Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of An Environmental Disposition Scale: A Guide For Fostering Sustainable Behavior, Jady Chen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Promoting sustainable behavior or environmentally responsible behavior poses challenges because there is no overarching solution for behavior changes. Both surveys and interventions are context specific, meaning behaviors do not necessarily influence other behaviors and the same values, norms, and beliefs do not necessarily translate to the same level of sustainable behavior. Because there are regional differences in ideologies in the United States, a country level approach to encourage sustainable behavior would not be as effective as having interventions that directly correlate with the motivations that encourage environmentally responsible behavior. A survey will be conducted with University of Central Florida undergraduate …

Who Participates In Academic Services?, Richard Colón

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Throughout the years the admission of Hispanic and or Latinx students to colleges and universities has risen dramatically. So much so that the relatively new concept of an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institute) was created; meaning that at least 25% of the student population of a university is Hispanic. This advancement for this Hispanic community is a huge advancement for the overall community, but how many of these Hispanic students are aware of the academic services that these universities offer. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the awareness of academic services and the participation and or …

Effort Reward Imbalance In The Nursing Profession - A Novel Way Of Gathering Data, Dorailys Fagundo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The effort-reward imbalance model allows us to see disparity in effort and reward and how this can be a predictor for a variety of constructs. The present study seeks to gather data utilizing the ERI modal in the nursing profession. Previous research has utilized the ERI model but methods for gathering data were not quick and efficient. This study seeks to utilize a database called Glassdoor to rapidly and effectively gather data. The researchers are interested in seeing the likelihood of nurses to recommend their company to a friend based on perceived effort and rewards. The sample included a random …

The Welfare State In The Twentieth Century: A Case Study Of The Swedish Public Pension System, Oumaima Jaayfer

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This is an attempt at depicting welfare state developments in one of its most notable success stories: Sweden. As a major subsector of the Nordic country’s welfare state, this paper focuses on the evolution of social insurance, particularly the public old-age pension system from its liberal beginnings in 1913 all the way to 1998, when the novel three-tiered pension system was introduced. In addition to its policy emphasis, this paper examines the relationship between the welfare state and social democracy by studying the implications that cross class alliances and social reformism had on the political viability of the Swedish Social …

The Role Of Expertise In Perceiving Emotions Through Kinematics, Kendahl E. Krause

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There has been much debate about how we perceive other people’s minds. Some theories, such as Theory of Mind, are based on the presumption that the minds of others are closed and inaccessible, requiring some form of inferential processing and mentalizing to understand. On the other hand, Direct Social Perception says that information about the mental states of others is readily available to perceive and requires no internal processing to understand. Taking either theory into account, it remains an open question if expertise plays a role in social perception. This study aimed to identify if experience in portraying emotions through …

Can General Strain Theory Be Used To Explain The Relationship Between Recidivism And Secure Placement?, Alessia R. Shaw

Honors Undergraduate Theses

There has been extensive research conducted on recidivism among serious juvenile offenders. This study examines juvenile recidivism through the lenses of General Strain Theory (GST). GST has been used in previous studies to explain recidivism, however, secure placement and its effect on juvenile mental health, has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to test for a relationship between emotional responses like anger and hostility and secure placement, utilizing the Pathways to Desistance data. I will also examine if anger and hostility act as a mediator between secure placement and recidivism. Pathways to Desistance was a prospective study …

How Free Is "Free?": Restrictive Agency And Optimism, Mel A. Tornin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explored the effect of restricting participants’ agentic choice on their levels of optimism. This study used the pre-test, post-test design to investigate the impact of non-agentic choice in meaningful scenarios on feelings of optimism. 147 participants completed a measure of optimism, were assigned to conditions of simulated choice, and were instructed to freely write about their decisions. The association between personality traits and optimism was also explored. Study findings showed that assigning participants to restrictive and agentic conditions had no effect on optimism. However, a significant negative correlation trait neuroticism and optimism was found. Content analyses run on …

Racial Bias And Juror Selection In Death Penalty Cases, Kaitlyn D. Wallace

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Across the country, African American defendants are being discriminated against in the criminal courts and by juries, particularly in capital cases.[1] This assertion is supported by two lines of research. First, an analysis of Supreme Court decisions focusing on the racial impact on voir dire. Second, social-legal studies on juror decision making have demonstrated legal and socio-legal histories providing evidence that demonstrate there is a racial bias in our system. Based on these findings, this paper sets forth several legal and policy recommendations to improve the fair adjudication of African American defendants charged with capital crimes.

[1] Jack Glaser, …

Obergefell V. Hodges: Majority Opinion Got The Analysis Wrong, But The Answer Right, Rumor Watts

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Although the U.S. Supreme Court reached the correct result in Obergefell v. Hodges, its substantive due process and equal protection analyses were wrong. First, the majority opinion discusses the concept of equal dignity, which has no legal definition nor has it been used in prior Supreme Court jurisprudence. The majority made another mistake in using substantive due process when Obergefell could have been decided on the basis of equal protection alone.

Despite these mistakes, there were parts of the opinion the Court did decide correctly. The end result -- that same-sex couples have the right to marry -- was the …

Associations Among Smoking, Vaping, Psychopathology, And Identity, Jacqueline A. Beretsky

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Although there has been progress in trying to decrease the use of cigarette smoking, a new method of smoking has evolved which is rapidly increasing, namely vaping. Adolescents who participate in smoking are more likely to increase smoking frequency if they believed that it is self-defining (“I smoke cigarettes” versus “I am a smoker”). While there has been evidence to support the claim that internal motives for smoking are correlated with smoker identity development, there has been none, to our knowledge, found for vaping identity. Due to the similarities of smoking and vaping, it is important to discover whether those …

Self-Reported Health Status And Sickle Cell Trait Knowledge In Young Adults With An African Heritage At A Large University In The Southeast, Vinkrya N. Ellison

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to survey self-reported health symptoms and knowledge of Sickle Cell Trait in young adults with an African heritage. The aim is to expand a comprehensive assessment system to measure factors associated with carrying the Sickle Cell Trait. Historically being a Sickle Cell Trait carrier was thought to be asymptomatic. However, current research has suggested this may not be true. While young adults may have greater knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease, little is known about their awareness of Sickle Cell Trait. Furthermore, no research on these topics have been conducted in young adults with African …

Serial Murder And Media Coverage, Molly Gross

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study sets out to explore the relationship between news media coverage on serial killers and their behavior. As a result of the lack of previous research on this topic, utilizing past research on a few historically well-known serial killers and news media reports about those serial killers, this study attempts to determine if news media has any effect on a serial killer’s behavior prior to apprehension. After a review of the history of serial murder and the past findings about serial murderers, as well as background on the history of the media coverage of crime, this study will look …

Development Of A Self-Report Scale Of Motivation: The Multifaceted Motivation Inventory, Magan T. Halverson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Individuals experience different dimensional levels of motivation and apathy (i.e., the lack of motivation), which can reflect both state and trait contributions. Chronic apathy is common in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The primary aim of the current study was to create a new self-report measure that measures different domains of motivation/apathy with subscales and also take into account many other aspects that could affect motivation within the same scale, including energy level, anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, indecisiveness, and initial and sustained effort. A …

"Yo, Indocumentadx:" Latinx Undocumented Immigrant Identity, Freedom, And Anti-Immigrant Discourses In The United States, Guadalupe Rivas Navarro

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The thesis explores how some undocumented Latinx immigrants thrive and understand their personhood and security in the current “immigration crisis” in the U.S. Using ethnographic tools such as interviews and participant observation, I gathered undocumented Latinx immigrants’ narratives about living in Orlando, Florida. I concluded that American immigration policies use lack-of-freedom strategies to limit their experiences and rights as human beings, also as a means to deter future immigrants. Through the lens of undocumented Latinx immigrants’ stories, I analyze the relationship between freedom, power, and identity in the social hierarchy of privileges in the United States to understand how their …

Effects Of Maternal Thyroid Hypofunction On Fetal Brain Development During Pregnancy: Possible Links To Autism Spectrum Disorder, Caroline R. Hobson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Thyroid hormone regulates essential processes in early brain development such as neural cell migration, differentiation, signaling, and myelination, particularly during the early stages of gestation. During this time, fetal thyroid hormone accessibility depends on the placental transfer of thyroid hormones. Deficiency of thyroid hormone during fetal and postnatal periods may lead to permanent mental retardation and neurological deficits. Clinical studies have been conducted demonstrating links between maternal hypothyroidism and numerous neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, lower IQ, behavioral disorders, and psychiatric disorders. To investigate the effects of thyroid hormone actions on perinatal brain …

The Obama Paradox: Policy Success, Political Failure, Laura Chiu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The presidency of Barack Obama presents us with a paradox, in that it was both a policy success and a political failure, two states that seemingly contradict with one another. His presidency is considered a policy success due to its ability to successfully pass many key pieces of legislation, despite several challenges. On the other hand, Obama's presidency is also considered a political failure primarily due to the election of Donald J. Trump, someone who is not an ally to the Obama administration and has worked to undo Obama's accomplishments as president in nearly every area. Today, Obama's legacy as …

Understanding The Challenges Child Welfare Workers Encounter Related To Promoting The Online Safety Of Foster Youth, Denielle Kirk L. Abaquita

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Foster care case managers are responsible for the wellbeing of foster youth in the foster care system. Teens (ages 13-17) in foster care are most vulnerable to serious risks, such as sex trafficking. Such risks have been heightened by the advent of internet-based technologies that connect foster youth with unsafe others at unprecedented frequency and speed. This thesis examines how case managers tackle the challenge of online safety as it relates to adolescents in the foster care system in the United States. I conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with case managers who worked with foster teens (ages 13-17) within the past …

Middle School Education In Music Media Literacy Could Combat The Potential Negative Effects Of Exposure To Sexual Content In Music, Stephanie B. Mihalache

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The current study focused on examining the relationship between music media literacy and middle school students. The goal of the study was to bring awareness towards adding music media literacy in the middle school curriculum; in order to further educate middle school students on the potential negative effects of popular music on their attitudes and behaviors, help middle school students understand the processes involved in the creation of popular music, and help middle school students understand how popular music can reflect and impact society as a whole. Participants (n=20) were selected through social media ads, ads posted on listservs, and …

Emotion Experience To Expression: Influence Of Psychopathy, Expression Suppression, And Working Memory, Keira Monaghan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to explore the perceived discrepancies between individual scores of psychopathy, particularly the division of primary and secondary psychopathy, and how such scores may moderate the relationship of one's emotional experiences with the corresponding emotional expression. There is evidence to consider that a person's working memory ability and/or volitional suppression of expression may also moderate this relationship and result in constricted emotional expression, a trait often found in primary psychopathy. Undergraduate participants completed the study online, and after exclusions, a final sample size of 126 participants (62.7% women) was used in analyses. An initial linear …

Exploring Sedentary Time Of Rural Children During Structured Versus Less-Structured Days, Serina Rayan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine rural children's sedentary time during school days vs non-school days Currently, childhood obesity research has focused predominantly on urban-dwelling children. However, existing literature indicates that rural children have higher rates of obesity than their urban counterparts. There is a current lack of evidence investigating the obesogenic behaviors of rural children, such as physical activity levels, sleep duration, sedentary behaviors and diet. With this project, I aim to observe sedentary time (time spent sitting, screen time etc.) as research has shown that independent of physical activity, sedentary time is associated with weight gain. …

Exploring The Role Of Mindfulness On Psychological Well-Being Among College Students, Nikole Elderkin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

More college students are experiencing stress that negatively affects their psychological wellbeing. Many universities are reporting that more students are seeking mental health services related to stress (Miller, Elder, Scavone, 2017). The intent of this thesis is to extend the previous research findings by specifically investigating the role of mindfulness on psychological well-being of college students. Participants were asked to complete a self-administered online survey that consists of the mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS) that measures the frequency of mindfulness state, the Psychological well-being scale (PWB) that measures six aspects of wellbeing and happiness, and the generalized self-efficacy scale (GSES). …

The Underlying Effects Of Religion In Puerto Rico, Claudia A. Chardon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to explore the role religion has played in the Puerto Rican society. Growing up in this culture entails a deep and implicit connection with the religious world. Religious values, beliefs, and attitudes are firmly entrenched and amplified through the family, culture, and schools. Because it is so deeply entrenched, it is difficult to find a place to leverage a critique of its impact. Thus, in order to understand the societal matters and challenges the island faces, an in-depth study that explores the beliefs, attitudes, and behavior of Puerto Ricans is necessary.

Understanding Reasons For Electing Gap Years Between Undergraduate Education And Medical School And The Impact Of Gap Years On The Student Experience Of Medical Education, Haroon Rashid

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gap years have grown in popularity among many students attempting to go to medical school in recent years. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), more than half of matriculated students now have taken time off between their undergraduate studies and medical school. While many claim benefits to taking gap years, research on the impacts of these experiences on medical students is largely nonexistent. This study aims to qualitatively analyze the gap year phenomena and its impacts on medical students through semi-structured interviews conducted at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Through these interviews, the researchers …

An Investigation Of Factors Predicting Academic Writing Difficulties Among First-Year Doctoral Students, Iman Ibrahim Khudhair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This exploratory study investigated the variables that predict academic writing difficulties (AWDs) among first-year doctoral students, international and domestic, at a large, publicly funded research university in Southeastern United States. Data were collected through an online survey. The final sample size contained 111 first - year students, domestic and international from various doctoral programs. The first analysis examined factors predicting first-year doctoral students' self-assessed writing difficulties, using Multiple Linear Regression. Five factors were statistically significant predictors of AWDs: Asian race, Colleges of Business, Engineering, and Science, and the age between fifty-five to sixty-four. The remaining factors associated with age, Race, …

Reconsidering Student Attitudes Towards School Achievement: A Mixed Method Approach To Explore Gifted Middle School Underachievers' Attitudes About School, Allison Berner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study aimed to examine the attitudes and lived experiences of individuals identified as 'gifted underachievers'. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate the concept 'gifted underachievement' using a survey regarding student attitudes towards school and individual interviews. This study used a sequential explanatory design: the first phase compared gifted achievers and gifted underachievers to determine school-related attitude differences; the second phase used a transcendental phenomenological design to describe the lived experiences of those identified as gifted underachievers. A mixed methods approach allowed for the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research methods to be utilized with evidence from survey …

Keeping Girls' Voices At The Center Of Our Work: A Phenomenological Study On The Discipline Experiences Of Black Girls With Disabilities, Whitney Hanley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Disciplinary exclusion is disproportionately enforced with Black students with disabilities. Researchers in this area typically examine the overuse of disciplinary exclusion using homogeneous samples narrowed by race, gender, or disability category; however, implications of the overuse and misuse of discipline have rarely been explored at the intersection of race, gender, and disability. Furthermore, Black girls with disabilities and their experiences with discipline are often muted, or overlooked. Due to perceived defiance, which current researchers support, the actions and choices of Black girls are under heightened surveillance. Responses to their behavior often results in inequitable use of discipline. A master narrative …

Stochastic Sampling And Machine Learning Techniques For Social Media State Production, Neda Hajiakhoond Bidoki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The rise in the importance of social media platforms as communication tools has been both a blessing and a curse. For scientists, they offer an unparalleled opportunity to study human social networks. However, these platforms have also been used to propagate misinformation and hate speech with alarming velocity and frequency. The overarching aim of our research is to leverage the data from social media platforms to create and evaluate a high-fidelity, at-scale computational simulation of online social behavior which can provide a deep quantitative understanding of adversaries' use of the global information environment. Our hope is that this type of …

Exploring Influences On Black Student Study Abroad Participation, Stephanie Hartkopf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this case study was to explore the factors that influence Black students' decisions to participate in study abroad programs. This study took place at a large, public, Predominantly White Institution in the southeastern United States. Three theories formed a conceptual framework to guide this study, including Critical Race Theory, Theory of Planed Behavior, and Astin's Input-Environment-Output Model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 Black study abroad alumni, which revealed 6 themes of influential factors in making decisions to participate in study abroad: (a) familiarity, (b) finance, (c) family, (d) faculty, (e) fear, and (f) finish.

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Education Assistance Dogs And The Attendance, Verbal Communication Utterances, And Maladaptive Behaviors Of Self-Contained Special Education Students In One Florida School District, Heather Lucas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the introduction of education assistance dogs (EAD) on the attendance, verbal communication utterances, and maladaptive behaviors of students on behavior intervention plans who were enrolled in self-contained, special education classrooms. Teachers in two elementary classrooms and one middle school classroom gathered data on the three areas of focus. The researcher then utilized a single subject design and corresponding line graphs to represent the data. The results indicated a positive trend in the scores for verbal communication utterances and maladaptive behaviors among targeted students after end introduction of the EAD. …

The Transition Through Higher Education: An Exploration Of Challenges, Barriers, And Support Services For Student-Athletes, Lucas Noboa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

During the recent decades, the importance of intercollegiate athletics has proliferated amongst institutions of higher education. As such, the transition through higher education for student-athletes has increasingly included experiences with challenges and barriers, which influence their success. To address difficulties, institutions and athletics departments have implemented support services and resources to assist student-athletes throughout their transition. Additionally, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has conducted several studies, which examined the experiences and well-being of current student-athletes. Through the Growth, Opportunities, Aspirations and Learning of Students in college (GOALS) survey, detailed information has been provided to member institutions, which has influenced …