Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Ua12/2/16 Spirit Masters Class Of 2015-2016, Wku Spirit Masters

WKU Administration Documents

WKU Spirit Masters' booklet with photos and brief biographies of members.

• Artoul, Nasarin
• Bowling, Taylor
• Brand, Lizzie
• Brown, Kelvin
• Brown, McGavinn
• Bunnell, Matthew
• Chism, Brian
• Crutchfield, Ambriehl
• Currin, Chris
• DeLozier, Hayden
• Devore, Sherah
• Doose, Haley
• Fields, Sierra
• Garcia, Jonny
• Gossett, Hannah
• Greer, Ian
• Hall, Katherine aka KJ
• Hillenmeyer, Daniel
• Linder, Ellen
• Miller, David
• Mulert, Daniel
• Murray, Chelsea
• Murrell, Meredith
• Reed, Hannah
• Ruby, Taylor
• Shelton, LaRosa
• Suggs, Sarah
• Thompson, Ali
• Webb, Jordan
• Wigginton, Tori
• Wilson, McKenzie

An Analysis Of The Sales Cycle: A Case Of A Cloud-Computing Us Mnc, Matthew Walsh

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates sales techniques used during the sales cycle at a leading global provider of mobile workforce solutions for service-based business of all sizes. At the multi-national corporation, a publicly traded company, business solutions are delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS). This study focuses on “Enterprise” customers, fleets of over 100 vehicles, and examines how leads are converted to opportunities and opportunities to sales. Characteristics of the customer, such as, aforementioned fleet size, SIC code, number of employees, region, and annual revenue are examined in an effort to tailor the marketing process when targeting large customers. Additionally, the study looks at …

Financial Deepening On Economic Growth And Productivity In Sub-Saharan Africa, Yaawa Jallow

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates impact of financial deepening on economic growth and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. The study uses variables from various studies that are said to most likely impact economic growth and productivity in a country. This study uses a Panel Data analysis to examine the impact of these variables especially financial deepening on both economic growth and productivity. The fixed effect and random effect model both suggest that overall financial deepening has a positive impact on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. The study also suggest that financial deepening has a positive effect on productivity in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Impact Of Innovation And Technology On The Economic Growth In Oecd Countries, Boqian Yin

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the impacts of innovation and technology on the economic growth in the OECD countries. This study is based on the economic growth model from the previous research study from the innovation – economic growth nexus: Global evidence (L. Hasan, et al.). We tried to adjust the original model by substituting a fee variables and focusing only in the OECD nations. In addition, we expect the results to show a positive between the evolution of innovation and technology on economic development in the 34 OECD countries from time period of 1991 to 2012. Moreover, we want to analyze …

The Effects Of Oil Shocks On Total Government Expenditure: A Var Approach, Thomas Mullally

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper aims to examine the relationship between oil price and oil revenue shocks and government expenditures in Venezuela. In order to analyze the relationship between these variables, this study uses a VAR approach. This study aims to find a positive relationship between oil revenues and government expenditures, which will show how countries adjust their public sector spending activities in order to account for changes in demand for oil.

Monetary Policy Rules In Zero Nominal Interest Rate Environments: Exiting The Zero Bound, Sean Lambert

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

The zero bound of nominal interest is known as a liquidity trap, where expansions in the monetary base no longer are effective in lowering the nominal interest rate. This takes away the main tool of traditional monetary policy, and eliminates the ability of monetary policy to stabilize economic conditions. It has been noted that monetary policy rules, such as the Taylor Rule, fail in this situation. The Federal Reserve of the United States solved this problem by massively increasing the monetary base even after the zero bound was reached. Yet another problem loomed even as the economy began to stabilize: …

Corporate Tax Rates: Causes For Tax Rate Discrepancies At The Firm Level, Matthew G. Zanotta

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the relationship between a corporation’s tax rate and a number of different variables. The variables chosen were assets, sales, property, plant, and equipment (PPE), inventory, research and development (R&D), and return on assets (ROA). The model incorporates each of these variables to find a correlation to corporate tax rates. These specific variables were chosen to represent firm size (assets at book value), financial leverage, capital structure (PPE to assets), and inventory investment (inventory to assets). The other two variables, R&D (R&D to net sales), and profitability (ROA) were chosen because of their direct value. The results from …

Educational Attainment And The Impact Of Financial Crisis On European Youth Unemployment, Matthew Mcintyre

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates some of the underlying causes of the drastic increase of youth unemployment from before the 2008 financial crisis to after the crisis. The purpose of the study is to discover what determinants had the largest impact on youth unemployment before and after the crisis. The study also attempts to differentiate between youth unemployment on a primary, secondary, and tertiary level of education, and establish the extent that each group is at risk for unemployment. It is expected that the financial crisis will have a positive and significant impact on unemployment for those with lower education levels, while …

The Impact Of Minimum Wage On Female Labor Participation Rate In The United States, Nguyen Tran-Nguyen

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This study looks at the relationship between minimum wage and female labor participation rate in the recent years from 1990 to 2014. The study incorporates results from a multivariate regression model as well as other similar studies in the field to see whether or not an increase in minimum wage would benefit female labor participation. It is expecting to see a positive correlation between those two variables, as minimum wage increase would benefit teenage female workers and adult female workers.

Economic Reforms, Governance And Fdi: The Case Of The Unasur, Pedro E. Rodriguez

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

Since the early 2000s, member countries of the Union of South America Nations (UNASUR) have moved drastically to the left of the political spectrum and have implemented protectionist economic reforms. Contrary to what many studies and scholars have concluded, the political realignment of the region and the implementation of protectionist policies has had a positive effect on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the region. For the past two decades, total FDI inflows into the region has increased drastically from $8 billion to $150 billion. This study found that there is a combination of both economic reform and governance variables …

Formation Of The Radical Self: Constructs Of Change In Western Youth To Acts Of Terrorism On Home-Soil, Robyn Torok

Australian Security and Intelligence Conference

The terrorist attack on a member of the Police service by a 15 year old boy in late 2015 sent shock waves not only through Australia but also throughout the world as the realisation of Islamic State targeting teenagers becomes a reality. This paper uses a blend of theoretical and empirical evidence to examine how the radicalised self is formed. Insights from various frameworks including: developmental psychology (teenage identity formation and role confusion), Foucault’s technologies of the self, governmentality and sociological issues including the perceived gap between Muslim values and those of the West. Coupled with these theoretical frameworks are …

Violent-Extremism: An Examination Of A Definitional Dilemma, Jason-Leigh Striegher

Australian Security and Intelligence Conference

This article aims to demonstrate how radicalisation, violent-extremism and terrorism are terms often used interchangeably – terms that do not have the same meaning and are generally poorly defined. It will reveal, as with other terminologies pertaining to this area of interest, how violent-extremism has no universally accepted definition, and remains tainted with ambiguity. Arguably, the term is predominantly used as a social label in discussions on terrorism and other forms of extreme violence – particularly applied to those who have a distorted interpretation of religious ideology to justify the use of violence to achieve specific socio-political aimsTo provide a …

Ua68/6/1 Emereti, Vol. Ii, No. I, Wku English

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by the WKU English Department regarding the activities of retired faculty.

Ua68/17 Wku Dance Program: Creating Thinking Artists, Issue 3, Wku Theatre & Dance

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about the dance program.

• New Beginnings
• Summer Intensives
• A Holiday Extravaganza
• Evening of Dance 2015
• Dance Project 2015
• Guest Artists - Cornelius Carter, Karen Williams, Victor Alexander
• Inaside Choreographic Sponsorship Event
• Dance in Italy
• National Dance Education Organization - WKU Student Chapter
• Summer 2015
• Save the Date!

Ua12/2/2 2015 Talisman: Resurgence, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

2015 Talisman yearbook.

• Osborne Sam. Into the Woods – Big To-Do Music & Arts Festival
• Spalding, Shelley. The Outliers – Greeks
• Badjie, Haddy. The Right to Live – Racism
• Gibson, Helen. Net Worth – Soccer
• Greer, John. Sustaining Seasons – Sustainability
• Wegert, Sally. Bloom – Eva Ross
• Cislo, Everett. Harvest – Hemp
• Kolb, William. Preserve – John All
• Voorhees, Jessica. Making Strides – Track & Field
• Greer, John. The Science Guy – Bill Nye
• Cole, Tanner. Lip Service – Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Belknap, Abby. Race to the Senate
• Gibson, Helen. Game of Loans – Student Financial Aid
• Belknap, Abby. …

Second Language Research In Practice: Exploring Foreign Language Teaching, Maria Luisa Spicer-Ecalante, Karin Dejonge-Kannan, Aliza M. Atkin Kroek

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Evaluation Of A Multidisciplinary Social Work– Lawyer Elder Mistreatment Intervention Model, Victoria M. Rizzo, David Burnes, Amy Chaify

Social Work Faculty Scholarship

This study introduces a conceptually based, systematic evaluation process employing multivariate techniques to evaluate a multidisciplinary social work–lawyer intervention model (JASA-LEAP). Logistic regression analyses were used with a random sample of case records (n = 250) from three intervention sites. Client retention, program fidelity, and exposure to multidisciplinary services were significantly related to reduction in mistreatment risk at case closure. Female gender, married status, and living with perpetrator significantly predicted unfavorable outcomes. This study extends the elder mistreatment program evaluation literature beyond descriptive/bivariate evaluation strategies. Findings suggest that a multidisciplinary social work–lawyer elder mistreatment intervention model is a successful …

Having It Both Ways?: Land Use Change In A U.S. Midwestern Agricultural Ecoregion, Roger Auch, Chris Laingen

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Urbanization has been directly linked to decreases in area of agricultural lands and, as such, has been considered a threat to food security. Although the area of land used to produce food has diminished, often overlooked have been changes in agricultural output. The Eastern Corn Belt Plains (ECBP) is an important agricultural region in the U.S. Midwest. It has both gained a significant amount of urban land, primarily from the conversion of agricultural land between 1973 and 2000, and at the same time continued to produce ever-increasing quantities of agricultural products. By 2002, more corn, soybeans, and hogs were produced …

A Cautionary Tale.Pdf, Chris Laingen

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Remotely sensed imagery has been used for decades to quantify the area, rates, and types of land use and land cover change (LULCC) from local to global scales. Common platforms used to capture data include satellite- and aerial-based sensors and cameras. Inseparable from those data are errors—misclassified pixels in sensor-based data or incorrect observations in aerial photographs—created by spectral confusion on the part of the sensor or by misclassifying the raw data during interpretation. Such errors, if not sufficiently explained or taken into consideration when reporting LULCC results, could lead to dubious conclusions. For this article, four commonly used and …

Co-Location Analysis Engine, Barry J. Kronenfeld

Maps and Data

Software to support analysis of spatial interaction. Calculates the neighbor contingency table and co-location quotient (CLQ), and runs Monte Carlo simulation to test for significance under different null models including restricted random labeling (RRL).

Restricted Random Labeling: Testing For Between-Group Interaction After Controlling For Joint Population And Within-Group Spatial Structure, Barry J. Kronenfeld, Timothy F. Leslie

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Statistical measures of spatial interaction between multiple types of entities are commonly assessed against a null model of either toroidal shift (TS), which controls for spatial structure of individual subpopulations, or random labeling (RL), which controls for spatial structure of the joint population. Neither null model controls for both types of spatial structure simultaneously, although this may sometimes be desirable when more than two subpopulations are present. To address this, we propose a flexible framework for specifying null models that we refer to as restricted random labeling (rRL). Under rRL, a specified subset of individuals is restricted and other individuals …

Concealed Carry In The Show-Me State: Do Voters Who Favor Right-To-Carry Legislation End Up Packing Heat?, Linda Ghent, Alan Grant

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

Objectives – The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between a public vote on the right-to-carry concealed weapons in the state of Missouri and the subsequent demand for concealed-carry permits. Methods – Weighted logit analysis of the referendum vote and the proportion of the population holding concealed-carry permits was performed to investigate the factors that influence them. Results – We find vast differences in the factors that significantly influenced the vote and the decision to hold a concealed-carry permit. Crime rates are positively related to the vote, but have no influence on the decision to carry. Conclusions …

Perceptions Of Social Mobility: Development Of A New Psychosocial Indicator Associated With Adolescent Risk Behaviors, Miranda Lucia Ritterman Weintraub, Lia C. H. Fernald, Nancy Adler, Stefano Bertozzi, S. Leonard Syme

Social class gradients have been explored in adults and children, but not extensively during adolescence. The first objective of this study was to examine the association between adolescent risk behaviors and a new indicator of adolescent relative social position, adolescent “perceived social mobility.” Second, it investigated potential underlying demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial determinants of this indicator. Data were taken from the 2004 urban adolescent module of Oportunidades, a cross-sectional study of Mexican adolescents living in poverty. Perceived social mobility was calculated for each subject by taking the difference between their rankings on two 10-rung ladder scales that …

Identifying Resilience In Hiv-Negative Sexual Minority Men With Syndemic Conditions, Eva N. Woodward

Psychology Department Dissertations

HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern for sexual minority men, especially men with risk factors for the virus. Most HIV prevention programs target relatively few behaviors, such as increasing individual condom use (Coates, Richter, & Caceres, 2008) through an exclusive focus on reducing high-risk behaviors (Herrick et al., 2011). Some researchers have posited whether more effective interventions, based on identifying and bolstering strengths of sexual minority men, should be developed. To that end, I conducted (a) a systematic review and (b) a qualitative study to serve as foundational steps in identifying resilience resources in samples of high risk, HIV-negative, …

Crime Prevention Strategies: Can Children Be Better Served By Directing Public Policy To The Real Causes Of Crime?, Pauline Keegan, Aiden Carthy

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Friendship As Method, Lisa M. Tillmann Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

“Friendship as Method,” appendix of the book In Solidarity: Friendship, Family, and Activism Beyond Gay and Straight (Routledge 2015), overviews the author's approach to and philosophy of research. She defines friendship, posits it as a kind of fieldwork, and lays the methodological foundations of friendship as method. After arguing that friendship as method involves researching with the practices, at the pace, and in the natural contexts of friendship, the author describes this approach’s strengths and considerations for both researcher and participants. To learn more, visit the book's website: http://www.insolidaritybook.com.

Remembering A Cool September, Lisa M. Tillmann Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This ethnographic short story chronicles the author’s emotional journey following September 11, 2001. After weeks of disconnection, she encounters a display of patriotism by two gay male friends, provoking her to process what it means to be both patriotic and gay in contemporary U.S. culture.

Indigenous Mexico Engages The 21st Century: A Multimedia-Enabled Text., Jay Sokolovsky

Faculty Books

This innovative, interactive ethnography employs a range of media to explore the lives of the residents of a village set in the rugged mountains overlooking Mexico City, focusing on how these villagers react and adapt to a rapidly globalized world. Students can view the evolving life of San Jerónimo Amanalco and its region over the past four decades through print, web-embedded, and e-reader enabled resources. This book-offers a multimedia approach, including archival images and documents, original photographs, audio recordings, and extensive video;-incorporates ethnographic information gathered during the author’s four decades of research in the region;-includes community members’ responses to the …

Tom Regan On ‘Kind’ Arguments Against Animal Rights And For Human Rights, Nathan Nobis

Attitudes Towards Animals Collection

Tom Regan argues that human beings and some non-human animals have moral rights because they are “subjects of lives,” that is, roughly, conscious, sentient beings with an experiential welfare. A prominent critic, Carl Cohen, objects: he argues that only moral agents have rights and so animals, since they are not moral agents, lack rights. An objection to Cohen’s argument is that his theory of rights seems to imply that human beings who are not moral agents have no moral rights, but since these human beings have rights, his theory of rights is false, and so he fails to show that …

Emotions In Goats: Mapping Physiological, Behavioural And Vocal Profiles, Elodie F. Briefer, Federico Tettamanti, Alan G. Mcelligott

Sentience Collection

Emotions are important because they enable the selection of appropriate behavioural decisions in response to external or internal events. Techniques for understanding and assessing animal emotions, and particularly positive ones, are lacking. Emotions can be characterized by two dimensions: their arousal (bodily excitation) and their valence (negative or positive). Both dimensions can affect emotions in different ways. It is thus crucial to assess their effects on biological parameters simultaneously, so that accurate indicators of arousal and valence can be identified. To find convenient and noninvasive tools to assess emotions in goats, Capra hircus, we measured physiological, behavioural and vocal responses …