Digital Commons Network^™

From Precedent To Progress: Lgbtq+ Discrimination In The Legal Field, Creed Jones

Student Research Symposium

Does sexual orientation influence the probability of attaining partnership in law firms, as measured through quantitative and qualitative survey data on experiences of discrimination and professional advancement?

The Need For Gender Equity In Outdoor Adventure Sports: The Impact Of Gender Disparities On Women In The Outdoors, Suzanna Stegelmeier

Student Research Symposium

What obstacles do women face when participating in outdoor adventure recreation?

Biophilic Design And The Human Experience, Brooklyn Erickson

Student Research Symposium

Biophilia is the idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. It stems from the Greek meaning "love of life." Biophilic design is an innovative approach to architecture and interior design that integrates natural elements into built environments to enhance human well-being. This design philosophy seeks to create spaces that promote physical, mental, and emotional health by incorporating elements such as natural light, greenery, water features, and organic materials. This research examines the benefits of biophilic design and how implementing these principles affects the "Human Experience". In this project the research …

New Beginnings Behavioral Health, Mckenna Spens

Student Research Symposium

This project is the 2025 IIDA Student Competition. The objective of this project is to design the Lobby/Reception and Inpatient area of a behavioral health clinic. The design must consider the safety and well being of the patients as well as the staff. This project is in partnership with OFS and Carolina and at least 50% of the furnishings shall be sourced from them. The Lobby/Reception must contain a reception desk for 4 staff, a waiting area, and a minimum of 4 lockers for guests. The Inpatient area must contain the following: a sallyport at the entrance; 2 consultation rooms …

Is Modern Day Dating Damaging Our Mental Health?, Kamilla Rayann Stone

Student Research Symposium

In contemporary society, dating has undergone significant transformations, with modern dating practices increasingly influenced by technology, shifting social norms, and evolving expectations. This study seeks to answer the question: Is modern-day dating damaging our mental health? Given the rising concerns about relationship satisfaction, anxiety, and self-esteem in the digital dating era, this research aims to explore the potential psychological implications of modern dating trends.

Concrete Grove Biophilic Hotel, Kieran White

Student Research Symposium

Located in Eugene, Oregon, the Concrete Grove Hotel is a modern biophilic retreat inspired by the state tree, the Douglas fir. Influenced by Louis Kahn's architecture, the design combines concrete and glass with natural materials to harmonize strength and tranquility.

Spatial Training For Children With Suspected Auditory Processing Disorder: A Random Control Trial, Taylor Delao

Student Research Symposium

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), defined here as a deficit in the way sounds are analyzed by the brain, has remained a controversial topic within audiology for decades.

Psychological Inflexibility For Hearing Loss: A Description Of Patient Challenges, Bailey Sorensen

Student Research Symposium

Barriers to hearing healthcare can include stigma, cost, access, thoughts, and emotions. When audiologists talk about internal barriers with clients, this may improve the client's experience.

The Correlation Between Mental Health And Electronic Media Usage In Adults, Thea Lefave

Student Research Symposium

How does an adult's electronic media usage impact their levels of anxiety and depression and overall emotional well-being?

Motivations For Engaging In Act Guide: An Online Digital Mental Health Intervention, Willa Freeman, Danny Cottle

Student Research Symposium

Mental Health in the United States

• 24% of Americans, 60 million, experienced a mental health concern in the past year (Reinert et al., 2024).
• In 2024, 1 in 4 adults with continuous mental distress could not see a doctor due to cost (Reinert et al., 2024).
• Online programs can help provide resources to improve quality of life that are cost-effective and easily accessible

Barriers To Seeking Help, Randall Haws

Student Research Symposium

• One of the major barriers to completion of an academic degree is completing the mathematics or statistics requirement
• Studies indicate that college mathematics course have the highest rates of withdrawal and failure of any category of college courses
• Research indicates failure or withdrawal from a college course has a significant impact on the resilience and persistence in college

Examining Cultural Competency In Audiologists Across The United States: A Pilot Survey, Olivia Montoya

Student Research Symposium

• Cultural competency refers to the ability of systems to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs (Betancourt, 2002).

• Limited studies to date have explored the implementation of cultural competence in audiology, which begs the question of how audiologists are fighting against—instead of contributing to—healthcare disparities among ethnic minorities.

Color And Behavior Theory In Mental Wellness Centers, Abigail Johnson

Student Research Symposium

Color significantly influences human behavior, mood, and cognition, making it a powerful tool in design. Different colors evoke specific emotional and psychological responses due to their wavelength, cultural associations, and personal experiences. Understanding how color affects behavior helps create spaces that support desired outcomes, such as relaxation, focus, or social engagement.

Tacting The Functions Of Behavior And College Mental Health: A Mobile App-Based Approach To Developing Psychological Flexibility, Benjamin G. Pierce, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study evaluated a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Matrix app to improve college student mental health in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial. It was hypothesized that participants assigned to the ACT Matrix app would report greater improvements than the waitlist condition on measures of psychological inflexibility (e.g., Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II; Tacting of Function [TOF] scale), distress (e.g., Patient Health Questionnaire), and functioning (e.g., Satisfaction with Life Scale) as well as that changes in psychological inflexibility variables would predict improvements in distress and functioning at post-intervention and 4-week follow up. The sample included 106 students reporting elevated depression or …

The Role Of Answer Justification In Multiple-Choice Testing: Effects On Performance And Metacognitive Accuracy, Spenser A. Clark, Michellle L. Rivers, Acacia L. Overono

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Student Research

Multiple-choice (MC) tests are widely used in educational settings but have been criticized for promoting passive recognition rather than active retrieval. Our research explores how adding a simple component to MC tests—answer justification—influences test performance and metacognitive accuracy. Across two experiments, university students studied a textbook chapter and completed either a standard MC test (MC-only group) or an MC test requiring them to justify their answers (answer justification group). Participants also provided predictive and postdictive metacognitive judgments. The results showed that the answer justification group significantly outperformed the MC-only group on an immediate test (Experiments 1 and 2) and scored …

Child Sexual Abuse: What Utahns Need To Know, Kolene Anderson, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant social, criminal justice, and public health issue that impacts families, neighborhoods, and communities of all racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. CSA is underreported, underfunded, and often accompanied by lifelong negative impacts on survivors’ physical, mental, and emotional health. Importantly, we acknowledge that not all who have experienced child sexual abuse feel that the term survivor (instead of victim) adequately conveys their feelings and experiences. However, for the sake of simplicity and to align with the terminology used in most research, we use the term in this report. Unfortunately, most survivors do not …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy-Enhanced Behavior Therapy As An Intervention For Trichotillomania And Excoriation Disorder (Skin Picking): A Review, Michael P. Twohig, Leila K. Capel

Psychology Faculty Publications

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) – enhanced behavior therapy (A-EBT) is the most empirically supported treatment for trichotillomania. The data supporting A-EBT for excoriation disorder (skin picking) is small but growing. In this paper we review the model behind A-EBT including support for targeting psychological inflexibility as well as the use of more traditional behavioral procedures to reduce non-focused behaviors. To date there are 15 studies investigating A-EBT for trichotillomania and skin picking across ages and treatment delivery methods (individual, group, telehealth, and asynchronous web-based delivery). The work has occurred by multiple research teams. Data on process of change is …

Locking-It-In And Doubling: Mediating Second-Grade Students' Activity With Multiplicative Thinking, Jessica F. Shumway, Camille Lund, Joseph Kozlowski, Deborah Silvis, Jody Clarke-Midura, Ana Ashineh

Spatial Activities and Robot Coding (SPARC)

Using activity theory as a lens, we aimed to understand what second-grade students' interactions revealed about their thinking and what mediated students' engagement with important multiplicative ideas. In this setting, students interacted with multiplicative thinking using a coding robot and other artifacts as mediating tools. Through qualitative analysis, we found that students interacted with three concepts related to multiplicative thinking (i.e., composite units, doubling, iterating), and the lead mediators in their interactions included the robot's remote, dry erase marker and table, and peers/teacher. Students gravitated to artifacts that made sense to them, and the implication is that students need agency …

“Synchronized Parenting Is Like Mixing Oil And Water”: Reimagining Parental Control For Co-Parenting In The Divorced Households, Prakriti Dumaru, Audrey Flood, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

Children from divorced households are granted access to devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets), helping them to maintain meaningful contact with both parents. However, regulating their device usage across two households presents unique co-parenting challenges, which are little studied in the existing literature on parental mediation. As we begin to address this gap, we used low-fidelity prototype designs, guided by the principles of fostering open communication and instilling self-regulation. We evaluated those designs (presented in the form of storyboards) through semi-structured interviews with 23 divorced parents, whose children are active Internet users and aged 13 years or below. Based on our analysis, …

Rethinking Behavior - Spring 2025, Midwest Symposium For Leadership In Behavior Disorders

ReThinking Behavior Magazine

A magazine for professionals serving children and youth with behavioral needs.

Spring 2025, Volume 8, Issue 3

Integrating Elementary Computer Science And Mathematics Instruction: One Size Does Not Fit All, Umar Shehzad, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

This paper presents a model, the double integration model, for integrating Computer Science (CS) and mathematics in upper elementary instruction. Fifth-grade students (n=1,037) participated either in the double integrated model (Condition 1; integrated in both CS and Math instruction) or integrated lessons only in CS instruction (Condition 2). After each lesson, students rated their enjoyment, perceived ease, and perceptions of CS-math connections. Multilevel analyses revealed that Condition 1 students reported significantly more positive perceptions and stronger CS-math connections of the lessons than Condition 2 students. Girls in Condition 1 responded more positively than boys on enjoyment and connection items, and …

Streamlining Field Note Analysis: Leveraging Gpt For Further Insights, Saríah López-Fierro, Umar Shehzad, Alireza (Sina) Zandi, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

As an integral part of qualitative research inquiry, field notes provide important data from researchers embedded in research sites. However, field notes can vary significantly, influenced by the researchers' immersion in the field, prior knowledge, beliefs, interests, and perspectives. As consequence, their interpretation presents significant challenges. This study offers a preliminary investigation into the potential of using large language models to assist researchers with the analysis and interpretation of field notes data. Our methodology consisted of two phases. First, a researcher deductively coded field notes of six classroom implementations of a novel elementary-level mathematics curriculum. In the second phase, we …

Bird Richness As A Mediator Between Greenspace And Mental Health Relationships, Sihao Chena, Huaqing Wang, Wenyan Xu

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Neighborhood greenspaces are widely known to benefit bird diversity and human mental health. However, whether bird richness mediates the relationship between greenspace and mental health is unknown. We ascertain such mediation effects in 294 census tracts in Los Angeles City. We obtained greenspace data from one-meter resolution satellite imagery, bird species data from eBird citizen science datasets, and prevalence of poor mental health from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mediation analysis combined with spatial error models was used to assess the mediating effects while controlling for geographic, demographic, and socio-economic factors. We found that the higher greenspace …

The Utah Statesman, March 31, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Utah Statesman, March 24, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Community-Oriented Policing In A Majority-Black Neighborhood: In Search Of A Local Solution To A National Problem, Nasaskyia R. Hicks, Shanada Mcfadden, Natallia Sianko

Transforming Communities

Few issues loom larger today than how the United States can rehabilitate its criminal justice system. Although justified and undoubtedly timely, the national focus often shifts attention away from local, interpersonal, and community processes that shape how criminal justice is administered and experienced differently in communities across the country. Our goal is to contribute to the national conversation on community-oriented policing and social innovation to improve police-community relations and increase public trust in majority-Black neighborhoods. This article offers a call to action for the scientific and policy communities to reflect on effective practices that bring the voices of local stakeholders …

Short Duration Relationship And Marriage Education (Rme) During Covid-19: Outcomes And Future Directions, Pamela B. Payne, Naomi Brower, Melanie Jewkes

Transforming Communities

Abstract

COVID-19 reshaped short duration relationship marriage education (RME), requiring that previously in person programs, including the Utah Marriage Celebration (UMC) move to remote formats. It is critical that outcomes of such transitions are evaluated and assessed. Marriage Celebration 2021 included 348 participants who responded after participating in the virtual event and 148 participants who responded to a one month follow up. Results indicate that like prior Marriage Celebration events, participants indicated their perceived relationship knowledge increased. Commitment to change was evaluated for the first time and showed significant results related to age and issues being covered. Implications for RME …

Fact Sheet: Ketamine, Aaron Hunt, Gabriela Murza, Jenna Hawks, Alyssa Ferrin

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses ketamine, which has pain-relieving properties and has gained recent attention for its antidepressant effects. However, as a Schedule III substance, it has a risk of strong psychological and physical dependence. Recreational use can lead to short- and long-term effects on health and risk of overdose and death.

The Utah Statesman, March 17, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Utah Organizations Supporting Women & Girls: Exploring The Landscape, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

In 2024, U.S. News & World Report rated each state using 71 metrics in eight categories. Utah came out on top, declared as the “Best State Overall” for the second year in a row, ranking number two in education, and number three in both economy and infrastructure categories. ¹ In addition, WalletHub dubbed Utah 2023’s Most Charitable State, citing high levels of charitable giving and volunteerism,² and ConsumerAffairs declared Utah the “Best State to Move to in 2024.”³ In addition, Utah also ranks high in work hours, volunteerism, affordability, happiness, outdoor recreation, social mobility, and more.⁴ See …