Digital Commons Network^™

Trust In Ephemeral Content In Social Media Platforms: A Mixed-Method Approach Examining Online Users’ Privacy Concerns In The Case Of Snapchat, Ream Al-Ghamdi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study investigated privacy management practices on ephemeral social media platforms, with a particular focus on Snapchat, Yik Yak, and Instagram Reels. It utilized a mixed-method approach, integrating an analysis of privacy policy terms with empirical data obtained through a quantitative survey of 346 US university students, including Saudi students studying in the United States and their American counterparts, as well as qualitative insights from in-depth interviews. Privacy policies were systematically evaluated across critical dimensions, including first-party data collection, third-party data sharing, user privacy controls, data retention practices, and compliance with international regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and Saudi Arabia's …

Mitigating And Preparing For Disasters At The Organizational Level: A Global Systematic Literature Review, Abdul-Akeem Sadiq, Ratna B. Dougherty, Rebecca Entress, Bikash Adhikari, Katherine Wilson Mccoy, Emilie Rott, Grace L. Chikoto-Schultz, Shannon Maharajh

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Organizations play significant roles in society by providing goods and services and contributing to the economies of communities, globally. Amid the predicted increase in the frequency and impact of disasters, which will invariably lead to higher disaster costs, there is an urgent need to ameliorate disaster impact on society and organizations. Disaster mitigation and preparedness are strategies for stemming disaster impact and losses within organizations. Cognizant of the importance of disaster mitigation and preparedness, researchers have conducted a myriad of studies on both concepts at the organizational level. To advance knowledge on this topic, this study conducted a comprehensive systematic …

Effects Of Invigorating And Relaxing Music On Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, And Heart Rate Variability, Matthew Joshua Faur

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Heart-rate variability (HRV) has been documented to correlate with several health measures, including autonomic nervous system longevity and athletic performance (Zulfiqar, 2010). While increasing age does not affect heart rate, there is a steady decline in HRV, which is a biological marker of aging and the decline of autonomic nervous system function. Furthermore, men who exercise regularly tend to have increased HRV, suggesting a mitigation of the typical age-dependent loss of HRV (Kristal-Boneh et al., 1995). Previous studies have suggested that music may have a physiological effect (e.g., fluctuating vitals, emotional changes) on cardiovascular parameters. However, little is known about …

Associations Between Brain White Matter Hyperintensities And Diet Quality In Cognitive Aging: A Cross-Sectional Assessment, Carla V. Urdaneta

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Leukoaraiosis, or White Matter Lesions (WMLs)/White Matter Hyperintensities (WMHs), are often considered markers of aging and neurodegeneration. White matter hyperintensities appear as lighter, hyperintense regions on T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and are physiologically characterized as demyelination and axonal loss reflected as microvascular lesions in cerebral white matter (Marseglia et. al., 2019). These anatomical landmarks are most seen in MRIs of elderly individuals. They can be associated with aging and cognitive decline, including affected frontal lobe function and episodic memory in the form of delayed recall performance and are linked to several cardiovascular risk factors, …

A Review Of The Utilization Of Comics In Research And The Potential For Graphic Medicine Integration In Health Science Communication, Nagatarang Nimmathota

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Communication is a vital part of research, both during its conduction and the dissemination of its findings. This can be difficult to achieve due to factors like knowledge disparity, technical jargon, and differing backgrounds. This narrative literature review draws from databases like PubMed, ScienceDirect, and others to examine the current utilization of graphic medicine in research and its effects on health research communication. This review found that the integration of graphic medicine can help alleviate those issues by simplifying complex topics into engaging visual narratives or comics for consumption by research participants and the public. Additionally, the use of graphic …

Comparative Semiotic Analysis Of Non-Verbal Communication: Apis Mellifera Waggle Dance And Human Kinesic Signaling Systems, Nishtha Tikalal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There are many parallels between two seemingly disparate forms of non-verbal communication: the waggle dance of Apis mellifera (honeybees) and human kinesic signaling systems. Through a comparative semiotic analysis, this research aims to conduct a comparative semiotic analysis, investigating structural and functional similarities between these communication methods, challenging anthropocentric assumptions about meaning making in the natural world. This research employs a meta-synthesis approach, drawn from a methodological literature review to examine historical representations of bee-human relationships, semiotics of non-verbal communication, and the specific mechanisms of the waggle dance and human kinesics. This methodology involves systematic categorization and analysis of extracted …

A Survival Horror Video Game's Impact On Visual Attention, Alicia D. Sprague

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study’s main research question was whether playing a survival horror video game increases the visual selective attention of a player. This project examined how visual attention and anxiety levels differ after playing a survival horror video game and whether an individual’s gaming preferences affect these concepts. The research consisted of the preliminary evaluation of participants’ visual attention abilities and anxiety levels through psychological tasks. Participants then played Resident Evil 4: Chainsaw Demo, the selected survival horror video game for this study. After playing the demo, participants repeated the previous psychological tasks, and their results were assessed. Results …

Parisians' Perceptions Of The 2024 Olympics: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Local Attitudes Towards Housing Epidemics Using Social Exchange Theory, Place Attachment, And Media Framing Theory, Tyler Borges

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Paris 2024 Olympics introduced significant socio-economic transformations to the city, particularly in the areas of housing policy, urban development, and community displacement. This study examines Paris residents' perceptions of these changes using a mixed-methods approach that integrates sentiment analysis and media framing analysis. The research is guided by Social Exchange Theory (SET), Place Attachment Theory, and Media Framing Theory to understand the relationship between public sentiment, urban transformation, and media narratives. Findings indicate that the perceived effects of the Paris 2024 Olympics on its host city were overwhelmingly negative, with consistent concerns centered on housing insecurity, displacement, and a …

The Association Between Parental Bipolar Symptoms And Offspring Identity Formation: The Role Of Parental Attachment And Emotion Regulation, Alexa D. Loonam

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Identity development involves integrating various aspects of oneself into a unified self-concept; however, maladaptive identity formation can lead to negative mental health outcomes (Berman & Weems, 2016). Growing up with a caregiver exhibiting unpredictable behaviors may hinder this process, leaving children vulnerable during this critical stage (Schwartz & Petrova, 2018). The current study evaluated how bipolar symptoms among parents may impact one’s identity. College students (N = 399) completed an anonymous online survey battery for course credit. Results revealed that parental bipolar symptoms were positively correlated with ruminative identity exploration, identity distress, disturbed (unstable) identity, and lack of identity, …

The Impact Of Religiosity On Political Knowledge Among Youth Voters, Norah Sackett

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As political engagement trends among young voters have continued to shift in the United States' political atmosphere, understanding the cognitive factors that influence these decisions is becoming increasingly important. Political efficacy, or the feeling that individual political action can impact the political process, impacting their civic duties, has long been regarded as a key determinant of an individual's political engagement. This study investigates how young voters' understanding of prominent political arguments relates to their sense of political efficacy, with a specific lens on individual religiosity.

Through an examination of this relationship between religiosity and overall comprehension of political arguments, this …

The Inverse Scattering Transform For The Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation, Ivan Casas-Rocha

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) Equation, iψ_t + 1/2 ψ_xx ± |ψ|²ψ = 0, is a nonlinear partial differential equation which is used to model several physical phenomena including nonlinear effects inside optical fibers and the formation of rogue waves in shallow water. It is particu- larly difficult to study solutions to this equation due to the nonlinearity, and the nonlinearity leads to incredibly interesting solutions not found in linear PDEs such as solitons. In this thesis, we highlight two methods of obtaining solutions to the (NLS) equation: the Inverse Scattering Transform and the Dressing Method. Furthermore, …

Digital Recess, Screen Time Split: The Impact Of Online Schooling On Recreational Screen Time And Their Dual Impact On Anxiety, Meagan Allender

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explores the influence of online schooling, anxiety, and recreational screen time in college aged students. Previous studies have shown a positive correlation between screen usage and anxiety scores, assessing either online school or total screen time on anxiety. However, no study had looked at the correlation between online schooling and recreational screen time, nor had any study assessed both their effects on anxiety at the same time. Using a sample of 71 participants, a bivariate regression was conducted to evaluate the correlation of each type of screen time with one another, then another regression was run to assess …

Users' Trust Perceptions Of Ai Search Results, Leilani J. Cordoves

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Utilizing a repeated measure design, this experiment analyzes users’ perceptions of artificial intelligence embedded within search engines compared to traditional linked search engines in various contextual situations. The purpose of this study is to find the differences in confidence for differing search methods and the variables of trust that lead to these perceived differences. Using screenshots of AI overview search results and linked search results, we asked participants questions of confidence and human-computer trust to gauge their perceptions of the varying search methods. We find evidence of a significant interaction effect in confidence scores between the search method and the …

Heritage And Archaeological Knowledge Dissemination Strategies: A Kurd Qaburstan Case Study, Myli R. Sangria

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis addresses the long-standing absence of community archaeology initiatives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by designing and implementing a pilot public archaeology program at the site of Kurd Qaburstan, a large Middle Bronze Age city (ca. 1800 BCE) located on the Erbil Plain. In summer 2024, the author implemented a community archaeology activity designed as a first step toward sustained engagement with the village that partially overlaps the site. The program—a hands-on lesson in archaeological stratigraphy for K–5 students, followed by a guided site visit—was intentionally simple, affordable, and easy to carry out alongside ongoing fieldwork. The activity …

Academic Proposals For Combating Authoritarian Populism In The United States: A Review Of The Social Science Literature, Emily A. Padgett

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Throughout American history, the idea of “democracy” has been taught at a base level throughout the school system. While we have been taught what a democracy is, it is rare to understand what a democracy isn’t. There have been threats identified by academics to our democracy throughout different eras in history. Now, in our current political climate, all main threats to democracy have been enacted at once.

This thesis serves as a literature review of a handful of academics and their idea of what the main threats to democracy are. There will be references to different perspectives and schools of …

From Boredom To Purpose: How Self-Concept Can Affect Motivation In The Workplace, Norma I. Cintron

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The present experiment explored whether or not a positive self-concept influences how individuals manage boredom in the workplace. It was hypothesized that individuals with a positive self-concept would cope better with boredom and complete a dull task more accurately. However, these hypotheses were not confirmed, the study found no significant relationship between self-concept and boredom coping, nor between self-concept and task accuracy. In fact, individuals with higher self-concepts were slightly less accurate, though the difference was not statistically significant. Additionally, the study analyzed participants’ written responses to questions about handling boredom using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software. The …

Exploring Patient-Provider Communication In Indian American Populations: A Scoping Review, Pranav S. Nadella

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Effective provider-patient communication directly influences patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and health outcomes, yet the unique experiences of Indian Americans—one of the fastest-growing U.S. populations—remain underexplored in communication research. This scoping review, following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, systematically mapped the existing literature on provider-patient communication involving Indian Americans. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, with data extracted on methods, populations, and seven coded aspects related to communication.

Findings revealed a narrow focus on first-generation immigrants and women, leaving men’s experiences and second-generation voices largely unexamined. Communication was shaped by language discordance, cultural stigma, family involvement, trust dynamics, and health literacy. No studies …

An Assessment Of U.S. Medical Students’ Self-Reported Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices In Using Professional Medical Interpreters, Ezinne Okonkwo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Professional medical interpreters interpret conversations between patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and physicians. Given the important role professional medical interpreters play for LEP patients, current and future healthcare professionals would benefit from understanding their services and how to utilize them effectively. Research has explored how residents and physicians regard medical interpreters, but few studies have examined medical students' knowledge and perceptions about them. This cross-sectional study investigated medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding professional medical interpreters. The sample was comprised of Florida medical students. Participants completed a one-time, quantitative online survey collecting information regarding their medical training, demographics, …

Spirituality In Place: Assessment Of Spirituality, Place Attachment, And Locus Of Control In College, Chloe Armand

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to explore how spirituality in place shapes college students’ cognition. While spiritual development is recognized as an important aspect of student affairs, its influence on cognitive factors such as locus of control and place attachment remains underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between spirituality, place attachment, and locus of control, as well as students’ perceptions of spiritual design elements on UCF’s campus. To assess these perceptions, a Quality of Place Questionnaire for Spirituality was developed. This instrument aims to measure humanity, sensuality, and sustainability in the built environment. This research uncovers the connections between …

Toward Inclusive Care: Enhancing Lgbtq+ Adolescents’ Experiences In Primary Care, Rutwa Shah

Honors Undergraduate Theses

LGBTQ+ adolescents face significant inequities in healthcare access and health outcomes, yet little is known about how they engage with routine pediatric care, where parental presence and clinician dynamics often influence their ability to access affirming services. While prior research has emphasized the importance of inclusive environments and clinician communication, few studies center the voices of LGBTQ+ youth in clinical settings. This study explored how LGBTQ+ adolescents manage sexual/gender identity disclosure, trust, and communication with primary care clinicians. This study draws on data from The VIBES Study: Viewpoints on Improving Bonds Between Health Experts and Sexual and Gender Minority Youth. …

The Relationship Between Autistic Features And Identity Development Processes Among College Students Through An Intersectional Lens, Alejandra Santana

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Research on autistic features and identity development has indicated that autistic traits are positively associated with identity disturbance (Ratner & Berman, 2015). Characteristic attributes of autism, including circumscribed interests and impairments in social relatedness, align with self-rumination and hardships engaging in the components of identity formation (Gotham et al., 2014). Nonetheless, research on this topic remains scarce. The present study analyzed the association between autistic features and identity formation processes while considering sociocultural factors, such as gender conformity and social camouflaging. A sample of college students enrolled in a large metropolitan city (N = 427) was recruited to complete …

The Loneliest Number: Implications For Using Single-Item Measures In Regression Analysis, Juliana Reis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study examines the use of single-item measures to assess constructs used by occupational stress researchers. Surveys are fundamental tools for I/O Psychologist practitioners, and multiple-item measures are commonly used to fulfill that purpose. However, long surveys may offer challenges to both administrators and respondents. As an effort to mitigate those challenges, single-item measures have been receiving recognition as a promising alternative to the current psychometric measures due to their benefits, such as reduced cost and higher face validity. We will discuss the previous studies on single-item measures and why it’s relevant to explore its potential by performing a …

Healing Through Art: An Exploration Of Art History Influences On Contemporary Art Therapy For Practices In Oncology Care, Nicole Van

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Art therapy has emerged as a vital practice in oncology, offering patients a means of emotional expression and healing during their treatment journey. This project will explore how integrating art history into therapeutic settings, particularly through virtual classes, enhances the emotional well-being of cancer patients. By examining the impact of engaging with historical artworks, this research aims to illustrate how these artistic narratives can facilitate self-consciousness and foster flexibility in individuals facing significant health challenges. Research indicates that exposure to art can evoke emotion and promote psychological healing, serving as a therapeutic outlet for patients. This study will synthesize therapeutic …

Resilience As A Protective Factor For Parents Of Young Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences And Socioeconomic Challenges, Hennys Torrealba

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and socioeconomic challenges can be related to mothers’ and fathers’ ability to parent their children effectively. Subsequently, these factors are related to children’s emotional and behavioral functioning. Children from families who have experienced these challenges are more likely to display behavior problems. Another important factor to consider is parents’ resilience, which can equip parents with the ability to better navigate through challenges. Parents who are resilient can provide a nurturing environment for their children despite challenges and use protective factors (e.g., effective coping strategies) more effectively. The current study examined the relationships among …

Barriers To Healthcare Utilization Among Undergraduate Students: A Gender Identity Perspective, Akhila Damarla

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The transition to college can be a crucial period of one’s life as one gains new and increased responsibilities, including managing their own healthcare. Although campus health services are available, undergraduate students have been found to often underutilize these resources due to barriers such as financial instability, lack of insurance, and identity-based disparities. While examining the current literature on this topic,there is a gap in exploring how the role of gender identity interacts with these barriers. This study addresses this gap by analyzing secondary data from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA). Results revealed that transgender …

Florida’S Gifted Education Program: Exploring The Nexus Between Giftedness And Choice Of College Major, Sterlin L. Bass

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Florida’s Gifted Education Program (FGEP) is a K-12 educational program in Florida’s public education system through which gifted students are identified and supported through individualized educational plans promoting intellectual development. The intent of this study is to explore the influence Florida’s Gifted Education Program has on the choice of major of a student and mental health outcomes. Current data revolving around different definitions of “giftedness” such as high ACT scores, SAT scores, and GPA, show a connection between negative mental health outcomes produced by the development of perfectionism. FGEP presents challenges in addressing these concerns due to non-standardized curricula across …

Solving The National Security Threat Of The United States Drug Crisis, Anna B. Freehafer

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis analyzes the current drug crisis in the United States with the intention of forming a sound National Security Report and Strategy to equip current and future administrations with the necessary tools and information to adapt to the modern crisis. The number of drug induced and related deaths are rising in the U.S., which arguably is cause for alarm at the federal level. With the country divided on how to properly attack this crisis, which affects hundreds of thousands of lives across the nation, this thesis aims to provide a solution to a drug crisis that is unlike any …

Investigating The Effects Of Binaural Beats On Encoding Efficiency And Working Memory Performance In College Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Traits, Megan Daza

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Binaural beats (BB) have been increasingly explored as a non-invasive cognitive enhancement tool, particularly in populations with neurodevelopmental conditions such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study investigates the effects of beta-frequency binaural beats on encoding efficiency and working memory performance, specifically verbal-spatial working memory, in college students with ADHD traits. Using a 2 (ADHD/Neurotypical) × 2 (Low/High Cognitive Load) mixed ANOVA design, participants will complete an N-back working memory task under baseline, binaural beats, and control (white noise) conditions. Key research questions examine whether binaural beats improve working memory accuracy and reaction time, whether their effects vary across cognitive load …

Generating Negotiations For Iago, Kylee R. Weener

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Negotiation is a complex field that can benefit from introducing artificial intelligence (AI); doing so would benefit researchers as they try to deepen their understanding of human-human and human-agent negotiation. Investigating how large language models (LLMs) can generate negotiation dialogue with emotional context would bring agents closer to acting more human. This study explores how fine-tuning and prompt engineering can achieve this goal and the possibilities for an AI that fills these criteria to be included in the Interactive Arbitration Guide Online platform (IAGO). Doing so will make the negotiation interactions in IAGO feel more complex and natural, allowing researchers …

Post-Translational Modification Of The Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor By Serine Proteases, Matthew E. Ruiz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hypercholesterolemia is a disease affecting many Americans and adults worldwide and can lead to further complications such as atherosclerosis, stroke, or pulmonary embolisms making it a major risk factor for heart disease. The disease states are caused by chronically elevated levels of VLDLs that get broken down into LDLs. Cells expressing the LDLR can endocytose LDLs from the blood for use intracellularly as cholesterol and prevent plasma cholesterol deposition in the endothelium. Current treatments include leading healthier lifestyles through dieting and exercise, or pharmacological treatments targeting cellular cholesterol production or dietary cholesterol uptake from the GI tract. The SREBPs are …