Digital Commons Network^™

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.

Perceptions That Parents Of Autistic Children Have On Music Therapy And Music Lessons For Their Child, Carlin Troska

Student Research Symposium

The purpose of this project is to investigate the perceptions that parents of children with Autism have on music therapy and music lessons for their child. Specifically, we are interested in learning about how much knowledge parents have on music therapy and if there is a difference in perception between music therapy and music lessons for their child/children.

How You Talk About Homelessness Matters, Sarah Makar

Student Research Symposium

Individuals experiencing homeless (IEH) has risen across the U.S. by 7% just in the past year. In response to this increase, and with the dangers of being homeless including a 60% greater mortality rate, residents across four counties in Utah participated in a survey to better understand the community's attitudes towards homelessness and homeless services with the aim to better meet the needs of IEH.

The High Cost Of Substance Use Disorder And Recidivism, Paula Hogg

Student Research Symposium

What policy changes can the Idaho State Criminal Justice System implement to address problems of high incarceration and recidivism rates for individuals with substance use disorder?

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?

American Reads Mentor/Tutor, Rivers Tullis

Student Research Symposium

This was a great opportunity to work in the community and to learn how to better work with younger kids. For this past school year I worked for an after-school program at Summit Elementary doing a variety of educational activities. We were able to invite several different organizations to help introduce the kids to new technologies such as drones and coded remote-control cars. This helps kids to think creatively and give them opportunities to find their passion for a potential future career.

Research Presentation, Cassee Pugmire

Student Research Symposium

• How does childhood environment influence an individual's likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior?
• Home Life Situation
• Parents' Information and Involvement
• Status Offense vs Delinquent Offenses

Gendered Rehabilitation: Male And Female Offenders' Experiences In Reintegration, Ellie Hansen

Student Research Symposium

• Gender: Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and expectations assigned to women, men, girls, and boys (World Health Organization).
• Gender specific (responsive) programing: Tailored interventions addressing distinct learning styles, relationship dynamics, and life circumstances of men and women (The Oregon Intermediate Sanctions for Female Offenders Policy Group 1995).
• Recidivism: Relapse into criminal behavior after sanctions or interventions (NIJ).
• Reentry: The inevitable consequence of incarceration (Visher 2015).
• Rehabilitation: Programs reducing crime by addressing root causes and improving reintegration outcomes (NIJ).
• Reintegration: Reconnecting individuals with societal institutions as both a process and goal (Visher 2015).

Immigration, Almendra Ramirez, Leslie Villagomez

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Immigration issues are a prominent topic in the United States. The United States is known for freedom and better living conditions. In the United States there are about 50.6 million immigrants, making up about 15% of the total population. However, an estimated 10.5 million individuals are paying the most in taxes and they help with agriculture, the immigration policy which brings fear and high risk of families being separated. The path to residency is long and difficult, especially for those seeking immediate improvements in their lives. Therefore this research seeks to bring awareness and educate the American public on this …

Prison Environment And Conditions Affect Recidivism Rates — Norway And South Africa, Hayes Breitbach, Abby Horstmann, Gus Beirman

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Harsh prison conditions and lack of rehabilitation and reintegration programs in South African prisons reflect the high recidivism rates in the country. South African prisoners are subject to inhumane conditions such as overcrowding and health concerns, violations of human rights, and are stripped of their dignity. Paired with social stigma against those who have been incarcerated, these inhumane conditions lead to poor reintegration and higher recidivism rates. This research project advocates for prison reform focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and improved facility conditions. There are multiple examples of competent and humane prisons in the world, such as Norway’s correctional institutions, which …

The Importance Of Domestic Violence Reform In First World Countries, Morgan Klein, Stephanie Hines Meyers, Jasmyne Sauceda, Ark Van Donslear

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Globally, 1 in every 3 women has experienced intimate partner violence (IPV), and the impact of this prevalent issue extends beyond the boundaries of developed and underdeveloped nations. In the United States, 22% of women have endured IPV, while in New Zealand, this figure stands at 24%. Despite the availability of national resources, frameworks adopted by developed countries are presumed to provide effective interventions through their judicial systems and policies. However, judicial injustices frequently allow perpetrators to persist in their violent behaviors without facing substantial consequences. Measures such as restraining orders or no-contact orders often fail to deter offenders effectively. …

The Impact Of Human Trafficking, Jenna Diprima, Eboni Patterson, Gabriela Meza

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Human trafficking is a crime that has been documented since the 1500s and continues to be a significant issue, reaching unprecedented levels today. Human trafficking is an act in which an individual coerces/compels another and forces them to provide services for financial gain. Victims often come from connections with people they trust. In 2023, it was monitored that 348 people in the US were victims of human trafficking, 316 of 348 victims were children. Worldwide, however, this number is much higher standing at 49.6 million with Guatemala taking up a significant chunk as it has been estimated that 24.9 million …

Attitudes & Beliefs About Homelessness In Cache County, Rachel Didericksen, Brynlee Wright, Bailee Allred, Natalie Rust

Student Research Symposium

The rise in homelessness at the local level calls for community member engagement in solution-building. In order to inform policy and funding decisions, it is important that we understand what perceptions community members have regarding persons experiencing homelessness (PEH), perceptions of gaps in resources, and the degree of support for expanding resources.

How Does Social Media Influence The Self-Perceived Well-Being Of Rural Residents?, Danalee Welch-O'Donnal

Student Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Freedom To Change: Comparing U.S. And Norwegian Recidivism, Sofia Low

Student Research Symposium

The U.S. criminal justice system is set up to fail those leaving!

Housing Attainability In The Bear River Area, Peyton Reynolds

Student Research Symposium

Utahns are experiencing numerous challenges related to affording, securing, and maintaining housing.

Latinx Education: Catalyst For Permanent Socio-Economic Change, Evan Schellhous

Student Research Symposium

This poster explores the transformative impact of education in empowering the Latinx community, drawing on insights from four contemporary films: Spare Parts, McFarland USA, Walkout, and A Million Miles Away. Each film depicts unique narratives where education is pivotal in overcoming socio-economic challenges, cultural barriers, and systemic inequities. Spare Parts narrates the inspiring journey of Latino students who, with determination and innovative spirit, defy stereotypes to excel in science and technology. McFarland USA illustrates how mentorship and community support enable under-resourced Latinx athletes to break the cycle of poverty through academic and athletic success. In Walkout, historic student-led protests …

Agricultural Resources Management Through A Linear Programming Approach: A Case Study On Productivity Optimization Of Crop-Livestock Farming Integration, Hemanatha P. W. Jayasuriya, Romy Das

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

The crop-livestock integrated farming system practiced in most developing countries depends to a greater extent on the ecosystem as a whole. The importance of animals as an agent of nutrient recycle, sources of rural energy in terms of draft power and fuel as well as major contributor of the farm economy, has resulted into increased population of ruminant stock in these regions creating threats to the sustainability and productivity of land resources. This case-study research attempted to formulate optimum herd size compatible to different resource holding farm categories within the sub watershed in mid hills region of Nepal. The research …

Friendship With Violence: The Boffer Larping Community, Cassandra Ralston

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

What is boffer LARPing?

• Live Action Role Play
• Boffer is a term used for foam weapons
• Subsets within community
• Studied active fighters

Public Employees Labor Relations Law: The First Five Years, Raymond G. Mcguire, Bryan M. Dench

Maine Law Review

In 1965 the 102d Maine Legislature passed the Fire Fighters Arbitration Law, authorizing collective bargaining between bargaining agents designated by municipal fire fighters and their municipal employers. After four years of experience with the Fire Fighters Law, the Legislature enacted the Municipal Public Employees Labor Relations Law (MPELRL) in 1969, a more comprehensive statute mandating collective bargaining between municipalities and bargaining agents designated by the majority of municipal employees in units appropriate for bargaining. In 1974 in "An Act Extending Collective Bargaining Rights to State Employees," the 106th Legislature accorded to most state employees substantially the same organizational and bargaining …

A Modern Community Men’S Shed, Carly Bendull, Melinda Heinz

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The inception of the Men’s Sheds Movement began in Australia to bring men together who were socially isolated. At sheds, men converse with each other, make new friends, and engage in activities together. Further iterations of sheds around the world have also been created, including Community Sheds and Women’s Sheds. In the U.S., the Men’s Sheds Movement began in 2016. However, sheds have not been studied as extensively in the U.S. and this paper adds to the literature by further investigating gender, expectations, age, motivation, and participation in a Community Shed located in the Southern part of the U.S. Results …

Faculty Senate Minutes 2025-04-08, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of A Dance-Like Martial Arts Training On Prisoners’ Concentration Ability, Uta Czyrnick-Leber, Kiara Kuhrs, Christian Kraft, Pamela Wicker, Bernd Groben

Journal of Prison Education Research

A cognitive prerequisite for education and (re)entry into the labor market is the ability to concentrate for a long period. Conducted with 39 participants, the present study examines the effect of a six-week dance-like martial arts program on prisoners’ concentration ability in an open prison in Germany (n=15), and compares their concentration ability with a control group of prisoners (n=5), as well as a treatment (n=11) and control group (n=8) of university students. Concentration ability is assessed using the d2-R concentration and attention test before, after, and six weeks following the program. The program’s participants showed significant improvements compared to …

Cruising Over Controversy: Addressing Discrimination Gaps In The Montreal Convention's Framework, Catherine Mitri

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Modalities, Anti-Modalities, And The Social Psychology Of Persuasive Constitutional Argument, Asma T. Uddin

Catholic University Law Review

Constitutional argumentation traditionally relies on modalities such as text, history, doctrine, and structure. However, the exclusion of certain “anti-modalities”—such as policy arguments, fundamentalist views, and emotional appeals—can create a “resonance gap” between legal reasoning and public understanding. This paper explores how social science insights, particularly from cultural cognition theory (CCT) and moral foundations theory (MFT), can help bridge this gap by guiding the strategic incorporation of pathos and moral intuitions into constitutional arguments. Techniques such as self-affirmation, expressive overdetermination, and aporetic reasoning can make opinions more persuasive and inclusive without compromising legal integrity. The paper examines how these strategies can …

Successful Leadership Strategies For Reducing Staff Turnover In Clinical Research Organizations, Tamala Burden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover in clinical research organizations (CROs) disrupts research continuity, increases operational costs, and threatens the timely execution of clinical trials. High employee turnover is a critical concern to CRO leaders, as excessive employee attrition can delay developing and delivering new patient therapies and threaten organizational performance. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore employee-focused strategies that CRO leaders use to reduce employee turnover successfully. Data collection included semistructured interviews with six purposively selected CRO leaders, supplemented by publicly available records to triangulate findings. Following Braun and Clarke’s 6-step …

Re-Framing The Master Narratives Of Learning Dis/Abilities Through An Emotion And Intersectional Lens, David I. Hernández-Saca

Faculty Publications

In this conceptual framework paper, I critically chronicle the historiography, policy, and scientific literatures of learning disabilities (ld) and provide a conceptual framework for reframing these as master narratives. I defined master narratives as the pre-existent sociocultural forms of interpretation. I interrogated the a) cultural-historical; b) the federal definition of ld within idea, c) the educational-professional academic and focused on, the d) social and emotional literature of ld. The master narratives from these literatures included: a) ld as a boy who struggles with reading, ld as a symbolic complex, and the legacy of the term "feebleminded", d) assumptions about learning, …

Czy Konsumenci Potrzebują Pewności Prawa?, Helena Kordasiewicz

internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny (internet Quarterly on Antitrust and Regulation)

Certainty in law is a commonly used expression, but attempts to find its definition may turn out fruitless. It appears in scientific articles, goals of legislation and case law, but those use instances are not always coherent. This study aims to describe certainty in law, based on how it is interpreted in European case law, studies on legal certainty, and contract theory. At first, examples from judgments of the highest courts, in which predictability of economic relations and legal certainty occur, will be presented along with the potential dangers of improperly differentiating between the two. In the second part, a …

The Lynmouth Flood Disaster As A ‘Rural Enterprise Metabolic Rift’ And Securitising Rural Regions Against Future Hazards Of Planetary Collapse, Orlando Goodall

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This article advances a novel synthesis of two critical theoretical positions to reinterpret the Lynmouth flood disaster of 1952 – an event which caused the deaths of 34 people. Rural enterprise criminology and the metabolic rift concept are brought into dialogue to elaborate a foundation from which to articulate the multifactorial process that eventuated in the flood. The article fills an absence in the social sciences on the significant loss of life that moves beyond descriptive narratives of the tragedy and dated positivist epistemology. The article displaces determinist explanations of natural science and popular invocations of ‘acts of God’ and …

Bringing Different Disciplines And Competitions In Your Classroom, Eric Chan-Tin, Mohammed Abuhamad

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

It is well-known that cybersecurity does not belong only to computer science/engineering. Other disciplines such as Psychology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Political Science can have a great impact in cybersecurity research and education. Students taking only courses are at a disadvantage and should be encouraged to participate in cybersecurity competitions to obtain real-world skills. This lightning talk will look at incorporating two aspects in an interdisciplinary cybersecurity program/curriculum: 1) different disciplines and majors such as Psychology, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Sociology into the cybersecurity program; and 2) including cybersecurity competitions as an integral part of the cybersecurity classroom and curriculum. …