Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Morphological Awareness Dynamic Assessment Task In Third Grade Children: A Feasibility Study, Katherine Pike

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a) a morphological awareness dynamic assessment task is a sensitive instrument and reveals a range of performance in third grade children, and b) performance on a morphological awareness dynamic assessment task may be significantly improved with dynamic scaffolding.

Method: The participants included twenty-three typically developing third-grade children from an elementary school in the Intermountain West. The morphological awareness dynamic assessment task, adapted from Larsen and Nippold (2007), was administered to each child two times (Initial Trial 1 testing and a subsequent Trial 2 testing 3 days later). This task required …

The Role Of Law: How Law Shapes And Alters The Foundations Of Societies, Derek Robert Funk

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

When one considers the abundant number of nations, laws, and forms of government that have emerged throughout the history of civilization, it becomes apparent that although mankind shares common traits and attributes, societies often implement different principles as they strive to protect their interests and achieve their goals. As the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau remarked, “besides the principles that are common to all, every nation has in itself something that gives them a particular application, and makes its legislation peculiarly its own.”1 Because every society faces a unique set of challenges, every society must solve its particular dilemmas in a unique …

Majority Tyranny Or Minority Power? Impact Of Direct Democracy On Same-Sex Relationship Rights, Jylisa Renea Doney

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This research study examined the conditions under which direct democracy advanced versus impeded gay relationship rights. Many policy makers argue that direct democracy works to create a “tyranny of the majority” in which the majority impedes the rights of minority citizens. However, other researchers disagree and note that direct democracy contests advance gay rights as seen in Switzerland (Frey & Goette, 1998). I hypothesize that direct democracy advanced gay relationship rights legislation when influenced by non-traditional norms regarding family and gender, and/or the contests occurred in states or cantons that were heterogeneous in their values, while direct democracy hindered gay …

Acceptance Versus Distraction For Unwanted Sexual Thoughts, Joseph A. Sherwood

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This on-line study examined 67 participants who rated their sexual thought distress level as moderately distressing or greater, on the successfulness of an acceptance-based strategy and a distraction-based strategy for dealing with unwanted sexual thoughts. The study began with the completion of an assessment battery, which measured attitudes about sexual thoughts. During a pre-intervention three minute time period, participants were asked to record/report occurrences a previously identified unwanted sexual thought, if or when, it occurred. They were then randomly placed into one of three experimental conditions (e.g., acceptance-based, distraction-based, and a control group) in which they viewed a video presentation …

White Blues: Can Eric Clapton Embody Du Bois' Double Consciousness?, Ryan Patrick Gabriel

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In this article I explore if Black consciousness, as described by W.E.B. Du Bois' theory of double consciousness, can be taken on by those who are White. I analyze songs both written and covered by Eric Clapton, to examine if elements of double consciousness are in his music. Furthermore, I analyze album covers that have Clapton's image on them, looking for characteristics of physical Blackness. My findings reveal that Eric Clapton does take on aspects of double consciousness, through his music, and facets of physical Blackness. Thus, I discover it is possible for Whites to experience elements of double consciousness.

Variability Of Cranial Nerve Assignment To Speech And Swallow Muscles, Kristina Morrey

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The object of this study was to examine and document anatomical variability of cranial nerve assignment for muscles of the speech and swallow mechanism. Through means of textbook review, the study’s first purpose was to identify which cranial nerves were attributed to the innervation for muscles associated with the speech and swallow mechanism. The second purpose was to examine if cranial nerve assignment, field of study, or geographic region explained differences in cranial nerve assignment to muscles of the head and neck.

Ultrasound As An Aversive Stimulus For Use With Rats: A Novel Model Of Aversive Control, Brandon Norlund

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Negative reinforcers serve to maintain or increase behavior through the removal of an aversive stimulus. The primary method of studying negative reinforcement in non-humans has been through the use of electrical shock. While this method has proven to be reliable, many negative reinforcers that humans and non-humans encounter do not elicit tactile pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore a novel, non-human animal model of aversive control without the use of electrical shock as the negative reinforcer. A considerable amount of research has shown that various strains of rats find ultrasonic tones of certain frequencies and amplitudes …

Machismo And The Glass Ceiling: A Comparative Cultural Study On The Role Of Gender In The Presidential Elections Of Hillary Clinton And Michelle Bachelet, Kayla Woodring

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

During her bid for president, Hillary Clinton was often questioned about allegations of sexism in media coverage surrounding her campaign. She once responded: "It's been deeply offensive to millions of women. I believe this campaign has been a groundbreaker in a lot of ways. But it certainly has been challenging given some of the attitudes in the press.” Were media mentalities and reporting really as biased toward Clinton’s gender as has been asserted? This study seeks to answer not only that question, but also to determine whether such bias is unique to a female presidential candidate in the United States. …

Queering Gender: How Transgender College Student Navigate Gender, Rachel Jaggi

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In response to the “Doing Gender” theory as proposed by West and Zimmerman, some scholars have argued that the theory perpetuates gender inequality and leaves no room for social change. These scholars argue that research needs to be directed towards deconstructing the gender system, thereby “undoing gender.” Transgender individuals, who appear to be playing with the system of gender, provide an important conduit through which to examine the possibility of transcending the gender binary. I conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with transgender college students to examine the extent to which these individuals are able to overcome the dichotomous gender …