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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Denver Food Deserts, Emily Connor Dec 2016

Denver Food Deserts, Emily Connor

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Over time, socioeconomic factors, store type, and transportation distance have defined what types of foods are available to residents in urban areas and determining the overall well-being of people in that area, especially when it comes to obesity. Most cities, in one way or another, have neighborhoods that have these factors and create what is known as a food desert. Much like a desert lacking in water, a food desert lacks the availability of nutritious foods, and Denver is no exception. While Denver is known to be a healthy city, there are areas that share similar socioeconomic factors, store types, …


Change In Nonspecific Disease Through Time In Durres, Albania, Melissa Chowning Dec 2016

Change In Nonspecific Disease Through Time In Durres, Albania, Melissa Chowning

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

This study addresses changing levels of skeletal stress in a population from Durres, Albania during periods of Greek and Roman occupation. We test the hypothesis that levels of nonspecific stress, evidenced by cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, and linear enamel hypoplasia, increased through time. To test this hypothesis, 116 skeletons from Durres, Albania were observed for evidence of cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, and linear enamel hypoplasia using standard data collection protocols. The skeletons were observed from the Greek to the Late Roman periods. Skeletal stress increased from the Greek to the Late Roman period (40% to 45.8% for cribra orbitalia (n=39), …


Perceptions Of Domestic Violence And Likelihood To Report, Taylor Mcginn Dec 2016

Perceptions Of Domestic Violence And Likelihood To Report, Taylor Mcginn

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Domestic violence (DV) occurs at similar rates in same-sex relationships and opposite-sex relationships; 44% of lesbian women, 26% of gay men, 35% of heterosexual women, and 29% of heterosexual men experienced DV at some point in their lifetime (NISVS, 2010). Current research on DV reveals that male-on-female violence is perceived as more serious than same-sex DV (Seelau & Seelau, 2005). The purpose of this research is to examine perceptions of same-sex versus opposite-sex DV. Approximately 500 undergraduate and graduate students from a Colorado university responded to an electronic survey in 2016 that asked them to read and rate the seriousness …


Children’S Health And Social Changes In Ancient Albania, Maria Warne Dec 2016

Children’S Health And Social Changes In Ancient Albania, Maria Warne

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Subadult skeletons are often underrepresented in the archaeological record but provide an abundance of information about how environment and lifestyle affect a population. This study examines indicators of stress in children from the Prehistoric to Medieval periods at Apollonia and Durres, Albania. Durres and Apollonia were initially occupied by local Illyrians, but were later colonized by the Greeks (c. 600 B.C.) and Romans (c. 250 B.C.). This study tests the null hypothesis that there will be no difference in child health across time periods, age, and location. One hundred subadult (ages 0 to 20 years old) skeletons from Durres (n=47) …


The Relationship Between Conceptions Of Free Will And Meaning In Life, Sofia Softas-Nall Dec 2016

The Relationship Between Conceptions Of Free Will And Meaning In Life, Sofia Softas-Nall

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Current research asks the question: 'How do our conceptions of free will influence our sense of meaning in life?' (Caruso, 2014; Pereboom, 2014). Many philosophers and psychologists fear that if people cease to believe in free will they will be subject to feelings of meaninglessness (May, 1953; Strawson, 1962). Others argue that people without a belief in free will would not lack one's sense of meaning in life (Caruso, 2014). I aim to investigate this debate empirically and I hypothesize that people with stronger conceptions of free will report higher levels of meaning in life. In order to examine this …


Frog Jump Plop! Translating And Interpreting The “Frog” Haiku By Matsuo Basho, Nathan Roy Dec 2016

Frog Jump Plop! Translating And Interpreting The “Frog” Haiku By Matsuo Basho, Nathan Roy

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Matsuo Basho’s (1644-1698) “Frog” haiku was originally written in Japanese in the 17th century, and has been translated into English over a hundred times using a multitude of different approaches. This simple poem consists of a mere three lines and six words, and yet each translation is unique; some are vastly different from others. Each translation essentially creates a different poem, which are more like offspring of the poem, rather than a direct rendering of the original. Since we cannot know what the author’s intentions were, as translators, we each have to make choices both in reading the original and …


Faith Vs. The Environment: The Ecological Impact Of The Amarnath Yatara Pilgrimage, Emily Doerner Dec 2016

Faith Vs. The Environment: The Ecological Impact Of The Amarnath Yatara Pilgrimage, Emily Doerner

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

The armed conflict in Kashmir has caused tremendous environmental, human, economic, and social damage. Kashmir is situated in one of the world’s most resource rich and biologically diverse regions. It is home to a number of critically endangered species, melt-water that from glaciers that feed South Asia’s largest rivers, and major historic and religious sites. The Shir Amarnath Yatara is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage in Kashmir. The pilgrimage route goes through the Muslim town of Pahalgam, and ends at a holy shrine to Shiva Lingam. This arduous 30-mile journey, going through sub-zero temperatures in the high mountains of the Himalayas …


Study Abroad Influencing Factors: An Investigation Of Socio-Economic Status, Social, Cultural, And Personal Factors, Winsome Lewis Aug 2016

Study Abroad Influencing Factors: An Investigation Of Socio-Economic Status, Social, Cultural, And Personal Factors, Winsome Lewis

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

The purpose of this study was to determine what factors (socio-economic status, social, cultural, and personal factors) most influence undergraduate decisions to study abroad. An online survey was completed by a target sample of 128 UNC students. The 49-item questionnaire consisted of items measuring student awareness of study abroad offerings, factors that influence students to study abroad, and financial ability/socio-economic status. Analysis included Pearson’s correlation tests, descriptive statistics, and cross-tab analysis. Results revealed that students prefer to study abroad in European countries and in countries that speak English. Results revealed a high awareness of study abroad offerings at the university. …


A Portrait Of Five Undergraduate Students Who Serve As Caregivers While Taking University Courses, Emily Owens, Carley Ulibarri, Blake D. Karlin Aug 2016

A Portrait Of Five Undergraduate Students Who Serve As Caregivers While Taking University Courses, Emily Owens, Carley Ulibarri, Blake D. Karlin

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics specific to adults who are caregivers while taking classes from an institution of higher education. We recruited 5 university attending adults through a subject pool and through announcements in various classes through the university setting. Measures on depression, burden, daily activities, and general background were used to assess the experiences of the participants. Self-reports indicated high levels of selfefficacy with regard to the care process, minimal depression, low to moderate levels of burden, and high resiliency among those surveyed. These results indicate while registered as a full time student (12 credits …


Sensory Processing Specificity In Autism, Jannessa Kitchin Aug 2016

Sensory Processing Specificity In Autism, Jannessa Kitchin

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Currently, autism is defined at the behavioral level. Although much has been learned about the genetic, environmental, structural, and neuropsychological etiologies of autism much more research must be conducted to reach a full comprehensive definition of the disorder. At the behavioral level, a significant portion of individuals with autism have some level of sensory processing deficit, studies report 100% prevalence in this population. The goal of many researchers in the autism field is to identify how abnormal sensory response patterns differentiate this group from those with other developmental disorders as well as those who are typically developing. Findings show atypical …


Changing Skeletal Stress Following Social And Political Disruption At Karystos, Greece, Jeremy Wharry Jun 2016

Changing Skeletal Stress Following Social And Political Disruption At Karystos, Greece, Jeremy Wharry

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Mcnair Scholars: Overcoming The Obstacles Of Underrepresented Students, Adrianna Smell Jun 2016

Mcnair Scholars: Overcoming The Obstacles Of Underrepresented Students, Adrianna Smell

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Undergraduate Students’ Experiences With Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Erin Sanchez Jun 2016

Undergraduate Students’ Experiences With Complementary And Alternative Medicine, Erin Sanchez

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


The Legacy Of Native Languages: Tracing The Path Of The Cherokee Language, Blanca Roman-Luevanos Jun 2016

The Legacy Of Native Languages: Tracing The Path Of The Cherokee Language, Blanca Roman-Luevanos

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Suicide Through The Eyes Of Yukio Mishima, Donald Prellwitz Jun 2016

Suicide Through The Eyes Of Yukio Mishima, Donald Prellwitz

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Rhetorically Analyzing English Resistance Arguments In Arabic-Speaking Countries, Denise Muro Jun 2016

Rhetorically Analyzing English Resistance Arguments In Arabic-Speaking Countries, Denise Muro

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Attitudes And Perceptions Of The English Language Among Bilingual Arabic-English Speaking College Females, Denise Muro Jun 2016

Attitudes And Perceptions Of The English Language Among Bilingual Arabic-English Speaking College Females, Denise Muro

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Why All The Limp Wrists? Black Gay Masculinity In Film, Jared Hudson Jun 2016

Why All The Limp Wrists? Black Gay Masculinity In Film, Jared Hudson

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Dietary Change Following Social Transition At Karystos, Greece, Sean Field Jun 2016

Dietary Change Following Social Transition At Karystos, Greece, Sean Field

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


Alphonso Mucha & The Emergance Of The “New Women” During The Bell Epoque, Sarah Blattner Jun 2016

Alphonso Mucha & The Emergance Of The “New Women” During The Bell Epoque, Sarah Blattner

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

No abstract provided.


A Community Approach To Prevention: The Development And Assessment Of A Bystander Intervention Program, Savannah Mccully Jun 2016

A Community Approach To Prevention: The Development And Assessment Of A Bystander Intervention Program, Savannah Mccully

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

In response to a growing concern about assaults on college campuses, universities are beginning to focus on the capacity of bystanders to intervene. Some schools have started bystander intervention programs for college students, which address bystander effect and barriers to bystander intervention. Schools teach participants how to become active bystanders. These programs rely on research regarding obstacles to intervention that have been tested on general population samples. But because the research focuses on scenarios less likely to occur to college students, there is a gap in understanding what barriers are salient to college student bystanders. Through a qualitative case study, …


Genderqueer: What It Means, Hailey Otis Jun 2016

Genderqueer: What It Means, Hailey Otis

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

This article explains the term genderqueer, presenting a comprehensive, unambiguous, working definition. Getting to a definition of genderqueer could be the first step toward tolerance, acceptance, and eventual appreciation of a marginalized group of people. There are three primary ways in which the word genderqueer is conceptualized. First, the term can describe a personal identity that exists outside of the gender binary. Second, it can refer to an identity that consists of a particular amalgamation of masculine and feminine traits (or even the rejection of all such traits). Third, the word can represent an identity that embraces a fluidity of …


Alphonse Mucha And The Emergence Of The “New Woman” During The Belle Époque (1871–1914), Sarah Blattner Jun 2016

Alphonse Mucha And The Emergence Of The “New Woman” During The Belle Époque (1871–1914), Sarah Blattner

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Notions of ideal femininity in Western culture shifted during the Belle Époque (Beautiful Era), approximately 1871 to 1914. This article serves as a comparative historical study examining the shifting representations of women in art within Western society during that era. This study focuses on the transition from the image of the “modest maiden” (popular in the mid-nineteenth century) to the image of the “new woman” (emerging within the Art Nouveau movement, 1890 to 1910). From the Art Nouveau (New Art) period, the lush art of Alphonse Mucha stands out as an example of the time’s idea of feminine beauty. Mucha’s …


Reconstructing Activity Patterns At Epidamnus, Albania: Impacts Of Greek And Roman Colonizations, Jennifer Wright Jun 2016

Reconstructing Activity Patterns At Epidamnus, Albania: Impacts Of Greek And Roman Colonizations, Jennifer Wright

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Colonization is often associated with exploitation of local laborers. However, the degree to which physical activity in local populations changes following colonization depends upon the policies of the colonizers, and the technologies that are locally available. This research tests the null hypothesis that levels of physical activity, as evidenced by osteoarthritis in human skeletons, remained constant at Epidamnus, Albania during Greek and Roman colonial occupation (620 BC-AD 378). To test this hypothesis, 80 skeletons from Epidamnus were examined for evidence of osteoarthritis, and scored according to international standardized protocols. Of these 80 individuals, 27 were adults that showed sufficient preservation …


Social Inference And Reading Inference Generation In Typically Developing College Students, Pamela Wagoner Jun 2016

Social Inference And Reading Inference Generation In Typically Developing College Students, Pamela Wagoner

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Although the foundational cognitive and linguistic skills of generating inferences in both reading and social contexts are similar, relationships between these two modalities, and with empathy, are unclear and have not been thoroughly studied. These relationships were explored by testing 30 typically developing college students’ ability to generate social inferences in the Eyes Test (Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, Hill, Raste, & Plumb, 2001) and Voice Test (Golan, Baron-Cohen, Hill, & Rutherford, 2007), ability to generate reading inferences in the Inference subtest of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (Watson & Glaser, 1964), and their capacity for empathy from the Empathy Quotient …


Adolescents And Disclosure: Influence Of Stigma And Knowledge Of Psychological Diagnosis, Kyra Trimble Jun 2016

Adolescents And Disclosure: Influence Of Stigma And Knowledge Of Psychological Diagnosis, Kyra Trimble

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Adolescents diagnosed with psychological disorders and their friendship groups are understudied. Factors that help a diagnosed adolescent decide to disclose this personal information to his/her friends is understudied as well. This qualitative study focused on the personal experiences of early and late adolescents who have disclosed mental health information to their friends. This study also focused on factors that would impact why, or why not, this group of adolescents chose to disclose this information. An in-depth interview concentrated on three themes: the quantity and type of diagnosis and treatments, health literacy, and stigma patterns. Health literacy and perceived stigma showed …


Parental Involvement Impacting Student Academic Success In Avid, Marisol Jurado Jun 2016

Parental Involvement Impacting Student Academic Success In Avid, Marisol Jurado

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Student academic success is a product of many factors, but it is important to investigate which factors are most influential when it comes to increasing student success. Recent literature investigates parental involvement as one of these factors, and evidence indicates that increased involvement typically results in increased academic success. The current study examined the impact of parenting, communication, learning at home, and volunteering (according to Epstein, 1997) on academic success. Participants included parents of 7th grade students who are involved in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at a school district in Northern Colorado. Parents completed surveys measuring …


School Stress, Academic Performance, And Coping In College Freshmen, Curtis Hill Jun 2016

School Stress, Academic Performance, And Coping In College Freshmen, Curtis Hill

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

The 2010 annual freshmen survey from the University of California Los Angeles stated that nearly half of all freshmen report having low to average levels of emotional health. This is the largest percentage of students in the low range of emotional health since the survey began over 25 years ago. Lower levels of mental and emotional health have been found to correlate with higher levels of stress. If students have high levels of stress and ineffective coping skills, this may negatively affect their academic performance. The purpose of my research was to understand how school stress, coping, and academic performance …


Evidence For Universal Grammar In Nicaraguan Sign Language And Development Of A Survey For Use With Practitioners, Martin González Jun 2016

Evidence For Universal Grammar In Nicaraguan Sign Language And Development Of A Survey For Use With Practitioners, Martin González

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

This project involves examining the linguistic properties of Nicaraguan Sign Language (ISN) which developed rapidly after the creation of a deaf community in Nicaragua in the late 1970’s. Throughout the 1980s, as the language was passed from one cohort of signers to the next, the language became increasingly complex. ISN is one of the very few languages that linguists have had the chance to study as it was created and evolved. Therefore ISN provides a unique opportunity to study the origin of language, language evolution, and universal grammar. The theory of Universal Grammar claims that there are core principles that …


Female Sexual Socialization In Relation To Sexual Decision Making Processes, Lisha Amin Jun 2016

Female Sexual Socialization In Relation To Sexual Decision Making Processes, Lisha Amin

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Researchers have studied sources of socialization and satisfaction levels regarding first sexual intercourse experiences. Carpenter (2002) developed three cognitive frameworks of virginity loss: gift, stigma, and process. However, researchers have yet to correlate these areas. Purpose: This quantitative study examined if socialization about sex and sexuality influenced undergraduate females’ cognitive frameworks and subsequent decisions about and interpretations of first sexual intercourse. Methods: One hundred fifty eight female participants, recruited from a mid-sized Midwestern university, completed a 20-item online survey. Multiple linear regression and Chi Square Test of Independence were conducted to determine where females were socialized regarding sex and …