Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Nurses' Attitudes Toward Assisted Suicide: A Study Of Nurses Working With Terminally Ill Patients, Marjie L. Schoolfield

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Physician-assisted suicide, legalized in many states is becoming an option for patients diagnosed with a terminal illness. Nurse participation in physician-assisted suicide is not supported through state nurse practice acts or national nursing organizations, causing potential contradictions in practice rights for advanced practice nurses. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of registered and advanced practice nurses who work with the terminally ill regarding the patient option of physician-assisted suicide. This quantitative research was conducted with hospice registered nurses employed by a hospice organization in the Midwest and included participants from states where physician-assisted suicide is legal, …

The Impact Of Wellness Training On Resilience, Depression, And Anxiety In College Age Students, Jamie S. Myrtle

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Data suggests that mental health disorders in college students are increasing. University personnel seek to help students better manage their mental health through access to campus counseling centers. Slow enrollment growth has placed pressure on university budgets making it difficult to fully fund counseling centers. Therefore, university personnel seek cost-effective interventions to meet the need. Increasing resilience has shown promise in reducing the overall impact of depression and anxiety. The purpose of the current study was to explore the impact of wellness training on resilience, depression, and anxiety to determine the effectiveness of the intervention in improving resilience and reducing …

Female Leaders And Their Beliefs Regarding Weightism When Selecting Protégés, Lynne D. Shipley

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study focused on women in leadership, and if weight was a consideration in their selection of a protégé. Two races were represented, Black and White, and five age groups (Total n = 87). A mixed methodology study was conducted to evaluate the data. Participants were asked to name traits deemed important for a mentee. The adjectives were quantified, themed and coded. A Fisher’s Exact Test was conducted to test the relationship between the themed word selection by race and by age. The Weight Implicit Association Test (IAT) was administered to capture implicit and explicit scores regarding weight. The range …

Factors Affecting Student Success At A Native American Indian University, Philbert John

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study investigated the factors affecting American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) student success at a Native American Indian University (NAIU) in the Midwest. Thirty-nine students who graduated from Tribal College University (TCU) contributed to this study as they represented the student population at NAIU. This exploratory study was guided by three research questions that analyzed the collected data through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software tool. The two tools utilized in this study were the Pearson Correlation and the Independent Samples t-tests. The designed study was created to determine the pursuit, preparation, and persistence AI/AN students had that lead …

Attitudes And Practices Of Social Workers Toward The Lgbtq Community, Cassie A. Mecklenburg

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Social workers have a unique opportunity to serve people by meeting basic human needs, combating oppression and marginalization, and advocating for social justice. The purpose of this correlational, quantitative study was to measure the relationship between attitudes and practices among social workers toward the LGBTQ community with a specific examination of the religiosity of social workers, in order to assess if a social worker provides appropriate, inclusive services, regardless of their attitude toward this community. 2,828 social workers were asked to complete a 42 question researcher-created survey, Social Workers Attitudes and Practices Assessment, assessing their attitudes and practices toward the …

The Impact Of Police Officer Age On Leadership And Workplace Preferences, Abigail H. Lauer

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Police departments are experiencing low levels of police applicants and high turnover rates due to the current climate of policing and internal and external stressors. Police department management desires to be proficient in recruiting and managing police officers of different generations who may have varying desires and needs. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of generational differences on police officer leadership and workplace preferences in order to make recommendations to police department management about how to better engage, manage, recruit and retain police officers of different generations. The current study employed a quantitative design that …

Cultural Diversity Awareness: Perceptions Of Community Residents And Police Personnel, Vickie Minnifield Greene

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study examined the difference in self-reported perceptions of cultural diversity awareness between two specific groups, community residents and police personnel, within a Midwestern city’s community and police department. This study also measured how their attitudes related to their likelihood to assist in enhancing the goals of community policing, which includes the prevention of crime. Literature cited demonstrates that social injustice toward African Americans and Latinos, cultural diversity ignorance, miscommunication, and lack of trust between community residents and police personnel are indicators that their relationships require positive solutions toward repairing a historically strained relationship. The Miami University Diversity Awareness Scale …

Carli Counts: Learning To Assess The Impact Of Library Services On Student Success, Jasmine R. Cieszynski

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Through a grant-funded opportunity called CARLI Counts, I participated in in-person and online training, mentoring, and team projects which enabled me to do a small assessment of the use of Interlibrary Loan, Reference services, and a nursing database by students in selected Olivet Nazarene University School of Graduate and Continuing Studies programs. The purpose of the assessment was to see if outreach to faculty or course-integrated library instruction increased student use of resources—a behavior which correlates with student success in library research literature.

Although my outreach to program coordinators and faculty did not make a noticeable difference in the use …

The Statistical Relationship Between Income Inequality And Monetary Policy In Spain And The United States, Brooke Whetstone

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

Contractionary monetary policy has long run effects on inequality (Feldkircher & Kakamu, 2018). However, other forms of monetary policy do not have a clear effect on income inequality. Central banks defend the position that other factors are the driving forces behind income inequality (Powell, 2018).

Methodology

This investigation utilized ANOVA Regression analysis to determine if income inequality, as measured by wage growth by sector, is related to interest rates in the United States and Spain. If applicable, slopes of the regression lines for each sector were compared to see if they were significantly different, in a statistical sense.

Results …

Quantitative Research Projects In Psychology, Tabitha Joyner, Keely Dugan, Sarah Johnson

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Students will present their quantitative research from the 2018-2019 academic year.

The Relationship Between Faith Maturity And Life Satisfaction, Amanda Roche

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study attempted to assess the correlation between faith maturity and life satisfaction, as well as to compare that correlation coefficient to other indicators of life satisfaction, namely self-esteem and life orientation. Previous studies have shown that there are many components to life satisfaction, however faith maturity is not a factor that has been previously studied. This study attempts to determine the correlation between these two variables, as well as compare that correlation coefficient to other indicators of life satisfaction, namely self-esteem and life orientation. Participants at a small, private, religiously-affiliated liberal arts university were emailed a survey that included …

The Relationship Between The Accessibility Of Political Attitudes And Voting Behavior, Alison I. Young

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Eighty-five Olivet students (57 women) participated for extra credit in a study focused on the relationship between the accessibility of one's attitudes toward political parties (Democrats vs. Republicans) and political decisions (e.g., likelihood to vote for a given candidate). Participants viewed a series of Democrat-related (e.g., left-leaning, liberal) and Republican-related (e.g., right-leaning, conservative) terms piloted for political orientation. For each, they were asked to indicate as quickly and accurately as possible whether they liked or disliked it. The speed of their response served as a measure of attitude accessibility. Participants then completed a series of questions regarding their political orientation, …

Mental Health First Aid Training For College Students: Evaluation Of Effects On Students’ Knowledge And Responses To Mental Health Issues In Their Peers, Erica Sandtorv

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

Mental health literacy, or the public’s knowledge and beliefs about mental health, has been shown to be lacking; therefore, the proper first aid actions are not always taken to recognize and encourage treatment for psychological disorders. This issue is particularly relevant in a university setting where mental health issues are common and students often rely on their peers for support. Studies have shown mental health first aid (MFHA) training to be successful in equipping people with the skills they need to help others in acute mental health crises.

Methods

To assess the efficacy of a brief mental MHFA training …

Food Preferences Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus) And The Relationship With Season Change, Crystal Sauder

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) used to be easy to find out in the wild, but as humans encroached on their habitats, their populations started to become impacted. They have a habitat range from Southern Canada down to the Gulf Coast. In several states their numbers are threatened due to loss of habitat. Red-headed woodpeckers prefer to live in open woodlands with dead, or dying, trees to nest in. As humans take away the dead trees from the forests, red-headed woodpeckers are losing their nesting sites. Preservation of red-headed woodpecker habitats are needed to ensure the population starts to …

Generation Z And Faith: The Cognitive, Experiential, And Praxis, Houston Thompson, Nikki Dention, Julia Mcqueen, Abby Groters

Scholar Week 2016 - present

With every generation there is a sociological shift in the way faith is understood and expressed. Generation Z, those born after 1995, have been influenced by post-modernity and a changing worldview. Like generations before them, Generation Z is forming their own interpretations and experiences to define and express faith. This research discovers the attitudes and behaviors of Generation Z about their faith by looking at three aspects: 1) cognitive development; 2) personal experience; 3) expression or practice.

Increasing Quality Of Life For Rural Residents, Erin J. Brawner

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Quality of Life (QOL) is a complex construct. The purpose of this study was to explore potential correlates with rural residents’ perceived QOL to promote an increase in the QOL of rural residents. This quantitative study explored questions regarding possible correlations between QOL and sense of community and QOL and accessibility of community resources, as well as explored what type of resource participants viewed as the most difficult to access. Participants included 199 adults residing in one of three selected, mostly-rural counties in Illinois, Indiana, or Michigan. A survey was administered via SurveyMonkey, mailed questionnaire, or in-person via paper-pencil completion. …

Raising Leaders: Parental Leadership Modeling And Parental Attachment, M. Shane Stillman

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The objective of this research was to determine to what extent parental leadership modeling and parental attachment relate to leader courage, self-esteem, and emotional intelligence? Participants (29 men and 21 women) were selected from varying backgrounds and experiences to measure the effects of parental modeling and attachment as a matter of a leader’s life-story. Survey instruments included the MLQ-5X, RAAS, PCMS-15, RSES, and WLEIS-16. Results were analyzed using multiple regression and descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that leadership modeling has a statistically significant relationship to self-esteem (p= .01), but not to courage (p= .58), or to …

Racial Socialization: Relationship Between Black Identity, Perceptions Of Discrimination, And Academic Outcomes, Levar Ammons

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Racial tension in the academic environment has been prevalent in American society since Brown v. The Board of Education. Racial socialization serves as a practice utilized by Black American parents to provide their children with a cultural orientation as to what it means to be Black in America. Educators’ ability to create and maintain meaningful relationships across cultural differences impacts students’ perceptions on how they are being treated. Because perceived discrimination is associated with depressive symptomatology, it is critical to understand how Black American adolescents make racial meaning of themselves, particularly in the learning environment. The researcher utilized a …

Shots Fired: Examining Cues In Polic Use Of Force Encounters, Ronald Gaines Jr.

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Officer-involved shootings lead to a costly process where lives are lost, careers are ruined, and taxpayer dollars are spent on investigation and litigation costs. The purpose of this study was to examine the cues that are associated with incidents that resulted in a police officer’s use of lethal as opposed to less than lethal force to increase awareness, enhance police safety, and improve training and supervision. Through the current quantitative correlational study, the researcher aimed to add to the discussion on police use of force. The researcher collected and analyzed preexisting sets of data from tactical response reports obtained through …

A Descriptive Study Investigating Accounting Students' Job Selection Preferences, Richard Wesley

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Many accounting students are selecting accounting audit firms without exhausting a thorough research about the firms or getting an idea of the firms’ expectation. Moreover, accounting firms are hiring students without getting a clear understanding of the students’ job selection preference. As a result, both the students and employers are finding a cultural mismatch. Often employers and students have different perspectives about the nature of the professional skills that are required for a successful accounting career. Once hired, many students soon leave because they become disillusioned with job-related realities. The value of this research adds to the body of research …

An Analysis Of Underrepresented Minorities' Exposure To Allied Health Fields, Loshay Willis

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Despite a more diverse U.S. population, racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the U.S. healthcare professions. Further, increasing the enrollment of Underrepresented Minority (URM) students in health professions is a challenging and urgent issue. The literature had not explored a comparison of racial and ethnic groups’ exposure to allied health professions. This current study investigated URM and non-URMs’ exposure to and knowledge of allied health fields; in order to determine, whether some of the groups are getting exposed differentially to different methods, and to identify the resources necessary to expose and provide knowledge of allied health professions to recruit …

Attracting Millennials: An Examination Of Millennial Participation In Assembly Of God Churches, Kenneth Hansen

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The greatest decline in church attendance of any age group has occurred among Millennials, which are individuals born between 1980 and the early 2000s. This decline in Millennial church attendance has created great concern among church leaders about the future of the church. Church leaders have struggled to understand Millennials, which has led to an inability to attract and maintain Millennial participation in the church. The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, characteristics caused Millennials to be attracted to certain Assembly of God churches in Illinois and not others. The population for the current study was …

Examining Police Officer Resistance To Change And Body-Worn Cameras, Wayne Jakobitz Jr.

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Police departments are adopting the body-worn camera as an important tool in the restoration of trust and accountability for police officers. Although body-worn cameras can be beneficial to their work, police officers might resist the use of cameras. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether experiences with technology or the perceived usefulness of body-worn cameras predict resistance to the cameras in order to determine where resistance to body-worn cameras possibly exists. The current study employed a quantitative design that examined 48 (n = 48) police officers’ responses about resistance to body-worn cameras in relationship to the …

Spirituality: Relationship Between Grit, Equanimity, Spiritual Qualities And First-Generation College Students, Janett Cordoves

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study investigated the relationship between spirituality and first-generation, undergraduate and graduate college students’ grit, equanimity, and spiritual qualities. The researcher, a higher education professional, sought to highlight spirituality, not religion, as an intervention method for first-generation college students’ retention and success at the university. The results indicated a significant relationship between first-generation college students’ level of grit and equanimity as well as a direct relationship between grit and spiritual qualities. These results help inform educators and highlight that first-generation college students are both resilient as well as calm and centered in the midst of adversity and uncertainty. Participants’ narratives …

East African Perspectives Of Family And Community, And How They Can Inform Western Ecclesiology, Ben Strait

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Research into the daily lives of East Africans is either outdated or too narrowly focused. This presentation is the result of field research done in East Africa, especially focusing on how East Africans view and practice family and community living. It answers the questions of: What is "family" to an East African? What does community living look like in East Africa? And how can Westerners apply these intercultural ideas in practical ways?

Evaluation And Revision Of Bsri Trait Selection, Valerie Seehafer

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) is a tool created by Sandra Bem in the 1970’s aimed at measuring individual’s androgyny. Critiques concerning the theoretical and methodological framework suggest that it may be in need of an update. The purpose of my research was to determine if and what adjustments were needed for the BSRI. An adjusted version of the short form of the BSRI was distributed to undergraduate students on a small Christian university campus in the Midwest. Respondents rated traits from the BSRI in regards to social desirability, personal desirability, and gendered connotation. The results exhibited that three traits, …

Stigma As A Predictor Of Parental Willingness To Seek Mental Health Services For Their Children In Rural America, Reed M. Smith

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

Stigma exists in some capacity towards mental illness. This stigma is a barrier to mental health services for some people. Rural populations are known to have more stigma than their urban counterparts. This can be partly attributed to the rural value system and the lack anonymity in the tight-knit communities. This is on top of already lacking access to mental health services. This especially affects children. A 2015 study on low-income, urban, African-Americans found self-stigma as a predictor of help seeking. The first study focusing on parental stigma of seeking mental health services for their children in rural America …

The Relationship Between Musicianship, Academic Motivation, Academic Achievement, And Self-Esteem, Ellie Krumsieg

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

Past research indicates that music education has a positive influence on academic achievement and self-esteem. Intrinsic motivation is an accepted predictor of high academic achievement, and research suggests that students involved in music are intrinsically motivated. One study showed that undergraduate musicians possessed high levels of academic intrinsic motivation. This study attempts to explore the motivation, academic achievement, and self-esteem of collegiate musicians as compared to collegiate non-musicians.

Methods and Procedures

A survey link was emailed to all undergraduate students at a small, Christian university in the Midwest. Participants answered questions pertaining to their music involvement prompting for music …

Wesleyanism, Fundamentalism, And The Dones, Mature Christians Who Are Done With The Institutional Church: Two Book Reviews, Craighton Hippenhammer

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Book #1: "Square Peg: Why Wesleyans Aren't Fundamentalists," written by Nazarene and published by the Nazarene Publishing House. Book #2: "Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal Why People Are DONE with Church but Not Their Faith," by Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope, which tells why there are mature, highly educated Christians leaving the institutional church. The reasons why they are leaving are for the same four unexpected reasons. While these folks may not be large in numbers, they may be large in impact because they are doers and leaders at all levels of the church, so they may be leading the church …