Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Impact Of Mindfulness Training On Test Anxiety In College Students, Lindsay Alcock

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University

Abstract

A considerable number of studies have investigated the relationship between mindfulness techniques and the reduction of anxiety; a smaller number of these studies have looked at test anxiety. Previous studies have used multiple mindfulness techniques to measure the impacts on test anxiety, but few have isolated mindfulness trainings to compare the relative impact of each type on anxiety. The present study isolated two different types of mindfulness trainings to analyze their impact on test anxiety compared to each other and a control group. Three sections of biblical scripture classes were used. …

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 …

Preaching The Same Message: Economic Populism On Both Sides Of The Atlantic, Paul R. Koch

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In a lecture delivered at Illinois Wesleyan University three years ago, Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway and Director-General of the World Health Organization, observed that Americans who maintain that “Washington is the problem,” and Europeans who assert that “Brussels is the problem,” are essentially making the same argument. Since the global financial crisis of the late 2000’s, many discussions of economic policy around the world have centered around the rise of “populist” sentiments. Examples of these developments would include the “Brexit” process in the United Kingdom, the "America First” agenda of the Trump Administration in the …

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 …

Drugs And Society: Ethical Implications Of Medical Marijuana Legalization, Barry Lee, Hannah Faith Ahrens, Aubrey St. John

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The duty of social workers is to advocate for a myriad of options in favor of societal well-being. Confined by its Schedule I classification, advocates of medical marijuana urge the government to reclassify the substance. Reclassification of medical marijuana sanctions broader exploration of both its benefits and ramifications.

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 …

Levinas Across The Lifespan: Human Development And The Face Of The Other, Elizabeth Gassin, Chad Maxson

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In this Scholar Week presentation, we will review the fundamentals of Emmanuel Levinas’ philosophy and integrate them with research from the field of developmental psychology. Levinas argued that ethics is the starting point of philosophy. The face of the other human functioned for him to communicate the primal social attachments between the Self and the Other. For Levinas, this primary sociability contains an infinite ethical obligation that shapes philosophy. Various lines of research in developmental psychology have demonstrated a chain of events that dovetails with Levinas’ claims. This chain of events links infant preference for human faces, the crucial role …

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.

What To Do With All This Data? Using Competency Assessment For Advising, Rachel A. Guimond, Hillary Cole

Scholar Week 2016 - present

While assessment serves a critical role in providing direction for program development, student outcome data can also foster individual growth. This presentation will explore the existing research on different advising models and the ONU Social Work Program’s system for using assessment for accreditation to advise students toward professional growth.

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 …

21st Century Church Leadership And Pastor Preparation, Veronica Abney

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study examined 21st-century American churches and the pastors who lead them to determine whether those pastors who attended seminaries, traditional universities, or denominational institutions were more academically prepared to grow church membership, increase weekly attendance, retain members, manage high-impact leadership teams, and engage in local church formation than were pastors who did not attend or complete any academic institution. The researcher examined the academic completion levels, leadership and church growth characteristics, and professional training of the participating pastors from six broadly defined categories: (a) pastors who participated in the 2014-2015 Outreach/LifeWay magazine survey; (b) pastors who participated in …

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 …

Emotional Intelligence: The Effect On Social Media Use, Interpersonal Violence, And Gender, Gail Grabczynski

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study investigated the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI), social media use, interpersonal violence and gender. EI is a relatively new topic of research that has been of interest to many organizations due to the proposition that EI assists in the development of individuals. With the proliferation of social media, interpersonal violence and women in the workforce, a determination of a relationship between EI and those variables was warranted. The study was conducted at a small private Christian university. An online survey was administered to 123 sophomores. This study was a cross-sectional quantitative design, that utilized three established instruments to …