Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Adolescent Diversion Project, Chase Mccleskey

Celebration of Research

Juvenile incarceration has been a prevalent problem in the United States Criminal Justice System. Once incarcerated, juveniles have much lower high school graduation rates when compared to their peers and higher recidivism rates when compared to their adult counterparts. These two factors reduce a juveniles’ chances of succeeding in the United States substantially. Many solutions have been proposed to fix this issue, however, none have been as successful or as promising as the Adolescent Diversion Project. The Adolescent Diversion Project has been proven to significantly reduce recidivism rates in juvenile offenders and to be cost-effective. For these reasons, the Adolescent …

Earning Rewards And The Endowment Effect: Evidence From A Lab Experiment, Misael Bruzzone

Celebration of Research

The manner in which an item is attained affects the perceived value of that item by the owner. Previous research has shown that personal attachment (Shu et al. 2011), self-made products (Norton et al. 2012), and hard work (Festinger, 1957) all influence how much owners value items. I devised a lab experiment in which students from Northwestern College performed an unrelated test before receiving a hot drink of their choice. Participants were then asked to offer their willingness to pay for their drinks. The experiment differs from previous research in that the work being done is unrelated to the product …

A Meta-Analytic Study Of The Effectiveness Of ​Clinical Decision-Making Interventions Among Medical Professionals​, Chika Nwaelugo, Alexandra Dobesh, Reed Mueller

Celebration of Research

In this study, we explore the effectiveness of Clinical decision-making (CDM) interventions on diagnostic accuracy among medical professionals. Diagnostic errors are one the most prominent issues in healthcare systems and tackling this issue is of great importance. Our results showed a positive effect between CDM interventions and diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, the implementation of CDM interventions is key to improving the quality of care in our health care systems and patient-provider relationships.

Resilience Interventions In Undergraduate Populations: A Meta-Analytic Study On Their Effect On Self-Reported Mood States, Clara Pahl, Reed Mueller

Celebration of Research

This meta-analysis explores the effects of resilience interventions on mental health indicators. Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality have risen in undergraduate student populations, so an intervention is essential to combat such conditions.

To systematically select studies for inclusion, we executed an initial scoping review to determine viability and feasibility of this project. After scoping, our team applied predetermined search strings to 9 electronic databases and after removing 2 duplicates, our initial pool contained 90 peer-reviewed reports. Of the 90 screened abstracts, 59 were excluded based upon predetermined exclusion criteria. The 31 remaining studies were evaluated via full-text review and …

How Do You Study? Study Strategies, Academic Goals, And Achievement​, Jessica Nibbelink, Madison Scott, Jennifer S. Feenstra Dr., Chika Nwaelugo

Celebration of Research

In this study, we explore different study strategies and their impacts on academic goals and achievements. Previous studies have found that students use certain study strategies depending on factors such as motivation and knowledge of the effectiveness different study strategies. Our results showed us that Northwestern students focused their studying on whatever was due next and they were not aware of the effectiveness of study habits as the majority of students reported that they were not taught how to study. We also found a positive correlation between self-efficacy and academic achievement. Additionally, avoidance goals were associated with procrastination while approach …

The Effects Of Mental Imagery Rehearsal On The Performance Of Mazes, Alison Painter

Celebration of Research

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence that mental imagery rehearsal plays in cognitive symbolic tasks. Previous literature has revealed that mental imagery rehearsal can enhance skills; however, the literature conflicts regarding what type of skill (cognitive or motor) is best enhanced by mental imagery and in what context does it work. Mental imagery is used in a variety of contexts, specifically in clinical settings to enhance recovery or development. In the current study, participants were asked to complete a paper maze and then instructed to complete different sets of daily practice tasks, depending upon the group …

Dtap: Drug Treatment Alternative To Prison, Taylor Van Ostrand

Celebration of Research

This is a policy analysis about drug treatment options compared to prison sentences for multiple-time drug offenders. A policy analysis simply evaluates a framework for whether a policy is effective and if the policy should be implemented and expanded. DTAP provides addicts facing charges another option to be rehabilitated rather than simply punished. DTAP flags individuals that meet the criteria of eligibility through the District Attorneys and have the choice to participate when substances were the contributing factor to their criminal activity. Recidivism rates for prison populations are already exceedingly high but mixed with addiction it becomes a repetitive cycle …

Can Your Dad Do This? Children's Beliefs About The Biological, Physical, Psychological, Properties Of God And Dad, Caitlin Hornback, Alison Painter, Anneka Sterk, Darrin Vanmeter

Celebration of Research

In our study we investigated children's beliefs about the properties of God and a human, their father. We interviewed 24 children and coded their responses to questions about what God and their dad could do and how each would perform that action.

Take A Break: Study Breaks’ Effects On Media Multitasking, Madison Scott, Laird Edman

Celebration of Research

The current study aims to determine if timed study breaks will affect students’ amounts of media multitasking while studying. Participants were 43 college students from a small, faith based liberal arts college in the Midwest (men=11, women=32). It was predicted that giving students timed breaks would lower students’ amounts of media multitasking, as well as total number of distractions while studying. It was also predicted that using timed breaks would give students a stronger feeling of accomplishment in their studying. Lastly, it was predicted that people with higher levels of media multitasking would have lower GPAs than students with lower …

Resilience Interventions In Undergraduate Populations: A Meta-Analytic Study Of Their Effect In Perceived Stress, Grace Renaud

Celebration of Research

This study investigated how to promote resiliency among college undergraduate students by conducting a meta-analysis. This study focused on intervention styles and perceived stress. Mindfulness-based interventions produced a significant effect size with perceived stress. Undergraduate students who were given a mindfulness intervention significantly decreased in perceived stress. Given this, perhaps interventions designed to build mindfulness would be preferred to colleges and universities that are wanting to reduce the stress of their undergraduate students.

Drug Court Policy Analysis, Delanie O. Coady

Celebration of Research

Drug courts are specialty courts, implemented sporadically across the United States. The purpose of analyzing drug court policy is to assess their long-term cost and effectiveness. Drug courts in Baltimore City, and Woodbury County, Iowa were both analyzed along with findings from the Office of National Drug Control Policy. It is held that they provide significant annual savings for the jurisdictions that they are implemented in and successfully reduce substance-abuse related recidivism.