Psychology Commons^™

An Examination Of College Experiences And Mental Health Outcomes For Black College Students In Georgia, Summer Burns, Anisah Bagasra

Symposium of Student Scholars

Minority students particularly, Black students face multiple different stressors compared to their peers while attending higher learning institutions. Current research has identified Black students’ experiences to be more cumbersome which places them at more risk for negative mental health outcomes. Black college students experience more systemic barriers with racial trauma, cultural mistrust, microaggressions, and belongingness, which all contribute to the experience of trauma faced by this demographic. These factors increase psychological distress and can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. However, there are limitations in current research identifying the differences of experiences affecting mental health outcomes between Black students who attended …

Striking A Balance: Evidence Synthesis Support For Graduate Students, Kelly Hangauer, Elizabeth Kline

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Evidence synthesis (ES) is the process of systematically collecting studies and synthesizing the findings using strict protocols and criteria. Common examples of ES include systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and scoping reviews. While ES has been commonplace in health sciences for many years, it has recently gained traction in non-health sciences fields such as the social sciences. In response to this growing trend, the IMLS-funded Evidence Synthesis Institute was created to offer librarians in-depth training on how to best provide ES support to disciplines outside the health sciences.

This presentation draws on the insights of two liaison librarians who work at public …

Creating A Support System For Online Graduate Students Learning New Software, Marisha C. Kelly

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

This poster outlines strategies for creating a support system for online graduate students learning new software. The Northcentral University (NCU) Library is a 100 percent online library providing services and delivering resources to students in a remote context. According to university facts and figures, approximately 98 percent of students are enrolled in a graduate program and nearly 69 percent of those students are pursuing a doctoral degree. In May 2019, a reference and instruction librarian developed a program to support graduate students learning how to use ProQuest RefWorks, a web-based research management tool. Elements of the program include synchronous options …

Adapting Applied Behavior Analysis In Autism Intervention To Improve Individualized Education For Children With Autism, Elisabeth Alonso

Symposium of Student Scholars

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) intervention for children diagnosed with autism provides detailed assessments of the clients’ abilities and guides skill acquisition with the goal of transitioning the client, often into a typical school classroom. The lack of accessible autism training and access to knowledgeable ABA professionals in school settings prevents teachers from engaging with their students on the autism spectrum. Furthermore, this gap in training does not equip teachers to follow through with the research-based interventions to improve students’ quality of life. Teachers must have an understanding of ABA in layman’s terms to improve the child’s classroom functioning. This research …

Examining Student Well-Being: The Development And Initial Validation Of The Psychological Vulnerability And Hardiness Scale, Kimberly D. Gomes

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Stress is a significant concern for undergraduate students, with some experiencing clinical levels of distress. Psychological vulnerability and hardiness are constructs that evaluate an individual’s sensitivity to stressors and protective factors related to maladaptive responses to distress. However, no measure has been developed to assess their combined effect.

Method: The present study examined the factor structure and correlates of the Psychological Vulnerability and Hardiness Scale (PVHS) in two samples (i.e., traditional university students and student veterans). Items were created through focus groups with occupational therapists who have experience assessing both constructs in university students. Factor structure and model …

Rural And Urban Influence On Intragroup Microaggressions Of Southeastern Filipino-Americans, Gabey Ramos

Symposium of Student Scholars

After considerable assessment, research has identified the significance of intragroup prejudice through the form of microaggressions. Microaggressions, in terms of intergroup dynamics, are a relatively new phenomenon, but literature on intragroup dynamics is arising alongside with it and provides a different relational perspective. By factoring in a multitude of variables, literature has suggested that the concept of intragroup microaggressions is a multidimensional behavior that varies amongst different Asian groups. By focusing even more so on the micro-level of ethnicity, most literature on the topic is based on model minority Asians in the United States’ West, Midwest, or Northeastern areas. That …

Attitudes Towards Recreational Drug Use: A Study Of Kennesaw State University Students, Matthew Fenner, Jack Arbuckle, Daron Pracharn, Aaron Murray, Katerina Joseph, Arely Cruz, Sierra Wynn, Coby Shepherd

Symposium of Student Scholars

Illicit substance usage has always formed a substantial controversy in society, with various substances being used for such goals as the relief of stress, the enhancement of attention, and the attainment of peer approval (Agarwal, Loukas, & Perry, 2018; Lui, 2019; Maahs, Weidner, & Smith, 2016). The main focus of this study is on collegiate students’ attitudes towards these drugs and the correlation of said attitudes with substance use. It has been found that college students react more positively to substance abuse treatment programs than their non-student counterparts. (Sahker, Acion, & Arndt, 2015) Therefore, it is essential to the success …

Ksu Student Anxiety Around Mass Shootings, Patrick Kielly, Angel Jaimes, Chris Gold, Madison Wilcox, Zach Peagler, Camari Stanley, Bailey St. Germain, Philip Williams-Jones, Nick Cotter

Symposium of Student Scholars

This research will examine the relationships among generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and fear of mass shootings, particularly for members of minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Previous research has examined the various types of mass public shootings and which ones receive more media attention. Previous research has also examined potential causes of mass shootings, ways to prevent them, and areas where mass shootings are common. There is little research on different types of anxiety (generalized and social) and how those correlate to fear of mass shootings, especially for minority groups in college. To examine this relationship, we will administer …

A Pilot Study Investigating Adopted Children’S Cultural Identity From Adopting Parents’ Perspective, Alyssa Mcveigh

Symposium of Student Scholars

Adopted children are faced with challenges of identity and a sense of belonging within their adopted family and environments. Research regarding adopted children suggests that their cultural identity is developed by the experiences they have within their biological culture such as, participating in holidays, meeting individuals who are from the same background or visiting their biological country. The goal of this pilot study was to explore the perspectives of adopting parents on their adopted children's cultural identity development, laying a foundation for the next study that will examine adopted children’s (college students) perspective. Ten adopting parents from The United States …

Impact Of Human Presence And Visual Access On Barking Behavior In Shelter Dogs, Emily W. Dowling, Jessie A. Catchpole, Christina M. Walthers, Madison J. Pattillo

Symposium of Student Scholars

Shelters can be stressful for dogs due to lack of predictability and control, social isolation, and busy environments. Providing dogs with more social opportunities and environmental predictability may improve their welfare. Barking may indicate stress and contribute to noise levels that are harmful to dogs and people. We investigated the impact of human presence and line of sight on barking. We manipulated line of sight by partially removing a crate barrier to allow the dogs visual access to other dogs and a better view of the room. We collected data on barking on 17 focal dogs as well as overall …

Investigating The Effects Of Wording On Perceptions Of Online Dog Adoption Advertisements, Sarah Barker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Investigating the Effects of Wording on Perceptions of Online Dog Adoption Advertisements

Sarah M. Barker1, Allison L. Martin1, Angela S. Kelling2, Megan L. Wilson3 , & Suma Mallavarapu1

1 Department of Psychological Science, Kennesaw State University

2 Department of Psychology, University of Houston Clear-Lake

3 Department Psychology, Georgia State University

Abstract

Dog adoption advertisements provide important behavioral and physical information about each dog to potential adopters. As potential adopters increasingly use the internet to find their next pet (Workman & Hoffman, 2015), online adoption advertisements have become an important part of the pet adoption process. Online adoption advertisements vary considerably …

The Impact Of Reinforcer Preference And Variation On Response Rates In Preschool-Aged Children, Jason M. Aldridge

Symposium of Student Scholars

The Impact of Reinforcer Preference and Variation on

Response Rates in Preschool-Aged Children

J. Malachi Aldridge1, Allison L. Martin1, Alicia K. Mitchell2

1. Kennesaw State University

2. Appleseeds Behavioral Center

In the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, tangible items (i.e. toys) are often used to help learners meet goals in academic, social, and adaptive living skills. While use of high preference reinforcers has been linked to improved performance, repeated use of a single item can cause satiation and reduce effectiveness. Using a variety of reinforcers can allow therapists to minimize these satiation effects (Bowman et al., 1997; Koehler & Iwata, …

The Effects Of Olfactory Enrichment On Shelter Dog Behavior, Madison J. Pattillo, Lauren N. Mitchell, Jessica A. Catchpole, Allison L. Martin

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

Shelter environments are stressful for dogs due to loud noises and unfamiliar surroundings. Previous research showed that exposure to some scents resulted in reductions in activity and vocalizations in shelter dogs. We investigated the effects of two calming (lavender and vetiver) and two stimulating (lemon and rosemary) essential oils on crate position and active, resting, and stress behaviors. There were 8, 5-min observations conducted each week per dog, split between baseline and scent exposure. Our analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test found that dogs exposed to lavender (n = 13), lemon (n = 10), rosemary (n = …

Negative Emotions Connected To Racial Experiences, Alondra Guerrero, Avery Britt, Isabella Layton

Symposium of Student Scholars

Negative Emotions Connected to Racial Experiences

For many students, college is the first environment in which they experience racial diversity. Because of this, university campuses become microcosms for the working world including the negative interracial interactions. Harwood and colleagues (2012) found that students of color lack a sense of belonging on predominately white college campuses. They experience microaggressions, racial jokes and comments, and uncomfortable interpersonal interactions (Harwood, 2012). Racially charged experiences influence emotions and those emotions, in turn, influence future racial experiences (Kim, 2016). It follows that students, faculty, and staff who endure a negative racial climate on campus experience …

Groupme Or Groupcheat? Student Perceptions And Reactions To Violations Of Academic Integrity, Andrew Manocchio, Jennifer Willard

Symposium of Student Scholars

The rise of online classrooms has brought forth new concerns about academic integrity that may not have been present in traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms. Emerging social technology, such as GroupMe, an app used to facilitate group text-messaging, has added a new dimension to academic integrity concerns. However, almost no research has been conducted examining how this technology impacts student behavior in the classroom. The current study investigates the degree to which students perceive various GroupMe conversations as including violations of academic integrity. Participants will be randomly assigned to read one of six GroupMe conversations in a 2 (type of cheating: meeting …

Positive And Negative Coping Mechanisms Due To High-Stress Of Covid-19, Stephanie O'Kon, Uchemdi Nduka, Precious Slade

Symposium of Student Scholars

Previous research on COVID-19 suggests that college students are experiencing increased symptoms of anxiety and depression (Saladino et al., 2020; Son et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2020). Researchers have argued that there is an “urgent need to develop interventions and preventative strategies to address the mental health of college students” (Son et al., 2020, p. 2). Although there is a growing literature on the negative effects of the pandemic on the mental health of college students, there is little research on how students cope with these negative effects. In this study we will be investigating the effectiveness of certain …

Where Are We With Education About Mental Health And Illness: A Survey Research, Symphony Williams

Symposium of Student Scholars

The purpose of my research is to investigate public awareness of mental health and illness. This study is paramount because of the mental health crisis our world faces today. I conducted a survey research in which I used Google Forms and asked a series of questions about the participants’ education, experiences, and opinions on mental health and illness. The total participants were 67. The analysis of survey responses resulted in several findings. First, 34.3% of the 67 participants had a diagnosed mental illness, and 72% of those participants suffer from some form of depression while 77.8% suffer from anxiety. These …

Assessing Positive And Mixed Emotions Related To Racial Experiences On Campus, Christopher Pauyo, Marie Stephens, Grace Bowe

Symposium of Student Scholars

As the climate of a university can impact the experiences and mental health of students, faculty, and staff (Budge et al., 2020), it is necessary to devote attention to race-related experiences that contribute to and perpetuate a university’s racial climate. Past psychological research has focused on reducing negative emotional reactions to negative race-related experiences (Carter & Forsyth, 2020; Kim, 2016). Although this line of research is critical to improving the experiences of people of color, there is another avenue for improvement that is often neglected: increasing positive race-related experiences. Identifying positive and quasi-positive experiences among racial groups will help us …

Perceptions Of Covid-19 Among Religious Leaders, Anna Anderson

Symposium of Student Scholars

The research shows how religious leaders have been affected and have attempted to adapt to COVID-19. The research was compiled of responses from religious leaders and affiliates to get a better understanding of their opinions. The data we are collecting is being analyzed so that we, the researchers, can determine if religious leaders are using their title to lead the community that follows them on the safest path or not, as well as if they are spreading an accurate message to their community about the COVID-19 Pandemic. The purpose of being able to identify how religious leaders are responding to …

Reporting Of Eating Disorder Deaths, Katherine Mobley, Amy Hord

Symposium of Student Scholars

Those affected by eating disorders experience disturbances in eating behaviors which are often related to underlying psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (Parekh, 2017, Drieberg et al., 1998 p.53). The duplicitous nature of the disorder makes it difficult to diagnose, and the tole it takes on an individual’s physical health makes its mortality rate the second highest among psychiatric disorders (Guinhut et al., 2021 p.130). Even if the correct education and resources are accessible to certain individuals, negative stigmatization about the disorder can make sufferers unlikely to seek help (Becker et al., 2010). Findings from analysis of …

Mental Illness In Horror Films, Nix Bradly

Emerging Writers

The depiction of mental illness within in the horror film genre has historically been non-inclusive or demonizing of the mentally ill. When we look at the genre today, there are still many instances of this villainization of the mentally ill, although there are recent examples of more progressive depictions of those afflicted. This article looks at the history and current trends of depictions of mental illness in films and argues that we can help move the genre away from stigmatizing mental illness by uplifting and supporting those who have mental illness to express themselves through the art of horror film …

Archival Evidence Of Exceptional Human Experiences, Blynne Olivieri

Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists

Archival collections hold tangible documentation of the range of human experience. Diaries, letters, photographs, audio recordings, reports, and other paper and film-based materials tell the stories of people’s lives. Using examples from the vast parapsychology archives and rare book collections at the University of West Georgia, this paper will share people’s first-hand accounts of extraordinary incidents or of their supernatural abilities, from the profound to the disappointing, and from the unexpected to the purposefully sought, including near-death experiences, extrasensory perception, and psychedelic drug use.

General Anxiety And Overeating In Undergraduate Students, Claire Graff, Sharon M. Pearcey, Ginny Zhan

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

Existing research on the relations between anxiety and overeating is multifaceted, contradictory, and often focused on clinical, non-diverse populations. This is an exploratory study to clarify the relationship between anxiety and eating behaviors in a group of undergraduate students with a wide range of weights and mental health statuses. Specifically, this study primarily assesses relationships among general anxiety and overeating patterns. The overeating patterns assessed are binge-eating, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. This study supplements the primary research focus by adding the following variables: self-regulation, cognitive restraint, body mass index (BMI), and body satisfaction. Through an online questionnaire, 390 male …

Somewhere Between Rational And Irrational: Creativity In The Graduate Research Process And Its Implications For Librarians, Kelly Hangauer

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Scholars analyzing the relationship between creativity and graduate research have tended to be PhD supervisors and psychologists. Using qualitative research methods and personal insights, these authors have looked closely at what creativity in the research process entails, and have called on supervisors to more effectively, and explicitly, foster creativity in graduate student research. Within this scholarly conversation, the teaching and support services of librarians have been largely overlooked.

This presentation contends that librarians are ideal collaborators for the development of creativity in graduate research. What’s more, a review of the doctoral education literature reveals ample opportunity for librarians to engage. …

Motivational Antecedents To Fandom And The Resultant Effects In The Foreign Contemporary Music Market, Hyun Sang An, Wooyang Kim, C. Anthony Di Benedetto

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of The Social Media Influencer Power On Consumer Attitudes Toward The Brand: The Mediating/Moderating Role Of Social Media Influencer Source Credibility, Lubna Nafees, Christy M. Cook, James E. Stoddard

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This paper presents a conceptual model of the impact of social media influencer power on consumer attitudes toward a brand. The research uses naïve theories of social influence, consumer socialization theory and market signaling theory to support the contention that social media influencer power will impact consumer brand attitudes. However, the impact of the social media influencer power on consumer brand attitudes is posited to be mediated and/or moderated by the social media influencer source credibility. In turn, the social media influencer source credibility is modeled as being positively related to the social media influencer’s expertise/competence with respect to the …

Gender Differences Are Disappearing: Attitudes On Sex Trafficking Tactics And Rape Victimization

Symposium of Student Scholars

Commercial sexual exploitation by force, fraud, and coercion are tactics used by sex traffickers. Although sex trafficking is an ongoing, pervasive problem, there is no known research on gender differences regarding knowledge and attitudes about sex trafficking tactics and the perception of these women and girls as victims of rape. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare male and female college students' knowledge and attitudes regarding sex trafficking tactics and their beliefs about whether these individuals are rape victims. Consistent with rape myth acceptance research on gender (Russell & Hand, 2017), we hypothesized that there may be gender …

Watch Me Give: Narcissism As A Moderator To Donating To A Nonprofit, Austin Prewett, Charles Elliott, Paul A. Story

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

With increased online connectivity in the current generation, more non-for-profit organizations are focusing their efforts on producing online marketing appeals. It has, therefore, become necessary to identify the effect some appeals have on different people. The present study seeks to determine whether an organization offering increased recognition will result in a greater willingness to give by people with narcissistic personalities. Additionally, it will determine if “willingness” to give or “amount” given are different between genders or employment status, as prior research suggests. Results indicated that whether the organization offered increased recognition or not, narcissism did not affect willingness to give …

Pet Attachment And The Social Support That Pets Provide To College Students, Olivia A. Bekker, Suma Mallavarapu

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this research was to see how the quality of a person’s attachment to their pet affects their perception of the amount of social support they are receiving from that pet. We recruited a sample of 309 undergraduate students who were pet owners. Students were enrolled in a General Psychology course at Kennesaw State University during Spring 2017. Data were collected using SurveyMonkey®. To measure the quality of pet attachment, we used the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale. To measure perceived social support, we adapted the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. There was a significant relationship between …

An Examination Of The Predictors Of Stalking Myth Acceptance And Perpetration, Amber Wallace, Corinne L. Mcnamara

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

Although interpersonal violence, such as stalking, is prevalent among college students, the factors that predict and contribute to a culture of campus violence are still obscure. Parallel to the established link between rape myth acceptance and rape perpetration, research has emphasized the ways in which stalking myth acceptance, societal attitudes, and false beliefs about stalking, normalize and perpetuate its occurrence (Lippman, 2015; McKeon, McEwan, & Leubbers, 2015). To further understand this dynamic, we examined the relationship between demographic variables, stalking myth acceptance (SMA), and stalking perpetration (SP) in a convenience sample of college students. Statistical analyses indicated that gender and …