Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Impacts Of Formal Training On The Motivation Of Middle-Aged Runners, Margaret Turley

Master's Level Papers/Projects

The problem of this study was to understand the motivational factors behind middle-aged adults who take up running, and whether or not formal training is used by this population to aid in meeting their training goals. To determine this, two surveys were distributed to running groups hosted on social media. The first survey was geared toward middle-aged runners, and the second survey was geared toward trainers and running coaches who train middle-aged runners. The results of the survey were 183 runner participants and one trainer participant. Due to the lack of sufficient data, the trainer survey was not used in …

Paws And Breathe: How Pet Therapy Thrives In An Academic Library, Pamela N. Martin, Andrea Krebs, William Rozum

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Since the spring of 2014, the Merrill-Cazier library has offered stress-relieving activities during finals week to help students cope with their heavy workloads. The most popular activity offered (by far) is pet therapy. In the past, the library offered two sessions during finals week, but because of positive feedback and the huge student turnout at these sessions, the library has started to make pet therapy a weekly occurrence. Thanks to the kindness of our volunteer handlers, the therapy dogs have started to come to the library every Tuesday, and the feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive.

Pet therapy does …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - May 2017, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Upward Pricing Pressure As A Predictor Of Merger Price Effects, N. H. Miller, Marc Remer, C. Ryan, G. Sheu

Economics Faculty Works

We use Monte Carlo experiments to evaluate whether “upward pricing pressure” (UPP) accurately predicts the price effects of mergers, motivated by the observation that UPP is a restricted form of the first order approximation derived in Jaffe and Weyl (2013). Results indicate that UPP is quite accurate with standard log-concave demand systems, but understates price effects if demand exhibits greater convexity. Prediction error does not systematically exceed that of misspecified simulation models, nor is it much greater than that of correctly-specified models simulated with imprecise demand elasticities. The results also support that UPP provides accurate screens for anticompetitive mergers.

Can Hiring Quotas Work? The Effect Of The Nitaqat Program On The Saudi Private Sector, Jennifer R. Peck

Economics Faculty Works

This paper studies the effects of quota-based labor regulations on firms in the context of Saudi Arabia's Nitaqat program, which imposed quotas for Saudi hiring at private firms. I use a comprehensive firm-level administrative dataset and exploit kinks in hiring incentives generated by the quotas to estimate the effects of this policy. I find that the program increased native employment at substantial cost to firms, as demonstrated by increasing exit rates and decreasing total employment at surviving firms. Firms without any Saudi employees at the onset of the program appear to bear most of these costs.

Learning Outcomes For Economists, S. Allgood, Amanda Bayer

Economics Faculty Works

Articulating thoughtful learning outcome statements for courses and majors improves teaching and learning and satisfies accreditation requirements. After reading this paper, economists will be able to construct learning outcome statements that guide and enhance teaching and learning in their courses and programs. We present a framework for developing learning outcomes based on a set of five fundamental competencies in economics. We then provide another public good, offering a complete set of learning outcomes for an introductory microeconomics course, which instructors can include in their syllabi. For additional guidance, we construct examples of lesson-specific learning outcomes as well.

Emerson Garfield Neighborhood Beautification, Kristin Jensen, Madi Burke, Tristan Renz

Planned Communities: SO 375H

The purpose of this neighborhood action plan is to enhance the aesthetic appeal, cohesion, and overall safety of the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood -- creating an environment that community members are proud to live in, and where parents can safely raise their children. An enhancement of appearances will work towards the fostering of a classy, family friendly, and local identity. These improvements will promote collaboration among community members, strengthening the neighborhood’s appeal, and implementing needed changes.

Emerson Garfield Neighborhood: A Neighborhood Life Plan, Sarah Dixit, Joel Gabriele, Margot Spindola, Emily Wilson

Planned Communities: SO 375H

This comprehensive plan of Emerson-Garfield seeks to broaden the horizons within neighborhood life planning and assesses the strategies to create a more vibrant community. Our comprehensive plan focuses on neighborhood life because the residents have identified better opportunities for other residents in the neighborhood to interact and collaborate.

The Southeastern Librarian V 65, No. 1 (Spring 2017) Complete Issue

The Southeastern Librarian

No abstract provided.

Witness The Spectacle, If You Can: An Investigative Analysis Of The Accessibility Of Democracy In Syracuse Local Government, Alexis Rinck

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This qualitative study seeks to explore, analyze, and challenge the structure and participants in Syracuse local government. In 2015, a study done by Rutgers University professor, Paul Jargowsky, named Syracuse as the city with the poorest Black and Latino populations in the United States (Jargowsky 2015). This study has culminated into an in-depth examination of Syracuse local government and the accessibility of its representative democracy. This study utilizes qualitative methods: participant observation and in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore how groups of citizens engage with the local government through attending public meetings. Three primary themes include: the emergence of a political …

Political Ideology And Feelings Towards Feminism: Why Young People Reject The Feminist Label, Raychel Renna

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This project explores the relationship between political ideology, feminist selfidentification and support for feminist policy. The purpose of this research is to help explain why millennials reject the feminist label despite holding positive attitudes towards feminist policy. A survey of 312 Syracuse University students is used to study this relationship. Consistent with my hypothesis, I find that compared to conservatives, liberals are more likely to identify as feminist and support feminist policy. However, I also find that among liberals and conservatives, support for feminist policies is greater than self-identification as a feminist and the gap between selfidentification as a feminist …

Serving Syracuse Youth Through Mentorship, Neha Rauf

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This project seeks to explore the use of mentorship as an intervention mechanism for at-risk youth in Syracuse, living with the consequences of poverty and community violence. The first part is an interview-based study that analyzes the effects on youth and mentors that participate in mentorship programs in Syracuse, New York focusing on the reciprocal nature of those benefits. While mentors guide urban youth through academic, social, and personal challenges, this study finds the principal benefits to the mentees interviewed were exposure to new opportunities and improved interpersonal and communication skills. Furthermore, the mentors themselves felt the relationship was an …

School Safety: One Year After The Parkland Shooting, Meredith Kava

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

On February 14th, 2018, 17 students and educators were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) in Parkland, Florida. What followed was an extraordinary effort from those closely-tied to the tragedy to make schools safer. A year later, a comprehensive list of safety recommendations has been put forth and a new state bill is on the table to improve school safety efforts in Florida. However, these proposals are not without their critics. The following video drives the conversation of school safety and the improvements (or lack thereof) that have been made since the shooting to make schools …

A Multiple Regression Analysis Of Locus Of Control And Psychological Flexibility Regarding The Total Mental Well-Being Of Muslims, Hawazan Abdulaziz Binzaqr

Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate the relationships between mental health, psychological flexibility, and locus of control within the Muslim population, and how these variables are related to demographic characteristics such as gender, level of spirituality, and marital status. The sample of 235 participants was taken from the worldwide adult Muslim population. Mental health was measured by PROMIS-57 survey, psychological flexibility was measured by the AAQ-II survey, and locus of control was measured by the MHLC survey. All data were self-reported via online form. There was an inverse relationship between level of spirituality and poor mental health (high PROMIS-57 scores) …

An Evaluation Of Arkansas’ Developmental Coursework Policy At Postsecondary Institutions, Evan Thomas Rhinesmith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an evaluation of the impacts of assignment to and enrollment in postsecondary remedial coursework in the state of Arkansas. In this study, I evaluate the impacts of the policy on students’ academic achievement and attainment as measured by graduation rates and persistence. I include subgroup analyses of these outcomes to determine whether there are heterogeneous effects for students enrolling at two-year or four-year institutions, institutions with the highest remediation rates, and students of different races, genders, and baseline achievement. Like previous evaluations of remediation in other settings, the results here point to negative impacts of remediation on …

Examining The Needs Of Refugees And Refugee Service Providers: A Case File Examination, Alyson D. Miller

Honors Theses

Refugees are people who have fled their country as a result of experienced persecution or fear of persecution. Research shows that refugees face many challenges and have many needs after being relocated in the United States. Once refugees are resettled, the goal of resettlement organizations and agencies is that refugees achieve self-sufficiency and be integrated into the community. This research aims to discover if refugee demographic characteristics have an effect on the amount of financial assistance refugees receive for relocations or an effect on achievement of self-sufficiency. This research is a quantitative secondary analysis taken from the case files of …

Demographic Differences In Drug Dependency: Implications For Policy, Practice, And Research, Charles D. Baker

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research study was to examine whether there are differences in drug dependency based on demographic characteristics. The four most commonly used or abused drugs were included in this analysis (i.e., nicotine, alcohol, pain relievers, and marijuana). The secondary purpose is to explore whether there were demographic differences in mental health and drug treatment among those with a substance use disorder. Substance dependence is a state in which someone can only function normally with the presence of a drug. Past research has examined this topic to some degree; however, trends often change over time. This study found …

When Deception Gets Personal: An Exploration Into Personality's Link To Deception, Jason T. Weber

Honors Theses

Most of our understanding of deceptive behaviors comes from cognitive (Vrij, Fisher, & Blank, 2015) or social psychological (Ekman, 2009) perspectives, and furthermore comes from forensic deception detection research and strategies (Vrij, 2008). One psychological domain that has not had as much investigation in relation to deception is personality. The present study examines the connection between personality traits and one aspect of deceptive behaviors – motivations to lie. College students completed self-report surveys online regarding personality, their lying habits, and basic demographic questions. Additionally, participants read several lying scenarios and rated the likelihood of lying. In a sample of 292 …

Irrational In Its Rationality: A Critique Of The All Lives Matter Movement And One-Dimensional Society, Elliot Newell

Honors Theses

In his book One-Dimensional Man, Herbert Marcuse argues that modern society has lost the ability to critique itself. Contradictions are hidden through manipulative language and protest is suppressed. As a result, Marcuse asserts that our society has become rational in its irrationality, so that contradictions appear logical and even beneficial. Though published in 1964, Marcuse's theory is still relevant today, and is seen in the All Lives Matter movement. As a response to Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter makes the seemingly rational claim that everyone in America is valued equally, and that racial prejudice is a thing of the …

The Montana Expression 2017: Invasive Species And Water Recreation, Norma P. Nickerson, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to assess how many Montanans participate in outdoor water recreation and to assess their awareness level of the 2016 water closures due to invasive species events. Nearly 12,000 Montana residents were surveyed and found that fishing, rafting, swimming and motorized boating are the water activities most participated in by Montanans. Awareness of the closure of waterways in 2016 was at its highest level the older one was in age. Eighteen to thirty-six year olds were least aware signifying a need to assess how these issues can be communicated to Montanans under the age of …

Developing A Leadership Curriculum 'Innovation, Creativity And Leadership', Pamela Zh Pauwels

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Growth and innovation are key drivers to a company’s long-term success. Creativity (creative thinking) is a necessary condition for innovation. Supervisors and managers who are able to build a positive work environment that enables creative and innovative behavior have a competitive advantage. This Master's project focuses on the development of an in-company leadership curriculum to provide leaders and supervisor with theoretical background and a “ toolbox ” to develop their own and their team’s innovative and creative behavior. A pilot version of curriculum was well received and validated the need to gain more understanding on the topic of creativity and …

Story Problem Solving, Brian D. Kalina

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project paper will explore and define the relationship between the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and the timeless concept of storytelling. Since the beginning of time, people have been sharing stories to relate their experiences and their solutions to overcome challenges and obstacles. CPS is a more modern methodology that aids people in their approach and their ability to generate plans and solutions to overcome challenges and obstacles. Therefore, the premise of this project is to seek answers to the questions; (1) How might we look to stories as frameworks for solving our problems? and (2) How might we marry …

Creativity As A State Of Consciousness: Creativity And Altered States Of Consciousness, Kari A. D'Amico, Kari A. D'Amico

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Part of a larger research initiative focused on altered states of consciousness as it relates to creativity, this inquiry is a continuation of my independent study completed fall 2016. This project is designed to further develop research in the area of creativity as it relates to altered states of consciousness. It offers a new paradigm for how we might present the concept of altered states of consciousness within the field of creativity. This altered state is in contrast to what will be defined as an ordinary state of consciousness. The product and qualities expressed in an altered state of consciousness …

Reducing Tobacco-Related Health Disparities : Exploring The Barriers And Facilitators To Smoking Cessation Among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness., Bernadette Guzman Antoon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the prevalence of smoking has declined in the U.S., vulnerable populations continue to suffer from tobacco-related health disparities. An estimated 68.0-80.0% of homeless adults are current cigarette smokers compared to 15.1% in the general population. The large gap in smoking rates suggests that current tobacco cessation programs designed to reduce smoking have little impact among individuals experiencing homelessness. The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation among the homeless. The second aim of this study was to explore if the barriers and facilitators to tobacco cessation differed among male smokers experiencing homelessness …

Psychophysical Analysis Of Three Separate Anisotropic Patterns In Vision : Putting Visual Reference Frames In Conflict To Study The Class 1 And 2 Oblique Effects And The Horizontal Effect., Eleanor O'Keefe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes and investigates a debate about differences in the visual system’s anisotropic sensitivity to orientation as well as where and how the brain encodes visual orientation information. Three different visual perceptual patterns are discussed: the Class 1 and 2 oblique effects and the horizontal effect. The oblique effect is the ability to perceive cardinal orientations more easily than oblique orientations, and is found using narrowband stimuli. In the horizontal effect, oblique orientations are perceived most easily, horizontal orientations are perceived worst, and vertical orientations fall in-between, and is found using broadband stimuli. While the majority of authors refer …

A Spatial Analysis Of The Relationship Between Violent Neighborhood Crime Rates And Alternative Gentrification Indicators In Louisville, Ky (2010-2016)., George A. Noonan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes recent findings analyzing coffee shops as alternative indicators of gentrification and the spatial relationship to violent crime. This thesis seeks to add to this literature by providing additional alternative gentrification indicators such as breweries, distilleries and wineries. The change in number of coffee shops, breweries, distilleries and wineries may impact crime rates and multiyear average incidences of homicide and robbery in the city of Louisville, KY. The first hypothesis states that gentrification decreases multiyear average robberies per census tract from 2010 to 2016. The second hypothesis states that gentrification decreases multiyear average homicides per census tract from …

Examining The Link Between Press Freedom And Politics., Megan Wollerton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Freedom of the press is a hallmark of liberal democracy. Denying this civil liberty emboldens a government to exert an undue degree of influence over its citizens. By comparing the media discourse in a democratic country to the media discourse in an authoritarian country, one could reasonably expect to identify unique language markers, which shed light on their divergent political climates. This study specifically sourced articles from the Venezuelan publication El Universal and the Costa Rican publication The Tico Times. The author then analyzed every article related to politics published by both newspapers in March 2014 and in March …

Instructional Teacher Job Resources And Student Achievement In Mathematics., Amy Stokes-Levine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that teachers who are supported with job resources are more engaged regardless of the level of demands (Klusmann et al., 2008). Additionally, teachers who are engaged with their work are less likely to report their intention to leave the teaching profession (Klassen et al., 2012), which is particularly important for mathematics teachers who are in high demand (Sutcher, Darling-Hammond, & Carver-Thomas, 2016). Supporting employees with job resources is a commonly accepted practice in many professional fields (e.g., Christian, Garza, & Slaughter, 2011), yet is not a common practice in education (e.g., Bidwell, 2013; Gewertz, 2014; Layton, 2015; Rentner …

Governing The Urban Water Commons : Essays On Collaborative Policy Networks In A Polycentric Ecology Of Urban Water Policy Games., Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Governing social-ecological systems, such as the urban water commons, is a multi-scale and multi-sector (polycentric) human-environment process. This dissertation interrogates this process by situating itself within the Ecology of Games Framework by Norton Long (and updated by Mark Lubell) and the literature on polycentric governance by the Bloomington School of Political Economy. The dissertation’s three essays 1) offer both theoretical and methodological means to enact polycentric public economies within the ecology of games framework, and 2) explicate the conditions under which interoganizational collaboration is fostered within a polycentric ecology of policy games in governing the Middle Rio Grande urban watershed. …

Slovakia’S New Religious Registration Law Is A Step In The Wrong Direction, Lubomir Martin Ondrasek

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

"The new religious registration law is a step in the wrong direction because individual and collective religious freedom is a central pillar of any free and democratic society and should not be compromised by arbitrary discrimination. Muslims and other religious groups with fewer members who are prevented from registering cannot fully exercise their religious freedom (the “forum externum” aspect), a fact that should not leave indifferent democratically-minded people of all faiths and none. Slovakia should change its anachronistic and unfair system of differentiating between registered (privileged) and non-registered (discriminated) religious groups, especially when this differentiation is based on an arbitrary …