Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Social-Cognitive Biases In Simulated Airline Luggage Screening, Jeremy R. Brown

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The study examined the role that social-cognitive biases play in decision making processes during airline luggage screening, Participants (n = 96) performed a computer simulated task where they tried to detect hidden weapons in 200 x-ray images of passenger luggage. Participants saw each luggage image for either two seconds (high time pressure) or six seconds (low time pressure). In addition, on each trial, participants observed the pictures of the "passenger" to whom the luggage purportedly belongs. The "pre-anchor group" answered questions about the passenger before the luggage image appears, the "post-anchor" group answered questions after the luggage appears, and the …

“The Mormon Education Of A Gentile Justice: George Sutherland And Brigham Young Academy”, Edward L. Carter, James C. Phillips

Faculty Publications

Even within the eclectic group of men and women who have sat on the U.S. Supreme Court, Associate Justice George Sutherland (1922-38) was truly one of a kind: The only Justice ever to come from the state of Utah, he grew up as a non-Mormon in a cloistered 19th century Mormon society—and yet he rose to become one of the community’s most popular and even beloved political figures. As a lawyer, Sutherland defended Mormon men charged with “unlawful cohabitation” for polygamous lifestyles—and yet as a U.S. Senator he championed women’s rights, including suffrage. As one of the so-called “Four Horsemen …

Stock Markets And Household Wealth: Can A Stock Market Crash Cause A Recession In The U.S. Economy?, Ishan Singh

Honors Theses

Stock market wealth effects on the level of consumption in the United States economy have been constantly debated; there is evidence for arguments for and against its prominence and its symmetry. This paper seeks to investigate the strength of its negative effect by creating models to analyze unexpected shocks to the Standard and Poor's 500 index. First, a transmission mechanism between the stock market and GDP is established through the use of second-order vector autoregressive models. Following which, theory from the life cycle model and adaptations of previous researchers' models are used to create a structural model. This paper finds …

Decisions To Abrogate Personal Liberty: Ethics Of Conscription In The United States, Jacqueline Shuttleworth Grady

Honors Theses

The military draft in the United States has been a controversial public policy in the past. Conscription has been used for six different wars; each draft has differed from the others because of the circumstances of the war for which it was enacted and because of the way in which it was implemented. Today, because of the wars the United States is fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, a new public policy has developed, called stop loss. Stop loss affects only those people who have already served in the military, forcing them to remain in military service after the originally contracted …

Advocating At The Margins: Women’S Ngos In China, Ling U

Honors Theses

The development of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in China has been unprecedented in the past fifteen years. The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) and parallel NGO Forum in Beijing, China, opened the door for the first time for the establishment of women’s NGOs in China. This paper examines the development of Chinese women’s NGOs with a particular focus on two organizations in Beijing for marginalized female populations: one focusing on lesbians and the other helping women with HIV/AIDS. I examine the structure and growth of each NGO; however, on a more personal level and perhaps more importantly, I use …

State Political Action Committee Financing And The 2008 Presidential Election: A Detailed Look At Mitt Romney And The Commonwealth Pacs, Melyn Heckelman

Honors Theses

This study looks at the historical context in which PACs developed, as well as the current legal environment in which they operate. It will also briefly discuss the legal and procedural challenges that candidates face and the ways in which PACs alleviate some of these pressures in ways that presidential committees cannot. An understanding of the strategic dilemmas which cause candidates to seek extraneous structures through which to establish campaign networks is essential to extrapolating the potential future of campaign finance strategy. Furthermore, this study provides an in-depth analysis of the state Commonwealth PACs both in terms of fundraising and …

Competition Or Community? Manifest And Unexpressed Functions Of The No Child Left Behind Act Of 2001, Sara Benjamin

Honors Theses

Any contemporary discussion of the American education system inevitably includes a discussion of current federal policy as set out in The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Signed into law on January 8, 2002, NCLB has sparked tremendous controversy in the field of education. Although the title would suggest otherwise, NCLB does not aim to make sure no child is left behind. Instead, one might argue that it aims to provide quantifiable measures of comparison so as to allow the U.S. to assert educational and economic dominance in the global community. Thus, we can see a distinction between …

Self-Destructive Behaviors Of Adolescent Girls And Boys, Carolyn A. Curtis

Honors Theses

From a social constructionist perspective linked with a feminist standpoint, I examine three forms of adolescent self-destructive behaviors: eating disorders, self-mutilation and substance abuse. The social construction of adolescents’ norms, values, and beliefs, as based upon their interactions with family, peers, and the media, helps explain these self-destructive actions. In addition to a comprehensive literature review, I interviewed five adults who work with adolescents in the state of Maine, and used these professionals’ experiences and knowledge to support the current theories pertaining to these acts of self-harm. To better understand what drives some adolescents to harm their own bodies, I …

In The Absence Of Family: How Ideas Of The Substitute Family In Honduran Children's Homes Shape Perception Of The Needs Of At-Risk Youth, Stephanie Bowman

Honors Theses

Through an interdisciplinary analysis of children’s homes in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, this project reflects on how conceptions of family affect the prioritization of the needs of the homes’ beneficiaries. One consequence of the impoverished nature of Honduras are orphaned, abandoned, mistreated, malnourished, abused, neglected and disowned children who have come to live in group children’s homes that, for the most part, meet their short-term physical needs. But what about children’s developmental, social and educational needs? In this study, we analyze what needs homes meet according to the kind of familial substitute they provide as either a group home or …

The Slave, The Fetus, The Body: Articulating Biopower And The Pregnant Woman, Kevin Kuswa, Paul Achter, Elizabeth Lauzon

Rhetoric and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Many slaveholders attempted to justify the institution of slavery in the United States by claiming that the practice of slavery was actually in the interests of the slaves themselves. Not only are these arguments invalid because they justify inhumane treatment and the imprisonment of innocent human beings, they also contain a dangerous paternalism (a “speaking for”) that has not vacated the social sphere. Indeed, this same logic—the notion that bodies can be regulated and controlled for their own protection—is presently being used to speak for the fetus in order to justify fetal rights. Borrowing from Berlant (1997), these fetal rights …

Estimating Exchange Rate Equations Using Estimated Expectations, Ray C. Fair

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper takes a somewhat different approach from the recent literature in estimating exchange rate equations. It assumes uncovered interest rate parity and models how expectations are formed. Agents are assumed to base their expectations of future interest rates and prices, which are needed in the determination of the exchange rate, on predictions from a ten equation VAR model. The overall model is estimated by FIML under model consistent expectations. The model generally does better than the random walk model, and its properties are consistent with observed effects on exchange rates from surprise interest rate and price announcements. Also, the …

Effect Of Living Arrangement And Meals Eaten Alone On The Nutrition Status Of Older Adults, Kelly L. Boeger

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine if older adults who live alone are at greater nutritional risk than those who do not live alone and to determine if eating with -'others increases nutritional status in older adults. A questionnaire, adapted from the "Determine Your Nutritional Health Checklist" developed by the Nutrition Screening Initiative, was administered to 100 older adults 65 years of age or older. Ninety-four survey participants were included in the study.

Nutrition scores from the nutrition assessment portion were compiled for each subject by categorizing each questionnaire as low, moderate, or high~ depending on level of …

Textile Recycling Attitudes And Behaviors Among College Students, Elizabeth Eileen Walter

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research was to examine the recycling attitudes and behaviors among Eastern Illinois University undergraduate students in the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, and to determine if students are willing to include textile in their recycling behavior. The potential benefits of this research include an increase in environmental awareness among students and a decrease in the amount of textiles sent to the landfill.

A survey was distributed to seventeen Family and Consumer Sciences, Business, and Technology classes. Surveys were also distributed at a meeting for non-traditional students. A total of 194 surveys were returned to …

Bullying And Victimization In High School As Perceived By Female Students In A Midwestern University, Shannon Y. Schwab

Masters Theses

Bullying and victimization increased tremendously over the past 2 decades and are presently one of the most enduring and underrated problems in U.S. schools. Much of the research available on bullying has focused primarily on males; however, recently, research has shown that females are just as likely as males to engage in bullying behaviors. Unfortunately, female bullying occurs quite frequently, yet remains unrecognized because it is often overlooked. Females tend to prefer more indirect forms of bullying behaviors in order to keep it anonymous. The focus of the current research was to examine the nature and frequency of female bullying …

The Effect Of Suggestive Selling By Wait Staff On Food Consumption, Gwen Zumwalt

Masters Theses

Factors that influence our dietary choices are important because our nation is facing an obesity epidemic. This study analyzed the influence of wait staff on food consumption in a restaurant environment. The University Institutional Review Board approved the study, and informed consent was obtained. The subjects, college students (n=46), were randomly assigned into a control or treatment group. Every subject was initially given one serving of each food item. The meal consisted of rolls, soup, pasta, cookies, and a beverage. Subjects were excluded from the study if they had diabetes or a food allergy. Subjects in the control group were …

Effects Of A Health Program On Dietary Behaviors, Physical Activity, And Weight Loss In College Students, Megan A. Mccallister

Masters Theses

The 2003 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey suggests that 35% of college students may be overweight/obese. The purpose of "The Biggest Loser: You Gotta Lose It to Win It" was to assist college students to become nutritionally and physically healthier. A needs assessment reported a weight-loss program to be the number one requested type of program by students. "The Biggest Loser: You Gotta Lose It to Win It", a ten-week weight-loss study was implemented due to this needs assessment. This study applied nutrition and physical activity education to assist with a healthy weight loss in three phases (initial, middle, …

Stepping Outside The Sacred Circle: Narratives Of Violence And Disempowerment Of The Contemporary Indian Woman, Koeli M. Goel

Masters Theses

India is a secular socialist republic and one of the largest democracies in the world. It prides itself on its modern constitution, extensive educational system and progressive society. The sophisticated mainstream English print media - frequently staffed by erudite, internationally acclaimed journalists and managed by India's biggest business houses - sketches the image of a prosperous, "rising" and "shining" India through glossy publications. Beneath this superficial veneer of the story of India's progress is an underbelly of repressive practices, gender-based discrimination and human rights' violations which reveal a society in which women's rights are minimal, oppression is endemic and economic …

The Making Of A Middlerace: The Social Politics Surrounding Black-White Interracial Marriages And Black White Biracial Identity, Yoftahe K. Manna

Masters Theses

In an attempt to uncover the social politics surrounding Black-White interracial marriages and Black-White biracial identity, this thesis investigates outsiders' and insiders' perspectives on the issues. Black and White participants of the study reported positive attitudes toward Black-White interracial marriage, while they reported negative attitudes toward Black-White biracial individuals. No statistically significant differences were found between Blacks and Whites in attitudes toward Black-White interracial marriages and Black-White biracial identity. No statistically significant differences were found between men and women, either. The insiders' reports, however, contradicted these findings. Both Black-White interracial couple and Black-White biracial adult participants of this study reported …

Devaluation And Aggregate Economic Activity In Asian Developing Countries, Sushma Shrestha

Masters Theses

Many economists have analyzed data from developed and developing countries to determine the effects of devaluation on output. The evidence so far has been mixed, expansionary in some countries and contractionary in others, growth retarding in the short run and neutral in the long, and so on. This paper examines the evidence on seven developing countries from Asia during the period 1972-2006 to see if data support the contractionary devaluation hypothesis. These countries are: India, Indonesia, S. Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The model in this study identifies the effects of the real exchange rate, a key …

High School Students' Academic Achievement And Their Mothers' Attitudes And Level Of Education, Nicole M. Classen

Masters Theses

What is life like for a teenager growing up with a sibling who has a disability? Using their own words, five high school students explored, through an interview format, how their experiences, family systems, and identity have been shaped in direct and indirect ways by having a brother or sister with a disability. Several common themes emerged and included how sibling-care responsibilities influenced their ability to participate in social activities outside of the home, reported perceptions of having more household responsibilities than their peers and/or siblings, recognition that the sibling with a disability influenced family members and family life, an …

High School Siblings Of Children With Disabilities: Five Case Studies, Casey Cuttill

Masters Theses

How mothers' level of education and attitudes toward education related to their children's academic achievement was investigated in the present study. One hundred fifteen mothers of high school students participated in this study by completing a questio1maire that evaluated their level of education and their attitudes regarding the importance of education. Their children's grade point averages were also collected. Results indicated that when the mothers had less positive attitudes toward education, mothers' level of education was not related to their children's academic achievement. When mothers reported more positive attitudes toward education and had a high level of education themselves, however, …

The Power Of Prayer: Examining The Relationship Between Prayer And Subjective Well-Being, Abby A. Grove

Masters Theses

The present study examined the relationship between types of prayer ( adoration, contemplation, thanksgiving, supplication, and reception) and well-being, self-esteem, satisfaction in life, and spiritual support. For this study, there were several hypotheses. First, it was hypothesized that the more a person reported praying and feeling spiritually supported, the higher the level of self-esteem would be. Second, adoration and thanksgiving prayers would be more closely related to higher levels of subjective wellbeing than would confession, supplication, or reception prayers. Third, piarried people would report higher levels of satisfaction with life and spiritual support. Also expected were the following outcomes: (1) …

The Virtues Of Prosocialness, Wisdom, And Hope As Predictors Of Academic Achievement In Adolescents, Michael P. Maier

Masters Theses

Currently, there is a strong emphasis on children scoring well on academic achievement tests. While the skills needed to do well on these tests are important, positive character is another factor that may be related to academic achievement. The purpose of the present study was to examine if positive character is relevant to academic achievement. Can prosocialness, hope, and wisdom predict academic achievement? Which of these virtues is most predictive? Can these virtues predict academic achievement above and beyond academic skill levels?

Illinois Standards Achievement Test scores and GP A were collected for 105 students who also completed self-report measures …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Multicultural Education, Brandie M. Goodman

Masters Theses

The current study investigated teachers' perceptions of multicultural education. Teachers' perception of the importance of culture in the learning and teaching process is expected to impact students' learning and social development. For the culturally competent teacher, the child's culture is central to the teaching and learning process. However, even though the student population of ethnic minorities is increasing at a rapid rate, schools may not be fully prepared to provide meaningful education to these students. Based on the exposure theory, the current study attempted to answer the following question: Does a teacher's present and past teaching experience (urban, suburban, or …

Family Structure And Psychological Factors: The Effects Of Family-Of-Origin Variables On Young Adults' Psychological Well-Being, Catherine E. Morgan

Masters Theses

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between family structure and life satisfaction in young adults. Additionally, the study examined explanatory style, parenting style, family cohesion, family satisfaction, and the presence of siblings as potential moderating factors between divergent family structures and levels of life satisfaction in young adults. Ninety male and 121 female university students completed a demographic survey, the Parental Authority Questionnaire, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales IV, the Attribution Style Questionnaire, the Family Satisfaction Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. As anticipated, results indicated that participants who grew up in single parent and step-family …

Assessment Of Preferences For Individuals With Severe Disabilities, Meghan Foster

Masters Theses

Identifying preferences for individuals with disabilities is a big challenge for behavior analysts, teachers, and parents. Some individuals with disabilities lack the ability to verbally communicate their likes and dislikes, or wants and needs on a daily basis. When a loved one or teacher mistakes an indication of preference and produces an undesirable stimulus, this frequently causes aberrant responses. For these reasons, it is important that an efficient means of identifying preferences for individuals with disabilities is devised. The following pages examine areas of research into the study of individual preferences for specific stimuli and the different means of assessing …

Anxiety, Graduate Students, And New Student Orientation Programs: A Quantitative Study, Megan M. Hullinger

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to analyze the anxiety levels of incoming graduate students at a Midwest regional state university and determine if an online graduate student orientation program assists in lowering those levels. The researcher used the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-1 (STAI) to measure state anxiety levels before and after the orientation program was administered. Each participating student completed a pre- and post-test in conjunction with the online orientation program. Once the information was received, the researcher analyzed the data using a paired t test to determine if the orientation program lowered anxiety levels for incoming graduate …

Development Of Face Recognition System Using Verilook Software Development Kit, Paras Pradhan

Masters Theses

With built-in libraries and functions, VeriLook Software Development Kit (SDK) provides interfaces for biometric face recognition systems. This research was conducted to gain experience in the development of face recognition system using VeriLook SDK. A prototype named FRECPROJ was developed using the SDK. Major functions were implemented in the prototype, including face enrollment and match using still image files, live streaming with a web camera, or video files.

Through this research, it was realized that a typical face recognition system performs enrollment, verification and identification functions. A single image consisting of a single face is enrolled and the enrolled template …

Proxy-Based Reconstructions Of Hemispheric And Global Surface Temperature Variations Over The Past Two Millennia, Michael E. Mann, Scott Rutherford

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Following the suggestions of a recent National Research Council report [NRC (National Research Council) (2006) Surface Temperature Reconstructions for the Last 2,000 Years (Natl Acad Press, Washington, DC).], we reconstruct surface temperature at hemispheric and global scale for much of the last 2,000 years using a greatly expanded set of proxy data for decadal-to-centennial climate changes, recently updated instrumental data, and complementary methods that have been thoroughly tested and validated with model simulation experiments. Our results extend previous conclusions that recent Northern Hemisphere surface temperature increases are likely anomalous in a long-term context. Recent warmth appears anomalous for at least …

Quality Of The Teacher-Child Relationship And Self-Worth In Middle-Childhood, Hannah Ozier

Masters Theses

The quality of the teacher-child relationship has been described as having implications for the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children, in addition to future school-related outcomes, such as school adjustment and performance (Birch & Ladd, 1998; Hamre & Pianta, 2001). Previous research has focused on children in preschool or kindergarten. The purpose of the present study was to provide information about the teacher-child relationship in middle childhood by examining factors attributed to influencing the relationship. Teachers' perceptions of their relationship with students, measured by the Student Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS), was compared to factors such as sex of the …