Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Determining The Effects Of Corporate Social Responsibility Programs And Wages On Turnover Rates For Fortune 500 Companies, Jacob Wacaster

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Over the last few decades, the turnover rates for employees of Fortune 500 companies have continued to rise. As this rate continues to get higher, companies begin to lose efficiency, as they have to devote more time to training new employees and less time toward production. My research project involves looking at the effects of Corporate Social Responsibility programs and wages on turnover rates for Fortune 500 companies, in order to assess whether investing in CSR programs or raising wages will better help address the turnover issue. To determine the effect of CSR investing, I will compare the median tenure …

What Immigration Means For U.S. Employment And Wages, Lilibeth Lopez

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Immigration has a significant impact on U.S. economic growth. Immigrants account for 14.4% (over 44 million) of the U.S. population. Their success has an important impact on the U.S. economy. This paper will focus on the impact of immigration on employment and wages. The Center for Immigration Studies shows that immigration has impacts on wages and employment. The negative effect of immigration on wages is primarily confined to native workers in low-skilled occupations. Immigration lowers wages for those at the bottom of the economic scale. Factors such as technological change and globalization have also played a role in the deterioration …

The Shortage Of Teachers In America Today, Avery Davis

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

There is a shortage of skilled labor in America today, but there is no sector where this problem is more acute than in education. The news has often covered strikes by teachers’ unions across the country, where teachers have been asking for more pay from state governments. It is clear that teachers are underpaid compared to other college graduates; this makes the profession of teaching much less attractive. This is because of the nature of the labor market for teachers, causing them to be underpaid as a whole. Teachers’ salaries are 21 percent below the median salary for other college …

The Effects Of Media On Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation Comfort And Attitudes Toward The Lgbtq+ Community, Katherine Harper, Jaylan Luvene

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

The main hypothesis was that after viewing a lesbian-appearing profile, participants would have a more positive view of the LGBTQ+ community, compared to participants who viewed a heterosexual-appearing profile. Additionally, it was hypothesized that more media representation of LGBTQ+ and prevalence of LGBTQ+ role models would produce a positive correlation with attitudes. Participants were 16 men, 55 women and nine participants who did not gender identify. The participants’ ages ranged from 18-50+. Through an online survey, using various questionnaires, participants’ attitudes toward the social media profiles (one profile appearing heterosexual and the other lesbian) were assessed. It was found that …

The Survival Of The American Beef Farmer In Today’S Market, Zackary Heustess

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Once the world’s agriculture leader, the United States has lost dominance over recent decades to international competitors, specifically Brazil. Since the number of American farms reached its peak at 6.8 million in 1935, this number has fallen drastically to 2.1 million by 2002. This paper will touch on one specific area of this field, beef cattle farming. Even with annual beef consumption continuing to increase in the United States, some developing trends might threaten farmers even further in the near future. These trends include the rapid scaling of corporate farming, the increased concern over the environmental impact from red meat, …

The Real And Perceived Effects Of Social Media Usage On Relationship Outcomes, Stephanie Carr, Kayla Pelle, Tiana Whitney, Destiny Black

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Social media platforms are one of the most common ways that humans interact in societies all over the world. The primary purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of social media on the outcomes of relationship satisfaction. We hypothesized that both real and hypothetical social media usage would associate with decreased romantic relationship satisfaction. This study consisted of 138 participants that were a convenience sample of Winthrop University students. Those participants aided in measuring perceptions of social media through completing social media usage scenarios and previously created questionnaires. The scenarios described the average day of a Winthrop …

Canadians' Views About The 2019 Federal Election Process, Jacob Allin, Laura Stephenson, Allison Harell

Reports

No abstract provided.

Graduate Occupational Therapy Students: Communication And Research Preferences From Three University Libraries, Lisa A. Adriani, Daniel G. Kipnis, Ronda I. Kolbin, Daniel Verbit

Libraries Scholarship

Library liaisons from three universities distributed an anonymous survey to graduate occupational therapy students to gauge preferred methods of communication when conducting research. This article discusses three findings: whom the students prefer to turn to when seeking research assistance, which methods of communication students prefer, and how long students spend searching before asking for assistance. From 193 responses, the liaisons reasoned that students prefer consulting with their peers before seeking help from librarians or faculty or instructors and they prefer assistance face-to-face. Additionally, the majority are willing to research from 30 minutes to 1 hour before seeking research help.

Home: Recreated In A College Setting, Hannah Huggins

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

There has been virtually no research on college students’ re-creations of home on college campuses. This research seeks to address this gap in literature and investigate the re-creation of home by college students on college campuses through a qualitative analysis of student experiences in on-campus housing at the University of Mary Washington. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were used to understand individual student perspectives on home and home re-creation. Home re-creation on college campuses is an individual and complex process. No single feature or collections of features transform a space into home for everyone. Main elements that create a sense of home …

Impact Of Animal Programming On Human Attitudes Of Local Wildlife, Ashton Jerger

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Attitudes towards wildlife can have direct implications on peoples’ interest in conserving local habitats and their overall ecological choices. Attitudes are formed by multiple components of an individual’s life history. However, through interactive, educational experiences, there is a potential to change current attitudes. Animal programs are an example of interactive, educational experiences that provide individuals the opportunity to get up-close to animal ambassadors and participate in engaging conversations about them. An animal program assessment was conducted with the 2019 summer camps at the Ohio Wildlife Center to quantify the changes in peoples’ affiliation for local wildlife and their willingness to …

The Effects Of Background Music On Sustained Attention Tasks And Workload Perception, William Hove

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

In the world that we live in that is populated by music many of the places we go, it is important to question how this music could impact our ability to work. This study aimed to observe the relationships between different classifications of background music and performance on a sustained attention task, as well as the perception of workload. 55 participants were randomly assigned to a difficult or easy attention task and to a music condition. Building off of prior research in workload and sustained attention, this study approaches these topics through the lens of stimulating and relaxing background music.

The Impact Of Foreign Media On Perceptions Of North Korea: A Textual Analysis Of Defector Testimonies And Experiences, Mary Wurtz

Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explores the impacts of the dissemination of foreign media in North Korea through a textual analysis of the accounts of North Korean defectors. Through the testimonies of North Korean defectors who consumed illegal foreign media prior to defection, this thesis explores motivations for foreign media consumption, effects on perceptions of the state, and impacts on the decision to defect from North Korea.

The Impact Of Attachment Style And A Biofeedback Relaxation Intervention On Self-Regulation, Priscilla Lee Shim

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The transition to college is a critical developmental period during which young adults are uniquely vulnerable to high stress and anxiety due to the overwhelming demands of academic, social, emotional, and financial adjustment. This developmental transition often requires students to generalize previously developed self-regulatory skills, which are closely tied to early attachment patterns with caregivers (Feeney, 2000). Research continues to support the evidence for biofeedback as a promising psychophysiological intervention, especially when used in conjunction with relaxation techniques (Lynch & McGrady, 2006). The present study explored attachment style and the effectiveness a biofeedback-guided relaxation intervention on the ability to self-regulate …

Leadership Roles In The Field Of Occupational Therapy, Christina Pitts

Student Capstone Papers

The idea of this capstone project was to learn about leadership through expertise and experience. The first portion of the project consisted of reviewing the literature and interviewing four occupational therapists that currently have a leadership role within the healthcare industry to gain insight into leadership qualities. The second potion included being at a facility (Advent Therapy in Richmond Hill, G.A.) for 14 weeks to observe and learn about current programs, and with the guidance of the therapists and management of the facility, develop and implement a program that was deemed to be beneficial to the client population.

Occupational Therapy's Role In Adapting Residential Youth Camps For Increased Inclusion, Brittany Tate

Student Capstone Papers

Each year, summer camps serve more than 11 million youth in the United States (US) (Wilson, Sibthorp, & Brusseau, 2017). Summer camps provide children with new experiences and give them opportunities to build confidence, social skills, and peer relationships (Wilson et al., 2017). Occupational therapy (OT) is an emerging area of practice throughout summer camps in the US (Hanscom & Schoen, 2014). Hanscom and Schoen (2014) recommend strategically combining OT with traditional camp programming to create an emotionally, physically, and spiritually safe environment that promotes optimal attending and task follow through. Summer camp has been shown to enhance positive youth …

Peripheral Dopamine 2 Receptors Both Modulate Central Dopamine Release And Adopt In A Similar Manner To That Of Central Dopamine 2 Receptors, J. Daniel Obray

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use disorder is a debilitating disorder affecting nearly 5% of people in the United States. Despite the prevalence of alcohol use disorder few affected individuals seek treatment and of those who do many will relapse. This highlights a need to develop new treatments for alcohol use disorder that are both more accessible and more effective. This dissertation characterizes a novel pathway involved in ethanol enhancement of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens as well as investigating alterations in dopamine 2 receptor expression and function following an acute dose of ethanol. This was done by using microdialysis to measure dopamine …

Cardiovascular Recovery From Emotional Stress: An Operationalization Of Equanamity Following Mindfulness-Based Emotional Stress, Emma Mcbride

Theses and Dissertations

Theoretical models of mindfulness suggest that meditation may improve health, in part, by regulating stress physiology, including faster recovery of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (SBP/DBP) after emotional stress. Furthermore, improved cardiovascular recovery (CR) may be a marker of equanimity, defined as increased acceptance of and reduced reactivity to stress. No studies have tested this hypothesis, partly because methodology for assessing CR remains controversial. Using a novel operationalization of equanimity and several methods of measuring CR, this project investigated whether (1) equanimity is associated with improved CR, (2) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is associated with improved CR, and (3) …

A No-Crash Course In Vision Zero Data, Anamaria Perez

PSU Transportation Seminars

Vision Zero was adopted unanimously by Portland City Council in 2015 with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on Portland streets in a way that is equitable, accountable, and data-driven. But what does it mean to be data-driven? And should we stop there?

In this presentation, learn how Portland’s Vision Zero Action Plan was developed and how the Vision Zero team is using data to move into a future where all Portlanders can travel safely, regardless of the travel mode they use. Explore the datasets used in Vision Zero implementation and the challenges that come with them. …

The Effects Of Involvement In Religious Practices On Recovering Substance Users., Taylor Currier

Honors Theses

This paper reviews empirical studies focused on spirituality and its effects on those in the recovery process from substance abuse. This paper will look at qualitative studies as well as quantitative research to see which form has derived the best results on how spirituality has affected substance abuse recovery. Prolonged recovery is the goal for those that struggle with substance use. Behavior change is an important in sustaining sobriety with those dealing with addiction. It is predicted that those who engage in spiritual growth within their community have a higher likelihood of prolonged recovery than those that do not believe …

Dual Lives Assimilation Literacy, Shiloh Garcia

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

In recent years, the field of literacy studies has not given enough attention to exploring the English literacy journeys of immigrants and in particular, Latin immigrants. Furthermore, there has been little dialogue that has encouraged plans to help fix this issue.

We, in the academy, have a unique opportunity to not only tell the stories of the world but also help create avenues for those stories in order to create change. For this reason, this study focuses on important topics such as the effects of the dominant language on Latin immigrants, if it is possible to have a grounded native …

Community Involvement In Flood Mitigation: A Survey-Based Approach In Marion County, Sc, Lillian C. Howie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Marion County is located in northern South Carolina between the Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers. Because Marion County was the location of severe flooding during hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018), the South Carolina Floodwater Commission identified Marion County as a location for drainage system improvement by the Infrastructure and Shoreline Armoring Task Force. In order to align plans for drainage system improvement with the needs of the local communities, commission chairman Thomas Mullikin requested a community survey to gauge the residents' personal experiences and views on what changes should be made to address the problem. The …

Timing Of Departure From The Parental Home: Differences By Immigrant Generation And Parents’ Region Of Origin, Brian Joseph Gillespie, Georgiana Bostean, Stefan Malizia

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Drawing on immigrant adaptation and life course perspectives, this study explores reasons for differences in the timing of young adults’ departure from the parental home. We extend existing research by examining: (a) associations between home-leaving, and immigrant generation and parental region of origin, and (b) the role of parental language use in the home as a moderator of these associations. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (N = 5,994), we used Cox proportional hazard regressions to estimate the risk of home-leaving. Results revealed that 3+ generation immigrants are most likely to leave home, followed by …

A Crisis Of Masculinity: The Rise Of The Afd And The East German Man, Chandler Molpus

Honors Theses

In this thesis, I examine how a crisis of masculinity in the former German Democratic Republic has contributed to the rise of the far-right party, Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD). In the first chapter, I argue that east German men feel left- behind politically, economically, and demographically. In the second chapter, I compare results from the 2017 Federal Bundestag election to demonstrate that east German men are more likely to vote for the AfD than any other demographic group in Germany.

Sedative And Neurotoxic Properties Of Brexanolone Compared To Midazolam In The Developing Rodent Brain, Jacob Huffman

Dissertations

The developing brain is susceptible to extensive neurotoxicity following exposure to sedative/anesthetic drugs (SADs). Every year hundreds of thousands of children around the world are exposed to SADs with no viable non-neurotoxic agents approved for clinical use. Allopregnanolone (AlloP) has well-established sedative effects in adults and neonates. AlloP and many SADs produce sedation/anesthesia through allosteric modulation of GABA_A receptors, which is one of two principal mechanisms behind SAD-induced neurotoxicity. Evidence suggests AlloP has the unique capacity to regulate key apoptotic factors in adults and is widely involved with critical stages of neurodevelopment, indicating this neurosteroid might serve as a …

Inclusion In Religion And Spirituality For Children With Special Needs, Mackinzie C. Weiss

Student Capstone Papers

The proposed vision of this capstone project will focus on using occupational therapy interventions to help a local church be more inclusive to children and families with special needs. This capstone project will partner with a pre-existing special needs program to develop evidence based volunteer training, implement a parent respite program, and introduce a movement based program.

Public Opinion On Capital Punishment, Sydney Young

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The death penalty in the United States has its set of controversies from the people who support and those who oppose the policy. I want to examine how the death penalty and public opinion has changed over time. I also want to examine if there are statistical differences in regard to gender and political party. I would also like to compare different generations, such as millennials and baby boomers, to see if they vary in support for the death penalty. The last variable I would like to analyze is difference in regard to race and ethnicities. As a Deputy Juvenile …

Could Social Media Be A Mortality Salience Prime?, Miriam Mead

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Social media has had a profound impact on society. It has changed how people interact with each other. People can share updates on their lives, make new friends, and so much more - all digitally. It has become not only a world of its own, but also a part of people’s daily lives. Many studies have been done on how social media impacts humans - be it their relationships or mental health. However, there is a gap in research when it comes to social media’s possible role in Terror Management Theory (TMT).

Two Drug Epidemics In A Racist World: Comparing The Crack Crisis With The Opioid Epidemic, Téa Franco

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

America has faced two nationwide drug addictions: the crack crisis and the opioid epidemic. Despite several similarities in the spread of the addictions, the two garnered vastly different reactions from the media, society, and the government. It has become apparent that the reason for these different reactions is the race of those typically afflicted by each addiction. The crack crisis predominantly affected impoverished communities of color, whereas the opioid epidemic has affected more white Americans. Through journalistic methods including FOIA requests, government documents, interviews, and the gathering of primary and secondary sources, I have examined the way that race plays …

Understanding The Economic Impact Of The Carolina Panthers Training Facility On Rock Hill, Jeremiah Hart

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

In June 2019, the construction of both a new training facility and headquarters for Charlotte’s largest sports franchise was announced. Rock Hill, South Carolina, was selected as the new site for the facilities. This decision was notable for a number of reasons: foremost, the number of new residents that would be drawn into the region via jobs created by the construction of the new facilities. In order to better understand the outcomes of the Panthers’ investment, this paper will examine similar investments in other locales by other professional sports teams. These include “The Star,” a facility constructed by the Dallas …

Artificial Intelligence And The Trucking Industry: How Many Jobs Are At Stake?, Tyrrell Keim

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

As of 2018, the trucking industry in America employed over 3 million drivers and brought in almost $800 billion dollars. The industry’s labor cost is a third of this amount, with the average driver making about $22 an hour. How much of this cost could be minimized with the use of artificial intelligence in order to make the industry more profitable? Andrew Yang, an early candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Presidency, was the first political candidate in recent memory to speak of the potential pitfalls and job loss that automation could potentially bring to an industry, specifically …