Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

"Social" Movements: A Trend Analysis Of The Role Of Social Media In Social Movements, Courtney Nelson Stubbs

Theses and Dissertations

The gay rights movement has been very active on social media throughout the years. Using a trend analysis this study aimed to answer how social media is being used during a social movement, how a social movement evolves on social media, and how social media is being used by organizations as a public relations strategy to create change in social movements. Overall, the findings revealed 11 different ways social media is being used during a social movement, which shows how important opinion leaders are in helping a social movement gain traction and create the desired impact.

An Assessment Of Sentencing Disparities By Race In The State Of Arkansas, Viola Schaeffer

Theses and Dissertations

Past research has found that there are often disparities in sentencing outcomes due to extralegal factors such as race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, education level, and geographic location. The most prominent and widely studied of these factors, however, is race. Specifically, studies have shown that minority offenders (e.g., African Americans) were more likely to receive a lengthier sentence than their White peers. The purpose of this thesis is thus to examine if there is racial bias in sentences levied to violent offenders in Arkansas. This is be done by analyzing sentencing data from the Arkansas Office of the Courts between …

Stress-Related Biosocial Mechanisms Of Discrimination And African American Health Inequities, Bridget J. Goosby, Jacob E. Cheadle, Colter Mitchell

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This review describes stress-related biological mechanisms linking interpersonal racism to life course health trajectories among African Americans. Interpersonal racism, a form of social exclusion enacted via discrimination, remains a salient issue in the lives of African Americans, and it triggers a cascade of biological processes originating as perceived social exclusion and registering as social pain. Exposure to discrimination increases sympathetic nervous system activation and upregulates the HPA axis, increasing physiological wear and tear and elevating the risks of cardiometabolic conditions. Consequently, discrimination is associated with morbidities including low birth weight, hypertension, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Biological measures can provide …

Synthesis Of Novel Disulfide Triazole Organophosphate Containing Fire Retardants, Parsa Asaei, Jun Yong Kang

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Fire Retardants (FR) play a pivotal role in reducing smoke plume generation in wildland fires, which coincides with one of NSF EPSCoR’s HDRFS project objectives: investigating smoke plume dynamics. With the San Antonio Statement from 2010 banning halogenated FRs, there has been a push in research towards safer and better alternatives. The synthesis of a novel disulfide triazole organophosphate fire retardant (DSTP) would aid in NSF EPSCoR’s HDRFS research as a greener and better alternative. Therefore, our research aimed to i) develop a novel FR that harnesses the synergistic effects of phosphate-, disulfide-, and triazole-functionality that can be applied to …

Reminders Of Reconsolidation: Prediction Error Vs. Spatial Context, Mateo Marquez, Jessica Nguyen, Augustine Alvarado

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Reconsolidation is the process whereby reactivating a consolidated memory can bring it into a labile state where it can be strengthened, weakened, or updated. Spatial context and prediction error (PE) are two ways that memories can be reactivated. Spatial context refers to being in the same-environmental setting during encoding and retrieval, whereas PE refers to the mismatch between expected and observed events. Both methods have successfully reactivated consolidated memories. However, it is unclear whether reconsolidation is affected by PE when it isolated in different spaces.

The Role Of Prediction Error In Episodic Memory, Natalie Chisam, Natalie Hsiao

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Prediction Error and Memory: Memory encoding and retention is influenced by prediction errors (PE), which occur when observed events deviate from expectations. Predictive Based Theories: Several theories have been proposed to predict how PE influences memory.

State Government: A Comparison Of Bicameral, Biennial, Citizen Legislatures, Zachary J. Johnigan

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Governing agencies can be classified as either federal, state, or local. The Nevada Legislature is a state level governing body that provides governance for the state of Nevada. A large part of the process of governing the state takes place during a regular legislative session, where new laws are heard then passed or denied and old laws are revised or abolished. One regular legislative session consists of 120 calendar days. In the event that not all business was able to be conducted within a regular session, the governor of the state can call for a special session to be opened. …

Listener’S Judgement Of Tempo Is Influenced By Dance Speed, Carolina A. Herrera, Ryan K. Perez, Jared W. Leslie, Erin E. Hannon

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The tempo of a musical composition is typically denoted by the number of beats per minute (BPM). Nevertheless, perception of tempo is inherently subjective, and it can be shaped by the listener's familiarity with both musical and dance elements [1, 2, 3, 4]. Even when songs have the same BPM, the perceived speed of the songs can differ based on the specific dance form and cultural context [1, 4]

Misophonia, Asmr, And Frisson Experience Predicted By Age, But Not Gender, Kaela Omengan, Bryanna Grijalva, Natalya Sayegh, Carlos Tamayo, David Vollweiler, Solena Mednicoff, Erin Hannon

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Misophonia: A disorder that shows low tolerance for specific sounds, often yielding reactions like anger and stress. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR): An affective sensation which elicits positive physiological responses. Musical frisson: Emotional response to music characterized by goosebumps, tingling sensations, or raised hair on the skin. Previous Literature: Potential links between misophonia, ASMR, and frisson; Higher emotional sensitivity in females.

Perceptual Learning Of Infants Across Domains, Melanie Garcia, Carolina A. Herrera, Ryan K. Perez, Rodica R. Constantine, Erin E. Hannon

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Infancy is a unique developmental period in which there is rapid attunement of perceptual systems to specific environmental properties. Perceptual narrowing: By the end of the first year, infants become adept processors and develop expertise of familiar socially meaningful domains such as faces, language, and music leading to subsequent social and cognitive abilities. The mechanisms driving these perceptual changes remain debated, with contrasting accounts proposing experience-dependent or domain-general influences. Objective: This research aims to investigate whether perceptual narrowing in early development is primarily driven by domain-specific experiences or by domain-general factors such as brain maturation and information processing.

Do Age, Musical Training, And Multilingualism Contribute To Misophonia, Asmr, And Frisson Experiences?, Riley Ramos, Kayla Daugherty, Haley Yanez, Joseph Altamirano, David Vollweiler, Solena Mednicoff, Erin Hannon

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Misophonia: intense negative reactions to sounds such as chewing or pen clicking. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR): positive tingling sensation to triggering auditory and visual stimuli. Frisson: Positive response (chills, teary eyes) to music or other emotionally charged experiences.

Effects Of Independent Versus Dependent Stressful Life Events On Major Symptom Domains Of Schizophrenia, Yizhou Ma, Joshua Chiappelli, Mark D Kvarta, Heather Bruce, Andrew Van Der Vaart, Eric L Goldwaser, Xiaoming Du, Hemalatha Sampath, Samantha Lightner, Jane Endres, Akram Yusuf, Alexa Yuen, Samantha Narvaez, Danny Campos-Saravia, Peter Kochunov, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We evaluated two models to link stressful life events (SLEs) with the psychopathology of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). We separated SLEs into independent (iSLEs, unlikely influenced by one's behavior) and dependent (dSLEs, likely influenced by one's behavior). Stress-diathesis and stress generation models were evaluated for the relationship between total, i- and d- SLEs and the severity of positive, negative, and depressive symptoms in participants with SSD. Participants with SSD (n = 286; 196 males; age = 37.5 ± 13.5 years) and community controls (n = 121; 83 males; 35.4 ± 13.9 years) completed self-report of lifetime negative total, i- and …

A Thematic Analysis Of Religious Identity And Volunteer Motivation Among Emerging Adult Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Jennifer R. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought insight into the religious and cultural identity of emerging adults belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints(LDS) and the impact such identity had in relation to volunteering motivation. Participants included 24 emerging adult college students belonging to the Church. Thematic analysis was used to determine influencing factors that led to Church membership and how Church membership shaped self-perception. Participants shared volunteer experiences and motivation to volunteer in relation to Deci and Ryan’s (2000) self-determination theory (SDT) was examined. The motivation of relatedness was identified among 100% of participants as compared to competence (37.5%) and …

The Impact Of Prior Pandemic Planning On Health Outcomes During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study Of Local Government Pandemic Planning In The United States, Karissa D. Bergene

Theses and Dissertations

In late 2019, scientists discovered a novel strain of coronavirus originating out of Wuhan, China. By January 2020, the United States (U.S.) saw its first positive case of coronavirus and the public was still unsure how serious of an epidemic this would be. By the time the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic a “global pandemic” on March 11, 2020, world leaders, public health experts, scientists, and public administrators kicked into high gear to start serious pandemic response efforts. The public sector is typically the responsible authority for the preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery of such …

The Cost Of Voting Categorized: A Comprehensive Review, Landon Brady

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this paper is to analyze the research field of cost of voting and review the relevant literature on voter participation. After reviewing the literature, a development of a theoretical framework to categorize multiple variables associated with the cost of voting will be completed. The goal is to create clear, concise, and simple categories that define the cost of voting. This should add conceptual clarity to the field by linking variables into a common foundation. The research also connects the sociological and psychological category of intrapersonal to concepts of social group needs, sense of achieving a greater …

“I Tell It Like It Is, Then How It Could Be”: Public Discourse And Public Administration In Popular American Music Since The 1990s, Kristen Dechert

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an analysis of lyrics from popular American music albums since the 1990s to understand public discourse about and experience with public administration. Albums included in the study came from two prominent sources: Billboard and Pitchfork decade-end lists. The study is framed by critical, postmodern, and responsiveness theories, methodologically grounded in critical discourse analysis, and technically approached using standard qualitative methods, including especially qualitative content analysis and iterative, inductive coding techniques. Findings from the qualitative study demonstrate public discourse on the themes of institutional and systemic racism and violence within and perpetuated by public administration and public institutions. …

Current And Future Perceived Needs And Concerns For Older Adults Aging In Place In Mississippi: Intergenerational Perspectives, Muhammad Riaz

Theses and Dissertations

The study's purpose was to identify the perceived needs and concerns of three generations in a family with an older adult aging in place in Mississippi. This mixed-methods study used snowball sampling in addition to recruitment by community leaders such as Extension agents to collect data through semi-structured interviews and structured questionnaires that asked about current and future problems among aging adults in rural communities in Mississippi. Three generations of Mississippians participated in the study, including older adults (G1; n = 22), adult children (G2; n = 23), and young adult grandchildren (G3; n = 19). Quantitative data were analyzed …

Geospatial Integrated Urban Flood Mapping And Vulnerability Assessment, Md Tazmul Islam, Md Tazmul Islam

Theses and Dissertations

Natural disasters like flooding have always been a big problem for countries around the world, but as the global climate changes and the number of people living in cities keeps growing, the threat of flooding has become a lot worse. Even though many studies have been conducted on flood mapping and vulnerability assessment in urban areas, this research addresses a significant knowledge gap in this domain. First, we used a flood depth estimation approach has been used to address the overestimation of urban flood mapping areas using Sentinel-1 images. Ten different combinations of the two initial VH and VV polarizations …

Exploring The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities On Adolescent Development: A Study Of Students Attending Schools In Poverty And Non-Poverty Areas, Clifton B. Thames

Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature has indicated a relationship between poverty, participation in extracurricular activities, and developmental outcomes. The current study aimed to investigate and develop a deeper understanding of extracurricular activities (ECAs) and their impacts on adolescent development using two self-report tools, the YES 2.0 and the Delinquent Attitude Scale (DAS). The researcher surveyed 174 high school seniors from students attending schools in poverty areas and students attending schools not located in poverty areas in Mississippi, examining disparities in ECA opportunities, barriers to participation, and the positive and negative impacts of ECAs on development. Additional data were collected from school administrators, allowing …

Insights Into The Challenges Posed By Climate Change And Land Competition To Brazil’S Midwest Pulpwood Market, Roberto Hajime Sant Anna Kimura

Theses and Dissertations

I investigated the effect of climate change in one of the few expanding markets in the world in Brazil. In the last decades the demand for pulpwood increased from zero to 11 million tons, leading to an expansion of 700 thousand hectares of Eucalyptus plantation. In 2024, a new mill will start operating increasing the consumption of wood fiber by 8.2 million tons (+49%). I used mathematical programming to investigate how different scenarios of productivity and land will affect the market. My results showed that around 946,000 hectares (+124%) of additional timberland will be necessary in the upcoming decades. The …

Pedestrian-Friendly Streets: Assessing Overall Success On Well-Being With Post-Evaluations, Ariana Ordoñez

Student Works

Today, well-being has taken a central role in urban planning, emphasizing the significance of pedestrian-friendly streets for the overall welfare of a city's residents. Pedestrian-friendly streets are vital elements of urban design that enhance mobility and contribute significantly to people's quality of life. This study examines the impact of pedestrian-friendly streets on the well-being of individuals through a post-evaluation approach. The research focuses on two projects: the 12 Avenue South project, completed in April 2022, and the Madison Station Boulevard project, completed in August 2022. The study uses a well-being questionnaire encompassing physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains by conducting …

Meeting Minutes, Wku Staff Council

Staff Council

Minutes of December 2023 meeting.

Costs Associated With Voluntary Speed Reduction Requests In Central California Marine Sanctuaries To Protect Endangered Whales, K. Eric Wolfe, Ian A. Mathis

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

International trade is vital to the U.S. economy. As waterborne traffic accounts for about 40 percent of all international cargo value and 70 percent of international tonnage, regulatory changes involving waterborne transportation may significantly impact the United States (US) economy on both local and national levels. A Voluntary Speed Reduction (VSR) program reduces vessel speeds off the central coast of California for vessels 300 gross tons and larger from May 1^st to November 15^th to protect whales and other marine mammals. This study investigates the magnitude of changes in vessel costs associated with VSR requests.

This analysis contributes …

Implications Of A Community-Based Learning Faculty Fellows Program To Facilitate Teaching And Learning In The Jesuit Tradition, Debra Fetherman, Julie Schumacher Cohen, Ovidiu Cocieru, Gerard Dumancas, Brian Snee, Patricia Wisniewski

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

The University of Scranton is one of the 28 Jesuit institutions of higher education located in the United States. Committed to community engagement and the development of Ignatian educators, a Community-Based Learning (CBL) Faculty Fellows Program was implemented academic year 2022-2023. The Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm and the Engagement of Hope framework were used as models to develop, implement, and assess a CBL faculty development program. Program activities were designed to build faculty skills, capacities, and their identity as community-engaged practitioners. Lessons learned through program assessment on the impact on faculty’s transformation to Ignatian educators and their ability to imagine new …

Stories With Strangers: A Community Building Library At Regis University, Amy Hezel, Dawn Combe

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

The authors share foundational texts and topics of engagement that led to an event called: “Stories with Strangers: A Community Building Library at Regis University.” The event was named, “Stories with Strangers” to highlight the “stories” of lived experience as well as the importance of sharing those stories with “strangers” to grow understanding, build relationships, and establish shared values with each other, with the hope of creating a common good. The texts and topics of engagement that led to the event are shared, including: the concept of the “common good” and in particular, David Hollenbach’s The Common Good and Christian …

Liderazgo Ignaciano Y El Panorama De Liderazgo Contemporáneo: Un Ejercicio De Compromiso Contracultural, Thomas Kelly, Jennifer Moss Breen

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Este artículo fue escrito como un diálogo entre dos miembros del profesorado y académicos que trabajan en una institución Jesuita. Este diálogo surgió a partir de su interés compartido en el liderazgo, especialmente un interés en el liderazgo ignaciano. Thomas Kelly trabaja en nuestra institución como teólogo y antiguo director de aprendizaje y servicio académico, y Moss Breen trabaja en la universidad como directora de un programa EdD de liderazgo interdisciplinar. Su formación y ámbitos de trabajo difieren, pero su interés en el liderazgo ignaciano es común a ambos. Kelly inicia la conversación y Moss Breen le responde.

De acuerdo …

What Is An Authentic Relationship?, Joe Johnston

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

There is perhaps nothing more hopeful in the world than to attempt to develop a truly meaningful relationship with another human being. The formation of authentic relationships can be powerful for many reasons including contributing to the formation of collective movements and social change. But, what does an authentic relationship look like in an inherently-time-limited community-engaged learning (CEL) experience? I utilize the case of a CEL class, rooted in some of the aims of the Jesuit Justice Circle (experience, understanding, imagination), which offers the opportunity for college students to enjoy early morning walks to school with youth. I analyze student …

Combining High-Impact Practices To Facilitate Hope For Young Adults Transitioning Into College, Isabelle A. Jenkins, Alison Bryant Ludden, Michelle C. Sterk Barrett

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Today’s societal challenges are causing young people to feel less hopeful about the future, negatively impacting their mental health. Educators are called to address this crisis and provide opportunities for young people to experience hope. Jesuit colleges and universities are uniquely poised to do so given their focus on caring for the whole person and the recent release of the Universal Apostolic Preferences, which prioritize “journeying with youth in the creation of a hope-filled future.” High-impact practices at Jesuit institutions could particularly be effective given the ways in which they intellectually engage students and help students cultivate a sense of …

The Circle Of Insight: A Process For Deepening Ignatian Imagination, And Inviting Hope, Anthony Nicotera

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Former Jesuit, educator, scholar, clinical social worker, peace and justice activist and advocate, and co-director of Seton Hall University’s Catholic Social Thought (CST) in Action Academy and NYU’s Post-Master’s Certificate Program in Spirituality and Social Work, Dr. Anthony Nicotera shares his Circle of Insight framework as a tool for deepening Ignatian imagination and inviting hope. The Circle of Insight’s See, Reflect, Act process, inspired by CST, and curated and created by Dr. Nicotera over twenty-five years of spiritual, social justice, and social work advocacy and practice, including teaching social justice courses and engaging in nonviolent civil resistance, builds on Ignatian …

Coworkers And Leaders: The Relationship Between Trustworthiness, Trust, And Employee Engagement, Lianne Young

Dissertations

A highly engaged workforce provides numerous organizational and individual benefits (Shuck et al., 2016), the culmination of which leads to a competitive advantage difficult to emulate (Burke et al., 2013). It remains challenging to understand how engagement develops, with little research available explaining the process (Shuck, 2020). High employee engagement levels provide a competitive advantage, but stagnant engagement levels remain a significant obstacle (Shuck, 2020).

Shuck (2020) recommends further research focusing on methods to increase engagement. Trustworthiness and trust are antecedents and drivers of engagement (Chughtai & Buckley, 2008; Federman, 2010; SHRM, 2017). A lack of trust has negative impacts …