Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Human Decision Making With Automation Using Systems Factorial Technology, Cara M. Kneeland

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While many researchers have investigated the performance consequences of automated recommender systems, little research that has explored how these systems impact the decision making process. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how people process information from an automated recommender system and raw information from the en- vironment using Systems Factorial Technology (SFT). Participants completed a speeded length judgment task with a reliable but imperfect aid. Experiment 1 focused on whether people process all the available information or are selective in their information search under certain circumstances (e.g., with performance incentives and with more experience with automation failures in …

Clinging To Power: Authoritarian Leaders And Coercive Effectiveness, Christian J. Wolfe

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This study identifies three tactics authoritarian leaders use to attempt to effectively coerce their citizens without losing power: 1) performance legitimacy, 2) nationalist legitimacy, and 3) institutional legitimacy. To demonstrate these tactics of what I call “coercive effectiveness,” the author employs a most-different-systems analysis on the regimes of Xi Jinping (2012 2015) and Bashar al-Assad (2000-2004). The author finds that coercion is more likely to be effective under the following conditions: 1) when leaders use economic performance and institutionalist strategies rather than nationalist tactics, 2) when an authoritarian leader climbs the ladder to power rather than inheriting leadership and 3) …

The State And Cannabis : What Is Success? A Comparative Analysis Of Cannabis Policy In The United States Of America, Uruguay, And Canada, Gideon C. Cunningham

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Globally, the policies that states engage in concerning the cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of recreational cannabis in the 21st century is changing rapidly. Three countries have now legalized, regulated, and implemented recreational cannabis frameworks, albeit in starkly different ways. These countries are The United States of America, Uruguay, and Canada. This research identifies the contradictory nature of cannabis policy goals and compares the similarities and differences of each countries’ recreational cannabis framework. It proposes a theory of understanding the contradictory nature of creating cannabis policies post-legalization and presents a framework from which to analyze the success of individual cannabis …

Exploitation And Domination: A Marxist Analysis Of The Impact Of Class Structure On State Terrorism, Joseph J. Hammons

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This study qualitatively examines the impact of three socio-economic inequalities on state terrorism: (1) income inequality; (2) unequal collective labor rights; and (3) land inequality. It proposes a theory of class structure and state terrorism based on the Marxist theory of exploitation and domination and uses Marxist class analysis in the comparison of two case studies, Brazil (1985-1990) and the Philippines (1986-1992), to determine which of the three socio-economic inequalities is most likely to lead to class struggle that will prompt the state to respond with terrorism. Findings from this study indicate that issues concerning land inequality may be a …

A Model Of Regime Change: The Impact Of Arab Spring Throughout The Middle East And North Africa, Omar Khalfan Bizuru

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This study examined the catalysts for social movements around the globe; specifically, why and how the Arab Spring uprisings led to regime change in Tunisia, why they transformed into civil war in some countries of the Middle East and North Africa (Syria), and why they did not lead to significant change at all in other places (Bahrain). The overall results of the study confirmed that political and socio-economic grievances caused the Arab uprisings in Tunisia, Bahrain, and Syria. Tunisian protesters succeeded in regime change because of a united and structured social movement leading to an effective transitional democracy in the …

China’S Legal Environment For Domestic Ngos: Standardized Policies For Greater Party-State Control Over Civil Society, Kelly E. Tursic

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This thesis examines one angle of state-society relations in authoritarian states through the lens of Chinese nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and their legal environment. While grassroots organizations have not prompted political liberalization in China, they have not been entirely co-opted by the party-state either. Through an examination of policy changes, a study of 120 organizations, and a case study of a non-profit incubator, this thesis explores whether the political environment for China’s domestic NGOs varies by geographic region and issue area. The findings suggest there is not significant variation as the party-state has implemented standardized policies for increased control over civil …

Promises And Pitfalls Of Machine Learning Classifiers For Inter-Rater Reliability Annotation, Lucille Dorothy Ayres

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Qualitative data result from observation, video, and dialogue. These types of data are flexible and allow us to study behavior without imposing potentially disruptive data collection methods. However, subsequent quantitative analysis requires a time consuming, labor intensive initial coding process, and a second manual coding to calculate inter-rater reliability. I examined the use of machine learning algorithms to reduce the amount of manual annotation work required to perform inter-rater reliability measures on text data. By comparing machine-human and human-human raters using Cohen’s Kappa statistic and an informal analysis of the features used in machine learning classification, I identify the promise …

The Predictive Power Of Machiavellianism, Emotional Manipulation, Agreeableness, And Emotional Intelligence On Counterproductive Work Behaviors, Ryan L. Walters

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Characteristics of Machiavellian individuals include a propensity to manipulate and deceive others, making them susceptible to committing counterproductive work behaviors (Deshong et al., 2014). Machiavellians endorse emotional manipulation as a tactic to achieve desirable outcomes, and experience deficits in emotional intelligence and agreeableness (Austin at al., 2007). The purpose of my study is to examine Machiavellianism and emotional intelligence and their relationships to counterproductive work behaviors. I collected survey results via Amazon MTURK with a sample of 153 participants. Bivariate correlation analyses show that Machiavellianism positively predicted Emotional Manipulation and negatively predicted Emotional Intelligence. Emotional manipulation was found to partially …

Capturing Intentional Testing Of An Automated System, Abraham Haskins

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Users change their behavior when interacting with automated systems based upon their trust levels. Users faced with an unknown system will adjust their trust levels as they learn more about that system. Past automation trust research has implicitly assumed that users are passive recipients of information when interacting with new systems. Feedback-seeking behavior, a pattern of behavior involving actively eliciting information about one’s performance, is a well-researched concept within interpersonal research. Applying this interpersonal research to the domain of automation, I examined cases in which individuals sought feedback regarding the reliability of an unfamiliar automated system by asking for answers …

An Interaction Between Anthropomorphism And Personality On Trust In Automated Systems, Abraham Haskins

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Automated assistance is increasingly being implemented in domains ranging from healthcare to transportation. The reason for the tendency for certain users to trust or mistrust automated assistance has been studied to mixed effect. I examined the effect of anthropomorphism as an independent factor on user trust. In addition, I examined the potential for anthropomorphism to act as a moderator between the personality traits of a user and the trust a user demonstrates in the automated aid. Though the participants in the anthropomorphic condition did view the assistant as more human-like, the level of anthropomorphism had no effect on user behavior. …

Role Overload: Examining The Definition And Measurement Of A Common Work Stressor, Sean Becker

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Researchers previously gave considerable attention to role overload as a predictor of employee health, job attitudes, and behavior. However, the validity and conceptualization of role overload measures have been questioned and show inconsistent results. In response to the issues with role overload measures, the researcher developed a new measure of total role overload, consisting of two work related dimensions, qualitative and quantitative. These dimensions were crossed with “data people and things” to provide diagnostic ability and one non-work-related dimension of family role overload to contextualize the individual’s life. The researcher conducted three studies to examine the psychometric qualities of the …

Role Overload: Examining The Definition And Measurement Of A Common Work Stressor, Sean Becker

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Researchers previously gave considerable attention to role overload as a predictor of employee health, job attitudes, and behavior. However, the validity and conceptualization of role overload measures have been questioned and show inconsistent results. In response to the issues with role overload measures, the researcher developed a new measure of total role overload, consisting of two work related dimensions, qualitative and quantitative. These dimensions were crossed with “data people and things” to provide diagnostic ability and one non-work-related dimension of family role overload to contextualize the individual’s life. The researcher conducted three studies to examine the psychometric qualities of the …

Meritocracy-Based Stickiness Measure Of Social Mobility, Curtis G. Tenney

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I measure the stickiness of social mobility in terms of meritocratic assumptions through the first-known Meritocracy-Based Stickiness Measure of Mobility (MBSMoM) using mobility transition matrices and assumptions based on Full Meritocracy (FM) and Lack of Meritocracy (LM). I develop the Simple Stickiness Measure of Mobility (SSMoM) and the Weighted Stickiness Measure of Mobility (WSMoM). In addition, I create the MBSMoM which is calculated from mobility transition matrices of intragenerational, intergenerational, and multigenerational correlations using various measures of status including education, occupation, class, consumption, income, and wealth. Utilizing mobility transition matrices employed by plethora of studies, MBSMoMs are calculated as a …

Ecological Interface Design For Flexible Manufacturing Systems: An Empirical Assessment Of Direct Perception And Direct Manipulation In The Interface, Dylan G. Cravens

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Four interfaces were developed to factorially apply two principles of ecological interface design (EID; direct perception and direct manipulation) to a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). The theoretical foundation and concepts employed during their development, with findings related to more significant issues regarding interface design for complex socio-technical systems, are discussed. Key aspects of cognitive systems engineering (CSE) and EID are also discussed. An FMS synthetic task environment was developed, and an experiment was conducted to evaluate real-time decision support during supervisory operations. Participants used all four interfaces to supervise and maintain daily part production at systematically varied levels of difficulty …

The Student Experience Of Higher Education During The Covid-19 Pandemic: How Class And Race Shape Socially Distanced Learning At A Public University, Alice M. Quach

Theses and Dissertations

While prior research has examined trends toward growing uncertainty and precarity for young adults within the economy and higher education, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be exacerbating these existing inequalities and risks. Drawing from 30 semi-structured in-depth interviews with college students at a large Southern and urban public university, this study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting students’ learning experiences, and how those experiences are differentially shaped, in turn, by their class and race. This exploratory research illuminates our understanding of the multiple mechanisms by which the COVID-19 pandemic is shaping existing inequalities in the higher education system, mostly …

Civility And Its Discontents: Subway Etiquette, Civic Values, And Political Subjectivity In Global Taiwan, Anru Lee

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Transgender And Gender Non-Binary Healthcare Coverage In State Medicaid Programs: Recommendations For More Equitable Approaches, Robin Kempf, Nicole M. Elias, Alonso J. Rubin-Desimone

Publications and Research

Transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) individuals face discrimination in healthcare settings and barriers to healthcare access, resulting in health disparities. These inequities are compounded by the intersection of lower socioeconomic status and geography. To understand the differences in how states provide healthcare to TGNB individuals in poverty, we ask: What are state Medicaid programs offering TGNB residents, and how can coverage be more equitable across jurisdictions? To answer these questions, we examine medical services covered by 15 diverse Medicaid programs and compare them to the services recommended by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Unsurprisingly, the analysis reveals …

Beyond Bostock: Implications For Lgbtq+ Theory And Practice., Sean Mccandless, Nicole M. Elias

Publications and Research

The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County is a landmark piece of case law that offers fundamental rights to LGBT persons. This essay reflects on how this case arrived at the Supreme Court and its implications for theory and praxis. The overall conclusion is that cautious optimism is warranted.

Students And Parents: How Academic Libraries Serve A Growing Population, Marta Bladek

Publications and Research

In recognition of the critical role libraries play in the educational lives of parenting students, there has been a noticeable trend in academic libraries to offer services and spaces for students and their children. This article reviews recent LIS literature on student parent initiatives in academic libraries, with the emphasis on the United States. The purpose of this synthesis is to highlight demographic data, research findings, and case studies that, considered together, may significantly expand the profession’s knowledge about the barriers parenting students face in accessing the library and its services. The first part of the article lays out the …

Online Or In-Person? Examining College Decisions To Reopen During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Fall 2020, Jacob Felson, Amy Adamczyk

Publications and Research

When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a major impediment to face-to-face college instruction in spring 2020, most teaching went online. Over the summer, colleges had to make difficult decisions about whether to return to in-person instruction. Although opening campuses could pose a major health risk, keeping instruction online could dissuade students from enrolling. Taking an ecological approach, the authors use mixed modeling techniques and data from 87 percent of two- and four-year public and four-year private U.S. colleges to assess the factors that shaped decisions about fall 2020 instructional modality. Most notably, the authors find that reopening decisions about whether …

The Impact Of Latent Print Processing On Firing Pin And Breechface Impressions During Firearm Examination, Brittany B. Harrington

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Latent prints can be a valuable source of forensic evidence when solving a crime. They can verify if a person was at a specific scene, identify unknown individuals to connect them to a scene, and help to corroborate eyewitness accounts. Latent prints, however, are not always visible until they have undergone enhancement or visualization techniques. When fired cartridge cases are suspected of containing latent prints, they are brought in for latent print processing before any firearm analysis is performed. As a result, these cartridges are often coated in various residues or dyes when they arrive for firearm examination. In response, …

Powerplex® Fusion 6c System Versus Powerplex® Fusion 5c: A Comparison Of Performance Metrics, Caitlin M. Mccaughan

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Following the FBI mandated expansion of the CODIS core loci from 13 to 20, several manufacturers developed short tandem repeat (STR) typing kits in response to the new criteria. One such manufacturer was the Promega Corporation, which released the PowerPlex® Fusion 5C megaplex STR typing kit (Fusion 5C) in 2012. Currently, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (VDFS) utilizes this amplification kit for both casework and database applications. In 2015, Promega released the PowerPlex® Fusion 6C STR typing kit (Fusion 6C), which contains three additional loci beyond those included in PowerPlex® Fusion 5C, and a sixth color channel. The power …

The Efficacy Of Recovering Latent Fingerprints From Fired Cartridge Cases By Way Of Cyanoacrylate Fuming Combined With Basic Yellow Dye Staining, Lily Mantz

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

This experiment attempted to tackle the long-standing struggle to consistently recover latent fingerprints from fired cartridges. With an emphasis on realistic handling of high volume of samples combined with Cyanoacrylate fuming followed by Basic Yellow dye staining, a total of 740 cartridges were examined. These included fired and unfired brass and nickel case 9mm Luger and 40 S&W cartridges. The cartridges were divided into five different groups; each were treated differently prior to cyanoacrylate fuming and dye staining, which was conducted in the same manner for the groups. The groups included the positive and negative controls, loaded, cycled, and fired. …

Differentiation Between Peripheral Blood And Menstrual Blood Using Mirna Markers, Anaya Valentine

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Abstract

In forensic investigations, body fluids can provide crucial information and is helpful for corroborating the circumstance of the case. For cases of sexual assaults or homicides, being able to differentiate if the blood is peripheral blood or menstrual blood is important. Peripheral blood can be indicative of a traumatic event, while menstrual blood is of a natural cause. Currently, serology based methods are used for body fluid identification, however, their lack of sensitivity and specificity remains an issue. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-protein coding nucleic acids that are able to be co-extracted with DNA, and their small …

Evaluation Of Dna Extraction Efficiencies Of Promega’S Dna Iq™ Methods And Casework Extraction Kit For Low Template Samples, Emily M. Anderson

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Biological evidence from crime scene samples frequently contain low levels of DNA, such as the most predominant form of evidence, which is DNA deposited by handling objects or “touch evidence”. To maximize the DNA yield recovered from theses challenging samples, forensic laboratories must optimize the extraction methods utilized to isolate and purify DNA for downstream short tandem repeat (STR) amplifications. Currently, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (VADFS) uses a DNA IQ™ System (DNA IQ) extraction method for isolation of DNA from most forensic samples. This extraction procedure, which combines DNA IQ™ lysis buffer and Dithiothreitol (DTT), has been validated …

Testing The Efficacy Of Surface Swab Sampling To Determine Post-Mortem Submersion Interval (Pmsi), Using The Microbiome Colonization Of Skeletal Remains Submerged In A Lotic Environment, Sarah Rose

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Estimating the post-mortem submersion interval (PMSI) can provide a valuable forensic tool for medicolegal death investigations involving victims discovered in aquatic environments. Previous studies conducted by Cartozzo et al. (2021) successfully demonstrated the use of microbial succession to create predictive models for the estimation of PMSI from submerged bone. Though effective, bone sampling requires time consuming processing techniques that result in destruction of decedent tissue. This study investigates the use of bone surface swabbing as an effective alternative method to bone sampling, with the goal of predicting PMSI using a simpler, non-invasive sampling technique. Porcine (Sus scrofa) skeletal remains (rib …

Considering The Ethics Of Political Communication And Doing The Right Thing, Kati Tusinski Berg

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Piercing The Veil: Examining Demographic And Political Variables In State Foi Law Administration, A.Jay Wagner

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

State and local governments play an important, and growing, role in everyday lives. The exploratory study positions FOI laws as a central mechanism in providing transparency to these more proximate governments. It is premised on a FOI audit, or field experiment, of 1002 requests across 9 U.S. state laws and 334 jurisdictions. The sample represents a broad cross-section of geographic, demographic and political variables, and the study analyzes these variables predictive and correlative value in determining outcomes, timeliness and communication in FOI requests. The results suggest significance in race and political variables in FOI outcomes and processes. The study's strongest …

Vcu Monroe Park Campus 'Iconic Green' Pre-Planning And Design Study, Nicholas A. Jancaitis

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The 'Iconic Green' pre-planning study for the Monroe Park Campus of VCU provides the framework and data necessary to support the intended 'nexus' on the proposed site. A review of the existing literature on various subjects included will highlight models and successful measures that have ensured success for previous similar built works. Having an understanding of the underlying factors and implications for the site, a needs assessment using existing literature and design precedents and in comparison with VCU's own desired end state and needs. Focusing on these comparisons within a theoretical framework called the Just Beautiful City, established in this …

Disability Inclusive Transportation: Assessing First Mile Last Mile Conditions In The Richmond Region, Rebekah A. Cazares

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Accessible public transportation services are vital to promoting a healthy, livable, and thriving region. For people with physical disabilities, the inability to access services and activities can have a harmful impact. A lack of personal mobility may lead to a decreased quality of life and the inability to advocate for one’s rights. Given the region's growing population, as well as increased disability rates, providing accessible public transportation services is crucial.

While public transportation services are required to be accessible under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, supporting infrastructure oftentimes creates additional barriers. For example, poorly maintained …