Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

In A Pickle: A Marketing Analysis Of Images And Textual Descriptions On Food Packages And How They Influence College Students' Grocery Purchases, Lauren Doyle

HIM 1990-2015

The reason for confusion in grocery stores is the fact that many of the same types of food products are being marketed with different labels. Many packaging labels contain keywords such as “organic,” “farm fresh,” and “all natural.” Some products incorporate the use of images such as a picturesque farm or a “happy” cow. Using data collected from the surveys of 349 college students, this study examines student choices of food products based on organic and non-organic and brand and generic foods. Variables also examined include sex, health, and living arrangements. The results of this study can help provide an …

Organizational Communication: Perceptions Of Staff Members’ Level Of Communication Satisfaction And Job Satisfaction, Priti R. Sharma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to explore the topic of organizational communication in higher education and examine staff members’ perceptions about their level of communication and job satisfaction in their workplaces. This study was also designed to test the relationship between communication satisfaction and job satisfaction by analyzing the significance of different dimensions of Communication Satisfaction with the view that satisfaction is multifaceted.

A total of 463 non-faculty staff members from different units of a single higher education institution participated in this study. This study included non-teaching staff, including student workers and both full-time and part-time staff members. …

Gender, Personality, And Self Esteem As Predictors Of Social Media Presentation, Heng Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an age when people make and maintain relationships in online environments, creating and sustaining impressions online becomes equally important. For a better understanding of social networking sites usage, the present study examines the influence of gender, personality, and selfesteem on social media presentation. The goal of this study is to investigate individuals‘ expressions through social media in order to determine if they reflect the author‘s gender, personality, and levels of self-esteem. Quantitative analysis was used in this study through survey and SPSS content analysis. The researcher found that neuroticism was related to selfpresentation, and agreeableness is related to Facebook …

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Understanding Culturally-Produced Limitations On Gay Male Community Formation In South Central Appalachia, Michael Brandon Brewer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examines limitations presented to gay men living in south central Appalachia that are produced by Appalachian culture itself, in regard to community formation. This qualitative study intersects existing scholarship on rural sexualities, gay communities and Appalachian culture in order to gain insight into the complexities that effect men in the region. The data is synthesized through a contextual dialectics framework in order to position both the Appalachian culture in its entirety, and gay men residing in the region, as agentic actors that are simultaneously informed by and produce tensions between the two. This study explores ways in which …

Assessing Victim Blame: Intersections Of Rape Victim Race, Gender, And Ethnicity, Kirsten A. Piatak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study sought to assess the impact of the race, gender, and ethnicity of rape victims on college students’ propensity to assign culpability to victims. Using a sample of college students (n=279) from a mid-sized Southeastern university, respondents were given a set of six different vignettes, varying only by victim characteristics. These vignettes featured alcohol-facilitated sexual assault between acquaintances, a common occurrence in college environments. Respondents were asked to evaluate the culpability of the victim through a blameworthiness scale. Through the incorporation of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, this study also measured the respondents’ propensity to assign blame …

Obstacles, Transitions, & Perspectives: An In-Depth Look At The Spectacle Of Deviant Bodies, Taylor C. Manning

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study is an attempt to humanize the deviant behaviors and bodies of eating disordered and physically disabled persons in Western culture. The narratives included within are from the author’s own personal experiences as a heterosexual, eating disordered, disabled man. The narratives unfold chronologically in ways that explicate the transitions between identities and the onset and acceptance of each. The goal of this study is to unveil aspects of both eating disorders and disabilities as they relate to the locus of attention surrounding individuals that experience them. The researcher argues that the attention a deviant body draws from others …

Exploring The Relationship Between Early Childhood Attentional Control And Language Ability, Jaima S. Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Relatively few studies have investigated the relationship between early childhood attentional control and later cognitive outcomes, especially language development. The current study is an investigation of the relationship between the executive functioning (EF) component of attentional control and language ability in the second year of life. More specifically, the predictive nature of two aspects of attentional control, attentional focus and resistance to distraction, was be the primary focus of the proposed study. Although it was expected that children both high in attentional focus and resistance to distraction would have significantly superior language development than infants with lower attentional capacities, analyses …

Inverse Changes In Ghrelin And A2a Receptor Gene Expression Levels In The Hippocampus Of Heart Failure Canines Following Spinal Cord Stimulation, Benjamin E. Jewett

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Myocardial infarction (MI), often referred to as a heart attack, is a serious health issue in the United States. There is a well-documented link between MI and major depressive disorder (MDD), with a high incidence of MDD occurring after an MI. Overlapping pathologies have been observed within the hippocampus of the brain in animal models of MI and depression. These observations suggest that pathobiological cross-talk between the heart and brain could have a role in the etiology of MDD that occurs after an MI. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has previously been shown to have both cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects post-MI, …

Linguistic Landscape Of Main Streets In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Rachel E. Lay

Undergraduate Honors Theses

After the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, Bosnia and Herzegovina erupted into ethnic conflict and ultimately genocide. Nearly 100,000 people, mainly Bosniaks, died in the Bosnian War. Two decades later, the violence has ended but the conflict is still present in Bosnia; the societal segregation of the 1995 Dayton Accords, intended only as an immediate solution to the violence, still stands. Population and language distribution are evidence of this segregation. Bosnia’s two entities are home to two different ethnic majorities: Serbs in the Republika Srpska and Bosniaks in the Federation of BiH. In an environment so sensitive that the government …

Do Juvenile Offenders Hold To The Child-Saving Mentality? The Results From A Statewide Survey Of Juvenile Offenders In A Correctional Facility., Katelynn R. Adams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

At the end of the nineteenth century, individuals identified as child savers pioneered an unprecedented movement to save America’s children from physical and moral harm. The establishment of the juvenile justice system came as a result of the actions of the child savers. Researchers have focused extensively on many aspects of the juvenile justice system including studies on the effectiveness of the system to tracking the changes the system has undergone since its establishment. Numerous other studies examined opinions of the juvenile justice system. However, the research has focused solely on the general public, juvenile probation officers and juvenile correctional …

Perceived Stress And Suicidal Behaviors In College Students: Conditional Indirect Effects Of Depressive Symptoms And Mental Health Stigma, Esther Reynolds

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in college students, making it a significant public health concern on college campuses. Perceived stress, depression, and mental health stigma are established risk factors for engaging in suicidal behaviors; however, their interrelationships are unknown. In a sample of 913 college students, we examined the role of depressive symptoms as a potential mediator of the relation between stress and suicidal behavior, and mental health stigma as a moderator of that effect. In bivariate analyses, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, mental health stigma and suicidal behaviors were all positively correlated. Additionally, depressive symptoms partially mediated …

Explaining The Negative Effects Of Stigma Through Sense Of Mastery, Parker A. Dreves

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Previous research on stigma has identified many negative outcomes associated with its experience. These often include decreased affect and decreased life satisfaction. The present study examined sense of mastery - the sense of control one feels they have over the events in their life - as a moderator or mediator for these negative effects of stigma. To examine this, the Life Evaluations Survey was distributed to psychology students at a Southeastern university (N = 392). Participants completed measures of public stigma, self-stigma, sense of mastery, positive and negative affect, and life satisfaction. Results revealed experiences of public and self-stigma …

The Synergistic Effects Of Methylphenidate On The Behavioral Effects Of Nicotine, Kristen K. Leedy

Undergraduate Honors Theses

One of the most common childhood disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) places individuals at a higher risk for nicotine (NIC) dependence. Approximately 37.2% of individuals with ADHD currently smoke compared to the 18.3% of individuals with no record of mental illness. Methylphenidate (MPH; Trade name Ritalin) is the most commonly prescribed treatment for ADHD. Research regarding the synergistic effects of MPH and NIC, however, is divided. Some research indicates that MPH may enhance susceptibility to NIC effects, whereas other studies report that MPH may inhibit sensitization to NIC. The present study examines the effects of pre-exposure to MPH (1.0 mg/kg) …

Ex Ante Analysis Of Price And Trade Effects For The Rice Sector In The Transatlantic Trade And Investment Partnership, William Lawrence Jacobs

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 2013, trade negotiations began between the United States and the European Union to create a free trade agreement with the goal of phasing out tariffs for all but the most sensitive products. To aid negotiators in analyzing potential agriculture agreements, the objective of this study is to quantify policy impacts of a potential trade liberalization of rice. This study will also be a useful analysis for various participants in the rice market to make educated business decisions.

This study utilizes the spatial partial equilibrium model RICEFLOW to project the differences in market prices, production volumes, trade volumes, and consumption …

Love Conquers All: The Power Of The Indian Film To Free The Audience From Orientalism, Margaret Redlich

College of Communication Theses and Dissertations

Indian film and the way it interacts with the non-Indian fan community for Indian film presents an alternative to Oriantalist discourses by reaching out on an emotional level. Through surveys and interviews, this study shows how the fans find the films, find a community, and build a connection to India based on their initial massive emotional reaction to the films. By first looking at other scholarship on the topic, then the history of Indian film, it becomes apparent that this connection is outside of Said’s “network of interests” (3) that controls how the Orient is viewed, as the films have …

Occurrence Of Trichodesmium Erythraeum (Cyanophyte) Bloom And Its Effects On The Fish Catch During April 2013, In The Andaman Sea, Arun Kumar, Gadi Padmavati, Hosahalli Pradeep

Applied Environmental Research

A highly intense bloom of the nitrogen fixing Cyanobacteria Trichodesmium erythraeum(~7,000 filaments l-1) was observed during April 2013 (for a period of 5 days) in the Andaman Sea, at Lat.10°-13°N and Long. 93°-95°E.This is the first report of this bloom in the open waters of this region. Atmospheric temperature at the time ranged from 27 to 30.5 °C, sea surface temperature ranged from 29 to 34 °C, and salinity values ranged from 32.5 to 34 psu. However, there was no significant variation in pH (8.1-8.3), and DO concentrations ranged from 4.7 to 5.5 mg L-1during the studyperiod. Phosphate values ranged …

An Institutional Analysis Of Climate Finance In Thailand, Kanittha Tambunlertchai, Sujitra Vassanadumrongdee, Buntoon Srethasirote

Applied Environmental Research

While the institutional infrastructure to coordinate climate change policy in Thailand alreadyexists, previous studies have identified an important gap in this infrastructure. An institutional arrangement/coordinating mechanism is needed to oversee coordination of resource allocation and utilization among government agenciesin order to achieve the national goal of a low carbon and resilient society. This paper reviews current policies and institutions related to climate changeand recommends a new Sub-committee on Climate Finance be established under the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC). Alternatively, the existing sub-committee could be renamedas a Sub-committee on Climate Finance and Planning. Having a specific coordinating mecha-nism on climate …

Groundwater Recharge Potential Using Gis Around The Land Development Facilities Of Chulalongkorn University At Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi Province, Thailand, Srilert Chotpantarat, Jaturon Konkul, Satika Boonkaewwan, Thanop Thitimakorn

Applied Environmental Research

KaengKhoi District (SaraburiProvince, Thailand) suffers from a surface water shortage due to increasing demand from domestic use and crop production, particularly in the drought season. Groundwater resources are an additional source of freshwater in this area, especially for agricul-tural purposes, but to be sustainable its usage should not exceed long-term groundwater recharge. Evaluation of the groundwater recharge potential is therefore essential to determine the sustain-able use level for groundwater resources. This study aimed to determine the groundwater re-charge potential using the geographic information system (GIS) around the Land Development Facilities of Chulalongkorn University at KaengKhoi District, Thailand. The hydrologic and …

How To Go Beyond The Body: An Introduction, Guy Dove

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Embodied cognition represents one of most important theoretical developments in contemporary cognitive science. Many cognitive processes appear to be influenced by body morphology, emotions, and sensorimotor systems. This perspective is supported by an ever increasing collection of empirical studies that fall into two broad classes: one consisting of experiments that implicate action, emotion, and perception systems in seemingly abstract cognitive tasks and the other consisting of experiments that demonstrate the contribution of bodily interaction with the external environment to the performance of such tasks.

Now that embodied cognition is fairly well established, the time seems right for assessing its further …

Potential Of Producing Refuse Derived Fuel (Rdf) From Municipal Solid Waste At Rajamangala University Of Technology Isan Surin Campus, Tiammanee Weerasak, Sompop Sanongraj

Applied Environmental Research

The objective of this study is to explore the potential of producing energy from open-dump solidwaste from Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Surin Campus. Heating value as well as thephysical and chemical compositions were analyzed. The composition and heating value were comparedto refuse-derived fuel quality standard. All waste samples were separated into combustible and non-com-bustible matter. Paper, plastic, food residue, textiles, rubber and leather were classified as combustible. In excess of ninety-nine (99%) of open dump waste consisted of combustible matteras follows: mixed plastic (45%), textile (19%), food residue (18%), paper (14%), and leather and rubber (3%). Non-combustible composted inert …

Smu Announces Appointment Of New Provost, Singapore Management University

SMU Press Releases and News

The Singapore Management University (SMU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Lily Kong as the University’s new Provost. Professor Kong, who is currently Vice Provost (Academic Personnel) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) where she also holds the Provost’s Chair Professorship, will join SMU from 1 September 2015. At SMU, Professor Kong will hold the Lee Kong Chian Chair Professorship of Social Sciences. Professor Kong is widely regarded as a thought leader in religion, cultural policy and creative economy, heritage and conservation, and national identity.

Visigothic Retinues: Roving Bandits That Succeeded Rome, Andrew T. Young

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

I employ a case study of the Visigoths in the fourth and fifth centuries to analyze the collective action problems faced by roving versus stationary bandits. A roving bandit provides exclusive collective goods to its members. A stationary bandit also provides exclusive goods to its members, but it also provides inclusive collective goods to out-group individuals in its domain. The inclusive goods provided to the out-group are an input to the production of the exclusive goods enjoyed by the in-group members. I describe how the transition from the former to the latter likely involves redefinition of the relevant group, its …

Can State Tax Policies Be Used To Grow Small And Large Businesses?, Erin Borches, John Deskins, Amanda Ross

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

The existing literature studying the relationship between small business activity and U.S. state tax policy has focused primarily on a few measures of small business. We expand this literature by estimating the effect of state tax policy on small businesses by using a broader measures of small business activity using a longitudinal dataset for the U.S. states. We also estimate the relationship between state tax policy and large business activity. Results provide evidence that state tax policy can influence small business firm, establishment, payroll, and employment growth in important ways but provide limited evidence that such policy significantly influences large …

Move, Interact, And Connect Personally Barter Theatre’S Project Real Gets Implicit In Order To Learn, Megan E. Atkinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Body movement, hands-on activity, embodiment, social interaction, emotions, and self-reflection allow teaching artists of Barter’s Theatre’s Project REAL to conduct a lesson with an implicit learning experience as the focus. Barter Theatre’s Project REAL exists as a theatre for education program that collaborates with regular classroom teachers on delivering the curriculum through specific theatre exercises in order to connect the material personally to the students’ lives. Theatre tools provide a human experience that enhances learning for the student by use of kinesthetic movement, social learning, emotions and interpersonal skills. To understand the effects of Barter Theatre’s Project REAL, the director …

Opening Address By Ms Indranee Rajah At The Launch Of Applied Research Centre For Intellectual Assets And The Law In Asia (Arciala), Singapore Management University

SMU Press Releases and News

No abstract provided.

Toolstone Use In Ozark Prehistory: Assessing Adaptations To A Lithic Dichotomy In The Boston Mountains And Springfield Plateau, Luke Allen Morris

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Toolstone use in the Ozark Mountains is a reactionary process reliant on how the landscape provides or constrains chipped stone for prehistoric populations. These technological adaptations are recognized at sites throughout the area, but no regional assessment of lithic assemblages provides answers as to why certain stones are used at a particular location. This thesis employs a five step mass analysis of lithic assemblages, and GIS visualizations to observe how the organization of stone technologies vary based on location within contrasting geologic contexts. The chert-bearing Springfield Plateau, and the Boston Mountains with siltstone, are two neighboring dichotomous landscapes that illustrate …

Living For Eternity: A Predictive Analysis Of Manifestations Of Biblical Worldview Of University Freshmen, Sharon Edge Wilkie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study includes a predictive analysis of factors contributing to worldview and acts of volition, a correlative analysis of a biblical worldview, a non-biblical worldview, and acts of volition, and a comparative analysis of the influence of gender on worldview. The research design used a non-randomized, convenience sample and a Likert-type scale, which included original questions. The instrument measured three components of worldview: biblical, non-biblical, and acts of volition. Analysis of the data included multiple linear regression, bivariate correlation (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient) and a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Participants were freshmen attending a liberal arts Christian university. …

Exploring The Relationship Between Utah's Wages And Utah's Real Estate Values, S. Scott Laneri

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper uses a variety of multiple regression analysis techniques to attempt to answer whether a direct relationship exists between Utah's employee wages and Utah's residential real estate values. Unexpected declines in real estate values can have seriously negative impacts on businesses, individuals, and local governments in Utah. Conversely, unexpected increases represent missed opportunities. Researchers have used various statistical and mathematical methods to explain or predict changes in real estate values, but no method has consistently predicted values for a long period of time or across multiple geographical areas. This paper focuses on exploring the relationship between variables in Utah …

Quality Of State Attorneys' Oral Arguments In Supreme Court Litigation, Kaylee Johnson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In my thesis, I evaluate the conventional wisdom that attorneys representing state governments performed poorly in oral arguments before the Supreme Court. This led the National Association of Attorneys General in 1982 to create the Supreme Court Clearinghouse Project. The project was implemented in an effort to improve the quality of states' efforts before the Court. Pulling from Justice Blackmun's ratings of attorneys in oral arguments, I conduct a quantitative analysis to determine whether such efforts actually led to an improvement in states' performance in Supreme Court litigation. I take the 1,142 cases in which states were involved from 1970-1993 …

The Poverty Of Prefectures: A Reevaluation Of The Memoir Of Zhang Daye, Joshua Defriez

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Everything today's readers know about the man Zhang Daye comes from his memoir, The World of a Tiny Insect (Wei Chong Shijie, 微蟲世界). The manuscript was distributed locally after its completion in 1894, though it never achieved wide-scale circulation. Wang Yongyuan of Zhejiang Normal University donated the only complete copy to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the early 1950s where Harvard scholar Xiaofei Tian later discovered the manuscript. Since Tian's publication of an English translation in 2013, Zhang's writings have reached a wider audience than he likely ever imagined. As we read The World, Zhang's words …