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Articles 5101 - 5130 of 8231

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Predicting Alcoholism Through Individual Temperament, Bobbi Padro, Dr. James Higley Jun 2013

Predicting Alcoholism Through Individual Temperament, Bobbi Padro, Dr. James Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to determine a correlation between the temperament of rhesus macaques and the amount of alcohol they consume. This project looked specifically at 16 juvenile rhesus macaques. Each juvenile had been tested to determine its temperament through the Biobehavioral Assessment (BBA) at the University of California Davis collected by Dr. John Captianio. The BBA data is collected while subjects are infants. Half of the monkeys tested were determined to have high anxiety and the other half low anxiety. Determining whether a correlation exists between temperament and alcohol consumption can help intervention programs and preventative programs …

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Quality Of Lunch On Cognitive Performance, Corbin Miller, Dr. Joseph Price Jun 2013

Quality Of Lunch On Cognitive Performance, Corbin Miller, Dr. Joseph Price

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my project is to discover whether or not there is a link between the nutritional quality of food served for elementary school lunch and test scores. Our hypothesis is that eating a more healthy meal prior to taking a test will improve cognitive performance. The two sources of data that are required for this project to succeed are the school lunch menu data and the corresponding test scores. I have already retrieved the school lunch menu data from Westridge and Rock Canyon elementary schools in the Provo School District. We are currently waiting on permission to access …

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A Qualitative Inquiry Into The Treatment Experience Of Adolescent Females In A Relationally Based Therapeutic Boarding School, Douglas S. Marchant Jun 2013

A Qualitative Inquiry Into The Treatment Experience Of Adolescent Females In A Relationally Based Therapeutic Boarding School, Douglas S. Marchant

Theses and Dissertations

Individualism, the assumption that persons are self-contained and primarily act for the sake of the self, is prevalent in American culture and has arguably perpetuated numerous psychological and societal ills. Relationality, the assumption that persons are always and inextricably constituted by relationships, has been posited as a philosophical and practical alternative to individualist culture. Several scholars, both inside and outside of psychology, have developed relational concepts and practices, including some who have elucidated a relational approach to psychotherapy (e.g., Slife and Wiggins, 2009). This study examines the implications and effects of this therapeutic approach, particularly exploring relationality's therapeutic success in …

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Behavioral Analysis Of Anxiety In Autism, Megan Christensen, Dr. Mikle South Jun 2013

Behavioral Analysis Of Anxiety In Autism, Megan Christensen, Dr. Mikle South

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication. Anxiety is also an extremely common feature with approximately 81% of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder also qualified for at least one other anxiety disorder (Amaral et al., 2003). Amaral et al. (2003) have shown that monkeys with bilateral amygdala damage lack of fear in typically threatening social situations. Blanchard et al. (2001) have shown that humans react to hypothetical fearful scenarios in much the same way that rats do in actual threatening situations, i.e. “freezing” or run away depending on the level of danger.

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Does Marriage Therapy Improve Health?, David Marsh, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad Jun 2013

Does Marriage Therapy Improve Health?, David Marsh, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of marital quality on certain cardiovascular health risks, including diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Relationships, including that of marriage, have long since been known to correlate with these physiological markers (Wickrama, 1997). Our study, however, is different, as it is the first study to include a marriage therapy intervention. This type of study carries with it more weight than just a correlation study, but obviously brings with it more difficulty. We are in the final stages of gathering data. We have studied more than 210 participants and anticipate being …

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Tea Party Endorsements: An Analysis Of The 2010 Congressional Elections, John Holbein, Dr. Jeremy Pope Jun 2013

Tea Party Endorsements: An Analysis Of The 2010 Congressional Elections, John Holbein, Dr. Jeremy Pope

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My ORCA project focused on the strategies and impacts of the Tea Party Movement in the 2010 Congressional Elections. Using data gathered from an analysis of 55 national and local newspapers, this project examined endorsements made by the Tea Party Movement in House of Representatives races during the 2010 election cycle. I performed the data collection, analysis, and write up for this project. I also compiled a research poster that I presented at the prestigious Midwest Political Science Association in Chicago, Illinois. My research was also featured at the Mary Lou Fulton Conference for Undergraduate Research at Brigham Young University.

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Concepts Of Divine Action For A Theistic Approach To Psychology, Brent S. Melling Jun 2013

Concepts Of Divine Action For A Theistic Approach To Psychology, Brent S. Melling

Theses and Dissertations

Recent years have seen increased interest in using theism (the perspective that assumes that God is currently actively in the world) as a conceptual framework for scientific inquiry. This interest has built particular momentum in psychology where several scholars have expressed that traditional naturalistic approaches limit understanding and investigation of psychology's subject matter and thus are insufficient to fully account for human phenomena. Others have previously made the case for the consideration of theism as a legitimate alternative basis for psychological theory, research, and practice. This dissertation begins with that consideration and examines what would be required to move a …

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Pragmatic Transfer Of Compliment Responses Among Chinese Esl Lds Missionaries, Courtney Price Bodily Jun 2013

Pragmatic Transfer Of Compliment Responses Among Chinese Esl Lds Missionaries, Courtney Price Bodily

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the pragmatic transfer Chinese Latter-day Saint (LDS) missionaries speaking English display when responding to compliments in English conversations. Previous studies have shown that native American English speakers have a higher rate of compliment acceptance in their compliment response (CR) strategies. While, native Chinese speakers have a higher rate of denial in their CRs (. A common research question is whether or not CR strategies transfer from a Chinese English speaker's first language (L1) into their English conversations. To measure this, 40 missionaries from the LDS church participated in naturalized role plays. Half were native Chinese (10 male, …

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Genetic And Neurophysiology Correlates In Autism, Nathan Jamison, Dr. Mikle South Jun 2013

Genetic And Neurophysiology Correlates In Autism, Nathan Jamison, Dr. Mikle South

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My ORCA research project was presented as a poster at the annual International Meeting For Autism Research (IMFAR) in San Diego on May, 2011, under the name, “Candidate Gene Associations with Performance Monitoring of Others in Autism.” I am currently working with my mentor, Mikle South, to determine the feasibility of publishing this work in a scientific journal. The remainder of this report is taken largely from the poster presented at IMFAR.

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Effects Of Vta Gaba Lesions On Intracranial Self-Stimulation, David Hedges, Dr. Scott Steffensen Jun 2013

Effects Of Vta Gaba Lesions On Intracranial Self-Stimulation, David Hedges, Dr. Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my ORCA research was to better understand the neural circuitry behind addiction. It is well known that the mesocorticolimbic pathway in the brain is involved with addictions. This pathway consists of dopaminergic neurons originating in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) through the median forebrain bundle (MFB) and the internal capsule (IC). The firing of these dopamine neurons is in part regulated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in the VTA. It was on this specific GABA population that my research was focused. It was my hypothesis that animals treated with Dermorphin saporin …

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Dentate Gyrus Volume And Memory Strength In Older Adults, J. Andrew Hartshorn, Dr. Brock Kirwan Jun 2013

Dentate Gyrus Volume And Memory Strength In Older Adults, J. Andrew Hartshorn, Dr. Brock Kirwan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I began work in the BYU Memory and Cognition Lab in the fall of 2009. Under the direction of Dr. Kirwan I was fortunate enough to be involved in a variety of projects using different testing methodologies. My first project examined the ability of people to distinguish between similar memories (pattern separation). A subsequent study utilized EEG tests to determine subjects’ abilities to rate the confidence of their memories of presented words.

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The Portrayal Of Museums In Family Films, Alexa Hysi, Dr. Paul Stavast Jun 2013

The Portrayal Of Museums In Family Films, Alexa Hysi, Dr. Paul Stavast

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the last decade the number of new museums and museum visitors has increased worldwide (Frey and Meier 2008, 410). Likewise, the instances of museums in family films have also increased. The Internet Movie Database (IMDB) lists 260 films since 1914 that use museums in some form in their plot. More than 140 of those movies were produced in the last 10 years. One concern with the increase in the portrayal of museums in films is the accuracy and connotation of the depictions, as inaccurate portrayals could potentially skew visitors’ perception of museums. This research sought to identify how museums …

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Spending Today Or Saving For Tomorrow: The Influence Of Family Financial Socialization On Financial Preparation For Retirement, Scott H. Payne, Jeremy B. Yorgason, Jeffrey P. Dew Jun 2013

Spending Today Or Saving For Tomorrow: The Influence Of Family Financial Socialization On Financial Preparation For Retirement, Scott H. Payne, Jeremy B. Yorgason, Jeffrey P. Dew

Faculty Publications

Many of the factors that motivate individuals occur within the context of the family, and can be influenced through family socialization processes. To better understand the influence family socialization processes may have on financial capabilities and financial behaviors, 334 married couples were sampled. Structural equation modeling was used to examine both direct and indirect associations. Findings indicated direct relationships between materialism and financial strain, between religiosity and determination of needs, and between financial strain and saving for retirement. Indirect relationships were found between materialism and saving for retirement through financial strain. Our study found evidence to support the Family Financial …

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Avalanche Chronology Of The Maple Mountain/Spanish Fork Peak Avalanche Paths, Kimball Hansen, Dr. Matthew Bekker Jun 2013

Avalanche Chronology Of The Maple Mountain/Spanish Fork Peak Avalanche Paths, Kimball Hansen, Dr. Matthew Bekker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I began planning my project of the avalanche chronology of the Maple Mountain/Spanish Fork Peak Avalanche Paths in 2009 while applying for the ORCA grant. I was currently wrapping up a similar project of an avalanche chronology of Loafer Mountain near Woodland Hills Peak. This later project helped form a basis for the new avalanche path near Spanish Fork Peak. Since the two paths are relatively close to each other in the Wasatch Mountain Range, I can use the chronology found from Loafer Mountain avalanche path with the new path I will be researching and correlate the data and help …

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Do Donor States Care About Ngo Quality?, Nicholas Jones, Dr. Darren Hawkins Jun 2013

Do Donor States Care About Ngo Quality?, Nicholas Jones, Dr. Darren Hawkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our research examines whether donor countries care about the quality of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) when giving foreign aid to poor countries. When donor states give foreign aid to recipient states, such the US giving foreign aid to Uganda, the donor states must choose what is called a channel of delivery. This is the channel through which the donor’s aid will reach the intended beneficiaries. Donors can opt to channel their aid directly through the recipient government, or they can sidestep the recipient government, and instead utilize a non-state channel such as an NGO or multilateral organization. Presumably, donors will normally …

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Effects Of Acute And Chronic Ethanol On Gaba Inhibition Of Vta Gaba Neurons, Brett Larsen, Dr. Scott Steffensen Jun 2013

Effects Of Acute And Chronic Ethanol On Gaba Inhibition Of Vta Gaba Neurons, Brett Larsen, Dr. Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alcohol addiction is becoming increasingly prevalent in our world today, but the mechanisms underlying alcohol addiction are unknown. We do know; however, that the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) of the brain are specifically involved in addiction. These GABA neurons have a constant inhibition from other cells in the brain, and it is this inhibition that I am specifically studying. The term used to represent the inhibition from other cells is spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). By looking at the sIPSCs on a VTA GABA neuron in response to alcohol administration, I was able discover …

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Families Growing Smaller: A Paradox Generated By Stigma In North India, Hailey King, Dr. Charles Nuckolls Jun 2013

Families Growing Smaller: A Paradox Generated By Stigma In North India, Hailey King, Dr. Charles Nuckolls

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As is the case with most research projects, I also had to make alterations to my project. Originally I was going to be researching with some contacts in New Zealand. Unfortunately, my contacts there had to postpone this project. I therefore, had to change my location and slightly alter the focus of my research. I was able to gain some connections in India, and lived with a wonderful host family in New Delhi for 90 days.

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Differential Interpretations Of Air Pollution Health Effects Related To Funding Sources And Author Institutional Affiliation, Nathan Law, Dr. C. Arden Pope Iii Jun 2013

Differential Interpretations Of Air Pollution Health Effects Related To Funding Sources And Author Institutional Affiliation, Nathan Law, Dr. C. Arden Pope Iii

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The main goal of this research project was to discover whether or not results attained in epidemiology studies assessing the increased risk of mortality attributable to air pollution, are influenced by funding source or affiliation of the authors. This study was motivated by public policy debate regarding evidence from ongoing research on the mortality effects of particulate air pollution. New research is constantly being performed and reviewed and changes are being made to improve regulations on air pollution. Well over a thousand research articles have been written and published over the past 25 years on the adverse health effects of …

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The Effects Of Migration On Salvadoran Families, Teresa Gomez, Dr. Matthew Shumway Jun 2013

The Effects Of Migration On Salvadoran Families, Teresa Gomez, Dr. Matthew Shumway

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The results of our research were presented on April 14th at the Annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers in the “Immigrants in the USA” session. The presentation was successful. Afterward presenting, we had the opportunity to talk with other professors studying migration that were interested in our research.

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Beyond Populism: An Empirical Categorization Of Elite Political Discourse, Stephen Cranney, Dr. Kirk Hawkins Jun 2013

Beyond Populism: An Empirical Categorization Of Elite Political Discourse, Stephen Cranney, Dr. Kirk Hawkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The project Dr. Hawkins, Mayavel Amado, and I completed with the assistance of the ORCA funds provided was an extension of a previous project that we presented at the American Political Science Association’s annual meeting in 2010. Specifically, that paper presented theoretical possibilities for expanding the study of rhetorical categorizations beyond populism—-the only field in which there had been previous research. Specifically, this project was an attempt to empirically verify what we argued in that paper. We used the same methodology he used earlier (Hawkins 2009) to classify and delineate populism as a political discourse and applied it to other …

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Political Risk And The Currency Markets: A Look At How The Structure Of Government Impacts Exchange Rates In Emerging And Developing Economies, Aaron Gifford, Dr. Joel Selway Jun 2013

Political Risk And The Currency Markets: A Look At How The Structure Of Government Impacts Exchange Rates In Emerging And Developing Economies, Aaron Gifford, Dr. Joel Selway

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For the last three years, the world has seen dramatic changes in the global economy. What began as a local failure of a couple banks and the deterioration of innovative financial products in the U.S. soon spread to other nations around the world. While most countries have had to suffer these wide-spread effects, some have been able to adapt to economic problems more easily and quickly than others, successfully leading their country out of financial distress. The major contributors to this success have largely been government-related. Swift financial intervention and robust economic legislation have helped these nations recover faster than …

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The Effects Of Apathy And Psychomotor Slowing On Performance Monitoring In Depression, Ann Clawson, Dr. Michael Larson Jun 2013

The Effects Of Apathy And Psychomotor Slowing On Performance Monitoring In Depression, Ann Clawson, Dr. Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a complex mood disorder characterized by negative affect, psychomotor slowing, heightened levels of apathy, and a variety of cognitive deficits (Austin, Mitchell, & Goodwin, 2001). These characteristic symptoms putatively reflect underlying neurological irregularities, such as aberrant connectivity and decreased blood flow to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and prefrontal cortex—areas involved in cognitive control. Specifically, these areas regulate performance monitoring, part of the cognitive control process used to detect errors and adjust performance (Taylor, Stern, & Gehring, 2007; Videbech, 2000). Psychomotor retardation and increased levels of apathy may alter motivation to monitor and correct errors, …

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Healthy First Year: Cultural Beliefs And Customs Of Indian Mothers Affecting The Health Of A Child In Their First Year Of Life, Amy Drake, Dr. Charles Nuckolls Jun 2013

Healthy First Year: Cultural Beliefs And Customs Of Indian Mothers Affecting The Health Of A Child In Their First Year Of Life, Amy Drake, Dr. Charles Nuckolls

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Nearly a decade ago, India held one of the world’s highest rates in both infant and maternal mortality. Attention from the Indian government and the implementation of health programs have contributed to the significant improvement seen in the past ten years. While both rates have dropped substantially, maternal and infant health continue to be concerns in India. Pregnancy, delivery, and infant health complications can all be found at surprising frequencies throughout the country. While public health interventions and education campaigns strive to spread western medical methods, Indian women continue to embrace traditional practices of pregnancy and infant care. The purpose …

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Inter-Caste Adoption In India: Effects On Kinship And Caste As Understood By The Adoptive Family, Kelly Hacker, Dr. Charles Nuckolls Jun 2013

Inter-Caste Adoption In India: Effects On Kinship And Caste As Understood By The Adoptive Family, Kelly Hacker, Dr. Charles Nuckolls

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In his studies of kinship (1984), David Schneider put forth the theory that kinship is not inherently biologically-based, but is rather a symbolic and flexible understanding of the relationship between individuals. Inter-caste adoption in India, where a husband and wife adopt an unrelated child born to parents of a different caste, presents itself as an interesting testing ground for this theory, as both biological unrelatedness and a difference in caste must be overcome in the creation of kinship between adoptive family and adoptee.

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Representation In Utah’S Candidate Nomination System, Matthew Frei, Dr. J. Quin Monson Jun 2013

Representation In Utah’S Candidate Nomination System, Matthew Frei, Dr. J. Quin Monson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When Senator Robert Bennett was defeated in the 2010 Republican state nominating convention, many political observers suggested that Utah’s nomination system gives too much power to convention delegates who nominate candidates who do not well represent most Utahns. My ORCA research addresses these concerns by accessing the representativeness of Utah’s candidate nomination system.

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How Religious Practices Affect The Rise Of Populism In Latin America, Victoria Garcia, Dr. Kirk Hawkins Jun 2013

How Religious Practices Affect The Rise Of Populism In Latin America, Victoria Garcia, Dr. Kirk Hawkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Populism is “a Manichaean discourse that identifies Good with a unified will of the people and Evil with a conspiring elite” (Hawkins 2009). It is a movement that has been spreading in Latin America, in which a group of people consider themselves as the majority being oppressed by an Evil elite. The surge of charismatic leaders seeking to represent the will of the people characterizes this movement. An example of these types of leaders is Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, where he is supported by a populist majority.

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Walking The Walk: Gender Issues And Ugandan Non-Governmental Organizations, Zachary Christensen, Dr. Michael Findley Jun 2013

Walking The Walk: Gender Issues And Ugandan Non-Governmental Organizations, Zachary Christensen, Dr. Michael Findley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Ugandan non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a prominent role in the transmission gender equality norms in Ugandan. Uganda typically fares poorly in international measures of gender equality which in part seems to stem from the socially conservative political views of the country. Notwithstanding those views, Uganda has recently made significant progress towards implementing more progressive legislation regarding women. The Domestic Violence Act passed by the Parliament of Uganda with backing from the President was one piece of evidence of this shift, establishing firm punishment for domestic violence. The government has also taken increasingly aggressive measures to end female genital mutilation. …

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Effects Of Ethanol On Gaba Neuron Activity In The Ventral Tegmental Area Of Mice: Role Of Gaba(A) Receptor, Robert Cohoon, Dr. Scott Steffensen Jun 2013

Effects Of Ethanol On Gaba Neuron Activity In The Ventral Tegmental Area Of Mice: Role Of Gaba(A) Receptor, Robert Cohoon, Dr. Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The rationale for this study was predicated on the belief that advancement in the understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying the recreational use and abuse potential of drugs will pave the way for more effective treatment strategies that would save lives and resources throughout the world.

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Biological Markers Of Cognition And Error-Detection, Nicholas Edwards, Dawson Hedges Jun 2013

Biological Markers Of Cognition And Error-Detection, Nicholas Edwards, Dawson Hedges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my project was to find factors that might be predictive of cognitive deficits in a college age group of people. After discussing the topic with my mentor, Dawson Hedges, we chose a few broad categories, including family health history, demographics, education, and psychological history. Once we had decided upon these topics, I began looking through the literature to see what questions people had already asked.

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Investigating The Impact Of Tax Increases On Net Exports: An Empirical Approach, Daniel Bennett, Dr. Richard Evans Jun 2013

Investigating The Impact Of Tax Increases On Net Exports: An Empirical Approach, Daniel Bennett, Dr. Richard Evans

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this research is to verify the implications of common economic models which predict that increases in taxation will lead to increases in net exports. I find that tax increases have a positive impact on net exports, but that the estimated impact is likely unreliable due to imperfect estimation methods and the simplicity of the model. The initial attempt revealed several difficulties some of which could be overcome and others requiring further research. This report will explain my model, how the data for the estimation was obtained, the process of estimation, and my conclusions.

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