Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

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. …

Differences In Immigrant Education By Destination Country: An Analysis Of Turkish Immigrants' Perception Of And Performance In Math And Science, Lisa Turley Smith

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines how the country to which Turkish immigrant students immigrate affects their educational outcomes – specifically, math and science test scores and four constructed variables that measure how much students enjoy math and science and their self-rated confidence in the subjects. I use data from the 2003, 2006, 2012, and 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams. I examine Turkish immigrant students living in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark.

My findings are consistent with prior research showing that immigrant student test scores vary by destination country. I also find that Turkish immigrant students’ perceptions of math …

Learning Outlines And Teacher Training: A Difference-In-Differences Evaluation Of Pratham Government Partnerships In India, Victoria Beecroft

Undergraduate Honors Theses

India is working to improve learning in primary schools. In this paper, I evaluate the impact of partnerships between Pratham, an education-centered NGO, and Indian government schools. Using a difference-in-differences design to examine the impact of the partnership in Uttar Pradesh, I find a positive short-run effect (a 7% increase in test scores) using state-wide ASER data, and I find inconclusive effects using data restricted to government schools. Considering channels through which the partnerships may impact student learning, I conclude that the program shows potential to have positive, longer-term effects.

Informing Social Impact: Enabling Everyday Changemakers Through Research, Marissa Getts

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite a lack of expertise regarding social impact, laypeople make many important decisions about social good by starting or supporting organizations or social businesses, voting for or against legislation and policymakers, or spending their money and time on volunteering or service trips. Unfortunately, many people base their interventions or analysis of interventions for any given social issue on overly simplistic understanding or incorrect information regarding social impact. This keeps them from developing interventions with positive, sustainable impact. Ballard Brief is a publication based on a framework intended to inform the layperson about social issues and interventions.

This thesis is comprised …

The Impact Of Gap Years On Academic Outcomes For Women: A Case Study From The Missionary Age Change, Margaret Marchant

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Young adults throughout the United States and other countries participate in “gap years,” or time away from school, often for travel, work, or volunteering. This practice is promoted as a way to mature and refocus. However, some worry that it lowers the likelihood of college completion. Previous literature has investigated the academic, social, and personal benefits of gap years with mixed results; however selection into gap years confounds the true impact with unobservable personal characteristics. To overcome selection issues, I exploit an exogenous policy change that lowered age requirements for missionary service, a unique type of gap year, resulting in …

Progressive Education In Appalachia: East Tennessee State Normal School And Appalachian State Normal School, Holly Heacock

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this thesis, I am examining how East Tennessee State Normal School in East Tennessee and Appalachian State Normal School in Western North Carolina interpreted progressive education differently in their states. This difference is that East Tennessee State began as a state funded school to educate future teachers therefore their school and their curriculum was more rounded and set to a structured schedule. Appalachian State Normal School was initially founded to educate the uneducated in the “lost provinces” therefore, curriculum was even more progressive than East Tennessee State’s – based strongly on the practices of farming, woodworking, and other practical …