Digital Commons Network^™

What Race Means For Health Among Black Americans: How Microaggressions Shape Self-Efficacy And Readiness For Behavior Change, Amanda Lee Almond

Publications and Research

Objectives: Persistent racial disparities in cardiovascular health among Black Americans reflect not only structural inequities in the United States, but also the racialized meanings of cardiovascular disease reproduced through public and private health communication. Drawing on ecological systems theory, this research examines how beliefs linking race and cardiovascular disease are reinforced through routine clinical interactions and how these meanings shape health behavior change. Method: Across two experimental mixed-methods studies, a model integrating ecological, social–cognitive, and behavior-change frameworks was tested. In Study 1 (N = 374), health-message framing was experimentally manipulated to examine effects on self-efficacy and decisional balance while controlling …

Roots To Recovery: How Therapeutic Horticulture Can Heal Sexual Trauma, Fiona E. Larsen-Teskey

Scripps Senior Theses

Sexual assault is one of the most prevalent sources of trauma among females. While still requiring more research, therapeutic horticulture (TH), also known as gardening therapy, has so far shown promising results regarding trauma recovery. In this study, I seek to discover how TH can aid in female sexual assault recovery. To determine its impact, I will conduct a three-month experiment with two groups: those who receive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and those who receive CBT plus TH. I will specifically measure three common side effects survivors face: dissociation, shame, and PTSD. These categories will be measured through surveys and …

Experiencing Objectification In Platform Work: Food Delivery Riders’ Accounts Of Organizational Absence And Self-Valuation, Emerald Jay D. Ilac, Ma. Tonirose D. Mactal, Clarisse Aeaea M. Kilboy

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

This study aimed to explain how food delivery platform riders experience objectification in the context of platform-based work, with particular attention to how organizational practices and leadership shape experiences of marginalization, dignity, and voice. A qualitative design was employed using Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine food delivery platform riders to describe the essential structures of their lived experiences of objectification. Subaltern Theory was used as an interpretive lens in making sense of the findings. Five experiential themes were identified: (1) leaders’ non-presence resulting in perceived abandonment, (2) leaders’ devaluing of food delivery riders, (3) social devaluation …

Merger Crisis Role-Play: Organizational Behavior In Action, Jyro B. Triviño

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

To advance professionally, students must be prepared to navigate dynamic and contentious organizational environments by articulating their varied views, protecting their personal and professional intentions, anticipating challenges, and then fostering consensus. This paper addresses a high-stakes, multi-round immersive role-play simulation of a company merger in an undergraduate Organizational Behavior course. Grounded in the core pillars of experiential learning, adaptive leadership, and organizational sensemaking, this classroom exercise places students in a pre-set, realistic post-merger leadership team facing immediate business challenges. Compared to traditional case studies, this method requires students to demonstrate real-time organizational behavior competencies, providing a powerful platform for negotiation …

The Effects Of Surf Film Viewing As A Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Aligned Intervention For Trauma-Related Symptoms, Ryan Papero

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This study examined whether viewing a surf film aligned with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principles would reduce emotion dysregulation among trauma-exposed adults. Participants (N = 14) with self-reported childhood trauma were randomly assigned to view either The Endless Summer or a neutral industrial documentary. Emotion regulation was assessed using pre- and post-intervention Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) scores. An independent samples t-test comparing change scores indicated that the control group demonstrated a greater mean reduction in DERS scores (M = 6.13, SD = 5.22) than the surf group (M = 2.50, SD = 3.08); however, this difference was not …

The Effects Of Nature Exposure On Workplace Engagement, Allison Emmons

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The idea that nature is beneficial to humans is somewhat unclear in the field of psychology. Many studies have found that exposure to natural elements can improve human emotions and performance on cognitive tasks. However, there are inconsistencies in the literature regarding whether both outcomes can be enhanced at once. There is also limited research on how nature can impact attitudes about the environment and tasks at hand. This study seeks to examine whether or not incorporating natural elements into workplaces improves employee performance and engagement measures, such as decision-making quality, job satisfaction, job motivation, and current emotional state. This …

Information Technology Dashboard Design Research, James Myers

Dissertations and Theses

Dashboard displays in command center environments benefit from design guidelines informed by perceptual and cognitive research. This dissertation examines how spatial hierarchy and chartjunk affect knowledge retention from dashboard displays, using a mixed-methods approach that combines formative qualitative studies with controlled experiments. Three formative studies, an expert review, a heuristic analysis with three reviewers, and semi-structured interviews with IT professionals identified spatial hierarchy and chartjunk removal as the design guidelines most likely to affect dashboard comprehension. A subsequent co-creation study with IT professionals refined these findings and informed experimental stimulus development. Two experiments tested these guidelines using a dashboard knowledge …

“I’M Throwing The Red Flag”: Online Peer Responses To Teen Descriptions Of Abusive Relationship Behaviors Posted On Reddit, Kyla M. Cary, Morgan E. Pettyjohn, Erin Nolen

Faculty Publications – Psychology

Adolescents in the United States experience abusive relationship behaviors at alarming rates; yet formal education on navigating harmful relationship dynamics is lacking. Thus, many teens use the internet to disclose abuse experiences and seek information or advice from their online peers. To better understand the types of responses, advice, and information teens receive from their online peers, we analyzed peer-to-peer discussions about abusive relationship behaviors from teens in the Reddit community r/teenrelationships. Using qualitative content analysis, we analyzed comment responses (n = 154) to Reddit posts (n = 56) in which teen users discussed experiences of interpersonal harm …

Belongingness And Motivation Among College Students, Noah Seiter

2026 Honors Symposium

Background/Introduction: Student motivation is influenced by a plethora of variables and factors in educational settings which include the student’s sense of belongingness; however, belonging is often treated as a single construct rather than a dimensional idea. This study addresses the need to differentiate student belongingness into its distinct components of peer belonging and institutional belongingness and examine their unique contributions to levels of student motivation in the collegiate level. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine this distinction between levels of institutional belongingness and peer belongingness as well as their independent and collective influences on motivation among college …

Does The Use Of Protective Behavioral Strategies Moderate The Relationship Between Perceived Peer Cannabis Use And Personal Use?, Mia Forsythe, Erica E. Mcdonald, Melissa N. Manning, Audrey L. Bell, Alicia Moulder, Cathy Lau-Barraco

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

The perception that close friends frequently use substances (i.e., descriptive norms) has been shown to increase personal use frequency and subsequent negative consequences. Within alcohol literature, protective behavioral strategies (PBS), actions aimed at reducing negative consequences of substance use (e.g., avoiding use before work), have been shown to moderate the effect of this relationship. However, this relationship in cannabis use remains unexplored. Thus, the current study examines PBS use as a moderator between descriptive norms and cannabis use frequency. We hypothesize that a positive association between descriptive norms and cannabis frequency will be weakened by greater PBS use. Undergraduate past-month …

Under Pressure: Associations Between Discrimination, Expressive Suppression, And Coping Drinking Motives Among Sexual Minority Women, Erica E. Mcdonald, Mia Forsythe, Audrey L. Bell, Melissa N. Manning, Alicia Moulder, Cathy Lau-Barraco

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Within Minority Stress Theory, heterosexist discrimination has been linked to drinking to cope (DTC) motives, or drinking as a way to manage negative emotions. DTC motives are associated with heightened negative consequences from drinking. Prior research has found that high levels of expressive suppression (i.e., inhibition of ongoing emotion-expressive behavior) confer risk for coping motivated drinking. Given sexual minority women’s (SMW) elevated risk for DTC motives, examining expressive suppression and discrimination as correlates may address an important gap in literature. Thus, the current study examined expressive suppression as a factor impacting the relationship between external discrimination and coping motives among …

Risk Factors And Prevention Of Alzheimer's Disease: How To Beat The Odds, Luke Magro

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Dementia affects over 55 million people worldwide. That number is expected to rise to 150 million patients worldwide, with the overwhelming majority of cases being Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is no cure or medicine that can cure Alzheimer’s disease; we can only try to prevent it. To prevent the rise in cases of Alzheimer's disease, we must learn what causes AD, what we can control, and how we can control it. What is known is that age, genetics, and family history are the main risk factors in 60% of AD cases. The other 40% are lifestyle factors such as diet, …

A Macrocognitive Design Taxonomy For Simulation-Based Training Systems: Bridging Cognitive Theory And Human-Computer Interaction, Jessica M. Johnson

Virginia Digital Maritime Center (VDMC) Faculty Publications

Simulation-based training systems are increasingly deployed to prepare learners for complex, safety-critical, and dynamic work environments. While advances in computing have enabled immersive and data-rich simulations, many systems remain optimized for procedural accuracy and surface-level task performance rather than the macrocognitive processes that underpin adaptive expertise. Macrocognition encompasses higher-order cognitive processes that are essential for performance transfer beyond controlled training conditions. When these processes are insufficiently supported, training systems risk fostering brittle strategies and negative training effects. This paper introduces a macrocognitive design taxonomy for simulation-based training systems derived from a large-scale meta-analysis examining the transfer of macrocognitive skills from …

Practical Considerations For Conducting Canine Behavioral Science, Lucrezia Lonardo, Madeline H. Pelgrim, Jeffrey R. Stevens

Jeffrey Stevens Publications

Research on behavior in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) has increased rapidly recently due to the interest in them as pets, working dogs, and model species for understanding evolution, domestication, and even human health. This interest in canine behavioral science has resulted in the creation of dozens of dog lab worldwide, with more starting every year. Our aim here is to review practical issues that potential dog researchers might consider when deciding how to set up a dog lab and conduct research in canine behavioral science. We hope that this can offer a path forward in promoting high-quality, cutting-edge …

U.S. Young Adults’ Experience Of Hope, Personal Control, And Well-Being In The Face Of Large-Scale Threats, Julia Conner

Psychology Honors Papers

Large-scale threats (e.g., climate change, political unrest, economic uncertainty) have many negative effects on young adults’ well-being. Given the widespread and existential nature of these threats, it can be difficult for individuals to maintain hope in the face of them. The present study examines the relationships among hope, locus of control, psychological well-being, concern over large-scale threats, and news use in a sample of 213 young adults from the United States aged 19-27 years. Participants completed several self-report scales and provided a hope narrative. The data show strong positive relationships between greater hope and internal locus of control and more …

Queer Experiences Of Double Disadvantage: The Moderating Effects Of Rejection On The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Attachment Style, Isabella Kinney

Psychology Honors Papers

This thesis examines how intersecting forms of disadvantage – particularly experiencing identity-based rejection and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) – can negatively impact a queer-identifying individual. Previous research highlights that both ACEs and rejection are linked to poor mental health and insecure attachment patterns within LGBTQ+ populations. This study aimed to determine whether rejection serves as a moderator for the relationship between ACEs and attachment. Data was collected through an anonymous online survey of 81 participants recruited from Connecticut College and Connecticut’s LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network, and included measuring ACEs, rejection experience, and attachment patterns. Using a regression and moderation …

The English You Speak Matters: Immigrants, Phonological Roots, And Psychological Perspectives On Accent Discrimination, Sophia Hauschildt

Psychology Honors Papers

Accent serves as a highly salient social cue that influences how speakers are perceived, particularly in multicultural contexts where linguistic diversity is increasing. The present study examined how English accent affects evaluations of speaker warmth and competence, and how individual differences in cultural intelligence and colour-blind racial attitudes shape these perceptions. Using a between-subjects experimental design, participants (N = 225) were randomly assigned to listen to a standardised speech passage presented in one of five accents: General American English (GAE; control), Spanish-accented English, Chinese-accented English, Hindi-accented English, or Filipino-accented English. Participants then completed measures of speaker evaluation based on …

Use Of Ai In Expert Testimony: Understanding The Attorney Perspective, Emma S. Puntin

Psychology Honors Papers

Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly incorporated into different aspects of society, including our legal system. AI has potential to enter into legal proceedings through the introduction of its evidence in case and expert witness testimony. Expert witnesses are called to offer knowledge on matters relevant to a case and can vary in specialization. This study aimed to explore how attorneys view experts who use AI and how they would approach this in a courtroom setting. Structured interviews were conducted with ten attorneys from various jurisdictions. During these interviews, attorneys were asked what they have encountered during their work in the …

The Influence Of Hair And Faces On Social Judgments Of Power And Warmth, Sarah E. Swanson, Meryl P. Gardner, Adam W. Stivers, D. M. Kuhlman

Psychology Faculty Scholarship

We explored how faces and hair influence social judgments of power and warmth by altering 40 photos to display only hair (“Hair-only”), only face (“Face-only”), or both (“Whole Picture”). Across conditions, participants’ (N = 195) Face-only judgments strongly correlated with Whole Picture judgments, even when controlling for hair judgments. Although Hair-only judgments did not significantly predict warmth, they were a strong predictor of Whole Picture judgments of power (r = .65, p <  .001), even when controlling for Face-Only judgments (β = .56, p <  .001). The impact of hair judgments on overall power judgments was greater for male than female targets and judges, suggesting that hair plays a prominent role in males’ perceptions of power and how males are judged with respect to power. In contrast, face rating predominately explained warmth judgments (R2 = 0.84, p <  .001), and adding hair ratings did not contribute to additional variance (ΔR2 <  0.01, p = .68). These findings align with theories of impression formation, which propose that warmth judgments rely on involuntary facial cues, while power judgments incorporate controllable appearance features such as hair.

Accessing Campus Mental Health Services In A Nigerian Southwestern University: Barriers To Academic Success, Caroline Dada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a significant health concern among higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. A substantial treatment gap exists in the Nigerian healthcare system, and this gap is further worsened by cultural and religious barriers, which reinforce stigma that discourages students from seeking professional help. This qualitative narrative inquiry explored the barriers students encountered when accessing mental health services at a university in Southwestern Nigeria, to increase service access. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with seven professional mental health providers at a university counseling center between March and April 2025. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify …

The Phenomenon Of Professional Burnout Among Military Chaplains In Ukraine, Artem Makovskyi, Oleg Mateyuk, Oleksandr Bilovskyi, Anton Datskov, Dmytro Oleshko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article presents a comprehensive study of the phenomenon of professional burnout among military chaplains in Ukraine in the context of their personal experience of being in extreme (combat) conditions. The relevance of the problem is due to the prolonged impact of combat operations, high psycho-emotional stress, and the special role of military chaplains in the system of moral and psychological support for Ukraine's security and defense sector. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study was the concept of professional burnout by K. Maslach, the provisions of the person-centered approach, and the theory of personal experience. The empirical study …

Postsecular Coping Mode (Pscm): The Mechanism Of Sacred Meaning Reactivation Under Secular Pressure In Post-Soviet Societies, Aruzhan Akhmetova Aru, Mukhan Issakhan

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article introduces the concept of Postsecular Coping Mode (PSCM) to explain the changing psychological dynamics of religiosity in post-Soviet societies. Classical studies of religious coping typically conceptualize religion as a relatively stable strategy or behavioral response. However, under postsecular conditions, religious experience increasingly appears as a context-sensitive, episodically activated meaning-regulation mode. In response, the notion of coping mode is conceptualized as a distinct psychological category analytically differentiated from conventional coping frameworks. The proposed PSCM model describes the selective reactivation of sacred meaning resources under conditions of perceived secular pressure. Its processual architecture unfolds through four stages: (1) the trigger …

The Effects Of Pornography On Romantic Relationships, Jade A. Green

McNair Scholars Research

This study examined the relationship among pornography use, attitudes toward pornography, and romantic relationship outcomes among adults in the United States. The hypotheses are as follows: 1. Pornography use is negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. 2. Positive attitudes toward pornography are negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. 3. Men will report more positive attitudes toward pornography than women, 4. Higher pornography use is associated with being single.  A convenience sample of 165 adults from central Arkansas completed measures assessing pornography use/acceptance and relationship satisfaction. Statistical analyses included a correlation matrix, an independent-samples t-test, and a chi-square analysis. Results showed that pornography …

Impact Of Instagram Flyers In Higher Education: Within Resident Assistant Program Attendance Marketing, Mary J. Mcdonald

Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays

This exploratory pilot study examines whether posting Instagram digital flyers affects Resident Assistant (RA) program attendance in the higher-education Housing and Residence Life (HRL) context. Instagram has emerged as a dominant channel of communication among Generation Z (1997-2012). As a result, higher education institutions have increasingly used social media to prompt student engagement and foster belonging, in hopes of strengthening retention. Using a quasi-experimental matched comparison design, attendance data from the 2024 academic year without Instagram flyers were compared to the 2025 academic year with Instagram flyers. The independent variable was the implementation of Instagram digital flyers, and the dependent …

Improving Pediatric Emergency Department Lethal Means Safety Documentation Rates For Adolescents With Mental Health Concerns, Cassandra L. Stegall, Ana-Maria Mcgill, John Fanton, Paul C. Mullan

Department Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Introduction:

Lethal means safety counseling (LMSC) is recommended for children presenting to the emergency department (ED) for a mental health (MH) evaluation. Currently, no gold-standard guidelines exist for documenting LMSC in the ED.

Methods:

This quality improvement project was conducted in the ED of a tertiary children's hospital. Baseline data were analyzed for access to any LMSC documentation (ALD) for "firearms/guns," "sharps," or "medication," and for complete LMSC documentation (CLD) if access to all 3 types was documented. The first intervention period added open-ended screening questions about access to lethal means to the MH-licensed clinical social worker note template. Intervention …

The Effects Of Auditory Stimulation On Vocal Stereotypy In An Individual With Autism In A Classroom Setting, Natalie Pastor

Masters Theses

Vocal stereotypy, which includes non-functional vocal behaviors such as babbling, grunting, or repetitive phrases, is often seen in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although this behavior is not harmful, it can interfere with learning and social interaction, especially during leisure time. When engaging in vocal stereotypy is disruptive to those around them, it may limit opportunities for meaningful social engagement with peers. The current study builds on prior research by examining the effects of different types of noncontingent auditory stimuli on vocal stereotypy in a classroom setting. This study seeks to answer the question: What is the impact of …

Investigating The Viability Of Fully Online Asynchronous Physics Instruction In Formal Education, Clifton W. Massey-Noel

Physics Dissertations

In this dissertation we present results from two consecutive investigations into the fully online asynchronous modality in Physics Education. We first discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Modern Physics held in Fall 2024. The asynchronous section is compared with four prior partially-flipped sections of the same class, two of which were held in-person, and two of which were held synchronously online. Results suggest that all three modalities can be made to be about equally as effective. We also discuss the efficacy of a fully online asynchronous section of Calculus-Based Introductory Mechanics held in Fall 2025. The …

Conch Gone? Examining Cultural Preservation Through Bahamian Menu Analysis, Adiah J. Saunders

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social identity theory and acculturation theory expose how cultural practices, such as cuisine, can adapt due to external pressures. In The Bahamas, external pressure from the tourism industry shapes many aspects of public life, by analyzing menus we can see how cultural identity resists or succumbs to change. This study examined how Bahamian cuisine is represented on restaurant menus in Nassau, New Providence amid a dominating tourism industry. Using a stratified random sample of 30 restaurants, 1,155 menu items were coded for cultural origin, cultural language use, promotional features, as well as pricing. The results show that international dishes appear …

Arts Cures: A Business Plan For Integrating Art As A Biometric Tool For Sensory Wellbeing In Commercial Ecosystems, Xinuo Zhang

MA Projects

In an era of heightened connectivity and data-driven metrics, modern society faces a crisis of sensory impoverishment and emotional disconnection. While technology quantifies human experience, it often fails to address the visceral need for authentic feeling. This business plan proposes "Arts Cures," a venture that repositions art from a passive commodity to an active, systemic solution for well-being. By leveraging insights from neuroscience, design theory, and existential philosophy, Arts Cures develops a suite of B2B and B2C services that integrate art as functional, biometric-responsive infrastructure. Our core offerings include AI-driven sensory pods for real-time emotional regulation, data-informed curatorial services for …

Professional Standards For School-Based Behavior Analysts (2nd Edition), Selena J. Layden, Emily Muise, Karen L. Berlin, Samantha Gregory, Daniel Irwin, Kaylan Long, Daria K. Lorio-Barsten, Jennifer L. O’Berry, Hannah Riddle

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Public educational settings are unique and complex environments that require specific knowledge and skills for the professionals that work in these environments. School-based behavior analysts can be a great asset to public schools. However, these professionals must be able to firmly understand and perform the responsibilities of a behavior analyst in collaboration with educators and service providers in a public school setting. The presence of behavior analysts in public schools is still relatively new, when compared with other specialized services. Therefore, behavior analysts, teachers, administrators, and others should focus on collaboration to promote the success for all stakeholders with an …