Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

“Early Covid” Changes In Parenting, Education, And Work On Parental Stress: A Gendered Comparison Of Canadian Parents, Holly Harris

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In May 2020, data were collected through survey as the COVID-19 pandemic was unfolding and still in its “early” months. The sample N=1,208 is of Canadian parents in a residential romantic relationship, who live with a residential child under the age of eighteen years old, who have access to the internet, and speak English or French. I examine how disruptions to child’s education/daycare, work, and parental childcare activities predicted parental stress through regression models. Findings indicate that fathers and mothers stress since the onset of COVID-19 were the same and that gender was not a moderator to parental stress. A …

Cognitive Effects Of Grammatical Gender In L2 Spanish Acquisition: A Study Among Latter-Day Saint Returned Missionaries, Hannah Cagle

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The current study aims to explore the cognitive effects of L2 Spanish acquisition and the role that spending time in the target language country has on L2 learners’ categorization of inanimate objects. Three groups of participants were analyzed: monolingual English speakers, L2 Spanish speakers that learned their Spanish while serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) abroad, and L2 Spanish speakers that learned their Spanish while serving LDS missions in the United States. Using a Qualtrics survey, participants were tasked with pairing a list of adjectives stereotypically associated with males or females (Williams & Bennett, …

Women Of The Scriptures In The Relief Society Magazine: An Analysis Of The Role Of Language In Maintaining Gender Norms, Kayla Bach

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper explores the language used to discuss women from the scriptures in the Relief Society Magazine, an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1914 to 1970. More specifically, this paper analyzes the usage of language in relation to the establishment and maintenance of gender norms, particularly those relating to women. This analysis reveals that the following core themes are frequently present throughout discussions of scriptural women in the magazine: the nature of womanhood, motherhood, wifehood, women’s roles in religion, the interaction between patriarchy and equality, and gender-neutral spiritual traits. By exploring these …

The Effect Of Csr On Attitudes Towards Outward And Inward Fdi: A Cross-National Comparison Of Citizen Perceptions In The United States And Kenya, Lindsey Walker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study runs a survey experiment in the United States, the home country, and Kenya, the host country, to understand how CSR (corporate social responsibility) affects views towards MNCs (multinational corporations) and FDI (foreign direct investment) from a business and political standpoint. When analyzing the combined CSR treatment that pays no attention to CSR type, I find little effect on perceptions of FDI and MNCs in both the Kenyan and American sample, besides for how the Americans saw positive spill-over effects of CSR to mean the MNC was a good company in a variety of ways. When the CSR treatment …

Peer Counseling As A Possible Solution: Students Helping Students Move Toward Mental Health, Katherine Leonard

Undergraduate Honors Theses

College students experience a variety of stressors that make school difficult (Zhai & Du 2020). While BYU has many good resources for students, students sometimes face difficulties in finding help when they are struggling with mental and emotional difficulties, due to the system being overburdened. The researchers explored peer counseling as a possible solution to getting students the help they need. The researchers administered a questionnaire to a sample of 254 BYU students through an online survey. The questionnaire was adapted from a measure used in a previous study also conducted at BYU (Gibbons et al., 2019). The survey included …

Wild Ixalan: A Creative Case Study On Mythology, Magic, And More, Lincoln Teichert

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Magic: The Gathering, a subsidiary of Hasbro, releases packs of cards periodically, unified by a cast of dozens of characters who can travel from plane to plane—the rough equivalent of interstellar travel—but games feature battles between these powerful mages (represented by players) across the multiverse of fictional locations. Before quarterly set releases, short stories are published on Magic’s website, a form of content marketing that has spurred sales for over a quarter-century. Magic draws on myths from across the world, along with diverse geographies and technological development. This paper offers an overview of trading card games, sketches what a Magic …

Food Security: A Study Of The History Of Nutritional Insecurity And Implications Of Development In The Rural Sierra And Selva Regions Of Peru, Jane Morrissey

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study looks at the history of food insecurity in Peru, ranging from 1969 to 2021. The main contribution this paper seeks to make is to create a holistic approach at viewing the historical causes and consequences of food insecurity in Peru, particularly in the rural mountainous regions of the country. These areas range from the southeastern, eastern, and northeastern towns near Lima, with case studies from towns such as Ayacucho, San Martin, Huaycan, Socos, Banda de Shilcayo, and Sapote. Different levels of effective food security can be observed from the oppressive political overthrow of agriculture production in the 1960s …

The Protective Potential Of Family Relationship Strength As It Relates To Suicidal Thoughts And Behavior In Ace-Exposed Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Collin Wright

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are known to cause higher incidences of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors (STBs) in young people. Family Relationship Strength (FRS) is a known protective factor against STBs. However, there is little research on the protective nature of FRS once ACEs have been experienced by a young person. The aim of our analysis is to examine whether the strong protective nature of FRS holds true even in ACE- exposed youth.

Methods: A sample of 139 patients at the Brigham Young University Comprehensive Clinic (aged 12-25) was obtained from the BYU Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network. …

Gender-Related Language Trends In Online Written News: Comparative Corpus Analysis Of Prescribed Vs. Actual Usage, Brooke James

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Contrary to traditional thought in linguistics and editing, recent studies using corpus-based evidence suggest that historical English usage patterns influenced prescriptive usage manuals’ guidelines more than the other way around. To investigate the modern relationship between English language prescriptions and usage, this study focuses on the wide-reaching genre of written online news and the topic of gender-fair language. It compares changes regarding gender-specific language in the Associated Press’s stylebooks to actual usage trends as documented in the News on the Web (NOW) corpus. Results from NOW show -man title variants as the dominant form in the early 2010s, consistent AP …

The Effect Of Economic Shocks On Religious Freedom Violations: Evidence From Eritrea, Ethiopia, Nigeria, And Sudan, Rachel Miner

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, global religious freedom violations are on the rise, especially against religious minorities, as government leaders have used the pandemic as a mechanism to increase oppression (USCIRF 2021). The first week of February 2022, the international community recognized the one-year mark since the Myanmar government launched a coup and genocide campaign against Rohingya Muslims (Paddock 2022). As the Winter Olympics unfolds on the world stage, there is increased attention surrounding the nearly two million Uighur Muslims currently held in concentration camps in China (Abbas 2022). And even with growing headline reports, uncertainty surrounding how …

The Effect Of Mobile Voting Units On Voter Turnout: An Ada County, Idaho Case Study, Tayzlie T. Haack, Tayzlie Tripple Haack

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Counties across the United States are struggling to find solutions that decrease the costs of voting while increasing voter turnout across varying demographics. In particular, because of transportation and information costs, voting is costly for low-income citizens. Ada County, Idaho attempted to mitigate these costs through introducing a mobile voting unit. This mobile voting unit is used during early voting periods and targets precincts that do not have a permanent voting location. Using voter registration data from 2006 to 2020, I attempt to identify a treatment effect of the mobile voting unit on voter turnout in general elections. My paper …

Motives For Repression Of Chinese Ethnic Minorities: A Comparative Case Study Of Xinjiang And Tibet, Haley Grizzell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

While Xinjiang suffers genocide and Tibet has experienced human rights abuses for years from the Communist Party of China (CPC), government abuses in Xinjiang are far more severe, even though the regions represent similar (low) levels of separatist, terrorist violence. To understand this variation in the CPC’s treatment of its western ethnic minorities, I theorize that the actions in Xinjiang must be tied to regime survival, which in China is tied to performance. The CPC’s performance has been lacking in providing power for its urban population, which makes up its most important base of legitimacy. According to my theory, educated, …

The Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide: Military Populations, Mason Stewart

Undergraduate Honors Theses

With military populations being at a higher risk for suicide than the general public and military culture reinforcing the three variables of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide; this research set out to answer the hypothesis that military populations would score highly on assessments measuring interpersonal needs and acquired capability. In 2018 for example, active-duty military suicides resulted in the death of 28.4 soldiers for every 100,000, and for reserve they were higher at 30.6 per 100,000 (Department of Defense, 2021). This statistic can be compared to the average suicide rate of the general population within the United States in 2018, …

Pixels & The Polls: The Impact Of Female Role Models In Television Media On The Perceived Electability Of Women, Amy Griffin

Undergraduate Honors Theses

It’s no secret that women are extraordinarily underrepresented in government and misrepresented in media. To better understand the impact of fictional television media featuring a positive female leader on the public’s perception of the electability of women and on their willingness to support women's campaigns, this study aimed to measure participants’ voting choices after viewing a positive fictional female leader. 104 college-age participants viewed fifteen-minute segments taken from episodes of CBS’s political drama Madam Secretary featuring either a male president or a female Secretary of State as each navigated political challenges. The participants completed vignette election experiences between nonpartisan municipal …

Religiousness And Risky Behaviors Mediated By Moral Attitudes, Benjamin Curth

Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is a lot of existing research on religiousness in adolescents and risky behaviors such as sex alcohol. However, one understudied aspect of it is why the connection. Very few studies have explored this area, and a mediation model may aid in that research. For this study, a sample size of 364 adolescents ages 14-18 were surveyed (M = 15.64). Some mediations models have been attempted which suggests that it should be successful. In this study, a mediation model is used to explore the relationship between religiousness and risky behaviors in adolescents mediated by conservative attitudes. After finding significant …

Psychological Sense Of Community In Gateway Communities, Jaimi Mueller

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper will expand on community research by analyzing the changes in psychological sense of community in gateway communities. We will look at the rural communities that border the Bears Ears National Monument as a case study, in order to evaluate the impact that land management changes have on gateway communities. Survey data from three rural communities that surround Bears Ears National Monument are used to test the effects a proposed land management change has on community needs fulfillment, community emotional connection, community influence and community membership. This research aims to fill the gap and specify how one local community …

"More Than Conquerors" The Evangelical Kingdom Model At Work In One Of America's Protestant Megachurches, Kaylin Hill

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted at 12Stone Church in Atlanta, Georgia, this report explores the strategies that 12Stone (like other evangelical megachurches) implements in order to grow and strengthen a church membership that consists of tens of thousands of members. The most prevalent of these strategies is the demographic-based rhetoric that 12Stone uses to draw in its main demographic, which is politically right-wing, white, Christian men. The rhetoric utilizes a doctrinal model that I refer to as the Evangelical Kingdom Model to impress upon members the evangelical mission and culture, the experience of which revolves around the local church level. …

Impact Of Care For Life- Mozambique's Cyclone Recovery Program, Anna Osguthorpe

Undergraduate Honors Theses

My research is primarily an impact evaluation of the cyclone recovery efforts of the non- profit organization Care For Life, based in Beira, Mozambique. I determine the causal effects of this program on business creation and several inputs to health (serious sickness, improved latrines, meals per day, and access to a vegetable garden). The treatment intervention consists of Care For Life workers providing mosquito nets, water purification, and soap, improving available latrines, and providing gardening materials (seeds, fertilizer, hoes, and watering cans). I analyze the effect of this treatment on five different outcome variables chosen because they are deeply affected …

Barriers To Mental Health Help-Seeking Among The Latinx Population In The United States: Primary Care, Family Influences, And Cultural Stigmas, Taylor Percival

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the disparity between the incidence of mental illness and help-seeking and resource utilization among the Latinx population. Research supports that the incidence of mental health issues is as high among this population as it is among any other, but help-seeking behaviors and resource utilization among this population are significantly lower. It is proposed that this difference is caused by family influence, cultural stigma, and lack of access to education and resources. Based on these factors, this thesis will discuss potential solutions that are culturally appropriate and empirically supported. These include family support interventions (psychoeducation, family-centered treatments, and …

The Role Of Latter-Day Saint Resentment In Utah's Culture War, Jessica Dofelmire

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who have continually held majority status in Utah soon after arriving in 1847, dominate the state in terms of culture and politics. In the last few decades, the dominance of the Church and its members has led to contentious disputes regarding issues ranging from property sales to medical marijuana and conversion therapy, but the conflict has existed since the 19^th century. The conflict, which is often referred to as Utah’s culture war, has fueled resentful feelings on both sides of the battle and is in turn fueled by the …

The Importance Of Quality Of Life In Weight Loss Programs, Brooke Taylor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The obesity epidemic has plagued the United States for over 50 years, but there is still much education and research that needs to be done to understand weight loss, specifically the relationship between weight loss and quality of life. This paper considers this relationship from three angles: first, by considering the different types of weight loss treatment, including traditional behavioral weight loss, surgery, acceptance-based programs, and internet weight-loss interventions; second, by considering the impact of weight loss on quality of life through the lens of specific demographics, specifically female, child, and elderly populations; and finally, by considering the impact of …

Brigham Young University Police And The Campus Community, Martha J. Harris

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Police Departments have become increasingly common on college campuses. In this creative thesis project, I explore Brigham Young University’s Police Department through a journalistic lens and examine what has happened since the department was almost decertified by the Utah Department of Public Safety. I do so by interviewing experts and community members, analyzing public records and data, and synthesizing my findings in a long-form audio story. I begin this paper with brief literature reviews of both crime on college campuses and the podcast medium. I then include the transcript of my podcast. Finally, I discuss my experience during this project …

A Language Analysis Of The London, Harrow Obituary From 1940 To 1950, Michaela Rappleyea

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis is an analysis of the vocabulary and phrases used in obituaries written in London during World War II and in the first five years following the war. During the war, both the length and content of the obituaries was significantly different, as the subjects and manner of death during those years was also significantly different. During the post-war years, the subjects and content followed a lengthier format and were generally for older community members who died of natural causes. This change in structure was affected by the nature and frequency of death. The tone of the writing was …

Exploring Differences Of Age And Gender On Perceived Experience Of Active Participation Cybersecurity Learning, James Lakko

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many organizations including the United States government have identified a shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the workforce. This thesis explores the effectiveness of escape room/simulation based learning in an active participation and immersive education to motivate pursuing cybersecurity. A survey was administered to the participants of the 2021 BYU Cybersecurity Camp regarding their experience in the Interactive Cybersecurity Experience (ICE). The ICE is a simulator/escape room that challenges participants to complete a Star Trek themed mission by overcoming cybersecurity obstacles. The three demographics that were surveyed included a camp for educators, a camp for boys, and a camp for girls. …

Left Out: An Fmri Study Exploring Handedness-Based Exclusion In Memory Research, Loriana Goulding

Undergraduate Honors Theses

About 11% of the world population is left-handed, a significant minority of the potential research participant pool for functional MRI (fMRI) studies. However, convention in fMRI research dictates these potential participants be excluded due to evidence that left-handed people (LH) may have different lateralization of neural functioning than right-handed people (RH). This difference in lateralization may cause different areas of the brain to be activated by the same task. The current study investigates the lateralization differences between N=26 LH and N=27 RH during encoding and recognition memory tasks for words and faces. Additionally, we measured participants' laterality index by administering …

The U.S.-Mexico Border And Housing Prices: Understanding The Impact Of Border Fencing On Property Values, Mary Jane Macarthur

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Building a barrier on the US-Mexico border has been a hot-button issue for a couple of decades. Not only do people disagree on the effectiveness of walls and fences, but there has also been debate on whether they generate positive or negative externalities on localities. Using data on construction of the US-Mexico border fence, as well as housing data for Yuma County, Arizona, I attempt to identify the treatment effect of fence construction on nearby housing prices, which may serve as an indicator of some of the external impacts of walls and fences. Mine is the first study to quantify …

Stress-Induced Plasma Cortisol Concentrations In Infancy Are Associated With Later Parenting Behaviors In Female Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta), Colt Halter

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Few studies have longitudinally assessed the relationship between infant stress reactivity and future parenting styles. Stress-induced plasma cortisol concentrations are stable over development and can be utilized as a marker for stress reactivity. This study investigates the relationship between stress-induced plasma cortisol concentrations in infancy and later parenting behavior in a translational nonhuman primate model. We hypothesized that higher stress-induced cortisol levels in infancy would predict impairments in maternal behaviors in adulthood. Subjects were rhesus macaque females (N=122; Macaca mulatta), assessed as infants and again as mothers. At three-to-four months of age, subjects underwent a standardized BioBehavioral …

Sexual Beliefs In Couple Relationships: Exploring The Pathways Of Mindfulness, Communication, And Sexual Functioning On Sexual Passion And Satisfaction, Sierra Moore

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this study I examined the understudied area of sexual beliefs. Two central types of sexual beliefs, growth and destiny, have been found in past research to be differentially associated with sexual and relationship outcomes; however, past research has not explored these beliefs with dyadic data nor considered common intervening variables that might be pathways through which beliefs influence outcomes. Consequently, I used dyadic data to analyze how couples’ specific sexual beliefs (growth and destiny) influenced their sexual mindfulness, communication, and functioning within their couple relationships and how all of these variables influenced sexual satisfaction and sexual passion in a …

The Political Nature Of Tourism: How A Country's Political Factors Influence Tourist's Willingness To Travel, Camilla Alarcon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hard currency earned from travel and tourism feeds an important share of currency reserves in many countries and is often a key source of income, but how do political factors influence travelers’ decisions to visit and spend money in destination countries? In this paper, I argue that political factors such as regime type, political violence, and corruption can override traditional tourism attractors in determining potential visitors’ professed likelihood of traveling to hypothetical vacation destinations. In addition, I expect that political factors will hold less weight in determining self-reported likelihood of traveling when proper nouns are used to describe country profiles …

Landscapes Of Medical Culture From The Amazonia Of Ecuador, Savannah Sorensen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the relationships between humans and plants in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the role relationships and nature play in the affliction and healing of illnesses and diseases. Through animism, spirituality, and rituals, the Quechua and Canelos groups foster a deep connection with the land and each other which plays an important role in traditional medicine and healing; this important connection with each other and the land constitutes the main premise of this paper, the sociality of healing. Many other cultures such as the Kalahari Kang, Samoans suffering from cardiovascular problems, and Evangelical Christians take on a similar approach …