Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

"Are You Okay?" A Rhetorical Analysis Of Jon Stewart's 9/11 Monologue And His Role As Leader, India Hagen-Gates

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

This project uses the Narrative Paradigm presented by Walter Fisher in order to analyze Jon Stewart’s monologue after 9/11 and understand its effects on his audience. I look deeply at the surrounding context, especially the late night response to 9/11 and the expectations for Stewart’s return. Narrative Criticism allows us to better understand Stewart’s perspective on the events of 9/11. The story he presents is clear in its theme of hope. This method allows for a deep appreciation of how Stewart identifies with his audience, while separating his own voice from the crowd. I argue that he acts as a …

United Airlines' Public Relations Crisis, Katie Crowther, Andrew Mueller, Jared Van De Crommert, Laura Arroyo, Matt Jones

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

This project involves an in-depth analysis of how the United Airlines Express Flight 3411 affected customer’s attitudes, intent to fly, and supportive communication intent of the Airline Company, United, among a sample population. The goal is to demonstrate whether or not the incident on flight 3411 affected the JMU student body as a whole and whether or not they would still fly with United Airlines.

Relationship Between Sibling Jealousy And Jealousy In Romantic Relationships, Andrea C. Toscano, Harrison J. Seaborn, Matthew G. Webb, Olivia C. Rose, Eliana Joy Huffman

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

Research examining whether or not there is a relationship between sibling jealousy and jealousy in romantic relationships.

Sga Diversity Ad Hoc Committee: Diversity Awareness At Jmu, Kimia Favagehi, Jaclyn Rose Finn, Jacob Christian Ruefer, Sara Elaine Hardiman, Mary Theresa Ross, Christina Elaine Deane

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

The Diversity Ad hoc Committee, a branch of SGA that deals directly with issues of diversity on James Madison University's campus, was founded in 2014. The committee "seeks to spread the concept of diversity by collaborating with various other student clubs and organizations on campus."

The Diversity Ad hoc Committee is striving to build upon the organization's reputation and presence on James Madison University's campus. Presently, the organization lacks visibility and recognition from JMU students and faculty. Expressing dissatisfaction with the committee's current situation, the Diversity Ad hoc Committee hopes to expand outreach and support from the JMU community through …

An Ideological Criticism Of Todrick Hall's Visual Album Straight Outta Oz, Rachel Moss

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

American entertainer Todrick Hall released his visual album Straight Outta Oz in 2016 in order to communicate his views on a wide range of topics from sexuality to family life. Hall used the video to advance challenging ideologies that discuss the harmful effects of the church on LGBTQ+ youth, problems the LGBTQ+ community face, the discrimination faced by black Americans, and pitfalls of the entertainment industry, with the purpose of forming a call to action for society to advocate for equality. By placing these themes into a medium popular at the time of release, Hall created a better chance for …

The Stories We Tell, Abigail A. Hoekstra

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

Two or Three Things I Know for Sure tells the story of Dorothy Allison as she comes to terms with her past and strives to move beyond it, to be empowered and embodied by it. In this short memoir, Allison explores the relationship she has with her mother and how that relationship has influenced her individuality and character, whose complacency has restricted Allison. Allison breaks away from the stories she has been told to tell a new story of abuse and disembodiment in which she finds love, and in turn, embodiment; the unification of her body and spirit. Story-telling and …

Blade Runner And The Divine Menace, Alexander W. Pickens

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

Following the decline of Christianity in mainstream Western culture, a void rose in the moral and societal code. Those writers that emerged presented alternate visions that worked their way into the literature of the 20th century. Karl Marx's interpretation of the structure of labor in capitalism presented a new societal hierarchy whose finer points have been worked out in the complex film Blade Runner. This dystopian nightmare, in which a Marxist interpretation of current society bogged down by the ennui of capitalist accumulation is confronted, describes a new religious order based upon this economic theory. Central to this reimagining …

What Happens At Camp Does Not Stay At Camp: A Rhetorical Analysis On The American Camp Association's 'Mission And Vision' Page, Abigail W. Fiege

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

Research on mission statements as a genre of rhetoric and evaluation of the American Camp Association's mission and vision webpage based on found criteria.

An Analysis Of George Wallace And His First Inaugural Address As Governor Of Alabama, Logan D. Dupuy

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

To understand Governor George Wallace of Alabama, one has to look back at his watershed moment. The 1958 election for governor. From there, one can attempt to explain how Wallace became a figure of tragedy (by his own doing though) and how he had to sell his soul for the governorship. After understanding what made George Wallace tick, I shall move into his inaugural speech in 1963. By explaining this fiery speech through ideological criticism, one will be able to better comprehend the subtleties of both the man and the times. The bulk of the ideological criticism will be on …

“Expanding That Story:” How Nonprofit Leaders Portray The Population They Serve, Sarah N. Koth

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

This research aims to understand how nonprofits leaders portray the populations they serve, specifically populations in low-economic status who receive material resources. Previous literature exploring the nonprofit sector considers volunteers and their experiences, although leaders set the tone for the organization’s language, and ultimately the quality of service. Five nonprofit organization (NPO) leaders from different organizations participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews that lasted between 33 to 72 minutes. Questions inquired about their average week on the job, their contact with clients and volunteers, and how they want the public to view the population they serve. Accounts showed that nonprofit leaders …

Divided We Fall: A Look Into American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson And How The Media Creates Reality, Angela G. Flanagan

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

This event is an undergraduate research conference for undergraduates in the School of Communications at James Madison University.

Budlight's #Upforwhatever Campaign, Jennifer Lopez-Gallardo, Brynn Bresnahan, Brooke Rera, Melissa Swan

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

Research Study for BudLight's #UpForWhatever Campaign.

Beyond Promotional: Michelle Obama And The Let Girls Learn Initiative, Isabella Bauer

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

Based on a research completed for Rhetorical Research Methods course, three of Michelle Obama's addresses for her Let Girls Learn initiative will be analyzed using cluster criticism.

An Exploration Of The Negative Stigmas Surrounding Greek Life, Lauren E. Palkovitz

SCOM Undergraduate Research Conference

An Exploration of the Negative Stigmas Surrounding Greek Life

Discourses Of Madness And Me: Critical Examinations Of Western Discourses Of Madness And Psychiatry, Erin E. Casey

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

This paper is a critical examination of western medical paradigms alongside histories of psychiatry that argues for a culturally situated approach to mental health advocacy that maintains the importance of the physiological foundations of traditional biomedical approaches to disease. In doing so, I examine the discourses of madness, and society’s attempts to control and “fix” what is deemed “mad” through a historical lens. My position and critique utilizes a reflexive narrative process embracing my identities both as a consumer of mental health services and as an advocate for those with mental illnesses.

Birds Of A Feather Learn Together: Learning Community Outcomes Assessment Using Propensity Score Matching, Elisabeth M. Pyburn, Heather Dawn Harris

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

The goal of the study was to provide an example of propensity score matching techniques within the context of higher education assessment. At our institution, a select number of incoming first-year students participate in major-specific learning communities. Because the decision to join the communities is purely voluntary, one might expect that students who elect to join the program may differ from those who do not. Thus, important covariates related to self-selection into the learning community were identified. Two years of Arts learning community data were analyzed to compare the academic performance and civic-mindedness of learning community students to an arts …

The Effects Of Chronic Partial Sleep Deprivation On Alcohol Consumption And Delta Fos B Accumulation, Kristian Ponder

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

The present study explores the relation between sleep restriction and alcohol use and the neural substrates that result from chronic behaviors, such as transcription factors. Transcription factor activity is suggested as a possible outcome of chronic behaviors, such as addiction. Sleep is discussed as possible mediating factor in the relationship between specific transcription factors and alcohol. Analysis will focus on brain areas related to both sleep and reward.

Engineering Students’ Motivational Beliefs. Development Of A Scale Utilizing An Expectancy, Value, And Cost Framework, Mariafe Panizo

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

In the current study, researchers developed a 12-item instrument (Engineering Student Motivational Beliefs Scale; ESMBS) to assess engineering students’ perceived expectancies, values, and costs of being an engineering major and pursuing an engineering career. The purpose of the paper is to present the ESMBS development process, including preliminary psychometric information. Researchers used Benson’s model of construct validation, encompassing three phases, to guide the development and preliminary validation of ESMBS. The substantive phase included a thorough review of the literature to theoretically and empirically define the expectancy, value, and cost constructs within the context of undergraduate engineering. The structural phase consisted …

A Comparison Of Restorable And Unrestorable Defendants, Kristen T. Campbell

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

The current study examined differences in demographic, criminal, neuropsychological, and psychiatric variables between defendants restorable and unrestorable to competency. Defendants found to be unrestorable were more likely to have a misdemeanor charge, a cognitive disorder, a longer duration of illness, a lower IQ score, and a lower Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) score. Defendants found to be restorable tended to have a diagnosis of a mood disorder. With an improved understanding of characteristics associated with unrestorability, clinicians can make more accurate predictions about the probability of a defendant being restored to competency.

Nature Connection: Theory, Evidence And Practice, Matt V. Bukowski

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

This presentation explores scholarly work at the intersection of mental health and the natural world in a variety of disciplines. My intent is to provide an overview of theoretical perspectives, research-based evidence, and clinical practices that support the idea that experiencing the natural world can improve human mental health outcomes.

Gender Differences In Motivational Practices Among Collegiate Club Athletes, Jenna Thompson

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

Motivation is one of the most pertinent factors in the performance and success of athletes. It is important to make sure that motivational strategies are employed with the athlete in mind, with gender being at the forefront. After examining some of the most vital research in the fields of motivation, gender, and sports, various club sport teams at James Madison University will be interviewed to see the interplay between the aforementioned factors. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the gender differences in motivational practices among collegiate club athletes. This research answers questions about best practices in motivational …

The Engaged Graduate Experience: The First Year Of The Mala Program, Liana Colleen Bayne, Caroline Clare Hamby

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

This poster will illustrate the interdisciplinary, engaged learning and creative activities that have taken place during the first year of the new MALA (Madison Academic Library Associates) graduate assistantship program. Liana Bayne and Caroline Hamby are JMU Libraries’ first dedicated graduate assistants, and have spent the 2015-16 school year piloting the program. The two-year program’s curriculum includes library school-inspired learning modules alongside hands-on, project-based activities monitored and mentored by varying divisions of LET (Libraries & Educational Technologies) staff. Bayne and Hamby look forward to completing large-scale capstone project work in the second year of this program. Bayne and Hamby work …

Holly Martins And The Impartial Spectator: The Economics Of The Third Man, Alexander W. Pickens

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

The film The Third Man is often critiqued for its portrayal of post-war Vienna and the abusive nature of totalitarian regimes in a nearly-anarchic state. However, this film does something that few other films do: it tackles the primary dilemmas facing economists using a visual medium and featuring some of the debates that have been plaguing economic thinkers for years (what is a just allocation of resources, competition in free markets, what happens when corrupt governments control resource allocation). Ultimately, the film is a unique analysis tension between the costs and benefits of the philosophies of Keynes and F. A. …

Throwing (Sh)Aid: Optimizing Aid Conditionality For The Developing World, Timothy F. O'Shea

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

Aid conditionality has emerged as a dominant tool by donor countries in nation building efforts in the developing world. Unfortunately, this strategy has encountered obstacles in achieving substantive change. The purpose of this paper is to investigate possible modifications and augmentations to aid conditionality regimes that could more easily induce political development in recipient countries. To provide a background against which to plan changes, the paper documents important determinants of political change, including public opinion, donor self-interest, and unconscious biases. The paper also evaluates possible malleable policy factors, including adoption speed, proportionality, outcome-based provision, and donor co-ordination. While much of …

Deconstructing The Wall: The Analysis And Implications Of The 2004 International Court Of Justice Advisory Opinion On The Use Of Border Walls, Noah T. Black

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

This research project looks at the various jurisprudences surrounding the 2004 ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Israeli Barrier and analyzes the arguments both in support and in opposition to the Court’s decision. It then looks at the conditions for the illegality of the Israeli Barrier that were established by the Court, analyzes them, and synthesizes a list of characteristics that can be applied to other barriers in order to determine their legality. This checklist, if you will, is then applied to other border walls in order to make a tentative conclusion about their legality and if a suit could be …

Jordan: A Negative Case In A Tumultuous Region, Ann Marie Margaret Hager

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

International media brings attention to the worst conflicts worldwide. When ISIS beheads journalists, like Foley and Sotloff (Vourvoulias, 2014) journalists around the globe turn their editorial dockets to these heinous actions. Yet, it is easy to pay attention to conflict when it becomes severe, i.e., escalates to the level of war. It’s no wonder that the Arab/Israeli conflict has such a plethora of literature and media attention while tensions in places like Jordan, right next door, have not. However, Jordan is an example of a negative case: a country that has, despite its significant tensions, not experienced large-scale violence in …

An Exploration Of Gender Roles And The Traditional Dual Gendered Parenting Model Within Co-Fathered Families, Zoe Dearborn Geyman

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

In this paper I develop a working theory of gender as a constantly performed state of social mimicry that evolves in response to one’s lived experience. Through analysis of transcript selections from the daily lives of two co-fathered families and relevant literature, I explore the gendered realities of gay parents, and introduce work, in this case referring to professional labor and its associated identities, as key to the gendering process. In the paper I also address the malleability of family units, and explore the ways in which gay fathers negotiate pressures to conform to the traditionally gendered family model. Ultimately, …