants will have more positive perceptions of disability after viewing an individual who embraced theirs. To test this, Two Ted Talk videos and two short story depicting cognitive and physical disability are presented at random. Congruent disability portrayals (being exposed to both a cognitive impairment …

Young Children And Parents Do Not Prefer Magical Solutions To Magical Problems, Julia Culhane

Psychology Student Scholarship

Julia Culhane ’20
Major: Psychology, Neuroscience Certificate

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Van Reet, Psychology

There are many anecdotal reports of both children and parents using magical solutions to solve everyday magical problems (e. g., make monster repellent to keep monsters from living under the bed). But, how accurate is this? Using experimental and survey methods, this study found that both preschoolers and parents actually choose real solutions to both real and magical problems.

Examining The Relationship Between Child Temperament, Parental Acceptance/Rejection, And Divergent Thinking In Toddlers And Preschool-Age Children, Elise W. Rogers

Psychology Student Scholarship

Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kelly A Warmuth, Psychology

Research on divergent thinking, the ability to use many different solutions to solve a problem, has shown significant relationships with child temperament and parenting behaviors; however, few studies have examined the existence of these relationships in the toddler and preschool-age years. The current, on-going, study aims to explore the relationship between child temperament, maternal acceptance/rejection, and divergent thinking in children 19 months to 6 years of age. Mothers will be asked to complete the CBQ-VSF and PARQ to assess child temperament and accepting/rejecting parenting behaviors, respectively, while children are asked to …

The Examination Of Individuals: How People Have The Ability, Power, And Voice To Change The Way People View The World In A Positive Way, Amelia Aaron

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

Throughout my four years of learning about different people who have changed the world and the different ways in which they have gone about it, I have strived to find myself in qualities that match those of influential leaders and change makers. For the sole purpose of this thesis, I did a year’s worth of research trying to distinguish what qualities, characteristics, and backgrounds create positive and impactful leaders. For a lack of a better word, you could say that I made a formula to fully understand what an individual should be striving towards in order to make a positive …

Ending The Notion Of “I Do Not Belong Here” Recommendations For Predominantly White Institutions To Support First Generation Student’S Success, Perla Castillo Calderon

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

Ever wonder what it means to be a first-generation college student? This thesis focuses on bringing visibility to the first-generation identity college students carry. Divided in two parts, the first part explains what it means to be first-generation, how mentoring programs are supposed to run, and how beneficial extracurricular activities are for both students and the institution as a whole. This first part is based on research and interviews I have conducted with current undergraduate Providence College students. The second part is a proposal for a centralized space where the first-generation identity is celebrated and have easy to access resources.

Learning From The Shadows: Undocumented Students In Higher Education, Sean J. Richardson

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

Education policy and immigration policy intersect in dangerous ways which creates conditions for different types of students to be isolated in the development of their education. Immigration policy in the United States is a constantly shifting context. Providence College serves as a microcosm of the United States in the experience of being an undocumented student. This thesis serves as a call to action, but also a peak into the world of the undocumented experience. Through critical research, and experiential learning in my last four years at Providence College, we’re coming to understand how the institution not only condones white supremacy …

A Reflection And Discussion Of Philanthropy And Its Relevance And Practice In Service And Society, Brigid Mcgrath

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

This paper seeks to answer the question, “What model of philanthropy has the most positive impacts on a community and is least disruptive to the vulnerable populations which it intends to serve?” A thorough reflection of each type of philanthropy: traditional philanthropy, organization building philanthropy, venture philanthropy and catalytic philanthropy, leads to a careful selection of the most significant elements of each type. Ultimately, an archetype of philanthropy that combines elements of strategic philanthropy, emergent strategies, and catalytic philanthropy is shared as a guide for companies or foundations looking to engage in philanthropic endeavors is provided in the conclusion.

The …

Trust In The Truth As A Healing Measure To Long-Lived Histories Of Gendered Violence: A Representation Of Congolese Refugee Women And Their Resilience To Love, Gabrielle Amorelli

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

This paper explores the historical contexts of the gendered violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a preface to the overall sense of mistrust that remains, especially that of which is forced within women themselves. Paired with personal testimonies of Congolese refugee women living in Providence, RI and formal academic research, I hope this will bring an authentic awareness to the effects that the practice and feelings of trust has on women. I anticipate the personification of the overarching power of resilience that refugee women exhibit to shine through to you as a result of my work.

Hope: The Core Of Social Justice, Emily K. Locke

Public & Community Service Student Scholarship

The purpose of Hope: The Core of Social Justice, is to defend the role of hope in social justice movements. For those who are aware of or who face systematic oppression, the idea of having hope can seem ineffective or even detrimental to any progress in overcoming such systems. But, by clearly defining hope and analyzing its characteristics, one may find that the goal of hope and the goal of any social movement are nearly identical. Philosophical, theological, psychological, and historical references help to shine light on the limited conceptions many have of hope and to support the idea …