Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Psychological Science: Who’S Really In Charge? Popular Media’S Influences On Food Behavior, Chakuen W. Rambang, Amilya Bryant, Benjamin Ramer, Delvin Porter

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

With mass media, consumption being very accessible, many individuals are being impacted in their daily lives. Mass media influences have had the opportunity to persuade people in their daily choices such as nutritional behaviors. With different nutritional trends on the rise, the presentation of popular media applications, such as TikTok, may have correlations to how individuals react to different trends regarding nutrition. Many videos on the platform have different algorithms that persuade their viewers to partake in different trends. In addition to popular media possibly having the impact of changing an individual's behavior, the overall understanding of nutrition may play …

The Relationships Between Personality, Perceived Social Support, And Structure Of Friend Groups, Carolyn Lowe, Ella Marks, Maddie Wiseman, Emma Sarin

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Friendship formation has been studied by many psychologists, focusing predominately on connectedness within the friendship and less focused on variation of characteristics within the group that influence group dynamic (Laakasu et. al., 2016). Personality traits are a large contributing factor when determining relationship satisfaction, specifically Neuroticism and Extraversion. Having high Neuroticism has shown to be a consistent predictor of low relationship quality (Finn, Mite, & Neyer, 2013). On the contrary, Extraversion’s positive affect (i.e. characterized as being cheerful, energetic, and social) is associated with better relationship outcomes (Lyubomirsky, King, & Deiner, 2005). Undergraduate students (N = 50) completed a survey …

“Making The Bed”: Challenging Ideologies Of Ownership, Nonlocality, And Romanticism In The Age Of The Anthropocene, Ainsley P. Foster

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The current Age of the Anthropocene marks a recent and rapid transition into a period in climate history that is notably defined by human impact. Modern Western sentiments of grief, frustration, and romanticism as a result of the interplay between domestic and corporate spaces seem to culminate in an overall attitude of apathy and acceptance of the Age of the Anthropocene. Various art forms collaborate to create the current conversation of the causatory and reactionary relationship that humans have with the Anthropocene, offering interpretations of how individuals and corporations view ownership of and responsibilities to the environment. There is a …

Health And Healthcare: Designing For The Social Determinants Of Health And Blue Zones In North Nashville, Rebecca Tonguis, Honor Thomas, Olivia Hobbs

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Owned by North Nashville’s First Community Church, a now empty site in the Osage-North Fisk neighborhood of North Nashville has been identified as a potential site for a new location of The Store, in addition to a community-centric architectural development based on the social determinants of health and informed by the principles behind Blue Zones, the locations with the highest lifespans in the world. Opened by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, The Store is a free grocery store that “allow[s] people to shop for their basic needs in a way that protects dignity and fosters hope”, for which North Nashville …

The Art Of Engaging The Public: The Effect Of The Arts On Civic Engagement, Kathryn Fraley

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Racial Resentment On White American’S Gun Control Policy Opinions, Emma Garcia Palencia, Meghan Wray

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

No abstract provided.

Photography, Architecture, And Environment: An Architectural Analysis Of Edward Ruscha’S 26 Gasoline Stations, Rebecca Tonguis

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This presentation explores Edward Ruscha’s photobook 26 Gasoline Stations through an architectural lens. Specifically, it treats Ruscha’s work as historic evidence of how consumption, industry, and commodity have infiltrated all kinds of environmental contexts through architectural manifestations. Known for being the first artist’s book, 26 Gasoline Stations ambiguously exists as both fine art and documentation of everyday conditions, with the overall graphic character highlighting its perceived focus on overarching narrative. Since gasoline stations are the primary subject of each of the 26 photographs, the subject of this work is arguably architecture, suggesting that the historic relationship between mass gas consumption—or …

Promoting Sustainability At The Branch Of Nashville Through Volunteer Training Visuals, Ainsley P. Foster, Nick Wilson, Sophia Vickers

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The Branch of Nashville is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide comprehensive care to the diverse neighborhoods of Nashville, TN through food, ELL services, and individualized support. The services and resources that this organization provides are essential to the acclimation and thriving of vulnerable groups in their new communities. The volunteers at The Branch play a pivotal role in ensuring that each client is welcomed into the community and has their needs appropriately addressed. Thus, there is a need for volunteers to undergo adequate training to feel confident in performing these roles. The Branch, however, currently lacks training materials …

Impact Of Religious Extremism On Government Stability, Jasmine Usmanova

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

What causes government instability? This question has sparked various arguments. While some attribute government instability to economic factors like income inequality, others point to political dynamics such as the number of effective parties, or social factors like trust in the government. However, this paper argues that religious extremism, particularly when propagated by states through the adoption and enforcement of laws, policies, and practices that excessively integrate religious doctrines into the legal and governance framework, is a significant driver of government instability.

In this paper, we specifically utilize data from the year 2013. We employ the Gini index to account for …

Black Students’ Perceived Socioemotional Safety On College Campuses, Mia Nobrega-Jason, Martha-Grace Abel, Peter Cannella

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Research indicates that Black students experience college differently than their white counterparts; often, their minority racial status exposes them to discrimination and unfair treatment (Eschemann, 2020; Griffith et al., 2019; Pyke, 2018; Stotzer et al., 2012). These racialized incidents contribute to perceived socioemotional safety among Black students, including fear and experiences of bullying, exclusion, intolerance, hate speech, mental health, academic performance, and opportunities (Eschemann, 2020; Garces et al., 2022; Griffith et al., 2019; Pyke, 2018; Stotzer et al., 2012; Woldolff et al. 2011). The goal of this research is to explore the correlations between racial marginalization and discrimination and the …

Heteronormative Hegemonic Gender Performances On Dating Apps, Mary E. Mcintosh, Chase Robbins, Ethan Kleveter

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Gender is the socially constructed norms, expectations, and roles assigned based on biological sex. Thus, gender is the actions and behaviors expected of men and women, while sex is a set of biological checkboxes used to categorize bodies into the male/female binary (Lewontin, 1991; Lorber, 1993). Both sex and gender are continually constructed, maintained, and reinforced through social interactions and formative gender performances (Martin, 2004; Schwalbe, 1998; West & Zimmerman, 1987). Contemporarily, these hegemonic expectations of doing gender are perpetuated by modern technology, such as online dating and/or dating apps. When reinforcing gender norms, most dating apps establish a space …

Belmont Culturs: 2024 Bateman Submission, Anna J. Love, Ryleigh Green, Savannah Sellers, Jamison Costolnick

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Human connection is effortless in the age of the Internet—for those who fit the mold. For young adults with cross-cultural, nuanced identities, it’s easy to get lost in the sorting of algorithms. Forming deep connections becomes difficult. Finding who you are seems impossible. Isolated and socially disconnected, culturally fluid young adults often lose themselves among peers who appear secure in their identities and homes.

This is why the Belmont Culturs team has worked strategically to bridge the gap between identity and diversity for our target audience: Belmont University students. Belmont Culturs is paving a new path to “we” through simplifying …

Absentee Ownership And Rental Affordability: Evidence From Commuting Zones, Ireland F. Crowther

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

In this paper, we examine the intersection of financialization, wealth inequality, and the housing market in the United States with an emphasis on the relationship between absentee ownership and declining rental affordability. At the same time as financialization has increasingly transformed the market for residential real estate into a vehicle for financial speculation, households at the bottom of the income distribution have been disproportionately affected by rising rents and declining housing affordability. Using data from the decennial Census and the American Community Survey from 1990 to 2020, we investigate the link between absentee ownership and rental affordability across US commuting …

Nicotine Addiction: A Hidden Health Crisis, Macy J. Mcgrath, Andrea Walker, Anahita Mohammadkhah

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

In the United States, nicotine addiction is an ongoing health crisis (U.S Food and Drug Administration, 2023). Pivotal to this crisis is the prevalence and ease of access to devices that deliver nicotine. Covering a broad spectrum, devices range from traditional forms of tobacco such as cigarettes, pipes, etc. to new nicotine devices such as e-cigarettes and vapes. Yet, even with the health crisis looming, more and more individuals are becoming addicted to nicotine (Ayers et al., 2011; Lyu et al., 2022; Pokhrel et al., 2021). In particular, research indicates that the 18-24 age demographic is significantly more likely to …

Under The Red Banner, Socialism, Physical Quality Of Life, And Development, Matthew H. Hill

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Despite a steep decline since the Cold War, socialism still plays an important role on the world stage. Because of this, it is important to continue studying the effects of socialist governance. This study seeks to use multiple linear regression to determine the effect that socialism and economic development (as measured by GDP per capita) has on physical quality of life. Previous studies have examined the relationship between physical quality of life and socialism, but these were done in the 1980s. Much has changed since then, and updated information is required. Additionally, examining the impact of economic development’s impact on …

Hb 1844- Free Breakfast And Lunch Programs In Tennessee, Cora Sm Williams, Bailee M. Walker, Lynn D. Fawcett

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

In 2022, more than 13 million children went to school hungry in the United States. According to the USDA, 1 in 5 children do not know where their next meal is coming from (Child Hunger in America, n.d.). In Tennessee, this number is 1 in 4 (Hance, 2020). Far too many students come from households where they may not have access to regular, nutritious meals. Hunger can significantly impact a child's ability to learn and thrive in school. By providing free breakfast and lunch, schools can ensure that students have access to essential nutrition, which can improve their academic performance …

Child Care Advocacy: Tennessee House Bill 1669, Madelyn Kearns, Julio Rodriguez, Destiny Welch, Dillan Williams

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

House Bill 1669 aims to require day child facilities to alert parents or guardians of
enrolled children sixty days prior to the permanent closure of the facility. The main purpose of this bill is to protect hard working parents in Tennessee from being
blindsided by their childcare service by giving them the right to know 60 days in advance before permanent closure of the childcare agency their child or children are currently enrolled in or are currently on the waitlist for (Tennessee General assembly, 2024). This is an important issue because
72 percent of working parents said they cannot afford …