Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of College Students Towards Healthcare Provisions On Campus, Sarah Houtz

Honors Theses

Healthcare on university campuses is not a new concept. There is little evidence surrounding the effectiveness and adaptability of services provided to students by providers or healthcare facilities located on campus. Literature describes individual concepts of healthcare resources provided on campus including convenience, holistic care, abilities to refer to off campus specialty clinics, and factors related directly to the patient’s beliefs and values. However, there is a considerable gap in tools used to measure opinions directly related to the services, quality, perception, initiatives, and overall satisfaction with the provisions provided by healthcare professionals located on university campuses. Of the 23 …

The Effects Of Skin Tone On The Perception Of Discrimination In Young African American Women, Danielle T. Stamps

Honors Theses

This research focuses on the perceived discriminatory experiences (i.e. colorism and racism) that young African American women report as a function of their actual and perceived skin tone. Colorism is a form of internalized racism when individuals with darker skin tones are discriminated against by others. Each participant (N = 76) was given the Pantone Skin Tone guide and asked to find the best color (varying on undertone and lightness) that matched closely to their skin tone without feedback from any reflective surfaces and with a handheld mirror. Following that, the researcher identified the participant’s skin tone. In addition, participants …

Does Interest Equal Success? Evaluating Student Perceptions Of The Study Of Biology And Their Effects On Student Success In An Introductory Biology Course, Courtney Irene Barlow

Honors Theses

As instructors begin to devote more time to improving student perceptions of biology, the validity of these efforts should be determined. Do students possessing favorable views of biology regularly perform on a higher level than those with less favorable impressions, or would class time be better spent without exercises intended to increase student interest? The goal of this project was to address the research questions “How do students view the study of biology?”, “How do student perceptions of the subject area affect their performance in an Introductory Biology course?”, and “How does a student’s chosen area of study affect their …

Assessing Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge And Use Of Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning, Mary Catherine Cazalas

Honors Theses

Many individuals who are nonverbal require augmentative and alternative communication devices to communicate. The purpose of this research was to assess speech-language pathologists’ knowledge of a particular method of implementing augmentative and alternative communication devices known as language acquisition through motor planning (LAMP). Further, this research was designed to determine the percentage of speech pathologists who have used LAMP during their careers as well as the perceived level of success speech pathologists have found with LAMP. Mississippi speech-language pathologists were used as the sample for this study. A survey was created electronically via the online survey development software, “Survey Monkey,” …

Exploring The Experiences And Mental Health Concerns Of 9-1-1 Public Safety Telecommunicators, Ariel Patience Elliot

Honors Theses

9-1-1 public safety telecommunicators are the first line of emergency services; however, minimal research currently exists on their mental health. A lack of understanding exists as to how the continuous flow of traumatic calls are influencing these people. The purpose of this project is to help fill the existing gap in literature and contribute to the existing minimal foundation for future research on this topic. Participants for this study were obtained with agency consent from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office in Gulfport, MS; Gulfport Police Department in Gulfport, MS; Hattiesburg Police Department in Hattiesburg, MS; and Cobb County 911 in …

The Influence Of Activated Short-Term Mating Goals On Men’S And Women’S Domain-Specific Mating Self-Efficacy, Nathaniel Thomas Horton

Honors Theses

Men and women are motivated to identify and procure mating opportunities that would best facilitate the survival and long-term reproductive success of their offspring. In the current study, we hypothesized that when primed with mating interest, men and women would report greater self-efficacy in behavioral domains that would be attractive to the opposite sex. Men and women were randomly assigned to a mating or control prime condition, then completed a self-efficacy scale tapping into behaviors related to physical attractiveness enhancement, dominance, and status; participants also completed a scale assessing their level of intrasexual competitiveness. It was predicted that men primed …

Internship On A Sustainable Sheep Farm, Cassaundra Jaegers

Honors Theses

This paper looks at an internship occurring on a sheep farm in rural Iowa. A setup of the farm as well as the goals of the farm are outlined in this paper. A list of daily duties as well as duties that occurred rarely are also listed in the paper. The internship at a sheep farm wanted to create a sustainable source of food by selling the sheep once they became adults. In the three years it has been in existence, the operation has growth substantially and a profit has finally been made. The farm continues to expand to open …

What's Wrong With The Tap? Examining Perceptions Of Tap And Bottled Water At Western Michigan University, Lindsey Makos

Honors Theses

Distrust in tap water seems to be increasing in the United States with a consonant increase in single-use bottled water. As a result, I was intrigued to explore the behaviors and opinions of Western Michigan University (WMU) students in Kalamazoo, MI towards bottled water. Specifically, I initiated a study to examine student’s perceptions and use of tap water and bottled water. To study water consumption habits on WMU’s campus, I replicated a Purdue University study from 2011. In addition, because of the high profile of the Flint Water Crisis, particularly in Michigan, I added a section that focuses on the …

Impact Of 2001 - 2016 Supreme Court Establishment Clause Cases, Nicole Cumming

Honors Theses

This study will look at United States Supreme Court Establishment Clause cases from 2001-2016. During those 16 years, the Court decided 1,276 cases. Only 10 of those cases dealt with the establishment clause.

At an absolute minimum, the Establishment Clause was intended to prohibit the federal government from declaring and financially supporting a national religion, which existed in many other countries at the time of America's founding. This idea has become vital to the values Americans hold dear. Throughout history, religious freedom and tolerance have been celebrated, and most of that is due to the Establishment Clause. However, there is …

The Rhetoric Of Landscape: Through Oil And Water, Alexandrea Davis

Honors Theses

“The Rhetoric of Landscape: Through Oil and Water” analyzes five water resources—Lake Erie, Lake Powell, the Aral Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Barrier Reef—and uses the visual rhetoric introduced by an accompanying series of oil pastel illustrations to compare how the beauty of the landscapes equates to their true states. This project discusses the harmful effects of human activities on water bodies, first through direct pollution and ultimately through anthropogenic climate change. Furthermore, a final summary covering the history of environmental initiatives in the United States and the idea of “wicked problems” offers an overview of reasons …

The Evolution Of Cancer Research And The Dietary Intervention That Could Save Lives, Kara Starkweather

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Ministry With Community: Analysis Of Public Relations Issues And Proposed Solutions, Sarah Piper

Honors Theses

Although Millennials are not yet in their primacy as nonprofit donors, forward-thinking nonprofits are changing how they conduct business to better engage millennials in anticipation of their future rise to primacy. Accommodating the desires and expectations unique to the members of this generation is challenging for many organizations because effectively engaging with millennials requires a shift in organizational communication and engagement practices. This project seeks to build a body of relevant knowledge that can be used by Ministry with Community, a local nonprofit organization, to evolve its current engagement and communication practices to better appeal to local millennials. To build …

The Changing Geopolitical Dynamics Of The Middle East And Their Impact On Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts, Daniel Bucksbaum

Honors Theses

In this thesis the status and feasibility of the two-state solution, the primary and most widely-accepted potential resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be analyzed. It considers aspects such as physical challenges (geography and topography of the land), regressive and damaging actions to the peace process by Israelis and Palestinians, and the newly developing changes in regional alliances and interests in the Middle East. The status of the traditional two-state solution, due to its history, obstacles, and current regional developments, has implications for future negotiations and have changed the direction of peace talks. Dramatic shifts in regional interests and the …

Party Identification At Western Michigan University, Melissa Heinz

Honors Theses

A high self-monitor is an individual who changes his/her political views to improve an impression made to others. This past election contained very controversial candidates making individuals very reluctant to show strong support for either party. My thesis topic examines the link between self-monitoring and party identification after the controversial election. I will be testing to see Western Michigan University students’ willingness to disguise political views based on what others think of them by using three different versions of the same survey. Many students are in positions on campus as well as off campus that require them to present themselves …

The Context For An Undergraduate Research Program At Western Michigan University, Nathan Browning

Honors Theses

This thesis is an investigation into undergraduate research, experiential learning, and creative scholarship as it relates to Western Michigan University (WMU). Data mining was used to analyze the state of undergraduate research activity (URA) nationally. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups were used to examine both faculty and undergraduate opinion of the state of URA specifically at WMU. The goal of this thesis is to help establish a framework for what a successful undergraduate research program would look like at WMU.

Previous literature shows benefits for both institutions and students, including higher retention rates, stronger graduate outcomes, and increased satisfaction levels …

Facilitating Emotional Regulation In Adults With Developmental Disabilities Through Person-Centered Play Therapy, Otis Kemutambah

Honors Theses

Adults with developmental disabilities may employ maladaptive behaviors that stem from limited opportunities to interact with their community and non-nurturing interactions within their environment. This literature review explores the effects of play on maladaptive behaviors and provides a rationale that supports the use of PCPT to improve this population’s emotional regulation skills. More specifically, the sources indicate that activities containing exercise and games, improves the emotional regulation skills of this population. Based on the presented information, created cost effective activities will potentially improve these skills amongst adults with developmental disabilities. These activities that adhere to PCPT are basketball, water basketball, …

An Evaluation Of Physical Activity Methods Of College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Justin Vagnozzi

Honors Theses

Physical activity has been proven to improve autistic conditions in areas such as motor skills and social skills (Sowa and Muelenbroek, 2011). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the different ways that physical activity affects autistic individuals. To do this, 16 individuals at the WMU Autism Services Center will be surveyed through Qualtrics. The survey will be based off of the study of Stanish and colleagues (2015). Questions will be taken from this survey and a few additional questions that do not appear in any study will be designed by the student investigator. Results will be analyzed both …

Kalamazoo Fc Social Media Plan, Brittney Wojcik

Honors Theses

Social media presents itself as a far-reaching and cost-effective tool to not only reach, but also to engage with potential audiences. As social media usage is becoming more commonplace, it is increasingly important for companies to understand their place within the social media realm.

Kalamazoo FC is a local semi-professional team in their third year of play. They are looking to expand their target market to include those of millennials, college students, and Latinos. Herein lies a comprehensive social media plan that contains detailed information regarding the team, new markets targeted, and social media platforms currently used by the team. …

Analysis Of Opioid Hospitalizations In Michigan Counties, Stephanie George

Honors Theses

The escalating opioid epidemic has affected the United States on both national and local levels. In the state of Michigan, the opioid overdose death rate increased by 13.3% between 2014 and 2015 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Due to a gap in the literature regarding opioid hospitalization rates, this study focused on the demographic correlates of unemployment, health insurance, and poverty level in relation to the Michigan counties that indicated the highest opioid hospitalization rates in the 2013-2015 time period. The five Michigan counties with the highest opioid hospitalization rates were Oscoda, Arenac, Roscommon, Clare, and Benzie County. …

How Does A 3-Week Nutrition Course Affect The Eating Behaviors Of Parents Among Migrant Farmworker Families In Michigan?, Keren Reyes

Honors Theses

Childhood obesity is a health concern in the United States, putting children at risk for serious health problems. Although there has been significant research of childhood obesity, less is known about how eating behaviors and parenting styles of Hispanic and Latino parents impact the health problems (e.g., obesity) of children. Literature demonstrates that Latina and Mexican American cultures shape parents’ feeding practices but most research fails to recognize the contexts of feeding practices within Latino community (Slusser, Neumann, Cumberland, Renenger, Fischer, & Frankel, 2012). As such, the purpose of this study is to identify the use of different parenting styles …

Business Plan: Consulting Firm Focused On Manufacturing Digitalization, Edward Mulford

Honors Theses

The goal of this paper outlines a business framework for the development of a digitization consulting firm focused on the manufacturing sector. The firm’s goal is to help organizations in Michigan leverage technology to keep their business vibrant and workers skilled. The primary services for the firm will be related to the implementation of products and services within Industry 4.0, the cyber-physical smart factory industrial revolution. The beginning of the paper explains the ecosystem surrounding digitalization as well as the nine technologies (ex: big data, simulation, additive manufacturing) driving the innovation. The framework for this business plan uses the business …

Marketing Plan For West Hills Athletic Club, Loai Maddah

Honors Theses

In the recent past, the trading environment has increasingly become competitive. Businesses are adopting various strategies to survive in the dynamic business environment. One such business is West Hills Athletic Club, which is located along South 11^th Street, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The fitness center was organized and incorporated in 1973. It was opened in 1974 and it has eight indoor courts for tennis. As of 1976, the enterprise expanded to twelve courts. In 1988, the firm converted 2 tennis courts to incorporate a track, basketball, and fitness equipment. In 1998, the facility was donated to the Western Michigan University. …

Comparative Analysis Of Impact Of Ballistic Stretching And Dynamic Stretching On Power Output In Female Collegiate Dancers, Elisabeth Ohrnberger

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine two different stretching techniques, ballistic and dynamic, and observe their effects on power output, measured via vertical jump height and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF). In the past, there has been insufficient and conflicting research regarding the type of stretching on power output. Stretching has been used in athletics to increase flexibility, prevent injury, and increase overall athletic performance. However, there is little research specifically demonstrating whether stretching has the ability to prevent injury or improve performance. Dance skills require significantly more flexibility than other sports while still requiring power to complete …

Do Students Feel Safe On Campus? A Policy Evaluation Of The Clery Act, Amanda Sidwell

Honors Theses

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act) is federal policy aimed at creating safer college campuses. It attempts to provide students with statistics on crimes that occur on campus and inform them of the security policies and various resources available to them. The Clery Act also mandates that institutions of higher education (IHE) send out alerts of emergencies that occur on campus.

So how safe do Western Michigan University (WMU or “Western”) students feel on campus? This study attempted to answer this question by asking students through a survey. The students’ …

Where Are We Losing Them? An Exploration Of Barriers To Buy-In Of Higher Education Responsible Employee Policies, Danielle Snow

Honors Theses

Sexual violence is a pervasive issue on college campuses across the U.S. In order to address this issue, the U.S. federal government has implemented certain acts and guidance to prevent violence and promote campus safety. One of the most controversial pieces of guidance is the responsible employee policy. In theory, this reporting system would allow students to have better access to victim support services and allow campuses to have more accurate data as to the reality of sexual violence happening on their campuses. In practice, however, this has not been the case for many individual institutional policies. Instead, many institutional …

Examining Social Pragmatic Communication: Evidence From Parent And Professional Questionnaires, Katelyn Adams

Honors Theses

Hyter (2007) defined pragmatics as “daily interactions among groups of people with varying worldviews, each influenced by a history of social practices” (p.131). People use aspects of pragmatics in their everyday life depending on the context of their current social situation. For example, one’s pragmatic language could differ in a day from talking with a boss at work to having a conversation with a friend on the phone. These variations in conversational processes result in the assessment of pragmatics being a difficult task.

In this honors thesis, I examined results from Dr. Yvette Hyter’s assessment battery, the Assessment of Pragmatic …

The Effect Of High Intensity Interval Training Vs Resistance-Based Circuit Training, Matthew Monaco

Honors Theses

High intensity interval training and resistance-based circuit training are both effective forms of exercise that promote muscular growth and can provide improvements in body composition. These different exercise methods were compared side-by-side in this study. The time commitment and intensity of each method were made uniform to yield the most accurate comparisons. Upon completion of the exercise regimen, each participant concluded by performing post-testing requirements that would be compared with their pre-testing results.

Mental Illness As Portrayed Through Art, Brianna Brown

Honors Theses

I was thinking of what to do for my thesis while taking classes with Vin about Anthropological Research and I realized how flawed it all was. Anthropology was born from colonialism where scholars from the United States would go to some far-off places to study the people there in hopes that they have found an interesting enough culture to get common people like you and me to want to read a book they later publish. The only way it would sell though is if this story, emphasis on story, read like a book of fiction, so far from what we …

Exploring The Impact Of Financial Literacy Education On College Students, Lacie Jessup

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Mechanisms Of Sleep And The Brain, Doungbagai Leo

Honors Theses

One of the most important homeostatic functions of the brain and body is sleep. This literary review analyzes the genes that are involved in sleep: Clock, Bmal1, Period, and Cryptochrome. It also explains the role of melatonin, GABA, orexin, and melanopsin during sleep regulation. The genes and neurotransmitters influence the suprachiasmatic nuclei and the circadian rhythm that our brain, and every cell of our bodies, have connections to. These connection help to ensure the homeostatic function of our bodies. The analysis of sleep-like states in other animals may show an evolutionary connection of sleep from non-mammals to mammals, but may …