A Continuation Of The Differentiation Of Transit Agencies And Their Funding In The United States, Hannah Stapp

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

This paper explores the role of efficiency, and effectiveness, measured in relation to the differentiation of public transportation agencies operating in the United States with a bus mode. Data is gathered from the National Transit Database (NTD) from 2015-2019, at the agency level. A k-means clustering approach is used to determine how these ratios segment agencies in the market. After agencies are classified into three groups, a discriminant analysis is done to affirm the distinctiveness of the solution. Next, an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model is run each year to investigate whether or not the ratios used to form …

Just Choices? Judicial Selection, Ideology, And Partisanship In The Ohio Supreme Court, Margo D'Agostino

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

This thesis joins the conversation on judicial selection and impacts on judicial ideology. This is a multifaceted question that engages with the history of judicial selection, differences between states, growing polarization and partisanship, and an influx in campaign spending that can all influence Justices’ behavior while on the bench. While other theorists have used more quantitative or statistical analytics, more research is still needed on the nuanced and qualitative questions surrounding the judiciary in the United States, especially on the state level. I look at three Ohio Supreme Court Justices—Maureen O’Connor, Jennifer Brunner, and Sharon Kennedy—and decisions they have penned …

Religiosity As A Moderator Of Infidelity In Dark Triad Women, Sophie M. Domanik

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Personality is a major determinant of behavior. The Dark Triad is a cluster of personality traits-- psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism-- commonly associated with callousness, manipulation, and anti-social behavior. In the realm of relationships, Dark Triad traits have been shown to predict a host of destabilizing behaviors, including infidelity. Infidelity has negative psychological impacts on those involved, with research citing infidelity as a precursor to major depressive episodes for some individuals. High levels of religiosity, on the other hand, predict negative attitudes toward infidelity and fewer instances of cheating overall. The present study investigated whether levels of religiosity moderate infidelity intentions …

The Pussy As Prey: Discourses Of Predation And Human Sexual Violence, Paige Skaff

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

The pussy is the central focus of this thesis: the pussy as prey, the pussy as the cis-gendered vulva-owning female, the pussy as the effeminate male. The pussy is a source of vulnerability and a catalyst for sexual and gender violence. The term pussy alone aligns the human figure to the nonhuman animal world in euphemistic language. Because an anthropocentric culture accords less respect to the nonhuman animal than to the human animal, the pussy is dehumanized – that is to say, an object without ethical standing that exists to serve the more powerful subject - and therefore, violence against …

Why Society Mistrusts The Science Of Covid-19, Calvin King

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

In December of 2019 the first known case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was identified in Wuhan, China. One month later the virus had made its way to the United States and changed our daily lives forever. Mask mandates, social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and vaccinations have all been measures to help contain the spread of this deadly disease, but many people choose not to engage in these protocols not believing their effectiveness and mistrusting the science that went into making them. In this study a survey was administered to 98 participants online who were asked seven demographic questions and then …

Parent-Child Relationships And Student Outcomes In Children: A Comparison Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Angela Kladias

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

The current study investigated the connection between parent-child relationships, academic achievement, and child attitudes in school-aged children both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, I examined relationships among parent- and child-perceived emotional closeness, attitudes toward school, and child achievement in elementary and middle school aged children. The current study examined associations between parent-child relationship factors and academic student outcomes, comparing these associations both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Differences in student outcomes were examined based off of COVID-19 circumstances as well as what level of emotional closeness and interaction the parents and child have. Attitudes and achievement of …

Emotional Support Animals For College Students: Do The Benefits Outweigh The Costs?, Sidney Street

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Mental health problems have been drastically increasing in recent years among college students. Alongside the rising prevalence of psychological distress, universities have also experienced an increase in requests to have Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) live on campus. To date however, data are scarce on students’ experiences living with and around ESAs. The present study aims to investigate attitudes and perceptions about ESAs, in both owners of ESAs as well as students who do not own an ESA but have interacted with one. Specifically, owners were interviewed to find whether the perceived benefits of owning an ESA outweigh the associated costs …

The Effects Of Feedback And Input On Job Satisfaction And Motivation, Daphne Slusher

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

In this study, I examine the effects of feedback and input on job satisfaction and motivation in a simulated online task. 106 Participants completed a puzzle in groups of 2-4 with feedback (positive/negative/none) and goal-setting (present/absent) manipulated. I predicted positive feedback would produce higher scores for satisfaction, and motivation, and lower scores for perceived workload. Similarly, I predicted that goal-setting would produce higher scores on selected scales for satisfaction, motivation, and perceived workload. These predictions were partially correct with positive feedback producing significantly higher satisfaction than negative feedback, a similar but non-significant trend for motivation, and significantly lower perceived workload …

The Effect Of Support Systems On Delinquency, Elizabeth S. Bohrer

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

There are many reasons why adolescents and young adults turn to delinquent behaviors, much of which result from the environment they are residing in. Copious research has been done on the effects that parent, teacher, peer, and partner relationships have on delinquency, but very little focuses on support systems as a whole. Support systems create positive or negative modeling behaviors for people to follow and individuals will allow these models to influence their own personal behavior patterns. The goal of this study is to assess how a possible change in support systems affects delinquent tendencies in a study group of …

International Travel: A Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis About How Study Abroad Opportunities Enhance One’S Global Perspective And Self-Awareness, Kristen Zink

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

As the world is becoming more interconnected, the importance of having a well-rounded, global education is necessary. To meet those needs, many students are electing to study abroad during their time in college. Although research has been done to examine the direct benefits of studying abroad, there has been little research done to differentiate the impacts of short-term and long-term study abroad. This research looked at how students reflected on both their short-term and long-term study abroad experiences and it examined the benefits of both lengths of travel. A quantitative analysis was done to analyze the benefits of short-term study …

Relationships Between Religiosity, Spirituality, Gender, Psychological Distress, And Treatment Preference, Reid Wollett

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

The underutilization of mental health services by college students is an enduring problem, highlighted by increasing popularity of mental health awareness efforts. One strategy used to understand this problem is examining college students’ attitudes toward seeking psychological help. The present study sought to examine college students’ attitudes toward seeking both psychological and religious forms of help, and the roles of religiosity/spirituality, psychological distress, and gender in predicting treatment preference. Understanding what kind of treatment students prefer and the important predictors of this preference may help us to address more effectively the problem of mental health service underutilization. In a large …

Impact Of Animal Programming On Human Attitudes Of Local Wildlife, Ashton Jerger

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Attitudes towards wildlife can have direct implications on peoples’ interest in conserving local habitats and their overall ecological choices. Attitudes are formed by multiple components of an individual’s life history. However, through interactive, educational experiences, there is a potential to change current attitudes. Animal programs are an example of interactive, educational experiences that provide individuals the opportunity to get up-close to animal ambassadors and participate in engaging conversations about them. An animal program assessment was conducted with the 2019 summer camps at the Ohio Wildlife Center to quantify the changes in peoples’ affiliation for local wildlife and their willingness to …

The Effect Of Parental Interaction On Emotional Learning With Interactive Devices In Children Ages Three To Five, Kathleen Rosneck

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

As the popularity of child-friendly tablet-based apps and games has grown, the need to evaluate the effects of tablet play has also developed. The current study used an app designed for children ages two to five years called “Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings” to examine whether prosocial interactive media can be beneficial for emotional development. The present study was modeled after a study by Rasmussen et al. (2018), wherein children ages three and four years spent two weeks with an experimenter- adapted version of the same app. This experimenter adaptation consisted of limiting children’s access to a subset of the available …

Ambivalent Sexism: Why Do Victims Get Blamed?, Rianna West

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

The current study empirically investigates the factors that influence how a person judges the victims and perpetrators in a sexual assault case. This work grows out of the MeToo Movement; a cultural shift that has allowed women to come forward and share their experiences with sexual assault (Mendes et. al, 2018). The goals of the current research are to understand how someone who holds ambivalent sexist beliefs and beliefs in rape myths may view the #MeToo Movement and a victim of assault. This study has 2 (victim race) X 2 (victim gender) X 2 (participant gender) design, where 181 participants …

Assessing Workload In The Classroom Using Interactive Presentation Software, Connor Mackenzie

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Perceived workload assessments in children have been administered individually in laboratory settings. This study assessed workload in a classroom using the interactive presentation tool Mentimeter to administer the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Children assessed workload following two cognitive tasks. In addition, the children completed a self-report of executive function. Findings revealed that children’s perceived workload matched the objective demands of the task indicating that workload assessments may be a useful tool in the classroom. Although executive function predicted objective performance, it did not predict perceived workload.

The Effects That Family Form And Medical Practices Have On The Willingness Of Consumers To Adopt Entomophagous Practices, Mackenzie Conlon

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

To help reduce amounts of destructive methane produced by livestock, climate activists are advocating for the inclusion of entomophagy in the mindset and culinary choices of Western society. Entomophagy, customary in most regions of the world, is seen as a deviant and disgusting food practice by most Westerners. In order to challenge this perception, producers of insect-based products are changing the appearance and marketability of their commodities. To successfully target markets, they need to determine the ideal household for entomophagy acceptance. My research tests the hypothesis that family form and medical practices affect the willingness of consumers to adopt these …

Greek Tragedy At Marion Correctional: An Exploration Of Directing Theatre In Prison, Elise G. Woods

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

In this project, I describe and analyze forces of freedom and coercion through the process of directing Trojan Women by Euripides at Marion Correctional Institution. This analysis documents each stage of the theatrical process—from project proposal to final performance and discussion—through ethnographic, arts-based research using personal observations, primary accounts from performers and audience members, and secondary sources. By exploring the experience of directing Trojan Women in the prison setting, I analyze forces of coercion and freedom in both theatre-making practices and prison. As a result, I assert the uniquely positive aspects and productive utilization's of coercion through theatre in a …

An Examination Of Drive For Muscularity Scale Scores And The Female/Athlete Paradox Among Collegiate Female Student-Athletes, Emily Matisko

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Although muscularity is a trait that is traditionally associated with masculinity, women with muscular figures have been deemed more socially acceptable throughout the past decade (Indiana University Health, 2015). That said, societal standards still dictate a specific degree of muscularity that women should attain, creating a complicated paradox for female athletes (Steinfeldt, Carter, Benton, & Steinfeldt,2011). Various studies (Steinfeldt et al., 2011; Krane, Choi, Baird, Aimar, & Kauer, 2004) have established that female athletes exhibit a higher drive for muscularity when compared to their non-athletic counterparts, but most of the existing literature does not examine if and how a female …

Attitudes Toward Prisoners: An Introductory Study, Kathleen Geyer

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

The United States has the largest prison population in the world and it just seems to keep growing (Tsai & Scommegna 2012). The current research focuses on attitudes toward prisoners and how that may influence someone’s likelihood of returning to prison. Attitudes toward prisoners was measured using the Attitudes Toward Prisoners scale (ATP). The research hypotheses are as follows: 1) females and people of color will have higher original ATP scores than males and whites; 2) people who have experienced discrimination and/or have some connection to the prison system will have higher original ATP scores than those who have not; …

Physical Boundaries And Social Networks: How Structural Configurations And Networks Of Support Influence Life Satisfaction In Assisted And Independent Living Facilities, Morgan Watts

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

As the elderly population continues to grow, the importance of gaining knowledge on how assisted and independent living facilities affects residents’ psychological, social, and physical well-being also continues to grow. This research looked at how the structural difference of independent and assisted living facilities (the integration of living and recreational areas between different levels of assisted residents) affect residents’ social support networks and happiness in independent living as compared to assisted living. A qualitative analysis was used to determine other important themes about the well-being of these older adults.

The two facilities used in this study included Friendship Village, which …

Stigma And Its Reduction: The Role Of Knowledge, Causal Attribution, And Mental Disorder Type, Jesica N. Ferguson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Abstract

Research has shown undeniable evidence of mental illness stigma. Stigma has been shown to reduce treatment seeking and negatively impact emotion and cognition in individuals with mental illness (Livingstone & Boyd, 2010). By discovering the driving forces behind stigma, treatment seeking and quality of life can be improved for individuals with mental illness. This study investigates the effect of knowledge, disorder type, and causal attribution on mental illness stigma. Specifically, participants were assigned to one of two conditions, knowledge or no knowledge. Knowledge conditions included information about a disorder (schizophrenia or depression, depending on disorder condition) such as definition, …

Perceptions Of Gender Non-Conforming Men: The Impact Of Perceiver Gender, Relationship Status And Gender Role Ideology, Ciara A. Atkinson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Due to patriarchal gender role norms, the male gender has been historically afforded increased social status and prestige by way of social, political, and economic advantage. While men benefit from this privileged status, they experience many negative consequences from these norms as well. Male gender roles are more rigid than female gender roles, as demonstrated by previous research suggesting that men who deviate from prescribed gender roles are met with more social backlash than women (Siren, McCreary, & Mahalik, 2004). However, research on why this is the case is inconclusive.

Thus, the present study sought to examine variables associated with …

Is College Making Men Less “Manly?”: The Influence Of Time Spent In A Liberal Arts Environment On Masculinity, Samuel Oakley

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

In Otterbein’s explicitly-named and often-touted diverse and inclusive liberal arts collegiate environment, students are frequently exposed to the institution’s various messages regarding inclusive gender norms via administrative communications, curricular priorities, and the ideological content of extracurricular events. Taken together, institutional histories and contemporary practices demonstrate that Otterbein University purports to offer an environment permeated with an ideology that emphasizes the value of diversity, equality, and inclusion as part of a holistic educational experience.

My study includes three components. First, I administered the Bem (1971) Sex Role inventory (a scale originally designed to measure individual gender performance) to answer the following …

Socializing In The Internet Age: A Comparison Of Virtual And Traditional Groups In Terms Of Self-Definition, Self-Investment, And Personality, Christopher T. Jurgens

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

As individuals find more of their social identity defined in the virtual sphere, it is important to understand the functions and structures of virtual communities. Yet, a comprehensive comparison between virtual groups and traditional groups has yet to be conducted. This study investigated structural and functional differences and similarities between virtual and traditional communities. Participants (N = 63) in four groups (traditional social/virtual social and traditional professional/virtual professional) were compared on measures of function (as defined by their self-definition and self-investment) and structure (as defined by their personality traits). Three hypotheses were tested: 1. Virtual and traditional groups would not …

Social Media Usage And Subjective Well-Being In Middle School Students, Kimberly R. Hutcheson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

With more people using social media platforms at younger ages, it is imperative to understand the relationship between social media use and subjective well-being. Previous research regarding young adults and their use of social media has shown inconclusive results concerning frequency of social media use and well-being. The current study focused on a younger adolescent population and on their motivations for posting on social media as opposed to their general frequency of use. Thirty seven middle school students took an online survey asking questions regarding frequency of social media use, motivations for use, self esteem, life satisfaction, and source of …

Causes Of Turnover And Employee Satisfaction: A Case Study Of Otterbein University Telefund, Brandy L. Stiverson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Organizational communication professionals seek to improve the overall communication needs of organizations and the social interaction processes that occur within. A special focus is given to those communication processes that are aimed at improving relationships between subordinates and employees. Supervisors aim to improve the organizational life for their employees so that they have a happy, effective, and productive run in the organization. However, employees can sometimes feel dissatisfied with their jobs and factors pertaining to their life in and out of the organization. Through examining a call center on a university campus, a greater understanding of employee satisfaction, motivation, and …

Self-Objectification, Self-Valuation, And Bodily Self-Concept: An Examination Of Women's Experiences In A Post-Feminist Society, Madeleine Holmes

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Objectification is a central concept in feminist theories surrounding the oppression of women. When objectification occurs, a woman is perceived and treated as a body or a collection of body parts for others to evaluate or utilize for their own pleasure (Bartky, 1990; Fredrickson & Roberts, 1998). Research has shown that women socialized in patriarchal cultures internalize their objectification with negative psychological consequences (Tiggemann & Lynch, 2001; Noll & Fredrickson, 1998; Fredrickson, et al., 1998). This study explored the subjective experiences of women in the context of a culture that generally perpetuates a post-feminist sensibility. Six women participated in semi-structured …

The Influence Of Preferred Music On Vigilance And Mental Workload, Michelle H. Wang

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Music is found in various aspects of daily life. Many individuals listen to music while completing mentally demanding tasks. The current study aims to explore the relations between music on attention performance and perceived mental workload. Participants completed two identical vigilance tasks under two different conditions, preferred music and silence. Following each vigilance task, participants rated their experience according to the six subscales of the workload index, NASA-TLX, for each condition. Even though we did not observe a main effect of music, there are many robust interactions. Overall, participants performed better (more correct detection, fewer false alarm and faster response …

A Source Analysis Of The 1919 Chicago Black Sox, Jordan P. Fields

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

In this thesis, I discuss the relation between Chicago Tribune articles and secondary sources covering the Chicago White Sox and the 1919 World Series. The Chicago Black Sox, as they became known, fixed the World Series in an attempt to receive money from gamblers. This was reported on by the Chicago Tribune and later summarized, analyzed, and explained by various historians and authors. I start by analyzing the Chicago Tribune’s account of the events from the 1919 World Series to see if the writers noticed anything suspicious about the series. Next, I look at the Tribune’s account of …

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Voice For The Oppressed, Molly E. Craig

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

In this thesis, I discuss Eleanor Roosevelt as a political and social activist through the media. ER was the first First Lady to advocate for her own social and political agenda and a way in which she accomplished this was with her extensive relationship with the media. In my thesis, I first give a brief history of other sources regarding aspects of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life that touch my own project. Then, I examine the reasons Eleanor Roosevelt felt compelled toward activism. In the next section I analyze several different media outlets, beginning with her book It’s Up to the Women …