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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

American Surrogacy: Babies For Sale?, Madison Edwards Dec 2021

American Surrogacy: Babies For Sale?, Madison Edwards

Honors Projects

More surrogacy contracts are fulfilled in the United States than in any other country (Bromfield, 2016, p. 193). In 2014, there were approximately 2,000 surrogacy arrangements in the U.S., yet the market is totally unregulated (Shellnutt and Grizzle, 2018, p. 31). Given that 1 in 6 American couples face infertility, there will continue to be a demand for alternative and assisted reproductive options (Shellnutt and Grizzle, 2018, p. 34). This paper seeks to explore several areas of surrogacy, including contract enforcement, potential problems parties in surrogacy agreements face, current legislation, the role of religion in surrogacy, and specific case studies. …


Addressing Audience Engagement Through Creative Performance Techniques, Lindsay Osterholt Dec 2021

Addressing Audience Engagement Through Creative Performance Techniques, Lindsay Osterholt

Honors Projects

This project explores how utilizing creative performance techniques might affect change in the sociology that occurs within a Western art music performance. Creative performance techniques can include any behaviors or elements not typical to a Western art music performance. In the context of a senior vocal recital, this project aimed to see how audience members might respond to and engage with added creative elements.


How Can Stem Retention Rates At Bgsu Be Increased Both In And Out Of The Classroom?, Josalyn A. Coffee Dec 2021

How Can Stem Retention Rates At Bgsu Be Increased Both In And Out Of The Classroom?, Josalyn A. Coffee

Honors Projects

Previous research in STEM student retention rates showed a gap in knowledge regarding why this group of student experience higher rates of burnout than other groups of students. This study investigated the barriers STEM students at BGSU experienced. A survey was sent out to STEM and non-STEM students alike that asked questions regarding student’s personal history before attending BGSU, their course experiences at BGSU, and the levels of support they have outside of BGSU. The survey data showed that there was little difference in the rates that students switch majors solely based on being in the STEM field. The data …


Changes In Body Image, Eating Behaviors, And Exercise During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan Gressley Dec 2021

Changes In Body Image, Eating Behaviors, And Exercise During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan Gressley

Honors Projects

The Covid-19 pandemic transformed many different aspects of life as many individuals were sent home from school or work and were confined within their homes. Within restricted life, individuals experienced changes in their social lives, eating habits, and day-to-day routine. Within this research study I chose to examine how individuals' lives changed directly from the year before the Covid-19 pandemic to the first year of domestic shutdown. A sample of BGSU undergraduate students responded to a survey questioning them on their behaviors, feelings, and attitudes among these time periods. Results showed that individuals experienced significantly more disordered eating within the …


Serving Our Students: Evidence-Based Sex Education Policies And Practices Needed In Ohio, Lily Mckenzie Rosenberg Dec 2021

Serving Our Students: Evidence-Based Sex Education Policies And Practices Needed In Ohio, Lily Mckenzie Rosenberg

Honors Projects

Ohio has very minimal state-wide sex education laws, requiring only venereal disease education that has many similarities with abstinence-only education. Abstinence-only education has been shown to be ineffective in delaying first sex and lowering teen STDs, pregnancy, and birth rates. When students receive ineffective (or no) sex education it can impact them in many ways, leaving them unprepared for sexual lives as adults. To analyze the state of sex education in Ohio, this paper will look at sex education throughout Ohio both in law and in practice. I will then explore the impact of these minimal sex education laws on …


Teacher Education Programs Of Top Pisa Scoring Countries, Stephanie Kafer Dec 2021

Teacher Education Programs Of Top Pisa Scoring Countries, Stephanie Kafer

Honors Projects

This research paper aims to investigate the teacher education programs of four different countries that have consistently scored high on the international Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test. This project intends to answer two questions: What locations consistently perform high on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test? What do the teacher training programs look like for these locations and are there commonalities between programs of different locations? The first question is answered using statistics of PISA scores from the past twenty years and from those statistics, the top four countries that this paper focuses on are Finland, …


Social-Emotional Learning For The Classroom And Family Contexts, Courtney Bockbrader Dec 2021

Social-Emotional Learning For The Classroom And Family Contexts, Courtney Bockbrader

Honors Projects

This project focused on developing a social-emotional learning workbook for use in the classroom and family contexts. Based on a review of relevant literature, emotional recognition, self-regulation, and social skills were identified as the most beneficial social-emotional skills for the personal and academic success of elementary-aged students. The resulting workbook included eleven activities aimed at promoting these three skills. Each activity was designed to be implemented in the classroom setting, with associated take-home activities for use in the home with the parent/guardian(s) for increased generalization of skills. Accessibility for schools of all income levels was taken into account, as activities …


The Therapeutic And Psychosocial Effects Of Pets On Individuals In The Usa, Ashley Lytle Dec 2021

The Therapeutic And Psychosocial Effects Of Pets On Individuals In The Usa, Ashley Lytle

Honors Projects

The prevalence of animals in people's lives is ever growing. Many pet owners see their pets as members of their family. Animals can improve one's well being both physically and mentally. They have been used in therapeutic practices, both in one-on-one sessions and group settings. While there are several benefits to owning a pet, they can cause barriers to accessing healthcare and housing, and can be a deterrent to leaving abusive situations. The two roles pets play in people's lives creates a dynamic that is prevalent to several professional fields including social work. Social workers have already begun to acknowledge …


Finding A Home Through The Screen: A Glimpse Into Student Experiences In A World Of Remote Admissions Processes, Megan Carmen Dec 2021

Finding A Home Through The Screen: A Glimpse Into Student Experiences In A World Of Remote Admissions Processes, Megan Carmen

Honors Projects

The college search process is an important time in the life of any student, and feeling a sense of belonging and inclusion through the admissions process is vital to ensuring student success in higher education. With COVID-19 forcing all admissions communications online, student connections were changed and student’s perception of belonging was altered. This confidential survey project used demographic, quantitative, and open-ended questions to understand student perceptions of belonging and inclusion during the online admissions process. Of 750 students contacted, 57 students responded to the demographic questions, 50 to the quantitative questions, and 17 students left in-depth responses about their …


Improving Academic Success: Creating A College Planning Resource For Students, Hannah Grunden Dec 2021

Improving Academic Success: Creating A College Planning Resource For Students, Hannah Grunden

Honors Projects

Academic performance of students is a major concern for colleges, especially with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Research has shown that active involvement, the development of self-regulation skills, and improved mental health all have a considerable impact on college students’ academic success. Colleges like Bowling Green State University need to consider how they can use these factors and leverage resources to improve student performance. In this project, a solution is proposed in the form of a college/personal planner which is directly based off research on early academic success. While further, more specific research is needed to fully understand the issue and …


Economic Forecast Of Grand Rapids, Mi, Zachary Fillmore Dec 2021

Economic Forecast Of Grand Rapids, Mi, Zachary Fillmore

Honors Projects

The purpose of this report is to analyze the current state of the Grand Rapids, MI economy, as well as provide a ten-year forecast of the city’s economic condition. Economic forecasting is the process of predicting the future condition of an economy using the combination of several indicators. The indicators being used for this report will include population growth, economic production, wages, industry specific production trends, unemployment rates, home values, occupancy rates, rent forecasts, education, and tourism. From intensive research and data analysis, a snapshot of the economic condition of Grand Rapids in ten years will be displayed. Additionally, several …


Silence In The Business World, Andrew Nedeljkovic Dec 2021

Silence In The Business World, Andrew Nedeljkovic

Honors Projects

This is a research-based paper focused on the uses of silence in business. Silence in this context refers to practices like meditation and mindfulness, rather than silencing the voices of underrepresented groups. This paper looks at the benefits that silence can have for American businesspeople and their firms. It compares the understanding of silence in the United States to the understanding of silence in other cultures.


“For The People: A Collaborative Space Assessment”: A Joyful Interpretation Of Room Design, Anne Holland Nov 2021

“For The People: A Collaborative Space Assessment”: A Joyful Interpretation Of Room Design, Anne Holland

Honors Projects

To create a space that matters one must focus on the needs of the people who will use it. It is easy to create a beautiful space, however if that space does not function for those it was built for it has no point. Currently in the basement of Founders Residence Hall on the Bowling Green State University campus there is an old unused cafeteria space. This space has not only the potential but the ability to become something new, something of use. It is an area that could not only be renovated and redone by the Honors College but …


Coping With The Pandemic In College, Sam Beery Nov 2021

Coping With The Pandemic In College, Sam Beery

Honors Projects

This experiment studied the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of a college population from spring 2021 to fall 2021. It measured levels of stress, anxiety, coping strategies, depression, and social support reported by participants via several well validated psychological surveys. It was created with Qualtrics and distributed via advertisements in Campus Update and the SONA scheduler.


Parental Guide For Supporting Non-Binary Children, Shelby Schefke Oct 2021

Parental Guide For Supporting Non-Binary Children, Shelby Schefke

Honors Projects

A series of infographics seeking to educate parents on non-binary individuals. This series goes through what it means to be non-binary, identifies common terms and vocabulary used within the LGBTQ+ community, how to support a non-binary individual as a parent, and how to support yourself as a parent while navigating one's child's gender identity.


Alterations To The Brain Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Jacqueline Mader Oct 2021

Alterations To The Brain Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Jacqueline Mader

Honors Projects

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have been labeled as a modern-day epidemic, increasing exponentially with the advancement of technology and society. Gaining a better understanding of the cognitive paths, including the chemical and electrical signals of the brain, neural correlates, and possible interventions for TBI patients allows for the best possible outcome for every patient, and allows for the further advancement of care. By revising and reassessing the ways in which TBIs are categorized and described the prognosis for recovery paints a more realistic view for each individual patient case. The symptoms and impairments that may occur post-injury can be monitored …


“Have You Come Out?”: Refutation Of Segdwick’S Theorization Of The Closet In Another Country And Lot: Stories, Mary Ross Oct 2021

“Have You Come Out?”: Refutation Of Segdwick’S Theorization Of The Closet In Another Country And Lot: Stories, Mary Ross

Honors Projects

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick outlined in her book entitled Epistemology of the Closet a paradigm of expressing queer sexuality when it is known and when it is not know. In response to Sedgwick closet paradigm, Marlon Ross wrote his essay entitled “Beyond the Closet as a Raceless Paradigm” in which he demonstrated that Sedgwick’s paradigm is not applicable to marginalized class and racial groups. He also made a call to action to change the necessity of the closet paradigm when discussing queer sexuality. In this paper, I put James Baldwin’s Another Country and Bryan Washington’s Lot: Stories in conversation with Sedgwick …


Space Science And Social Media: Automating Science Communication On Twitter, Maia Williams Aug 2021

Space Science And Social Media: Automating Science Communication On Twitter, Maia Williams

Honors Projects

This project analyzes how social media is used to engage general audiences in astronomy and space science, as well as ways to improve engagement through automation. Tweets from five space science organizations were sampled. The engagement rate for each tweet was calculated from the number of interactions it received. Accounts that tweet more per day had more followers, and accounts with more followers received more interactions. This project also investigated how to build a Twitter bot to automate science communication. Using NASA Application Programming Interfaces, a Twitter bot was written in Python to tweet images taken by the NASA Mars …


Institutional Indifference: Physical And Mental Health Challenges Of Pregnant Inmates, Menolly A. Hollabaugh Jun 2021

Institutional Indifference: Physical And Mental Health Challenges Of Pregnant Inmates, Menolly A. Hollabaugh

Honors Projects

The unprecedented rise in the US incarceration rate is well-documented. However, research into the historic increase in the prison population largely focuses on male prisoners. The dramatic increase in the rate of incarcerated females is often overlooked. This omission is important because women face unique challenges while incarcerated. One of the gendered differences, which affects women, physically and mentally, is pregnancy. This paper examines the current data available on the prevalence of pregnancy amongst female inmates, and data gaps and limitations. Pregnancy is distinctively difficult for incarcerated women as they navigate the stressors of the prison environment while receiving minimal …


The Healthcare Costs Of Overnutrition, Ryan Hodge Jun 2021

The Healthcare Costs Of Overnutrition, Ryan Hodge

Honors Projects

Obesity is a growing problem globally and domestically. Obesity is related to several chronic and noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some cancers. Both obesity and its related diseases are forms of overnutrition, which is the excess intake of nutrients that causes increased body fat to the point of impaired health. Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) from 2008-2016, this paper is the first to estimate the causal effect of overnutrition on medical expenditure by examining the effect of overnutrition diseases on health care costs, correcting for the endogeneity bias of …


Creative Occupations And The Precipitating Factors Of Burnout, Natasha E. Koval Jun 2021

Creative Occupations And The Precipitating Factors Of Burnout, Natasha E. Koval

Honors Projects

Creativity is an intrinsic part of the human life; however, it is one of the most challenging concepts to be understood. In this paper, I am examining occupations driven by creativity, their economic significance, and how sustainable these occupations are for the creative employees. I will be particularly looking at burnout and its precipitating factors as a way to understand the wellness of the creative workforce. Creative occupations, if fostered properly, can lead to job growth, increased income, and potential for investment in vulnerable communities. This makes them valuable resources for urban economic development goals. Literature suggests that there is …


Structural Delusion, Religious Anxiety, And A Melodramatic Priest: Exploring Macro And Micro Influences On The CóRdoban Martyrs, Emma K. Friesen Jun 2021

Structural Delusion, Religious Anxiety, And A Melodramatic Priest: Exploring Macro And Micro Influences On The CóRdoban Martyrs, Emma K. Friesen

Honors Projects

After escaping the assassination of the Umayyad royal family in Damascus, a member of this family, Abd al-Rahman I, fled to the Iberian Peninsula to establish a new Umayyad Empire (756-1492 AD). Famous for its pluralistic polity, unparalleled scholarship, artistic prowess, and more, this empire rightfully established itself as a powerful political force. Many scholars emphasize the unique convivencia, or coexistence, that characterized Islamic Spain during these centuries while others thoroughly question this reality, concerned that it ignores the cultural strain that is inevitable in such a diverse society. In this essay, we find ourselves balancing a middle position, recognizing …


The 1malaysia Development Berhad (1mdb) Scandal: Exploring Malaysia's 2018 General Elections And The Case For Sovereign Wealth Funds, Chea-Mun Tan Jun 2021

The 1malaysia Development Berhad (1mdb) Scandal: Exploring Malaysia's 2018 General Elections And The Case For Sovereign Wealth Funds, Chea-Mun Tan

Honors Projects

In 2015, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, was accused of corruption, embezzlement, and fraud of over $700 million USD. Low Taek Jho, the former financier of Malaysia, was also accused and dubbed the ‘mastermind’ of the 1MDB scandal. As one of the world’s largest financial scandals, this paper seeks to explore the political and economic implications of 1MDB through historical context and a critical assessment of governance. Specifically, it will examine the economic and political agendas of former Prime Ministers Najib Razak and Mahathir Mohamad. In 2018, after the crimes of those involved in the scandal were …


The Realistic Desirability Of Perfection In Thomas More’S Utopia And John Milton’S Paradise Lost, Eryn Tan May 2021

The Realistic Desirability Of Perfection In Thomas More’S Utopia And John Milton’S Paradise Lost, Eryn Tan

Honors Projects

This paper analyzes Thomas More’s Utopia and John Milton’s Paradise Lost to investigate the realistic desirability of perfection. The practices that ensure perfection in Thomas More’s Utopia are realistically applied to society to determine if such practices would be feasible, accepted, or desired in society. Meanwhile, the reactions and comments on the lost perfection of the Garden of Eden in John Milton’s Paradise Lost are analyzed as a template for navigating a fallen, imperfect world. By studying these two literary works together, this paper seeks to investigate the realistic desirability of perfection in society and the effects of chasing perfection.


Shelter Dogs Need A Home: The Effect Of Enrichment And Human Contact On The Welfare And Adoptability Of Shelter Dogs, Hannah G. Clark May 2021

Shelter Dogs Need A Home: The Effect Of Enrichment And Human Contact On The Welfare And Adoptability Of Shelter Dogs, Hannah G. Clark

Honors Projects

It comes as no surprise that an animal shelter can be a stressful place for dogs. Shelter conditions, accompanied by multiple, novel stimuli, produce a stressful environment that cause hormonal and behavioral responses in dogs housed in shelters. Many of the stereotypical behaviors produced by the stress of living in a shelter, which tend to worsen as length of stay increases, are undesirable to potential adopters. However, many studies have shown that enrichment with a variety of toys, exercise, and human interaction can buffer the stress response in shelter dogs and improve their well-being. Implementing obedience training and temporary fostering …


Parent Perceptions Of Service Animals Impacts On The Language Skills Of Their Children With Autism, Rachel Mcmanamon, Tim Brackenbury, Megan Wilson Apr 2021

Parent Perceptions Of Service Animals Impacts On The Language Skills Of Their Children With Autism, Rachel Mcmanamon, Tim Brackenbury, Megan Wilson

Honors Projects

This study found multiple areas within the broad field of pragmatics in which a therapy dog can benefit the child that they are partnered with. In general, it appears that having a trained service dog for individuals with ASD may be a good tool to support the developmental of a variety of skills. Specifically, within the areas of socializing and use of language, the dog can provide the child with opportunities for conversations, as well as topics to discuss and experiences to share.


Aviation English In A Bilingual Context: Bilingual Spanish-English Pilots, Seneca Doty Apr 2021

Aviation English In A Bilingual Context: Bilingual Spanish-English Pilots, Seneca Doty

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of English and Spanish in the applied context of aviation by researching pilot experiences in the cockpit within the register of aviation English. This study investigates pilot’s in-flight experiences in relation to language proficiency in the hopes of improving future standards of communication. Expounding on previous research with a focus on native Spanish speaking pilots, this research utilizes a Likert scale survey and demographic assessment to evaluate proficiencies inside the cockpit of bilingual Spanish-English participants. By determining each pilot´s use of English outside of the workplace as well as how …


A Comparative Analysis Of Bohemian And Irish Immigration During The Antebellum Period, Emily Suchan Apr 2021

A Comparative Analysis Of Bohemian And Irish Immigration During The Antebellum Period, Emily Suchan

Honors Projects

Compare and Contrast the immigration experience of an Irish and Bohemian (Czech) immigrant. This essay describes the history of both regions and analyzes the political and economic stressors for immigration during the second half of the nineteenth century. This essay specifically follows the Irish Famine immigrants and the Czechs who settled in Cleveland, OH


The Experiences Of Black Women Pursuing Advanced Degrees In Stem, Denaja Haygood Apr 2021

The Experiences Of Black Women Pursuing Advanced Degrees In Stem, Denaja Haygood

Honors Projects

Black women are severely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. While the underrepresentation of professional Black women in STEM has been well-researched, the pipeline problem of the education of Black women in STEM has been overlooked. The number of Black women pursuing STEM degrees dramatically decreases as the level of education increases. This gap in the literature is problematic, because Black women are still severely underrepresented in STEM-focused advanced degree programs. A small but growing literature indicates that Black women tend to experience frequent forms of discrimination, feelings of isolation and less satisfaction with their graduate programs, …


Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? A Marxist Analysis Of "Hamilton" And Its Relationship To The Broadway Economic System, Alana Ritt Apr 2021

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? A Marxist Analysis Of "Hamilton" And Its Relationship To The Broadway Economic System, Alana Ritt

Honors Projects

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit Hamilton: An American Musical has been both a critical and academic darling since its premiere in 2015. A historical retelling of America’s inception through the eyes of an oft-ignored founding father, the musical weaves together a diverse cast and hip-hop musical stylings in order to tell the story of “America then, as told by America now.” While many critics and scholars alike have praised the musical for putting an exciting and accessible twist to American history, others have argued that the musical is not nearly as “revolutionary” as it claims to be. This essay is designed to …