Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Front Matter: 2024 State Of The Commonwealth Report, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

Cover, front matter, table of contents, sponsors, and other materials for the 2023 State of the Commonwealth Report authored by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University,

Part 1: Virginia's Economy Grows, Will Consumers Remain Unhappy?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

By many measures, Virginia will set several records in 2024. Economic activity across the state will surpass that observed in 2023 and will represent the fourth consecutive year of economic growth. More Virginians will have been at work or looking for work than in any other year. Yet, if one asks Virginians about the state of the economy, their views are decidedly more pessimistic.

Part 4: Rising Disability Rates (Or Not): A Sign That We Care Or An Epidemic Problem In The Commonwealth?, Dragas Center For Economic Analysis And Policy, Old Dominion University

State of the Commonwealth Reports

In this chapter, we examine one particular corner of a much larger disability story --- those individuals who have a work history and subsequently seek to receive income from the Social Security Administration because of that disability. Contrary to what many people believe, both the number of applications for worker disability and rates of approval of those applications have trended downward in recent years. We examine how worker disability rates have changed over time across the nation and Commonwealth.

Sleight Of Hand: Role-Differentiated Bimanual Manipulation Speed Across Infancy, Julie M. Campbell, Emily C. Marcinowski

Faculty Publications – Psychology

Role-differentiated bimanual manipulation (RDBM) is a complex behaviour requiring the complementary movement of two hands to achieve a common goal. We investigated the relation of RDBM speed (time to complete a successful RDBM) with a hand preference for acquiring objects (early right, late right, left, no preference), toy type (simple/difficult), age (9-14 months), and hand (right/left) used to perform the RDBM. Changes in RDBM speed across age were examined across different hand preference groups for RDBMs performed on simple toys using the right hand. The analysis revealed that early-right preference infants had a steeper slope than the no preference/left-preference infants. …

Is Precrastination Related To Updating And Inhibition Aspects Of Executive Function?, Sanaii N. Masih, Ryan Jun Seong Liew, Dawn Mcbride

Faculty Publications – Psychology

Precrastination is the act of completing a task as soon as possible even at the expense of extra effort. Past research has suggested that individuals precrastinate due to a desire to reduce their cognitive load, also known as the cognitive load-reduction (CLEAR) hypothesis [VonderHaar, R. L., McBride, D. M., & Rosenbaum, D. A. (2019). Task order choices in cognitive and perceptual-motor tasks: The cognitive-load-reduction (CLEAR) hypothesis. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 81(7), 2517–2525. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-019-01754-z]. This idea stems from the notion that it is taxing to hold intentions in working memory and completing a task as soon as possible releases …

Exploratory Actions As Mediators Of The Association Between Career Exploration Self-Efficacy And Decisional Outcomes: Does Exploration Type Matter?, Margaret M. Nauta

Faculty Publications – Psychology

This study used a short-term longitudinal design to test the social-cognitive model of career self-management's (CSM) theorized pathway in which exploratory actions mediate the association between career exploration self-efficacy and decisional outcomes. The study clarifies the role of exploratory actions in the decision-making process by distinguishing between self-exploration and environmental exploration. College students (N = 136; 77% female; mean age = 18.71 years [SD = 1.19]; 47% with undeclared majors) completed an online survey assessing self-efficacy for self-appraisal and self-efficacy for obtaining occupational information. A month later, they reported the frequency of their engagement in self-exploratory and environment-exploratory …

Why Broker Novel Concepts Into Economic Sociology? Transcending The New Economic Sociology, Aaron Z. Pitluck

Faculty Publications – Sociology and Anthropology

This Current Sociology Monograph draws together six articles that broker novel concepts into economic sociology. To orient this enterprise, this article examines the concepts of creativity and novelty in social theory and explains why it is challenging work to broker concepts across intellectual communities. To understand the existing boundaries across which one could broker, it next describes how the subfield of economic sociology has been shaped by the separation of economics and sociology as distinct fields, which ultimately led to a decline of sociologists studying the economy. Two counter-acting organizational forces that sought to institutionalize a subfield of economic sociology …

Nbc Peacock North Winter 2024 Newsletter, Peacock North Staff

NBC Peacock North Newsletter

Highlights include: Marilyn's Page -- History of the National Association of Black Journalists -- Al Roker Returns to the Macy's Parade -- Joe Klimovitz Hosts Photo Exhibition -- Martin Fletcher at Sacred Heart University -- Silent Microphones

How Can Law Enforcement Use Technology To Protect Citizens Justly?, Zach Kantenwein

Emerging Writers

This paper explores the danger of emerging artificial intelligence technology perpetuating racial injustice in law enforcement and how police can ensure the protection of citizens amid this information age. We dissect a real-world case in which AI predictive policing technology resulted in alarming racial discrimination against American minority citizens. We discuss the possible explanations for this result and explore the limitations of artificial intelligence technology. Furthermore, we brainstorm methods for ensuring American citizens' just and constitutional protection as new technology is developed and tested. We propose implementing transparency laws that make the details about any policing technology and surveillance available …

Swimming: A Great Decision And An Even Better Journey, Eva M. Hunnius

Emerging Writers

Swimming is loved, feared, and cherished by so many around the world. People love it because it gives them a sense of freedom and peace, while also receiving a great workout. Some may fear it because they do not know how to swim, or they feel like there are many dangers and risks to swimming. Others cherish it because it is the only sport they have ever known. In my case, swimming is one of the only things that has been with me since I was a little kid. This remains true for many athletes. In this discussion, I hope …

The Extent To Which The Humanistic Approach In Japanese Juvenile Training Schools Affects Recidivism, Natalie Bui

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Japan’s juvenile justice system is regarded as one of the most unique and successful implementations of reformative justice. This approach has remained effective in maintaining Japan’s low rates of juvenile delinquency and recidivism, despite massive changes in Japanese society over the past decade. While Japan’s crime seems to be on an impressive decline, the United States continues to struggle with social control, juvenile delinquency, and, more recently, demands for justice reform from social movements like the Black Lives Matter Movement. The American juvenile justice system needs reform now more than ever and where better to get inspiration, than the industrialized …

Friends In Fiction: Bonding With Fictional Characters Introduced Through Fictional Narrative Positively Affects And Interplays With The Psychology And Social Behaviors Of Adults To Influence Engagement, Vishnupriya Alavala

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Just as people can form relationships with each other, they can befriend and interact with characters. As broadening media outlets continue to introduce fictional characters, it is vital to understand the effects relationships with characters, referred to as parasocial phenomena, have on individuals. In turn, this will offer a new perspective on the effects of engaging with fiction. Bonding with fictional characters introduced through television or print narratives affects and interplays with the psychology and social behaviors of adults. Most studies support the positive effects of parasocial phenomena in terms of personality, mindset, and social skills. Other studies state that …

Legal Pressure To Attend Substance Abuse Treatment, Angelicia Courteau

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

This paper was written to bring awareness of how the legal system does not take into consideration those who suffer from substance use disorder, as well as ACEs. Brian Luke Burijon’s battle with addiction while incarcerated was used as an example of how the legal system’s one-size-fits-all approach is flawed. Mr. Burijon opted for a treatment he did not feel was ideal for him because the alternative was to remain incarcerated for a long period. Mr. Burijon was unable to tolerate the treatment at the facility and left early, which resulted in his overdose death.

Key Library Resources: Streaming Video For Utrgv Student Organizations, Raquel Estrada

Library Display Posters

Are you a student organization that wants to show a library film at an event?

Follow the quick steps in this document to ensure your film has PPR and that it is within licensing range. You don’t want your film expiring prior to your event date! Be sure to submit at least 10 days prior to your event.

Parenting Practices And Interventions During The Covid‑19 Pandemic Lockdown: An Exploratory Cross‑Sectional Study Of Caregivers In Brazil, Mexico, And The United States, Mariana M. Juras, Acileide Cristiane F. Coelho, Alejandro L. Vazquez, Michela Ribeiro, Marina Kohlsdorf, Alice Lima Custodio, Nancy G. Amador Buenabad, Lucia Vazquez Perez, Cole Hooley, Miya L. Barnett, Ana A. Baumann

Psychology Faculty Publications

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic led countries’ governments to rapidly establish lockdowns and social distancing, which altered family routines and the quality of family relationships worldwide.

Objectives This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to identify the impacts of the social distancing and lockdown in parenting practices of caregivers from Brazil, Mexico, and the USA, and to analyze the continuity of parenting intervention support for children and their families at the beginning of the pandemic in these countries.

Methods The sample consisted of 704 caregivers of children (286 from Brazil, 225 from Mexico, and 193 from the USA) who answered an online survey …

Trust In Human-Agent Teams: A Multilevel Perspective And Future Research Agenda, Jessica L. Wildman, Daneil Nguyen, Amanda L. Thayer, Valerie T. Robbins-Roth, Meredith Carroll, Kendall Carmody, Cherrise Ficke, Mohammed Akib, Arianna Addis

Psychology Faculty Publications

As technology continues to advance, interest in how humans perceive and interact with autonomous agents has increased, spurring ample research within human-agent teams (HATs). However, the word team is a bit of a misnomer, in that much of this research has examined one human in relation to one agent. We extend the HAT literature by applying a multilevel lens to develop future research questions regarding trust in heterogeneous HATs. First, we assert that trust is an attitude that is multireferent, suggesting research should explore not just humans’ trust in agents, but many other perspectives such as agents’ trust in humans. …

A Road Map For Place Based Collaboration For Conflict Reduction, Joseph L. Zecher

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Foreign Language Instruction: Commonalities From Kindergarten To College, Bethany A. Tafoya

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Kindergartners learn much differently than high schoolers or college students. Yet, when it comes to foreign language (FL) instruction, adult learners are often back at square one, like kindergarteners. Though learning capacity and maturity differ greatly between kindergarten and college, are there any common threads in the method of instruction across all these levels? This project was carried out by observing foreign language classrooms from kindergarten to college, identifying the main means of instruction in each class, and analyzing whether any commonalities exist between all the levels. Language is universal, and in an increasingly global world, contact with other languages …

Examining The Relation Between Anthropomorphism And Theory Of Mind, Noah Paulson

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Two ways people think about the mental state of others is through anthropomorphism and theory of mind. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human-like capacities to non-human entities, such as ascribing mental and internal states (Waytz et al., 2013). Theory of mind is the ability to infer and understand other people’s mental states, such as beliefs, desires, intentions, and knowledge (Doherty, 2011). We predicted these two concepts are associated, and this prediction was assessed through the research outlined here. The current study examined potential associations between children’s (N=82; 5-8 years old) anthropomorphism, parent-reported theory of mind, and parent-reported social …

The Relationship Between Climate Distress And Climate Education Among College Students, Sylvie T. Heriza

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This study examines the relationship between climate change education and climate distress among college students at the University of Montana. Utilizing a correlational design, forty-seven participants completed a survey assessing their concern with climate change and experience learning about climate change in university classes. Findings underscore the importance of addressing climate-related distress within higher education contexts and highlight avenues for improving university support systems. The study contributes to understanding the intersection of climate change awareness and mental health concerns among college students.

Real Versus Perceived Crime Rates: Examining Causes Of The Disconnect Between Fear And Reality, Sage L. Eck-Miller

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Americans are more fearful of crime than at any other point in the past two decades, even though crime rates are at the lowest point in close to 30 years. Previous literature has examined various causes of this exaggerated fear, ranging from gender differences to perceived neighborhood disorder as the cause. There have been multiple findings suggesting that neighborhood disorder plays a significant role in creating fear of crime. The presence of trash, unkempt lawns, and run-down properties lead people to believe crime is worse in their area than it actually is. This study examines fear of crime in association …

One Man's Trash - Montana Kaimen - April 11, 2024 | Volume 126 | Issue No. 26, Isabella Jasper Rain Chambers

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Ability To Reduce Gram Scams Through Educational Intervention, Ellis Garel

Scripps Senior Theses

Objective: This study aims to understand why people fall for scams and seeks to explore what interventions for scam prevention are the most effective in older adults. Participants: Approximately 686 participants aged 65 and above will be randomly assigned to view one of four intervention types: celebrity endorsement PSA, community-based PSA, personal advice from a family member, or the control group. Method: A path analysis will be conducted to examine how the type of intervention, gender of the participant, and history of financial fraud, mediated through concerns and susceptibility to scams, impact the propensity to fall for a hypothetical scam …

Autism Clinicians' Bias In Detecting Female-Typical Rrbi In Young Children, Megan Young

Scripps Senior Theses

With four times as many boys than girls diagnosed with autism, psychologists must investigate whether this is due to an intrinsic difference or gender bias. This proposed study aims to evaluate autism clinicians’ bias in detecting restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBI) in young children by presenting autism specialists with a vignette depicting one of four children, depicting either the male or female autism phenotype, and a masculine or feminine name. Gender of child and phenotypic presentation is expected to have a significant effect on detection and identification such that feminine names presenting with the Female Autism Phenotype (FAP) …

The Psychological Impact Of Collegiate Athletes Quitting Their Sport: A Multiple Case Study, Taliana Abadi

Scripps Senior Theses

The purpose of this study is to assess the lived experience of collegiate athletes quitting their sport and transitioning from active engagement in an organized, collegiate-level sport to non-participation in the sport at that competitive level. To do so, five to seven participants, pretested for athletic identity to gather a diverse sample, will participate in a semi-structured interview to gain an understanding of their feelings regarding the loss of athletic identity and how it impacted their well-being. Through these interviews, the data should signify trends among participants such that 1) The participants’ loss of athletic identity is perceived to negatively …

Communicating Through Dance: Examining Dance & Behavioral Therapy To Treat Selective Mutism, Clara Spitz

Scripps Senior Theses

Very little research has been done to examine the efficacy of treatments for adolescents with selective mutism (SM). Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been distinguished as one of the optimal treatment styles for SM, a significant portion of research in this area has focused on children. Additionally, it often incorporates play therapy, which may not necessarily apply as effectively to older populations. Dance therapy has emerged as a promising and innovative treatment for various anxiety and communication issues. Although specific studies on its application to SM are limited, existing research suggests its potential effectiveness in addressing this condition as …

Racial Capitalism, The Precariat, And Us Immigration: Past And Present, Lily Dunkin

Scripps Senior Theses

Combining the lens of the political economic theories of Racial Capitalism and the Precariat, and applying them to a historical analysis of the US immigration system and its modern implications in US States, we are better able to understand to manner in which the immigration regime works to provide a cheap, exploitable labor force for US industry elites. By establishing and fortifying pre-existing racial hierarchies within the US while also utilizing the precariat’s philosophies on flexible labor and a lack of economic security, elites are able to weaponize the fear instilled by the US Immigration system and leverage their bottom …

An Investigation Of Empathy In Hcd, Zoey Lofgren

Scripps Senior Theses

Abstract

In this study, we investigated empathy within a human-centered design context. While empathy is a well-researched subject within the field of psychology, there is little experimental research on its application in design. As such, the term “empathy” is often thrown around with a lack of clarity about what it actually means in design courses. Empathy is a complex psychological phenomenon that allows us to respond to and understand others’ emotions, but it is unable to be “turned on.” This study specifically aims to address the question of whether or not empathy is actually used within design. Participants completed two …

Subjectivity As A Predictor Of Adjective Ordering Preferences For Heritage Spanish Speakers, Louise Anne Schiele

Scripps Senior Theses

Adults, as well as children, tend to present adjective ordering preferences in their use of multi-adjective strings. For example, the ordering of “big blue bird” rather than “blue big bird” is reliably preferred for speakers of English. Subjectivity has been shown to be a robust predictor of these adjective ordering preferences, where less subjective adjectives are preferred closer to the noun. Still, much of the previous work on adjective ordering preferences has centered a monolingual experience, and has not considered if multilingual speakers differ in their presentation of these preferences, in any of the languages they speak. This study focused …

Understanding Dictators' Violent Repression And How It's Remembered, Juliet Welk

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines the use of violent repression by dictators and the ways in which that violence is remembered, particularly through the lenses of literature and film. The first chapter will deal with the questions of when dictators choose to use violence as opposed to other forms of repression and against whom the violence is used. To do so, it will employ select cases to test a number of possible answers. The second chapter, written in Spanish, will analyze the memory of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in Spain, focusing on the empowerment of previously-silenced voices. The third chapter, written in Italian, …