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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2014

University of Central Florida

HIM 1990-2015

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Articles 1 - 30 of 68

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Physical Health Outcomes Of The Stigmatizer, William Butler Dec 2014

Physical Health Outcomes Of The Stigmatizer, William Butler

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis explores physical health outcomes of individuals that hold stigma against those with mental illness. The stigmatizer is mentioned in the literature as an individual that holds a stigma towards another group. In this thesis, stigma refers to those that hold prejudice and may express discrimination towards a targeted group. Two studies were conducted that looked at multiple demographic variables as well as symptomology and degree of stigma towards those with mental illness. The first study looked at overall stigma without the stereotypical psychosomatic symptoms (chest pain and abdominal pain). The second study looked at a second dimension of …

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The Constitutionality Of Warrantless Cell Phone Searches: Incident To Arrest, Kylie Brown Dec 2014

The Constitutionality Of Warrantless Cell Phone Searches: Incident To Arrest, Kylie Brown

HIM 1990-2015

As technology has developed, Americans have come to carry their most private information around with them in their pockets in digital form on their cell phones. A cell phone has immense storage capacity and can contain a wide variety of communicative information about its owner. In the past, there had been a disagreement among the lower courts as to whether police officers could search the contents of an arrestee's cell phone when making an arrest. The United States Supreme Court settled this disagreement in Riley v. California; in that case, the Court held that the warrantless search of a cell …

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Predicting Science Literacy And Science Appreciation, Robert Hellmuth Dec 2014

Predicting Science Literacy And Science Appreciation, Robert Hellmuth

HIM 1990-2015

Research has shown that the benefits of having a populace literate in science are great. Even if citizens are not literate in basic science, it is important that citizens still appreciate science and those with expertise in the field for many reasons. Recent research suggests that the United States (U.S.) has lower levels of science literacy than it should. Evidence may also suggest that many U.S. citizens are not appreciative of science. Overall, little research has been conducted on what may predict science literacy and science appreciation which is the aim of this research. Specifically, I have examined socio-personal variables, …

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Institutional Design And Economic Inequility: Socioeconomic Actors And Public Policy In Germany And The United States, Jennifer Hudson Dec 2014

Institutional Design And Economic Inequility: Socioeconomic Actors And Public Policy In Germany And The United States, Jennifer Hudson

HIM 1990-2015

In this thesis I conduct a comparative analysis of the influence of socioeconomic actors, business and labor, on public policy in Germany and the United States, specifically public policy that has an impact on economic inequality. The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of how institutional constructs may determine the level of influence by different socioeconomic actors on public policy. In particular, I examine the link between institutional design and economic inequality, specifically the relative influence of business interests in varying types of capitalist economies and democratic systems, and assess those facets of institutional design that …

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Exploring A Relationship Between Social Anxiety Disorder And Bilingualism, Nicholas James Dec 2014

Exploring A Relationship Between Social Anxiety Disorder And Bilingualism, Nicholas James

HIM 1990-2015

This study investigated the possible relationship between bilingualism and social anxiety disorder. Past research has indicated developmental delays in language as increasing risk for other psychological difficulties. With the pressure to learn two languages, possibly in the drastically different environments of home, school, and/or work, individuals may be vulnerable to becoming socially anxious in conjunction with language use. This study examined a series of factors surrounding linguistic development and reports of social anxiety. Participants were divided into 4 groups: Socially Anxious (SA; n = 43) monolinguals, Non-Socially Anxious (Non-SA; n = 81) monolinguals, SA bilinguals (n = 30), and Non-SA …

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Cultural Relevance In Medicine: An Evaluation Of Cultural Competence Curriculum Integration In Southeastern Medical Schools, Leslie Gannon Dec 2014

Cultural Relevance In Medicine: An Evaluation Of Cultural Competence Curriculum Integration In Southeastern Medical Schools, Leslie Gannon

HIM 1990-2015

Cultural competence in health care provision has been broadly identified as the need for providers to acknowledge, address, or incorporate an understanding of the cultural and social context of patients' lives into the process of treating and managing patient's illnesses. However, how cultural competence can be incorporated has been the subject of debates in biomedicine and anthropology, and has often been met with difficulties in physician practice. These challenges arise from differing perspectives about how cultural competence is understood and institutional neglect of culturally relevant education. While the need for cultural competence integration into health care practitioner training during medical …

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Libertarian, Liberal, And Socialist Concepts Of Disributive Justice, Daniel Kassebaum Dec 2014

Libertarian, Liberal, And Socialist Concepts Of Disributive Justice, Daniel Kassebaum

HIM 1990-2015

What makes for a just society constitutes one of the most intensely debated subject among political philosophers. There are many theorists striving to identify principles of justice and each believes his/hers theory to be the best. The literature on this subject is much too voluminous to be canvassed in its entirety here. I will, however, examine the stances and arguments of three key schools of thought shaping the modern discussion of social justice: libertarianism (particularly Robert Nozick and Milton and Rose Friedman), liberal egalitarianism (John Rawls and Ronald Dworkin), and socialism (Karl Marx and John Roemer). Each of these schools …

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The Association Of Attachment Style And Perceptions Of Caregiver Experience, Kandace Luther Dec 2014

The Association Of Attachment Style And Perceptions Of Caregiver Experience, Kandace Luther

HIM 1990-2015

This research examines caregiver experiences as they relate to attachment style. The overarching hypothesis is that perceptions of the caregiver role differ depending on the degree of avoidance and anxiousness in the caregiver's attachment style. Caregiver response was measured in the areas of filial obligation, work reduction, perceived control, caregiver burden, depressive symptomatology, and preparedness for caregiving. The final sample consisted of 150 caregivers who identified as the primary caregiver for a parent over the age of 65. This sample was recruited using Mechanical Turk, an online survey distribution tool. The survey was created online with Qualtrics software. Data were …

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Investing In An Interconnected Workforce: Global Education Reform, Amelia Klug Dec 2014

Investing In An Interconnected Workforce: Global Education Reform, Amelia Klug

HIM 1990-2015

Regardless of culture, socio-economic background, and quality of life, all students deserve the highest quality of education. But the reality is, many education systems around the world do not offer it. Investing in structural reforms in education has the potential to boost economic growth in countries around the world. By learning from different education systems strengths and weaknesses, policy decisions can be made that ensure students are given the opportunity for higher educational outcomes. This study analyzes high, middle, and low quality education systems around the world and the infrastructures that lead to educational success or failure. Fifteen education systems …

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The C.S.I. Effect: Exploration Of Its Influence On Perception Of Criminal Behavior, Alexandra Mcconnell Dec 2014

The C.S.I. Effect: Exploration Of Its Influence On Perception Of Criminal Behavior, Alexandra Mcconnell

HIM 1990-2015

This study explores the C.S.I. effect in relation to its influence on criminal activity. Expansive research exists concerning the C.S.I. Effect, but very little pertains to the influence it has on individuals' perception of crime and their ability to get away with it. The study explores whether heavy viewers of crime show dramas such as Law & Order and C.S.I. display increased confidence in their ability to commit and get away with a crime. Essentially, this study explores whether these crime television shows are not only entertainment, but also may serve as guides on how to commit crimes. Participants in …

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Media Influence On Risky Driving Behaviors Among Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Kelly Silberman Dec 2014

Media Influence On Risky Driving Behaviors Among Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Kelly Silberman

HIM 1990-2015

Within the last few decades there has been an abundant increase in the amount of violent video games and movies shown within the media. Many of these violent videogames and movies include reckless driving behaviors or certain car scenarios that engross the viewer into wishing to imitate the actions they see on the screen. With that being said, majority of these viewers are adolescents or emerging adults who are beginning to drive and are prone to replicating what they see as adequate driving behaviors. The intent of this thesis is to indicate whether or not the amount of risky driving …

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Exploring The Effects Of Social Media Use On The Mental Health Of Young Adults, Amelia Strickland Dec 2014

Exploring The Effects Of Social Media Use On The Mental Health Of Young Adults, Amelia Strickland

HIM 1990-2015

The intent of this thesis is to explore the relationship between social media use and mental health in the young adult population. Current research indicates that there is a connection between increased social media use and deteriorated mental health. Unfortunately, young adults, the most active social media users, have a predominantly high risk for developing mental health issues, making this connection particularly concerning. At present, it is unclear how social media and mental health are connected; therefore this thesis explores the individual and social theories that may give reason for this connection. Theories that are discussed include: the impact of …

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China And Central Asia's Transnational Concerns Require Multilateral Solutions, Blake Tobin Dec 2014

China And Central Asia's Transnational Concerns Require Multilateral Solutions, Blake Tobin

HIM 1990-2015

After seven decades of regional domination, the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 put the whole continent in a state of political and economic uncertainty. The sudden absence of a strong, yet generally predictable hegemon initiated an intense debate centered on whether or not the rise of China posed a grave threat to the region or whether it would bring stability and cohesion to the region. After 23 years of observation, it is now safe to presume that China does not pose a military threat to the region. Simply because China does not have expansionist or aggressive political …

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The Relationship Between Parenting Styles, Acculturation, Individuation, And Mental Health In Arab American Adults, Mira Atia Aug 2014

The Relationship Between Parenting Styles, Acculturation, Individuation, And Mental Health In Arab American Adults, Mira Atia

HIM 1990-2015

Parents are among the important socialization agents that influence the persons we become. Previous research (Baumrind, 1967; 1972; 1991; 1987) has identified three primary parenting styles: permissive, authoritative, and authoritarian, and a large amount of research has investigated the long term implications of these styles. The current study aimed to investigate the universality of these parenting styles, in particular, among Arab American Adults (N =22). The study examined the relationships between overall mental health and parenting styles, acculturation, and individuation in this population. Unfortunately, a small sample size limited the analyses performed, and the findings did not show any significant …

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Stand Your Ground Law: How Can A Ucf Student's Fear Of Crime Affect Their Opinion Of The Law And What Variables Affect The Student's Level Of Fear Of Crime?, Kelly Duckworth Aug 2014

Stand Your Ground Law: How Can A Ucf Student's Fear Of Crime Affect Their Opinion Of The Law And What Variables Affect The Student's Level Of Fear Of Crime?, Kelly Duckworth

HIM 1990-2015

A person's level of fear of crime or even their perceived fear of crime can affect how they view the Stand Your Ground Law and whether it is seen as beneficial or harmful to the general public. I begin with a discussion of the Stand Your Ground Law. Next, I report on research that examines the fear of crime and how it may shape opinions on the law as well as an individual’s level of fear. My research explores the relationship of these variables using survey data. I examine the attitudes of college students regarding their fear of crime to …

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Structural Causes Of Social Conflict In Africa, Lucien Charland Aug 2014

Structural Causes Of Social Conflict In Africa, Lucien Charland

HIM 1990-2015

Social conflict, as opposed to armed conflict, has received less attention in the field of quantitative research. This paper investigates the structural causes of political violence in 35 African states using data from the Social Conflict in Africa dataset and the Beck and Katz panel corrected standard errors time series regression model. Theoretically, a closed political opportunity structure, combined with a weak state unable to provide public goods, should together produce high levels of social conflict. The independent variables attempt to operationalize these concepts from four different angles. In this analysis Access to Education and Infrastructure (AEI), Ethno Linguistic Fractionalization …

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Social Work Students' Attitudes And Perceptions About The Affordable Care Act, Yvichess Goddard Aug 2014

Social Work Students' Attitudes And Perceptions About The Affordable Care Act, Yvichess Goddard

HIM 1990-2015

Objectives: Few research studies have analyzed college students' attitudes of health reform caused by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Specifically, no studies exist looking at undergraduate and graduate social work students' views on current health reform. The study will ask two questions: (1) What do Social Work students know about the components and potential impacts of the ACA, and (2) Are there any characteristics of students associated with their level of knowledge or attitudes about the Act? Methods: A 53-item survey questionnaire inquiring knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions related to health reform and the Affordable Care Act was dispersed to a …

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The Relationship Of Parents' Work Stress And Child Functioning In The Context Of Spillover Effects, Marital And Parenting Stress, And Parents' Perceptions, Megan Hare Aug 2014

The Relationship Of Parents' Work Stress And Child Functioning In The Context Of Spillover Effects, Marital And Parenting Stress, And Parents' Perceptions, Megan Hare

HIM 1990-2015

Given that working is something parents cannot avoid in our society, understanding the ramifications that work stress can have is an important tool in today's society. This study sought to investigate the impact of parents' work stress on young children in the context of work-family spillover, parenting stress, marital stress, and perceptions of parenting. As part of this study, 106 working parents of children who ranged in age from 1- to 5-years rated their stress levels across multiple domains (i.e., work, marriage, and parenting), their perceived parenting behaviors, and their young child's emotional and behavioral functioning. Correlational results of this …

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Determining The Minimum Number Of Individuals And Significance Of The Kuelap Ossuary In Chachapoyas, Peru, Vu Tran Aug 2014

Determining The Minimum Number Of Individuals And Significance Of The Kuelap Ossuary In Chachapoyas, Peru, Vu Tran

HIM 1990-2015

The pre-Hispanic archaeological site of Kuelap in Chachapoyas, Peru, is representative of the variation in mortuary practices observed throughout the Chachapoya region. The goal of this study was to analyze the human skeletal remains excavated in the center of the Circular Platform between residential structures at Kuelap by creating an inventory of the remains (n=2,573) and determine the minimum number of individuals originally interred in the mortuary context. This study observed a total of 171 femora, 159 humeri, 74 calcanei, 110 ilium bones, 86 temporal bones, and 74 maxillae. Results show that this mortuary context was an ossuary of secondarily, …

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A Closer Look At The Necessity Of Managing Monetary Policy Expectations, Vanessa Annoni-Fuertes May 2014

A Closer Look At The Necessity Of Managing Monetary Policy Expectations, Vanessa Annoni-Fuertes

HIM 1990-2015

Monetary policy changes that are unexpected by the investing public can generate great volatility and illiquidity in the equities market, and therefore may severely compromise the Federal Reserve’s ability to control the economy. Given the investing public’s power, their fear of uncertainty, and their impulsive nature to create and act upon uninformed expectations, it is imperative that the Federal Reserve uses any and all communication about monetary policy with the purpose of further advancing the their stability objectives. Initially, the Federal Reserve felt that changes in monetary policy were most effective if decided and implemented in private however over 50 …

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An Overview And Examination Of The Prevention And Punishment Of White Collar Crimes, Tyler Bartels May 2014

An Overview And Examination Of The Prevention And Punishment Of White Collar Crimes, Tyler Bartels

HIM 1990-2015

White-collar crime is explained from an economist’s perspective. Economic models typically begin by assuming individuals behave rationally. By extension, economic models of crime suggest that white-collar criminals may be acting more rationally than a casual observer may assume. This thesis will identify the benefits and drawbacks of different regulations and laws by exploring several case studies of white-collar events.

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Zero Tolerance For Some: The Role Of Race In Zero Tolerance Exclusionary Discipline, Meghan Bejarano May 2014

Zero Tolerance For Some: The Role Of Race In Zero Tolerance Exclusionary Discipline, Meghan Bejarano

HIM 1990-2015

Within the last few decades, zero tolerance policies and exclusionary discipline have become the standard way in which schools manage student behavior. These policies, namely suspension and expulsion have been shown to have negative impacts on the lives of students who are punished with them. Educationally, the removal of students from the classroom hurts their chances of achieving academic success. Furthermore, these policies have been linked with an increase in the presence of law enforcement on school campuses, which results in the arrest of students, burdening them with expensive and serious legal battles. This research examines whether nonwhite students are …

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Toward A Theory Of Practical Drift In Teams, Tiffany Bisbey May 2014

Toward A Theory Of Practical Drift In Teams, Tiffany Bisbey

HIM 1990-2015

Practical drift is defined as the unintentional adaptation of routine behaviors from written procedure. The occurrence of practical drift can result in catastrophic disaster in high-reliability organizations (e.g. the military, emergency medicine, space exploration). Given the lack of empirical research on practical drift, this research sought to develop a better understanding by investigating ways to assess and stop the process in high-reliability organizations. An introductory literature review was conducted to investigate the variables that play a role in the occurrence of practical drift in teams. Research was guided by the input-throughput-output model of team adaptation posed by Burke, Stagl, Salas, …

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The Universal Design Paradigm: An Examination Of Real-Time, C-Print, Meaning-For-Meaning Transcription And Individual Differences In Learning, Amanda Boone May 2014

The Universal Design Paradigm: An Examination Of Real-Time, C-Print, Meaning-For-Meaning Transcription And Individual Differences In Learning, Amanda Boone

HIM 1990-2015

The intent of this thesis is to guide further research and discussion of C-Print, meaning-for-meaning transcription and its applications to today’s dynamic classroom settings under a Universal Design Paradigm. Evidence suggests that providing these captions can benefit Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations and also that concise, textual representations of information increase retention for average learners in multimedia settings. Individual differences were considered and low internal control participants did significantly better on exams when material was captioned compared to when it was not. They also tended to outperform high internal control participants on captioned material exams.

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Sexual Offender Treatment: A Paradigm Analysis Of Academic Journals, Vijay Chillar May 2014

Sexual Offender Treatment: A Paradigm Analysis Of Academic Journals, Vijay Chillar

HIM 1990-2015

Many criminologists and psychologists have theorized the possible causes behind an individual who engages in sex offenses; some of which will be reviewed. Through this paradigm analysis, I hope to identify how each discipline addresses the causes of sex offending and what treatments they offer in response to their theories. Additionally, this thesis will examine the Good Lives, Relapse Prevention, and the Risks, Need, Responsivity (RNR) models of treatment. The main objective of this thesis is to address the different facets of sex offending, so that the importance of finding an effective treatment model can be understood. By raising awareness …

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Central Asian Security: With A Focus On Kazakhstan, Marcus Bragg May 2014

Central Asian Security: With A Focus On Kazakhstan, Marcus Bragg

HIM 1990-2015

This work focuses on the influence of terror, extremism, trafficking and corruption on the regional security of Central Asia, with a particular emphasis on Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is regarded as the most stable and financially developed state in Central Asia, yet domestic and regional stability are threatened by the rise in extremism, narcotics trafficking, institutional corruption and acts of terrorism. The challenges of trafficking and extremism within the region originated from outside of Central Asia. Foreign organizations and ideologies are significant actors in progression of regional instability. Government response to these challenges can perpetuate or stymie the aforementioned threats to regional …

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Music's Normalization Influences On College Students' Risky Sexual Behaviors, Michelle Craske May 2014

Music's Normalization Influences On College Students' Risky Sexual Behaviors, Michelle Craske

HIM 1990-2015

With the large role that music and the media plays in our society today it, is necessary to examine the effects that they have on certain harmful behaviors. The current study was based upon the Cultivation and Social Cognitive theories. The purpose of this study was to further examine the relationship between music and risky sexual behaviors. A total of 715 participants from the University of Central Florida answered multiple questionnaires via the SONA system. Questionnaires included topics such as music listening/viewing habits, sexual behaviors, dating behaviors, and demographics. The sample was comprised of primarily Caucasian young adults, with an …

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Domestic Violence: The Need For Integrated And Specialized Courts In The Ninth Judical Circuit Of Orange And Osceola County, Florida, Rose Caldero May 2014

Domestic Violence: The Need For Integrated And Specialized Courts In The Ninth Judical Circuit Of Orange And Osceola County, Florida, Rose Caldero

HIM 1990-2015

Over the last 30 years, the justice system has increased attention toward domestic violence. In many states, the emphasis has emerged to a specialization, separate dockets and specially trained judges (Center for Court Innovation 2009). Domestic violence courts have evolved, however the Ninth Circuit Court in Orange and Osceola County has yet to adopt this concept. At present, the Osceola County Courthouse utilizes the Unified Family Court (UFC), an integrated comprehensive approach which handles all cases simultaneously addressing the families involved in disputes, as well as the adults and the children of domestic violence. The Orange County Courthouse on the …

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Growth And Immigration: An Econometric Analysis Of Current European Union Member States From 1990 To 2009, Davis Jacob May 2014

Growth And Immigration: An Econometric Analysis Of Current European Union Member States From 1990 To 2009, Davis Jacob

HIM 1990-2015

Economic growth and immigration are important issues to individuals and governments alike. This paper looks at previous research on the topic of how migration affects growth and finds that most research finds that immigrants increase growth in at least the long run. First global or widely applicable research is discussed, then the paper focuses on the European Union as its data availability and uniform open migration policy lend it to a panel regression analysis. Three models are estimated using World Bank World Development Indicators data from 1990 to 2009 for all 28 current EU member states. The models are largely …

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Exploring The Correlation Between Theory Of Mind And Drive For Thinness, Sarah Hudak May 2014

Exploring The Correlation Between Theory Of Mind And Drive For Thinness, Sarah Hudak

HIM 1990-2015

Research suggests that, similar to individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, people with Anorexia Nervosa demonstrate an inability to utilize Theory of Mind concepts. Theory of Mind allows healthy control populations to attribute mental states to others by accurately predicting and understanding the behavior of others. This study's intent was to further explore the relationship between eating disorders and Theory of Mind. Using an online survey management system (Qualtrics), 210 female students from a large metropolitan southeastern university completed the Drive for Thinness subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes task. It was …

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