Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Housing Attainability In The Bear River Area, Peyton Reynolds

Student Research Symposium

Utahns are experiencing numerous challenges related to affording, securing, and maintaining housing.

Rurality: A Secondary & Post-Secondary Perspective, Emmalee Folsom

Student Research Symposium

How can we as secondary educators push rural students to embrace their rural identities in conjunction with their academic skills to not only become powerful members of society, but to see themselves as candidates for post-secondary education?

Latinx Education: Catalyst For Permanent Socio-Economic Change, Evan Schellhous

Student Research Symposium

This poster explores the transformative impact of education in empowering the Latinx community, drawing on insights from four contemporary films: Spare Parts, McFarland USA, Walkout, and A Million Miles Away. Each film depicts unique narratives where education is pivotal in overcoming socio-economic challenges, cultural barriers, and systemic inequities. Spare Parts narrates the inspiring journey of Latino students who, with determination and innovative spirit, defy stereotypes to excel in science and technology. McFarland USA illustrates how mentorship and community support enable under-resourced Latinx athletes to break the cycle of poverty through academic and athletic success. In Walkout, historic student-led protests …

The Role Of Answer Justification In Multiple-Choice Testing: Effects On Performance And Metacognitive Accuracy, Spenser A. Clark, Michellle L. Rivers, Acacia L. Overono

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Student Research

Multiple-choice (MC) tests are widely used in educational settings but have been criticized for promoting passive recognition rather than active retrieval. Our research explores how adding a simple component to MC tests—answer justification—influences test performance and metacognitive accuracy. Across two experiments, university students studied a textbook chapter and completed either a standard MC test (MC-only group) or an MC test requiring them to justify their answers (answer justification group). Participants also provided predictive and postdictive metacognitive judgments. The results showed that the answer justification group significantly outperformed the MC-only group on an immediate test (Experiments 1 and 2) and scored …

Preparing Youth For Careers In Drone Aviation: Evaluating Washington County 4-H Drone Camps, Paul A. Hill, Aubree L. Miller, Katarina J. Aikens

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Drone technology presents growing career opportunities, yet youth access to education in this field remains limited. This study evaluates the Washington County 4-H Drone Camps, which aimed to equip youth in 4^th – 8^th graders with essential knowledge and skills in drone aviation. The Drone Camps focused on competencies such as drone anatomy, FAA regulations, and piloting skills. Evaluation results indicated youth improved in all competency areas after completing the camp. The Washington County 4-H Drone Camps effectively allowed youth to explore drone technologies and prepare them for a possible career pathway.

Utah State University’S Role In Latino Youth Leadership Development, Celina Wille, Lendel K. Narine

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This evaluation study explores the impact of the Latinos in Action (LIA) leadership boot camps on Latino youth development. Since 2018, these programs have improved participants' communication, teamwork, and goal-setting skills, fostering civic engagement and academic success among middle and high school students within Utah's growing Latino population.

Cultivating Community And Commerce: A Summary Of The Statewide Social And Economic Impacts Of Utah Farmers Markets, Jaclyn Pace, Bryn Watkins, Roslynn Mccann, Steven Price

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Data collected from six markets throughout the market seasons between 2023 and 2024 highlights the transformative impact of Utah’s farmers’ markets on the state’s economy, health, and sense of community. According to market patrons, Utah’s farmers' markets are vital economic and social hubs supporting local agriculture, small businesses, and community well-being.

Buyer Beware: Pay-For-Play Research Outreach Services, Erica Finch, Cameron Nielsen

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Shortly after completing a groundbreaking study, a researcher receives an email from a science news website offering to promote their findings to a wider audience. But there’s a fee attached, and they want to know if the library will help cover the cost …

Lung Segmentation With Lightweight Convolutional Attention Residual U-Net, Meftahul Jannat, Shaikh Afnan Birahim, Mohammad Asif Hasan, Tonmoy Roy, Lubna Sultana, Hasan Sarker, Samia Fairuz, Hanaa A. Abdallah

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Examining chest radiograph images (CXR) is an intricate and time-consuming process, sometimes requiring the identification of many anomalies at the same time. Lung segmentation is key to overcoming this challenge through different deep learning (DL) techniques. Many researchers are working to improve the performance and efficiency of lung segmentation models. This article presents a DL-based approach to accurately identify the lung mask region in CXR images to assist radiologists in recognizing early signs of high-risk lung diseases. Methods: This paper proposes a novel technique, Lightweight Residual U-Net, combining the strengths of the convolutional block attention module (CBAM), the Atrous …

Creaciones En La Cocina Para Comer Juntos En Familia, Celina Wille, Lacee Jimenez, Casey Coombs, Heidi Leblanc, Lea Palmer, Jocelin Gibson

All Current Publications

Esta publicación, basada en la guía nutricional del programa SNAP-Ed, ofrece consejos prácticos y recetas culturalmente relevantes para promover una alimentación saludable y fortalecer los lazos familiares durante las comidas. Incluye conceptos básicos de planificación, un menú de muestra, guías de MiPlato e información para fomentar la participación de los niños en la cocina.

Community-Oriented Policing In A Majority-Black Neighborhood: In Search Of A Local Solution To A National Problem, Nasaskyia R. Hicks, Shanada Mcfadden, Natallia Sianko

Transforming Communities

Few issues loom larger today than how the United States can rehabilitate its criminal justice system. Although justified and undoubtedly timely, the national focus often shifts attention away from local, interpersonal, and community processes that shape how criminal justice is administered and experienced differently in communities across the country. Our goal is to contribute to the national conversation on community-oriented policing and social innovation to improve police-community relations and increase public trust in majority-Black neighborhoods. This article offers a call to action for the scientific and policy communities to reflect on effective practices that bring the voices of local stakeholders …

Short Duration Relationship And Marriage Education (Rme) During Covid-19: Outcomes And Future Directions, Pamela B. Payne, Naomi Brower, Melanie Jewkes

Transforming Communities

Abstract

COVID-19 reshaped short duration relationship marriage education (RME), requiring that previously in person programs, including the Utah Marriage Celebration (UMC) move to remote formats. It is critical that outcomes of such transitions are evaluated and assessed. Marriage Celebration 2021 included 348 participants who responded after participating in the virtual event and 148 participants who responded to a one month follow up. Results indicate that like prior Marriage Celebration events, participants indicated their perceived relationship knowledge increased. Commitment to change was evaluated for the first time and showed significant results related to age and issues being covered. Implications for RME …

Artificial Intelligence In Research, Erica Finch, Stephanie Western

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Has your paper been used to train an AI model? Almost certainly

Artificial-intelligence developers are buying access to valuable data sets that contain research papers – raising uncomfortable questions about copyright.

Assessing The State Of Archives And Archives Workers In The California State University, Stef Baldivia, Tanya M. Hollis, Ellen E. Jarosz, Laura Sorvetti, Heather M. Steele Gajewski, Diana Wakimoto

Journal of Western Archives

This article presents findings from an environmental scan of archival work at California State University (CSU), the largest public university system in the United States. Using an online survey to collect qualitative and quantitative data, the researchers were able to create a snapshot of the current state of the archives across the CSU system's campuses. This included information about staffing, compensation, collections, duties and responsibilities, and budgets, as well as challenges. While all of the archival workers are part of the same university system, there were many differences in staffing levels, staff and faculty ranks, budgets, and duties assigned to …

Ethics Of Care: Applying Cultural Protocols To Indigenous Sound Recordings, Jolene D. Manus

Journal of Western Archives

The University of New Mexico, College of University Libraries and Library Sciences, endorsed The Protocols for Native American Archival Materials in 2020. This case study explores the use of an Ethics of Care approach, prioritizing Indigenous cultural protocols for Indigenous sound recordings housed within the archival collections of the Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections (CSWR). The CSWR staff sought guidance from local tribal nations when CSWR patrons requested the duplication of cultural songs, cultural oral histories, and/or interviews. Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, tribal cultural rights departments, and specified tribal persons identified by tribes as cultural experts reviewed the …

Continuous Exposure To An Aversive Mixture: A Means Of Maintaining Aversion In Sheep Averted To Geigeria Ornativa O. Hoffm. (Vermeerbos) - An Assessment, Leendert D. Snyman

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Establishing aversion to Geigeria ornativa only lasts for some time, after which the induced aversion disappears and sheep start eating G. ornativa again. This behavior is aggravated by the social influence of non-averted sheep in mixed grazing situations. Exposing sheep continuously to a so-called “aversive mixture”, containing an aversive substance (lithium chloride) and the sensory characteristics of the plant (hexane extract of G. ornativa) mixed with a tasty meal (maize meal), following an initial aversion treatment, resulted in sustained aversion to G. ornativa in the field. This method proved to be applicable to mixed grazing situations with averted and …

Psychosocial And Audiological Characteristics In Misophonia: An Interdisciplinary Comparison Study Of Adults With Misophonia To Healthy Controls, Mercedes G. Woolley, Hailey E. Johnson, Emily M. Bowers, Doris Velasquez, Julie M. Petersen, Karen Muñoz, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Student Research

Despite the increasing investigation into misophonia, its classification remains debated due to symptom overlap with audiological and psychological conditions, as well as methodological limitations in existing studies. In the present study, we compared a clinical sample of adults seeking treatment for misophonia with a non-treatment-seeking sample of age- and gender-matched healthy controls. In these two samples, we examined the psychological and audiological features of misophonia by assessing key psychological processes (anger, disgust, OCD symptoms, anxiety, depression, stress, wellbeing, and psychological inflexibility) and audiological features (hearing, hyperacusis, and tinnitus). We found that individuals with misophonia exhibit higher levels of psychological inflexibility …

Enhancing Clinical Training Through Community Engagement, Tammy Taylor, Jan Thornton, Jeff Spears

Transforming Communities

Practice courses in the field of social work use a student only approach to roleplaying. This traditional approach to developing clinical skills fails to incorporate feedback from seasoned professionals in the field. Utah State University is a land-grant institution educating social workers across the state. In two generalist practice classes, faculty incorporated twenty-four licensed clinical therapists to observe and provide real feedback on various therapeutic modalities to MSW students. Students reported an appreciation for the feedback provided and more confidence in their clinical skills. Community partners felt a sense of contribution to knowledge in developing the clinical social workers of …

Recognizing Individual Variability In Misophonia: Identifying Symptom-Based Subgroups With Gaussian Mixture Modeling, Mercedes G. Woolley, Amanda M. Ramos, Emily M. Bowers, Karen Muñoz, Julie M. Petersen, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Student Research

Misophonia is characterized by intense emotional and physiological reactions to everyday sounds such as chewing and tapping. While previous researchers have focused on defining and characterizing the disorder, limited attention has been given to the variability in symptom presentations across individuals. In this study, we sought to identify distinct subgroups of individuals with misophonia by applying a Gaussian finite mixture model to explore the heterogeneity of symptom profiles. Sixty treatment-seeking participants completed the Duke Misophonia Interview, which assessed the presence and severity of various behavioral, affective, and cognitive symptoms. Items from this measure served as model indicators. Two clusters were …

Building Relationships For Meaningful Co-Created Indigenous Climate Education, B. Hanson, R. Mccann, D. Smiley, S. Hinck, A. R. Archie, N. Butler

Environment and Society Student Research

This project involved a multicultural team collaboratively co-creating a climate change module by and for Indigenous people. Embracing the framework of cultural humility, we recognized the bidirectional learning inherent in the project and its role in mitigating power dynamics within the team. This endeavor underscored the significance of transparency, effective communication, respect, reciprocity, trust building, and sensitivity to cultural contexts. Our findings emphasized the need for locally grounded programs that echo local traditional wisdom. We discovered that fostering an environment conducive to active listening and patience is pivotal in establishing a secure space. Our research affirms the equal validity and …

Ai And Your Research, Yassin Nacer, Stephanie Western

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Our research is being used to train generative AI. Join us for an interactive discussion on how major publishers are selling your work as training material, and how that impacts your rights as an author. We'll explore the potential impacts of AI training on faculty, institutions, and the broader academic landscape. Share your thoughts and insights, and help shape the future of AI and research.

Self-Perception As A Predictor Of Eating Disorder Severity In A Residential Sample Of Women And Girls With Eating Disorders, Emily M. Bowers, Julie M. Petersen, Tera Lensegrav-Benson, Benita Quakenbush, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions with significant negative health outcomes, high mortality rates, and comorbid mental health conditions. Despite many available interventions for eating disorders, treatment remains challenging due to the difficulty in maintaining treatment gains. Understanding effective treatment processes is crucial. This study aimed to examine the role of self-perception components in predicting eating disorder severity in a residential sample of women and girls. Participants (N = 175) completed measures assessing eating disorder severity, self-kindness, self-judgment, and self-esteem at admission. Correlational analyses and structural equation modeling were used to explore these relationships. Results indicated that self-judgment and …

Culturally Considerate Trauma-Focused Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment In Latine/X Populations: A Scoping Review, Alejandra Kukuli Delgado, Ryan Holliday, Shira Maguen, Nicholas Holder

Psychology Student Research

Background/Objectives: While theoretical articles describing cultural considerations for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment in Latine/x populations exist, empirical trials are less common. The present study aimed to review the existing literature for empirically tested, trauma-focused PTSD treatments among Latine/x samples to describe treatment outcomes, cultural considerations, and gaps in the existing literature. Methods: For this scoping review, we identified studies that met inclusion criteria as culturally considerate, trauma-focused PTSD treatments reporting symptom outcomes in Latine/x adults. We searched databases (n = 7) and collected 2176 unique records. Six reports met inclusion criteria. Studies enrolled 176 participants into five …

University Students & Faculty Would Like More Knowledge About Using Ai In Academics, Tessa Richardson

Research on Capitol Hill

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prevalent in every aspect of human life. Understanding both faculty and student attitudes and behaviors toward AI in education allows governing boards and lawmakers to effectively discuss and make informed decisions regarding policies that impact its usage.

Drought And Lack Of Water Are Among The Top Environmental Concerns For All Utahns, Sydney Fisk

Research on Capitol Hill

Rural populations are often left out of research, so we wanted to highlight rural Utahns and their opinions on the environment.

Archival Adventures: A First-Year Quest Through Campus History, Katie Strand, Kelly Rovegno, Katie Luder

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

University Archives endeavors to collect, preserve and make available the permanent historical record of Utah State University (USU). These records include published material, faculty papers, office files, and other historical material generated by the academic departments, extension offices, statewide campuses, research centers and institutes.

Exploring The Validity Of Adolescent Responses To A Measure Of Psychological Flexibility And Inflexibility, Caleb D. Farley, Tyler L. Renshaw

Psychology Student Research

Validating measures of psychological flexibility (PF) and psychological inflexibility (PI) has occurred in multiple adult samples, but little research has validated PF and PI measures with adolescents. This manuscript describes two studies exploring the validity of responses to the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) with two samples of adolescents. The first study used exploratory factor analyses on responses to the MPFI with a sample of 16–17-year-olds (N = 249). The results yielded a reduced and simplified measurement model that consisted of two general factors: one for PF and the other for PI. These exploratory findings were further investigated with …

Shifting The Paradigm With Wednesday Addams: An Intersectional Analysis Of The First (Autistic) Female Latinx Detective, Camille Bassett, Jason Gilmore

Communication Studies and Philosophy Student Research

For centuries, Autistic people have been portrayed in media through two dehumanizing stereotypes, the robot and the superhuman savant. Together, the robot and the superhuman savant combine into one of the most popular hybrid stereotypes to appear in media: the detective. Past detectives have been almost exclusively white male characters, a longstanding pattern that erases Autistic women and people of color, among others. In 2022, however, Netflix’s spinoff series of The Addams Family, Wednesday, brought to the screen the first-ever female Latinx detective. This study is a thematic analysis of Wednesday as a character, the autism …

Act-Enhanced Peer Coaching For Online Act Self-Help: Feasibility And Acceptability With College Students, Korena S. Klimczak, Michael P. Twohig, Gretchen G. Peacock, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Student Research

Objective: This secondary analysis examined the feasibility and acceptability of a novel peer coaching model designed to improve adherence to an online self-help program based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), called ACT Guide. Participants: All participants (N = 152) and peer coaches were undergraduate students attending the same university. Methods: Participants were instructed to use ACT Guide for 10 weeks and were randomly assigned to receive weekly peer coaching through either phone calls or text messaging. Results: We found our peer coaching model to be feasible for delivery via phone and text, however acceptability …

“It Was Oddly Cathartic And Just Good - Freeing”: An Adaptation Of A Cognitive Restructuring Task For Non-Binary People Experiencing Sexual Objectification, Lee R. Pradell, Joshua G. Parmenter, Renee V. Galliher, Elizabeth Grace Wong, Kevin Chi, Hanna Huenemann, Lindsey Rowley, Sadie South

Psychology Student Research

The present study uses action research and critical trans theory frameworks to adapt a cognitive restructuring task to assist non-binary people in minimizing internalization from sexual objectification experiences (SOEs). Nine non-binary participants completed process charts documenting their experiences with SOEs. Participants also completed interviews about their experience with the process chart. Findings explored the nine categories of the process chart and the process of completing the process charts, highlighting the power participants reclaimed by interrogating objectifying sentiments and managing their environments in the wake of SOEs. We discuss utilizing our study’s process chart to better support marginalized people through SOEs.