Digital Commons Network^™

Ripples Of Gratitude, Hudson David Rouben, Courtney Keim

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Hudson Rouben The Ripples of Gratitude Internship/practicum overview submission Burnout is one of the most common and devastating phenomena that can occur within the workplace. Considering the government's radical funding changes, organizations have been struggling nationwide, especially nonprofit organizations. This struggle arose from executive orders from federal legislation which affected nonprofit's ability to seek fundraising and federal grants. This change led to high levels of burnout and anxiety among many nonprofits (New Tax Law, 2025; Barber, 2025). A Survey even found that up to 90% of nonprofit leaders are concerned about their own levels of burnout (State of Nonprofits, 2025). …

The True Danger Of Colors: Injury Probability During Turnaround Phases In A Refinery, Nicholas Rupert, Taylor Brynds, Firzana Syazania, Drew Sipe, Mariana Solanilla, Shawn Bergman, Timothy Ludwig, Madalyn Stephens

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Introduction Safety incidents during turnaround phases represent 50% of overall incidents occurring at a refinery. This study aims to understand the different phases, the incident occurrence during such phases, and determine where to have more observations happen during such phases (Ludwig & Laske, 2022). Methods Our team took data from the turnaround phases of an oil refinery in between the years of 2022 to 2023. This involved taking data from the plant and each individual subdivision and pulling only the ones that went through a turnaround phase in the timeframe provided. Out of the fifty-four departments that we gathered information …

Safety Reporting, Production Rates, And Their Effects On The Severity Of Occupational Injuries, Ivan Salinas Raya, Devaughn Burnett-Garrett, Ailyn Sanchez Corral, Drew Sipe, Madalyn Stephens, Shawn Bergman, Timothy Ludwig

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Introduction Despite significant advancements in occupational safety and health, there will likely always be individuals who sustain injuries (Hassan & Khalifa, 2025). Prior work has examined observation and feedback as potential means to reduce injury rates over time (Ludwig & Laske, 2023). However, there is limited research on how to reduce the severity of injuries. If we can understand factors that relate to injury severity, we can reduce injury severity, which would lead to a safer work environment. In this study, we examine how production rates and safety variables influence the severity of injuries in the workplace. Methods This research …

Does Messenger Matter? Trainer Differences In Sexual Harassment Training For Young Workers, Brenna Mcnamara, Vipanchi Mishra, Kemp Ellington, Jacqueline Bergman

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Abstract Background In 2016, the EEOC called for the need to spread awareness to young workers about sexual harassment. Previous research has been conducted on this issue by implementing a training specifically designed for younger workers (Stewart & Davison, 2021). The proposed study is an extension of this project. Previous research has examined messenger gender in sexual harassment training or legal policy awareness and suggests that female-led messening may incite stereotyped responses, particularly when coupled with a stereotype-incongruent occupation (Tinkler et al., 2015; Rawski et al., 2024), while diversity training led by white males (non-diverse population) is rated less favorably …

Hiding Or Thriving? Psychological Safety, Identity Management, And Well-Being Among Employees With Invisible Disabilities, Claire Parson, Brooke Burrows, Jacqui Bergman, Rose Mary Webb

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Abstract Background Individuals with invisible disabilities face unique challenges because, unlike those with visible disabilities, they may not know how others will respond if their identity is revealed (Quinn & Chaudoir, 2009). As a result, employees must navigate identity management strategies such as concealing, downplaying, or disclosing their disability (Markou & Papakonstantinou, 2025). While these strategies can be protective, they may undermine authenticity and increase emotional exhaustion. Organization and supervisor support are theorized to foster psychological safety (Frazier et al., 2017)—the belief one can take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences (Edmondson, 1999)—which may shape healthier identity management choices. …

Reducing Barriers To Workplace Accommodation For Neurodiverse Employees, Drew Sipe, Jessica Doll

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Reducing Barriers to Workplace Accommodation for Neurodiverse Employees The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) established legal protections for employees with disabilities requiring workplace accommodations (American with Disabilities Act, 1990), however research demonstrates that neurodiverse employees continue to face barriers to disclosure and support (Doyle, 2020; Rollnik-Sadowska & Grabińska, 2024). Despite the implementation of formal accommodation request processes, a gap often remains between the accommodations employees receive and those they perceive as necessary (McDowall et al., 2023). This study aims to answer: How can organizations reduce barriers to satisfactory workplace accommodations for neurodiverse employees? Methods Guided by organizational support theory (OST), …

Integrating An Ai Chatbot To Improve The Eugene Career Exploration Platform, Ethan Fountain, Lilly Basler, Tony Grebentsov, Jamie Da Costa, Shawn Bergman

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Abstract Background Many psychology students face underemployment, despite having employable skills; however, this underemployment can be reduced by teaching undergraduate students the job-ready skills they earn in their bachelor's degree (Burning Glass Institute, 2024). The research team implemented a website named Eugene, a tool that shows career options for psychology majors tailored by knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) they earn in their courses. The 2025 student assessment of Eugene indicated that 63% of respondents would use Eugene when considering post-graduation plans; however, when asked about the limitations of Eugene, over 40% responded that both the structure and instructions could be …

Take Your Time: Using Natural Language Processing On Safety Reports To Reduce Incident Likelihood, Sophia Lewis, Ethan Fountain, Nick Rupert, Drew Sipe, Madalyn Stephens, Timothy Ludwig, Shawn Bergman

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Abstract Workplace injuries carry significant social and financial consequences for both employees and employers. Through Behavior-Based Safety (BBS), workplaces both identify at-risk behaviors to reduce injuries and their consequences while also encouraging individuals to recognize and reinforce safe behaviors that promote safer practices (Ludwig & Laske, 2022). Most companies already use this process; however, there are often problems with the quality of these reports, aka ‘pencil whipping’ (marking reports blank or lacking any meaningful information). We aim to determine if there is a connection between the quality of safety reporting and incident likelihood, and what dimensions of ‘quality’ have the …

Ai-Enhanced Resume Development, Manny N. Golfe Jr, Abby Crane, Leah Hughes, Shawn Bergman

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Abstract Background Resumes are often the first impression employers have of students, yet a plethora of graduates face underemployment, potentially due to poorly advocating for unrecognized skills. Almost half of recent graduates are underemployed one year after graduation (Vedder et al., 2013). Surveys show students constantly feel unprepared for the workforce and tend to fail to present their knowledge and skills effectively on resumes (Suleman, 2018). This study supports psychology students of Appalachian State University by improving Eugene, a tool used by students to input their courses and receive an output of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and jobs they …

Automating Insight: Ai-Driven Ksa Extraction For Career Clarity, Lilly M. Basler, Jamie Da Costa, Lauryn Womble, Claire Parson, Brenna Mcnamara, Shawn Bergman

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Abstract Background Underemployment is a battle that many psychology undergraduates face (Burning Glass Institute, 2024). This can be discouraging, and students are often unaware of alternative postgraduate options to graduate school (Halonen, 2013). To combat this, the research team has created Eugene, an online tool that can be used for career exploration. Students select from a list of psychology courses, and Eugene produces the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) they have gained in those courses alongside a list of potential jobs they may be qualified for. Currently, the team has a methodology in place that involves having multiple faculty members …

Pathways To Second Chances: A Multidisciplinary Integrative Review Of 25 Years Of Research On The Employment Of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, Tamanna K. Patel, C. Allen Gorman, Sarah C. Tucker, Joseph R. Himmler, Tanya F. Contreras

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

In this paper, we present an integrative review of the research literature on the challenges and opportunities surrounding the employment of formerly incarcerated individuals (FIIs). Our primary aim is to integrate 25 years of multidisciplinary evidence into vocational behavior scholarship, offering an employment life-cycle framework that identifies research gaps and practical implications for employers. Grounded in a multidisciplinary approach, we synthesize research across various domains, including criminal justice, psychology, sociology, law, economics, and management, to provide a holistic understanding of the systemic barriers that hinder FIIs' reintegration into the workforce. We introduce an integrative framework that examines the employment life …

Who Becomes “One Of Us”? Leaders’ Core Self-Evaluation And Prototypicality, Mobina Mohammadi, Alexander T. Jackson

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Social Identity Theory of Leadership emphasizes the importance of prototype-based depersonalization and followers’ behavior roles by suggesting that they grant leaders power, charisma, and higher status (Hogg, 2001). Core self-evaluation (CSE) encompasses individuals’ core appraisals about their self-worth and competencies (Chang et al., 2012). Judge et al. (1997) highlighted four traits in their model: self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, emotional stability, and locus of control. leaders’ self-construct guides how subsequent experiences are interpreted to describe who the leader is and who they can become, which suggests the importance of determining how the self-construct is composed and altered to positively accelerate leader development …

Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Employee Job Performance, Communication, And Job Security, Andrew S. Duck, David Earnest

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

The recent mass influx of Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the last 10 years has impacted how many professions operate (Olan et al., 2023). These operational changes include a decrease in clerical positions as AI tools, such as language automation software, have been implemented to replace routine tasks like data entry and shift scheduling (World Economic Forum, 2023). Changes can also be seen in healthcare, where AI diagnostic tools assist doctors in interpreting medical images, such as tears or fractures (Gitto et al., 2024). Research supports AI integration benefits, including reduced employee burnout and lower turnover rates in jobs such as …

Understanding The Effect Of Perceived Supervisor Unavailability On Job Satisfaction, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, And Intent To Quit, Paul-Augustin Wasner, Christopher J. Cunningham, Brian J. O'Leary, Kristen Black

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

This study aims to examine the influence of supervisor unavailability on employee job satisfaction, counterproductive work behaviors, and intent to quit. It introduces the construct of Perceived Supervisor Unavailability (PSU), defined as the employee's perception that their supervisor is not present, reachable, or responsive during times when support or input is expected or needed. Grounded in Job Demands-Resources and Social Exchange Theory, this study will look at personal and organizational resources as mediators of the PSU-work outcomes relationship. Role clarity acting as personal resource and perceived supervisor and organizational support, acting as organizational resources are expected to reduce the influence …

Anxiously Engaged: General Anxiety As A Moderator Of Techno-Insecurity And Work Engagement, Amy H. Kim, Ava D. Paull, Michelle Nguyen, Paige Watson

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

As technology advances in the workplace, employees are feeling left behind and increasingly subjected to new stressors, such as techno-insecurity. Techno-insecurity is defined as employees feeling threatened about their job security due to the increasing integration of technologies (Ragu-Nathan et al., 2008). According to the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989), techno-insecurity represents an anticipated loss of resources (e.g., job, income) due to technology. Consistent with the broader job insecurity research (Jiang & Lavaysse, 2018), this resource threat may undermine employee motivation, such as work engagement (WE; i.e., a positive state characterized by persistent work-related focus, commitment, and energy, …

The Role Of Personality And Feedback Acceptance, Olivia Funderburg Glassell, David Earnest

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Previous research has identified links between the Big Five traits of openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness, and employees' receptivity and feedback acceptance. Most studies examined these traits independently, which offers only a partial view of how personality influences feedback acceptance. The unexplored relationship of how these traits interact with psychological resilience may explain why some employees constructively engage with feedback and others disengage. The current study proposes to investigate the combined influence of personality traits and psychological resilience on feedback acceptance in the workplace. Employing a correlation design, researchers will recruit full-time employees from various industries in the United …

Understanding Organizational Drivers Of Employee Ratings Of Startups, Trinity Vuu, Jimena Lopez Flores, Dianhan Zheng, Tianxi Dong

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Attracting new talent can be a major hurdle for startup companies, particularly in competitive sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Financial Technology (FinTech). These organizations frequently face stigmatic challenges related to limited reputation, lower compensation, and perceptions of poor work-life balance (WLB), which can deter potential job candidates. Therefore, job seekers often rely on online platforms such as Glassdoor to gain insights regarding how current or former employees rated these startups in specific aspects, such as compensation, organizational culture, and WLB. However, it is unclear which aspects of the organizational environment are related to overall employee ratings of startups and …

Stress Fasting Under Pressure: The Role Of Demands And Control On Healthy Eating, Gulnur Ashyrnepesova, Alexander T. Jackson

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Stress fasting under pressure: The role of demands and control on healthy eating Gulnur Ashyrnepesova Dr. Alexander T. Jackson Stress plays an essential role in daily life, influencing physical and mental health. Many people face recurring stress cycles, like exam periods requiring a balance of deadlines and responsibilities. Over time, these cycles can become chronic stress, affecting psychological well-being, eating, sleep, and overall health. Stress often leads to coping behaviors such as overeating, reliance on stimulants, or stress fasting, skipping meals when demands and strain overwhelm. Academic and professional environments with high demands often push individuals to prioritize performance over …

The Silent Strain: Workplace Hazing As A Hidden Organizational Stressor., Madalyn Stephens, Timothy Huelsman

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Between 25% and 75% of working Americans report experiencing hazing at some point in their careers (Thomas et al., 2021). This wide range is partly due to underreporting, often driven by fears of retaliation, termination, or stalled career progression (Thomas et al., 2021; Tolfer et al., 2016). Despite its frequency, research has historically focused on non-workplace contexts, leaving a critical gap in understanding its organizational impact.Although definitions of hazing vary across disciplines, four consistent characteristics emerge: it is temporary, unidirectional, coercive, and coalitional (Thomas et al., 2021). These elements form the conceptual foundation for this study. In this study hazing …

Pedagogical Escapism And Western Performativity: A Psycho-Aesthetic Critique Of Belly-Dance Adaption Symbolics, Maryam Farahani

Comparative Woman

This paper addresses positionality misreading in Western pedagogical adaptions of belly dancing. Raqs Sharqi, known in the West as belly dancing, is a predominantly West Asian and North African discipline and performance art with multimodal varieties, globally taught and practiced while crossing sport, narratology, and story-telling boundaries. As a unique performance activity, it portrays a dynamic entertainment space to connect one’s multiple identities. I argue that Raqs Sharqi, not only as an aesthetic-educational art form but also, perhaps unwittingly, reiterated as an Orientalist communication trope in belly dancing, has forged East-West performativity models. However, the historical education-literature for Western women …

The Role Of Fairness, Transparency, And Feedback In Driving Motivation And Performance Among Employees In Incentive-Based Roles, Wesley C. Gibbs

River Cities Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference

Organizations are under increasing pressure to design reward systems that are not only competitive but also perceived as fair and transparent by employees. This issue is particularly salient in today’s workforce, where pay transparency legislation and widespread information sharing have heightened employee expectations for openness and equity. Guided by Equity Theory and organizational justice frameworks, the present study is aimed to investigate how pay fairness, reward transparency, and feedback quality interact to shape motivation and job performance, including discretionary effort. A survey of professionals in incentive-driven roles will be conducted, using validated measures of distributive justice, reward transparency, feedback environment, …

Using Machine Learning To Predict Maintenance Intentions Of Septic System Owners, Audrey Mccrary, Luna Yang, Allen Berthold

Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education

The scope of literature related to septic system maintenance from an educational and behavioral perspective, rather than a quantitative water quality approach, is limited. The water resources management community needs improved insight into the human factors related to septic system maintenance decisions and identification of effective intervention strategies. Using a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen 1991) framework, the purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict homeowners’ intention to have their systems inspected and pumped within the next three years. As part of a small-scale educational program, a survey was sent to 1,374 homeowners with septic …

Activity Trends Pre/Post Covid-19 In State Park Campgrounds, Patty Janes, Sango Otieno, A. Scott Rood

Proceedings of the Recreation Experience Community Network Research Symposium

Outdoor related activities surged both during and following COVID 19. Numerous studies support the increase of many outdoor related activities from swimming to bird watching, and biking to geocaching. Understanding the interests and habits of visitors helps organizations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the Michigan Department of Natural Resources campground visitor activity participation from before and after COVID. Nearly 40,000 campers each year were compared from 75 campground locations throughout the state of Michigan. Findings indicate the growth of many of their outdoor oriented activities from 2019 to 2024 including beach / swimming, hiking, rock hunting, and …

Physical Activity And Memory Retention, Hannah Blackman, Marisa Ronner, Lindsay Biggs, Izzy Melendez

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Attached

Developmental Effects On Zebrafish Embryos Exposed To Alcohol, Tamya Mchaney

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Zebrafish are a good organism model due to their similarities with human biology. The transparency of their embryos allows for an easier view to see the developmental stages of the embryos, and easily and accurately note any mutations or defects in any of the embryos. In addition, they make excellent candidates to track potential effects that mirror human embryos with ethanol and alcohol will have on their developmental stages. The aim of this study was to measure the genetic size developmental differences of the embryo’s lens, eyes, and heart that are given 1% alcohol and 2% alcohol. This study’s experimental …

The Rider (2025-11-10), Daniela Martinez Salazar

The Rider Archives

Vol. 11, No. 11

When Blatant Stereotype Threat Manipulations Fail: Participant Skepticism, Perceptions Of Experimenter Bias, And Anticipation Of Performance Used For Evaluation, Allison Seitchik, Emily J. Hangen

Psychology Faculty Publications

Past research has found a lack of stereotype threat effects with various explanations. Across four studies, we investigated participant skepticism toward blatant stereotype threat (vs. control) materials by measuring women’s personal beliefs and perceptions of the experimenter’s beliefs about gender differences existing on an upcoming math test. The results supported personal skepticism: participants perceived the experimenter as holding stereotyped beliefs on the task to a greater degree than the participants did themselves, regardless of stereotype threat materials. Although participants’ beliefs and their perceptions of the experimenter’s beliefs did not explain performance, anticipation of their data being used to test for …

The Role Of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine In Cerebral Palsy: Bridging Treatment Gaps And Enhancing Care, Ambrose Loc Ngo, Niki Gharavi Alkhansari, Rachana Tadakamalla, Mercede Hess, Uyen Tam Nguyen, John Yazji, Robert S. Rogers

Student Publications

Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) is a hands-on approach utilized by physicians to diagnose, treat, and prevent various conditions through the application of muscle manipulation techniques. It has been applied in managing chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, headaches, migraines, Parkinsonian gait, and psychological conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression. In our narrative review, we aim to integrate both direct clinical studies of OMM in cerebral palsy (CP) and supportive literature on mechanisms and related conditions. A comprehensive literature search was conducted utilizing PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies on OMM in CP management. Search strategies were intentionally broad to …

Assessing The Role Of Social Media As A Complementary Source In Pharmacovigilance: Insights From Faers, X (Formerly Twitter), And Askapatient Data Across Multiple Drug Classes, Nwanneka Okere

Dissertations

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) pose significant public health challenges yet remain substantially underreported in traditional pharmacovigilance systems. Social media platforms and patient-reported outcome forums have emerged as potential complementary sources for capturing real-time patient experiences with medications, but their integration with established surveillance systems remains underexplored.

Purpose: This study examined ADR reporting patterns across FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), X (formerly Twitter), and Askapatient to evaluate whether patient-generated digital data can complement traditional pharmacovigilance systems for enhanced drug safety monitoring.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design analyzed 107,753 reports representing 289,740 individual ADR occurrences for …

Metadata Analysis On The Relationship Between Sleep, Depression, And Cognition In Older Adults, Sara Miller, Kristie Stephens, Grayson Harris, Vincent Flegeance

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Metadata Analysis on the relationship between sleep, depression, and cognition in older adults

Abstract

Previous research has revealed that both sleep and depression play significant roles in influencing memory. Adequate sleep facilitates memory consolidation during rest, ultimately enhancing cognitive performance. In contrast, elevated levels of depression are associated not only with physical symptoms, but also with declines in cognitive functioning. The present study aims to determine whether the cognitive benefits of sufficient sleep duration outweigh the detrimental effects of depression on memory. We hypothesize that sleep duration will have a stronger influence on memory consolidation in older adults than depression. …