Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Boise State University

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year

Articles 1 - 30 of 78

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

A Perception Study Of Rioplatense Spanish, Cecelia Staggs Apr 2019

A Perception Study Of Rioplatense Spanish, Cecelia Staggs

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Rioplatense Spanish (RPS; Argentina and Uruguay) is known for its distinctive pronunciation features. In Standard American Spanish, the sound associated with the letters ‘y’ or ‘ll’ is [j] (as in ‘yellow’), but in RPS the sound is [ʒ] (as in ‘measure’) or, more recently, [ʃ] (as in ‘shoe’). Previous studies found this sound change (from [ʒ] to [ʃ]) is almost complete in speakers from Uruguay and Argentina, but the change in Uruguay is more recent. In this study, RPS speakers from both countries were presented with audio recordings of words containing all possible variants of the sounds [j], [ʒ], and …

Go to article

Sexual Harassment Experiences Of Lgbt&Plus; Students In Intercollegiate Speech And Debate Activities, Ron Price Apr 2019

Sexual Harassment Experiences Of Lgbt&Plus; Students In Intercollegiate Speech And Debate Activities, Ron Price

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Recent controversies surrounding Title IX have intensified conversations about sexual harassment in university setting(s). Even though sexual harassment has captured political attention, little Communication research exists on how Title IX influences and impacts sexual harassment and assault within the LGBTQ community. There is a dearth of research regarding same-sex sexual harassment in the collegiate speech and debate community. Previous research has explored heterosexual harassment in competitive Speech and Debate; however, same-sex interactions have not received the same level of scrutiny. By extending the work of Pamela Stepp on sexual harassment within the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) community, a more …

Go to article

“This Is What You Want! This Is What You Signed Up For!”: How Agencies Responsibilize Resettling Refugees, Kelsey Wilber Apr 2019

“This Is What You Want! This Is What You Signed Up For!”: How Agencies Responsibilize Resettling Refugees, Kelsey Wilber

McNair Scholars Research Journal

US refugee resettlement agencies face a daunting task: they are federally mandated to achieve resettlement within a severely restricted time frame and funding limit per refugee, all while creating integrated, “self-sufficient” US citizens. As a result, resettlement agencies must guide resettling refugees through a rigidly scheduled set of activities that are designed to expunge ‘dependency’ while finding resettling refugees jobs, homes, schools, and community belonging. Interviewing resettlement case workers and volunteers in a northwestern US city, I find that staff respond to this double bind by using informal tactics to transform the character of resettled refugees into good neoliberal ‘American’ …

Go to article

Development Of The Campus And Career Resources Inventory, Cierra M. Abellera Apr 2019

Development Of The Campus And Career Resources Inventory, Cierra M. Abellera

McNair Scholars Research Journal

The purpose of our research is to understand students’ use of undergraduate psychology resources. In a national study of four universities, we evaluated seven psychology-specific resources in conjunction with student career paths. Our findings suggest that students primarily rely on faculty to get accurate information on their intended careers. Students reported student-led clubs and organizations as one of the lowest in importance to advancing student career paths. Additionally, all seven resources were average in helping students efficiently. These findings call for further research in understanding the career paths and resources available for undergraduate psychology majors to adequately support future students.

Go to article

Poverty Delivered: How Rent-To-Own Businesses Make The Poor Poorer, Jeffrey Cates Apr 2019

Poverty Delivered: How Rent-To-Own Businesses Make The Poor Poorer, Jeffrey Cates

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Through stories, interviews, pictures and financial records, I narrate the workings of the rent-to-own company I work for. It capitalizes on the American culture of conspicuous consumption to target the poorest workers, gouge them with usurious contracts, overextend their credit, “trip” them up with fees and ultimately deliver poverty to the poor. Over two years on the job, I developed extensive field notes, performed qualitative interviews with management, analyzed a year’s worth of financial data, and therein could bring new details to the intimate process that make the poor poorer. Working there made me realize that basic American household goods …

Go to article

Punishment Beyond Bars: Pursuing Higher Education With The Degree Of Incarceration, Michelle Fretwell Apr 2019

Punishment Beyond Bars: Pursuing Higher Education With The Degree Of Incarceration, Michelle Fretwell

McNair Scholars Research Journal

There are over 2.3 million people currently incarcerated in the United States (Wagner and Rabuy 2017). This incarcerated population represents this nation’s poorest, most isolated, most mentally ill, and least educated persons (Thompson 2013). And, even though the Pew Research Center recently argued the racial gap in prisons had narrowed, people of color continue to be significantly overrepresented (Tucker 2016; Gramlich 2018). Legal scholar Michelle Alexander asserts that upon reentry into society, formerly incarcerated individuals are sequestered into what she has termed America’s new undercaste—“a lower caste of individuals who are permanently barred by law and custom from mainstream society” …

Go to article

Family Matters: The Implications Of Family Support On Multiracial Identity, Clarissa Abidog Apr 2017

Family Matters: The Implications Of Family Support On Multiracial Identity, Clarissa Abidog

McNair Scholars Research Journal

According to Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory, family has some of the greatest impacts on how children develop. Recent research has suggested that resilience mitigates multiracial adolescents’ struggle to develop ethnic identity continuity (Kramer, Burke, & Charles, 2015), while alternative evidence supports that multiracial individuals experience maladaptive psychosocial functioning due to ethnic identity confusion (Bracey, Bamaca, & Umaña-Taylor, 2004; Shih & Sanchez, 2005). Although research has investigated ethnic and racial identity development in minority groups, few studies have focused on the interaction between multiracial identity and personal identity development. The present study seeks to determine how the strength of family …

Go to article

Who Uses Social Networking Sites? Exploring Associations Among Personality And The Relationship With Facebook, Twitter, And Instagram, Chantal Martinez Apr 2017

Who Uses Social Networking Sites? Exploring Associations Among Personality And The Relationship With Facebook, Twitter, And Instagram, Chantal Martinez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

46 Who Uses Social Networking Sites? Exploring Associations among Personality and the Relationship with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Chantal Martinez: McNair Scholar Dr. Kim Hardy and Dr. Charles Honts: Mentors Psychology Abstract Social network sites are attracting the attention of numerous researchers. Recently, several studies have examined how people are forming identities on social networking sites. Therefore, greater levels of variable specification are required to further the research on this topic. Testing the relationships among key variables is important when trying to understand these online social forums. Although there has been a rapid growth in the use of Facebook, Twitter, …

Go to article

How Education Level And Willingness To Learn Affect Older Adults In Their Use Of Mobile Technology In Southwest Idaho, Kimberly M. Neagle Apr 2017

How Education Level And Willingness To Learn Affect Older Adults In Their Use Of Mobile Technology In Southwest Idaho, Kimberly M. Neagle

McNair Scholars Research Journal

As a person’s age increases, their use of technology decreases (Casado-Muñoz, 2015), which can hinder their access to resources, such as medical care, online products and services, and basic communication. Previous research shows that if seniors have higher education levels and willingness to learn, they are more likely to use technology (Bailey & Sheehan, 2009). This project used the cultural evolution theory and social learning to examine how education levels affect a senior’s use of technology, and how their willingness to learn affects their adoption of mobile technology. Seventy individuals were surveyed, aged 65 years or older: 45 individuals enrolled …

Go to article

Physical Activity And Coping Tactics In Undergraduate Students, Talegria Brown Apr 2017

Physical Activity And Coping Tactics In Undergraduate Students, Talegria Brown

McNair Scholars Research Journal

8 Physical Activity and Coping Tactics in Undergraduate Students Talegria Brown: McNair Scholar Dr. Mary Pritchard: Mentor Psychology Abstract College can be stressful, making it important for students to have effective coping mechanisms in place. While some research has examined how college students deal with stress, very little has examined the effectiveness of physical activity as a coping mechanism for college students. The present study did just that. College students enrolled in Introductory Psychology completed A Quantitative Assessment of Stress Tolerance (Bland, Melton, Bigham, & Welle, 2014). This survey assessed college student stress levels and coping tactics. We also assessed …

Go to article

Policies, Work, And Community: Why Idaho Farmworkers Choose To Stay, Kimberly Luna Apr 2017

Policies, Work, And Community: Why Idaho Farmworkers Choose To Stay, Kimberly Luna

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Idaho’s agricultural industries depend on Mexican and Mexican-American farmworkers for labor to maintain farms, crops, and livestock. Despite their important role in Idaho’s economy, many farmworkers are undocumented and live with the fear of deportation. This study explores Idaho’s Latino migration patterns since the railroad companies recruited Mexican immigrants in the early 1900s through today’s Mexican population residing in Idaho. Overall, this paper strives to explain why undocumented immigrants are planning to remain in the U.S. permanently. In an effort to collect data and understand, a survey was administered in Spanish to 102 seasonal farmworkers who had a residency of …

Go to article

How Far Does Influence Go? Racialized Resistance And University Culture, Chandra Reyna Apr 2017

How Far Does Influence Go? Racialized Resistance And University Culture, Chandra Reyna

McNair Scholars Research Journal

In recent years, universities have found themselves in the spotlight for their approaches to grievances of racial bias and discrimination. To better understand how university culture can influence millennials’ understanding and explanations of racial phenomena, I examine the ways in which students navigate issues of racial inequity. Data reveals that the culture of the examined university, created by an adoption of a racial orthodoxy, overwhelmingly leads to a system I call racialized resistance. Under racialized resistance, a student's race acts a master status and determines how they can participate in politicized civic engagement. I find students employ four strategies: strategic …

Go to article

A Woman’S Choice At The State Legislative District Level: A Comparative Case Study Of The Northwest, Timothy Hibbard Apr 2016

A Woman’S Choice At The State Legislative District Level: A Comparative Case Study Of The Northwest, Timothy Hibbard

McNair Scholars Research Journal

A major concern in the United States is the underrepresentation of women in State Legislatures. Based on data from CAWP at Rutgers University, the growth of female representation has stagnated since the mid-90s. In an attempt to study this trend, I asked the question, are women’s preferences for legislative districts different than their male counterparts? I looked specifically at open-seat districts, hypothesizing that women are more likely than men to choose an open-seat district. I compiled a comparative case study of the States in the Northwest, due to its high diversity among various factors including partisanship, urbanization, and population. Due …

Go to article

There’S An Identity Label For Me?: Perceptions By First-Generation College Students Of An Institutional Label, Curtis A. Green-Eneix Apr 2016

There’S An Identity Label For Me?: Perceptions By First-Generation College Students Of An Institutional Label, Curtis A. Green-Eneix

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Although first-generation college students (FGCS) have been entering universities in large numbers, and even with past quantitative studies to understand this demographic, a major percentage continue to drop out of college within their first two years. Past research has resulted in an overall picture of this demographic. This qualitative study explores: (1) how FGCS perceive their social identity in relation to a college community, and (2) how interacting with support programs, such as Boise State’s Student Success Program (SSP), shapes their understanding of support. In interviews with nine FGCS students, most of them did not know this first-generation label applied …

Go to article

From Mao To Xi: Chinese Political Leadership And The Craft Of Consolidating Power, Dexter Lensing Apr 2016

From Mao To Xi: Chinese Political Leadership And The Craft Of Consolidating Power, Dexter Lensing

McNair Scholars Research Journal

During 1965-66, a great power struggle engulfed Chinese politics while the Vietnam War escalated. While most scholars study this period for the Cultural Revolution Mao launched, this research proposes to examine the role the Vietnam War played in China’s political power struggle. Specifically, my research will show how Mao used the issue of Vietnam to defeat his rivals and consolidate power. The Chinese political structure has changed considerably since the mid-1970s. Yet, current President Xi Jinping has attempted to purge rivals and consolidate power during his term in office. Given this largely successful attempt, I want to know the extent …

Go to article

Gender Differences In Experiences With Sexual Objectification, Morgan Harris Apr 2016

Gender Differences In Experiences With Sexual Objectification, Morgan Harris

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Sexual objectification is a prevalent societal issue that can lead to internalizing an objectified perspective of the body (Engeln-Maddox, Miller, & Doyle, 2011). Contrary to popular belief, objectification is applicable to both men and women (Aubrey, 2006). College students are believed to have many encounters involving sexual objectification, but few researchers have investigated sexual objectification in men, creating a need to expand research in this area. I explored gender differences in experiences of sexual objectification in male and female college students. General psychology students completed the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale (Kozee, Tylka, Augustus-Horvath, & Denchik, 2007). I report a statistically …

Go to article

Idaho Sexual Orientation Policy Debates: Local Discourse, Megyn Rodriguez Apr 2015

Idaho Sexual Orientation Policy Debates: Local Discourse, Megyn Rodriguez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This study conducts a content analysis with the use of NVivo software of the local news outlet, Idaho Statesman, and its articles from 1999-2012. This research focuses on two specific sexual orientation policy debates: hate crime prevention and the Boise city ordinance. These issues highlight examples of framing. The findings from this analysis highlight how a media can play a supporting role for LGBTQ advocates through liberal and moderate frames by taking on an assimilationist approach to inclusion. This research adds to the literature on the role of newspapers in mediating public discussion and has larger impacts of how public …

Go to article

America’S Tv Pastime: An Analysis Of Why Professional Sports Fans Prefer Watching The National Football League Over Major League Baseball On Television, Ty Hawkins Apr 2015

America’S Tv Pastime: An Analysis Of Why Professional Sports Fans Prefer Watching The National Football League Over Major League Baseball On Television, Ty Hawkins

McNair Scholars Research Journal

More out of habit than anything else, we still refer to baseball as the national pastime (McAdam, 2004). However, football began making inroads as the most viewed sport as far back as the 1970s. Two decades later, it isn’t much of a contest anymore in terms of viewing popularity (McAdam, 2004). In 2014, 35% of fans called the National Football League (NFL) their favorite sport, followed by Major League Baseball (MLB) (14%), college football (11%), auto racing (7%), the National Basketball Association (NBA) (6%), the National Hockey League (NHL) (5%), and college basketball (Rovell, 2014). Although a wide variety of …

Go to article

Expanding The Conversation: Factors Influencing Quality Multicultural Literature In Western United States Elementary School Libraries, Maria Elena Martinez Apr 2014

Expanding The Conversation: Factors Influencing Quality Multicultural Literature In Western United States Elementary School Libraries, Maria Elena Martinez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This study is a follow-up analysis of the 2012 study titled‚ A Study of the Availability of Multicultural Children’s Literature in Treasure Valley Schools: Quality, Access, and Inclusion. The focus of the initial study was the quantity of multicultural literature available in elementary schools; the focus of the current study is the selection process of the literature. Quality multicultural literature encourages children to reaffirm the values of their own culture and come to appreciate those of others. Thus, multicultural literature has a significant impact on students developing identities. For this reason, this article seeks to investigate factors that affect elementary …

Go to article

Direct V. Indirect Exposure To Trauma: An Insight To Officer Coping Mechanisms, Marybel Cortez Apr 2014

Direct V. Indirect Exposure To Trauma: An Insight To Officer Coping Mechanisms, Marybel Cortez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Police officers serve a vital role in our communities and face particularly acute trauma and stress in the execution of their jobs. Therefore, it is critical to fully understand how police officers react in these situations. Studies have shown that officers endure a distinctive source of stress and are presented with the risk of exposure to traumatic events. Chopko & Schwartz (2012) surveyed 183 officers and found that more than 30% displayed symptoms of PTSD; however, this study focused on direct exposure to trauma. The current study expands this previous research to study the effects of indirect experiences of trauma. …

Go to article

Mexican Politicization: Cultivating Optimism, Fostering Community, Abraham Calderón Apr 2014

Mexican Politicization: Cultivating Optimism, Fostering Community, Abraham Calderón

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This study addresses how Mexican immigrants become politicized in the absence of appropriate opportunities. Drawing from 20 qualitative interviews of Mexican immigrants residing in Idaho, a key contradiction is found between active words and effective inaction. That is, respondents want to participate but do not. To address this contradiction this study identifies key processes that enable and curtail Mexican immigrant community engagement as part of their daily struggle for full incorporation into US society. I argue politicization is the result of the capacity to harness optimism and collective orientation while being able to defy the challenges of isolationism and individualism. …

Go to article

Positive Youth Development And Substance Use In Emerging Adults, Stevy Scarbrough Apr 2013

Positive Youth Development And Substance Use In Emerging Adults, Stevy Scarbrough

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Problem: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) bi-annual National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (NYRBS), nearly 45% of all teens have smoked cigarettes at some point, nearly 71% have tried alcohol, and 40% have tried marijuana. Many potential factors have been identified as having a positive effect in treatment and cessation programs for at-risk adolescent populations, but research investigating the effects of these factors in prevention is still limited in scope. The present study examines relationships between risky health behaviors of freshman college students and the five Cs of positive youth development: competence, confidence, connection, character, and …

Go to article

Analysis Of Gender Differences In Self-Statements And Mood Disorders, Robert Devore Apr 2013

Analysis Of Gender Differences In Self-Statements And Mood Disorders, Robert Devore

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Over 25% of adult Americans suffer from a mental disorder each year, with depression and anxiety being some of the most commonly reported issues. Researchers estimate that between 10% and 50% of adult Americans will suffer from a depressive episode at some point in their life, and cognitive theorists argue that mental states, including disorders, are generated and maintained by personal, subjective beliefs, and that events can only be appropriately labeled by the individual experiencing them. Thus, cognitive theorists suggest a strong link between self-talk (ST) and behavior and note that the automatic use of ST is associated with disordered …

Go to article

Educational Achievement Among Asian Children: Ethnic Differences In First Grade Math And Reading Scores, Lesley Yang Apr 2013

Educational Achievement Among Asian Children: Ethnic Differences In First Grade Math And Reading Scores, Lesley Yang

McNair Scholars Research Journal

The burgeoning Asian population in the U.S. makes it imperative to understand the factors influencing their educational attainment. The pan-ethnic category of “Asian American” overgeneralizes about diverse populations and has led to a monolithic view of Asians as high achieving students with little need for educational services. The model minority myth may be masking the drastic variation in educational attainment among ethnic Asian groups. This study uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Class (ECLS-K) to: (1) examine whether there are significant achievement gaps between different Asian ethnic groups in first grade and (2) analyze factors that account for …

Go to article

Female Prisoner Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders (F-Patso): A Preliminary Comparison Using The Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders (Catso-R) Scale, N. A. Weihe Apr 2013

Female Prisoner Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders (F-Patso): A Preliminary Comparison Using The Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders (Catso-R) Scale, N. A. Weihe

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This preliminary report explores female prisoner attitudes toward sex offenders (F-PATSO) held by incarcerated women at a medium security, state correctional facility. Utilizing the 18-question Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offender (CATSO-R) scale (Church, 2008) and eight demographic variables, researchers distributed selfadministered surveys to 102 female inmates over the course of two days. For the purpose of this paper, and in order to determine if there is any variation in attitudes between groups, the author examines the prevalence of lifetime sexual abuse as reported by the inmates in relation to their attitudes toward sex offenders based on one of four factored …

Go to article

Winning In New Democracies: Why Some Parties Are More Victorious Than Others In Foundational Elections, Josue Gomez Apr 2013

Winning In New Democracies: Why Some Parties Are More Victorious Than Others In Foundational Elections, Josue Gomez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

There is a spectrum of parties that exist in foundational elections in new democracies, and this research will seek to identify why some parties are more successful than others, focusing on Latin America. These comparisons will highlight important characteristics of the parties that give them advantages and make them more likely to win. Subsequent studies will examine new democracies in other regions. A party can choose to embrace an idea or movement, such as the legacy of an old regime or a transition to democracy. Hypotheses are developed that will test variables that lead to a party increasing its vote …

Go to article

Career-Decision Self-Efficacy Among College Students With Symptoms Of Attention Deficit Disorder, Charlotte Tomevi Apr 2013

Career-Decision Self-Efficacy Among College Students With Symptoms Of Attention Deficit Disorder, Charlotte Tomevi

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Compared to the general college population, students with attention deficit disorder are less academically prepared with the skills to maintain college course requirements. This inadequacy is due to the change in academic structure, time management, and the skills required for higher education. The goal of this study is to expand on previous research regarding college students with ADD and to understand how the symptoms of ADD influence college students’ future plans for careers. Providing academic institutions with knowledge of how symptoms of attention deficit disorder affects college students and their future career planning may assist advisors in providing students with …

Go to article

The Racialized Experiences Of Video Games, Mario Venegas Apr 2013

The Racialized Experiences Of Video Games, Mario Venegas

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This research explores the ways different people experience the racial content of video games. Building on DeVane and Squire, this research speaks to content analyses literature that shows games as modern minstrelsies. Using Bonilla-Silva’s definition of Racial Ideology in conjunction with Winddance-Twine’s concept of Racial Literacy, I examined racial ideology and its role as an interpretative framework. I also used Bourdieu's notion of cultural capital to account for video game cultural knowledge. Data were collected through personal interviews where participants played the video game Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony for 30-50 minutes. A sample of 31 participants …

Go to article

The Influence Of Parent-Child Attachment On Romantic Relationships, Monica Del Toro Jan 2012

The Influence Of Parent-Child Attachment On Romantic Relationships, Monica Del Toro

McNair Scholars Research Journal

The present study examined the significance of parent and child relationships and how the parenting styles used and parent-child attachment related to future reports of romantic relationship anxiety. Participants were young adults ranging from ages 18-30 recruited from various university psychology courses. The participants were given an online questionnaire measuring quantitative data. This questionnaire asked about the participants feelings of respect from their parents toward them, the expectations perceived from parents toward the participant, fear of losing a romantic partner’s love, and comfort with closeness in romantic relationships, among other related items.

Go to article

College Adaptation Among Traditional And Non-Traditional College Students, Sofia Fernandez Jan 2012

College Adaptation Among Traditional And Non-Traditional College Students, Sofia Fernandez

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Although research has established several factors related to college adjustment in traditional college students (e.g., self-esteem, perfectionism, family environment), few studies have examined whether these factors also relate to college adjustment in non-traditional students. The present study examined whether the factors related to academic and emotional adjustment to college differed between traditional and non-traditional college students. Three hundred thirteen college students (78% traditional; 22% non-traditional) completed the almost perfect scale revised, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire, and the family environment scale. Non-traditional college students displayed significantly greater academic and emotional adjustment to college than did …

Go to article

Next Last