Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Spring 2025, Georgia Library Quarterly

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

The Language Of Space: Rhetorical Insights Into Academic Library Design And Redesign, Jessica L. Swaringen, Kelli Anne Gecawich

Georgia Library Quarterly

Spaces are arguably an academic library’s most important physical resource. As more coursework and published materials move online, students are seeking out academic libraries for where they can study and be successful, not only for what concrete resources the library can offer them. With that knowledge in mind, academic librarians are called to, as Spencer & Watstein (2017) write, “understand and appreciate that spaces not only inspire creativity, reflection, exploration and innovation but also impact learning” (p. 389). It is with this thought in mind that a couple of academic library professionals in southeast Georgia sought to research what our …

Book Review: Local Signs And Wonders: Essays About Belonging To A Place, Susanna R. Smith

Georgia Library Quarterly

Book Review of Local Signs and Wonders, by Richard Rankin

“It’S What Scares Me To Death In The Industry Right Now:” Contextualizing The Impacts Of Climate Change On Out-Of-School Time Programs, Kathleen Thurson

All Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impacts of climate change on out-of-school time (OST) programs in the U.S., focusing on summer camps. As climate change poses increasing risks to these programs, many OST settings lack the resources or preparedness to address them. This dissertation is structured into three studies, each contributing to an understanding of how climate change affects OST programs and informing strategies for adaptation. The first study explores the portrayal of climate change and related events in the media, analyzing over 14,000 news articles published between 2022 and 2024. Through the identification of three core themes: Crisis & Response, Pop …

Student Perceptions Of Ai In University Studies, John Robert Fisher, Louis K. Falk, Margaret Mittelman

Communication Faculty Publications

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education is transforming students’ learning experiences, decision-making, and academic efficiency. This study explores student perceptions of AI’s benefits, challenges, and its role across academic disciplines. Findings indicate that while students recognize AI as a valuable educational tool, they also express concerns regarding privacy, reliance, and the need for improved AI training. Statistically significant differences were observed in AI’s impact on learning efficiency, decision-making, and academic engagement, supporting the hypothesis that AI enhances education but presents notable challenges. The study also highlights the necessity for balanced AI integration, ensuring that AI complements rather …

Despair Against Boredom: Hyperstitional Narrativization In The International Relations Of Populist States, Rayna Summerfield

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Academic scholarship on populism in the digital age, thus far, has focused heavily on radicalization, social reorganization, and other ways the internet and social media facilitate the rise of populist movements, rather than the impacts of the internet on the actual desires of the citizenry. In this theoretical piece, I argue that modern populists engage in a contract with their supporters to create an “entertaining” political environment closely mimicking online dynamics. Next, I use the lens of hyperstition, a concept devised by the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit, to explain the means by which the patterns of human interaction found more …

Creating Resilient Social Workers: A Pilot Study On Implementing Resilience-Building Skills With Social Work Students, Andrea Sparrow

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Social work students in Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited programs are expected to develop competencies in working with individuals, groups, and communities. However, limited research exists on their preparedness with resilience-building skills to navigate occupational challenges. This mixed-methods exploratory study examined the relationship between completing online resilience-building modules and students’ knowledge of resilience strategies. A pre-and post-assessment measured knowledge uptake among undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Louisville’s Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science. The study explored two key questions: (1) What is the relationship between completing resilience-building modules and students’ knowledge …

The Effect Of Antemortem Tooth Loss On Craniofacial Shape In Apes And Humans, Ashley R. Laster

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) (i.e., defined as tooth loss occurring before death) is common among humans and many primates, and several studies have examined AMTL across various primate groups. Some research indicates that AMTL can influence masticatory function and diet; however, the effects of AMTL on craniofacial shape and biomechanics have not been extensively analyzed. We assessed craniofacial and mandibular shape in relation to AMTL, anticipating that individuals with at least one tooth lost antemortem would display significant differences in cranial and/or mandibular shape compared to those without AMTL. AMTL rates were evaluated in three primate species: wild-caught samples of …

Ecological Interactions Of Large Mammals In Luangwa, Zambia, Jahzara Osborne

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The connection between mammalian behavior in national parks and human-driven environmental change outside national parks is tenuous. National parks are often considered the last vestiges of natural space, yet they are created and maintained by humans. South Luangwa National Park (SLNP) at the southern end of the East African Rift System (EARS) is a microcosm of this global problem. EARS is a biodiverse region made up of numerous smaller branches. In the Luangwa Valley, this biodiversity has been protected through conservation historically, but dynamic geopolitical forces have affected the relationship between large mammals and humans by extracting humans to create …

The Relationship Between Oxidative Stress And Partner Opposition In Conflict Resolution, Jenna Thomas

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Given the inevitability of conflict in romantic relationships, understanding its biological impact is crucial for developing conflict resolution strategies that promote physical health. While many studies highlight relationship conflict’s negative effects on bodily systems, few examine how specific facets of conflict, such as opposition, impact the body. Partner opposition may contribute to oxidative stress, a biological marker associated with poor physical health, by activating the amygdala. This study investigated the association between partner opposition and oxidative stress in 126 couples expecting their first child. Participants attended a lab session where problem-solving discussions were recorded to assess oppositional behavior and urine …

Comparative Trends In Campaign Fundraising For United States Democratic Senatorial Candidates After Citizens United, Averi E. Foster

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Political polarization has grown more prevalent in the United States political atmosphere in recent years (Pew Research Center 2017). While political polarization is a prevalent topic of discussion, there is a limited understanding of exactly how polarization affects various aspects of political elections, such as the financing of campaigns. This research aims to explore the relationships between the ideological scores of U.S. Senate candidates and the varying types of campaign funding that they received, such as individual contributions, independent expenditures, PAC contributions, and party contributions. A data analysis was conducted utilizing Stanford University’s Database on Ideology, Money in Politics, and …

Analyzing The Role Of Donald Trump As A Catalyst For The Surging European Far Right, Michael D. Main

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Only about a quarter of the world population is currently living under a democracy, down from 54 percent in 2006 (Owens, 2023). In the United States, President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive actions and increasingly unchecked power have many worried about a possible deterioration in the sturdiness of American democracy in the coming years (Barrow, 2025). Meanwhile in Europe, far-right movements such as Germany’s Alternative for Deutschland and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France have scored historic wins at the ballot box (Green, 2024).

The parallel rise of authoritarianism in so many different nations suggest a potential connection between these …

Promoting Safe Firearm Storage Through Media-Based Interventions, Abigail Bordelon

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Given the ongoing phenomenon of unintentional pediatric firearm deaths, this project seeks to examine how the mainstream media reports on these events and how media frames could be altered to better promote public health prevention efforts.

Interpretation Challenges In Healthcare Settings As Experienced By Refugees And Healthcare Providers In The United States, Lydia H. Samoff

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Language and interpretation barriers are significant challenges for refugees receiving healthcare in the United States. Both providers and refugee patients associate effective communication with a positive healthcare experience. Therefore, it is important to identify themes in interpretation barriers to promote productive communication between providers and refugee patients.

Purpose: To identify themes in literature surrounding interpretation challenges between refugees and healthcare workers in the United States and compare them to lived experience in a clinic in Northwest Arkansas.

Methods: Several databases were searched, including CINAHL, Medline, HealthSource, and Google Scholar, and articles were chosen with the inclusion criteria being research …

Predicting Steroid Concern Through Tiktok Use And Self-Esteem, Adam Lorio, Brandon C. Bouchillon, Sisi Hu, Jennifer Mortensen

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examined student perceptions of steroid use through a survey of 154 participants. While self-esteem did not directly predict steroid concerns, specific TikTok engagement patterns revealed complex relationships. Using TikTok to pass time correlated with viewing steroids as a public health issue, whereas surveillance-based use was associated with lower self-esteem. Using the platform to interact was positively related to self-esteem, highlighting how different modes of engagement can shape perceptions about individual and collective health.

Food Security In Mauritius, Luke Hubbard

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Located over 600 miles off the East coast of Madagascar, Mauritius is an island nation with a population of over 1.2 million people. In the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to travel to Mauritius and conduct a representative food insecurity survey alongside other University of Arkansas and University of Mauritius students and professors. With more than 400 surveys in over 80 locations, we gathered data in every district on the primary island of Mauritius. The group used a survey based on the standard USDA question list and compiled the results to find that the population of Mauritius had …

May 2025 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the May 2025 (Volume 3, Issue 7) Library & Learning Newsletter.

The Role Of Multiple Stakeholders In Pesticide Safety Policy Compliance: A Mixed-Methods Case Study Comparison In Idaho, Oregon, And Washington, Carolyn B. Griswold

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Farming communities across the United States (U.S.) face significant challenges with occupational safety and health (OSH) policy noncompliance, resulting in injury, sickness, and even death. Various stakeholders, including federal and state governments, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and farm employees, play a role in enforcing and promoting OSH policy compliance. This dissertation investigates whether compliance with pesticide safety policies exists, identifies factors influencing compliance or noncompliance, and explores why farm management and Latinx farmworkers located in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, choose to adhere to—or disregard—public rules and private recommendations about pesticide safety. The findings reveal varying levels of pesticide safety compliance …

Regenerative Recreation: An Examination Of Recreational Trail Users' Environmental Attitudes And Willingness To Help Restore Ecological Systems, Ryan Peck

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Recreation on public lands has never been higher. Agency budgets dedicated to the ecological health of recreation areas have not kept pace with recreation growth. Recreation managers have been calling for a paradigm shift in recreation management. Using a social-ecological systems (SES) approach, I ask, can non-consumptive recreationists (i.e., hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians) improve ecological health asynchronously while taking part in their recreation endeavors? I call these asynchronous ecologically beneficial actions regenerative recreation.

This project examines non-consumptive recreation users' environmental attitudes as initially suggested by Dunlap and Heffernan (1975), and their willingness to take part in ecologically regenerative …

Housing Prices & Labor Shortages: The Role Of Land Use Regulation, Rhys T. Cooper

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In this analysis, I examine the impact of housing prices on labor shortages by estimating the effects of monetary policy shocks and land use regulation (LUR). In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, housing prices and labor shortages have increased across the U.S. Using regional data on job postings, available workers, housing prices, LUR, and nations monetary policy shocks, I estimate the relationship between LUR, monetary policy, and labor shortages though a difference-in-differences continuous treatment model estimated through local projections. The interaction between LUR and monetary policy is leveraged to address the endogeneity between housing prices and labor shortages. My …

Advancing Snow Cover Observations In Glacierized And Alpine Environments Using Optical Remote Sensing, Rainey Aberle

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Warming air temperatures in recent years have led to declines in seasonal snow pack across western North America. These changes have profoundly impacted communities that depend on seasonal snow melt for water resources, as well as glaciers that act as critical long-term reservoirs in the region. While global snow cover extent products are available, they often fail to reliably distinguish between snow, glacier ice, and clouds, which are prevalent in western North America. Additionally, water managers in the region typically rely on point-based observations of snow mass for decision-making, despite the pressing need for comprehensive, watershed-scale estimates. To address these …

"You Gonna Be Like Mama": A Case Study Of Intergenerational Sex Trafficking, Lindsey M. Grabowska

Honors Thesis

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a range of experiences inflicted upon children that involves sexual exploitation for financial benefit and results in many psychological harms on exploited youth. Familial sex trafficking is a subset of CSEC where the child is exploited by a family member through either intergenerational prostitution or exchanging sexual access to their child to others for commercial gain. This paper will review the available literature on CSEC and familial trafficking, focusing specifically on two important questions (1) What makes minors vulnerable to CSEC and sex trafficking and (2) What maintains the involvement on people in …

“But Where Are Those Good Old-Fashioned Values?”—The Racial Politics Of Animated Satire In Family Guy, Jordanne Greenidge

Master's Theses

Few animated shows have shaped American pop culture quite like Family Guy. Known for its rapid-fire cutaway gags and irreverent humor, the series has remained a television mainstay since its debut in 1999, despite frequent criticism and even two cancellations. Created by Seth MacFarlane and based on his 1995 student film The Life of Larry, Family Guy has built its reputation on pushing the boundaries of taste, especially when it comes to race, gender, and politics. Though often defended as satire, the show’s use of racial humor raises questions about its true impact: Do its portrayals of Black characters challenge …

The Adirondack Frontier: Reclaiming A Vital Role In Shaping The Nation, Peter Nelson

Master's Theses

The traditional version of Adirondack history from the revolutionary period to the middle of the nineteenth century, which portrays the region as unexplored primeval wilderness, is nineteenth-century romantic mythology. It ignores thousands of years of Indigenous habitation and misrepresents early Euro-American activity in the region as well. In fact, from the earliest days of colonial exploration of North America until the middle of the 19th-Century, New York's Adirondack region was a dynamic American frontier, as important in shaping the destiny of the nation as the Northwest Territory or, later, the West. Activities in the Adirondack frontier contributed to the decimation …

Effects Of Food Insufficiency And Family Structure On Parental Aggravation And Child Outcomes, Angel Juarez

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Food insufficiency is a detrimental crisis that impacts families facing financial hardships across the United States (Nam et al., 2015). Research finds that economic difficulties and child maladaptive development are positively associated because parental stress is exacerbated by financial hardships affecting parental sensitivity to their children (Hill et al., 2013; Simons et al., 2016). The current study uses the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) data from the 2021-2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). It builds on these findings, investigating the relationship between food insufficiency and parental aggravation on child behavioral outcomes across different family structures in the …

Development Of The Integrated-Cultural Well-Being Index (Icwi): A Content Validity & Inter-Rater Reliability Study With Experts In Clinical Mental-Health Counseling, Brandon L. Selby

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation study developed and validated the Integrated-Cultural Well-Being Index (ICWI), a psychological measurement that assessed well-being across both Individualist-Cultural (IC) and Collectivist-Cultural (CC) dimensions. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model, the ICWI was conceptualized to reflect the multidimensional nature of well-being in modern integrated societies, where cultural boundaries are increasingly fluid. The ICWI consists of ten latent dimensions of well-being: self-determination, social relationships, self-enhancement, self-contentment, cultural identity, cultural coping skills, communalism, cultural spirituality, life satisfaction, and mental health.

A three-phase expert validation process was conducted, employing both content validity and inter-rater reliability methodologies. Content validity was assessed using …

Dekonstruktion Der Afd: Eine Analyse Der Rechtspopulistischen Deutschen Partei Der„Alternative Für Deutschland”, Elizabeth A. Breckenridge, Elizabeth Breckenridge

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Die Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) ist eine rechtsextreme populistische Partei, die innerhalb eines Jahrzehnts rasch an Macht gewonnen hat, insbesondere in den ostdeutschen Bundesländern, aufgrund ihrer Betonung der Nationalisierung, ihrer populistischen Rhetorik und ihrer Anziehungskraft auf Wähler, die Ängste vor Einwanderung und kulturellem Wandel hegen. Die AfD hat es innerhalb von fünf Jahren geschafft, eine starke Wählerschaft zu mobilisieren, 2017 Sitze im Bundestag zu erringen und gilt nun als wichtigste Oppositionspartei zu den etablierten Parteien. Die AfD ist die erste rechte Partei seit 1945, die aufgrund des Aufstiegs rechtspolitischer Ideologien bedeutende Wahlerfolge erzielen konnte. Aufgrund des reaktionären Pendelschwungs nach dem …

Forging Resilient Futures: The Role Of Community Organizations In Addressing Environmental Injustices Faced By Immigrants Along The Wasatch Front, Utah, Nowrin Fatema

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Utah’s Wasatch Front is an urban area with a growing population that faces looming environmental challenges, such as the desiccation of the Great Salt Lake, worsening air quality, water scarcity, and the impacts of urban sprawl. If not prevented, the lake’s desiccation or other environmental challenges could result in dangerous air pollution, biodiversity loss, and disruptions to local economies. Immigrant populations may be uniquely vulnerable to these environmental changes because of economic, social, and political marginalization. For example, 50% of Salt Lake City’s foreign-born residents live on the City’s westside—the area on the frontline of the lake’s toxic dust. My …

"Once Our Land Is Gone, It's Gone": Farmer Perspectives On Growth, Embeddedness, And The Future Of Food In The Great Salt Lake Basin, Bryn Noelle Watkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Great Salt Lake Basin hosts a knot of intensifying pressures on agriculturalists—including economic constraints, as even arable land is increasingly valuable for development, and ecological constraints, as aridification and climate change affect the conditions in which food can grow. Given the unique relationship farmers have with the land as its modern-day stewards, their perspectives on the nature and consequences of these pressures offer profound insights into how the region might responsibly navigate its resource management and food systems moving through the future. In the first paper, I draw upon 15 interviews with commodity farmers to understand their experiences with …

Missing Piece Of The Pie: Public Expenditure On Education In Colombia, Ashante Gallimore

Economics

Public expenditure on education in Colombia is a crucial driver of socioeconomic development, with government investments that are aimed at improving access, quality, and equity across all levels of education. This thesis examines how these funds are distributed by analyzing whether financial resources are concentrated in wealthier areas or equitably distributed between wealthier and less fortunate Colombian regions. Using a comparative qualitative analysis, this study examines the sources of educational funding, the decision-making processes behind allocation, and how schools make use of their resources. A particular focus is on why primary education receives a larger share of funding compared to …