Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Discovering The True Meaning Of Federalist No. 27, Mckenzie Pedersen-Campbell

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The Federalist Papers are widely known as they helped explain the Constitution and gather support for its ratification. However, what they mean is not always clear. This is problematic, especially when Supreme Court Justices look to the Federalist Papers to help them make decisions. A particularly fascinating example of this problem arose in the case Printz v. United States (1997). Both the majority and dissent argued that their interpretation was supported by Federalist No. 27. That leads to the question of what Federalist No. 27 actually means. By looking at the context surrounding Alexander Hamilton (the author) and previous Supreme …

State Legislature Demographics And Anti-Transgender Legislation, Sophie Christensen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Starting in 2015, anti-transgender bills have been introduced in state legislatures in exponentially increasing numbers, with a sharp uptick in 2020 and numbers that nearly doubled every year since then. These bills concern a wide variety of issues, from sports participation for transgender adolescents to drag bans to restrictions on bathroom usage. This paper finds that only a small percentage of the bills are passed into law, indicating that passing laws is less important to legislators than introducing bills. Given these intentions, this paper seeks to analyze the demographic makeup of chambers that introduce and pass these bills to understand …

Domestic Challenges, Cultural Factors Driving Ecuador's Authoritarianism Acceleration, Benjamin F. Berlin

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Using the Cultural Topography (CTops) methodology, this paper provides insight to US policymakers into the cultural factors, combined with current domestic challenges, that are driving Ecuadorians toward authoritarianism. The CTops methodology requires practitioners to conduct primary research on a specific group, which is the population of Ecuador in this paper. To conduct this research, cultural texts and artifacts such as newspaper articles, monuments honoring national heroes, websites and blog posts, and many others were analyzed. Secondary research and an evaluation of current operational realities were also used to inform this paper. Once considered an “Island of Peace,” Ecuador is in …

The Interplay Between Attribution Bias And Psychotic-Like Experiences: The Role Of Social Media, Jordan Leggett

Honors Theses

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are perceptions, thoughts, or beliefs that resemble symptoms of psychosis but are less severe and not necessarily related to a mental disorder. A plethora of research has found associations between PLEs and hostile attribution bias, the tendency to over-interpret situations as hostile, aggressive, or intentional. Some work suggests viewing certain types of content online may be linked to hostile attribution bias. Yet, limited research has examined hostile attribution bias and PLEs through the lens of social media. This study aimed to explore these relationships by modifying a measure of hostile attribution bias using social media vignettes. This …

Structuring The Sustainability Of Happiness In Critical Postmodernity: A Metadata, Mixed-Methods Study In Education, Roxanne Renee Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation study is built upon a pilot study that uses a meta-theoretical analysis on the culture of education. The purpose of it is to examine [un]happiness, a phenomenon influenced by the social, political, and economic systems in Western paradigms within a critical postmodern view, looking at the intricacies of schooling, as no studies have taken a bottom-up approach to investigate the voices of the main stakeholders: students, teachers, and administrators. My study questions whether a holistic, liberating, and socially responsive curriculum could engender a positive learning environment wherein happiness is sustainable. Within happiness studies, hope is essential, so much …

Investigating The Impact Of Bilingual Experience And Language Use Context On Cognitive Control In An Auditory Stroop Task, Christian Ruiz-Ortiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Bilinguals are often reported to outperform monolinguals on executive control tasks, yet recent work suggests that any bilingual adaptations depend on how, and in which contexts, individuals use their two languages. The present dissertation tested whether specific dimensions of bilingual experiences (proficiency balance and daily interaction situations) predict the way listeners engage proactive (anticipatory) versus reactive (stimulus-driven) control when resolving non-linguistic conflict. Sixty young adults completed a non-linguistic auditory Stroop task that manipulated conflict expectancy both list-wide and item-specifically. Group-level analysis replicated classic proportion-congruency effects, but not the predicted proactive control signature, and transfer cost indexing reactive control was not …

Saving Lives: Changing Perceptions Of Naloxone Distribution For Opioid Overdoses, Ryan Turner

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the impact and community perceptions of Narcan® (naloxone) distribution in El Paso County, Texas, as a harm reduction strategy amid the ongoing opioid epidemic. Drawing from a mixed-methods approach, the research surveyed 368 participants comprised of opioid users, family members, first responders, and community members who engaged in Narcan® training facilitated by two nonprofit organizations. The study explored four main questions: perceptions of Narcan® among different community stakeholders, patterns of Narcan® administration, whether the availability of Narcan encouraged drug use, and its effectiveness in reducing overdose deaths. Findings revealed widespread support for Narcan® distribution, although some community …

"Alone I Can't, But Together We Can": A Photovoice Study To Explore Insights Of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (Aot) From Providers Working With Individuals With Serious Mental Illness (Smi)., Monica G. Urquieta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is a court-ordered mental health treatment program for individuals with SMI (bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia) who have a history of noncompliance with treatment and are at risk of deteriorating or causing harm to themselves or others. This dissertation examined the perceptions and experiences of thirteen providers (lawyers, judges, case managers, psychiatrists, housing navigators, treatment guardians, nurse practitioners, therapists and peer support specialists with lived experience) on the AOT program for clients with SMI; and the environments that shape these perceptions, taking into account a system and community-based approach focusing on how the unique …

Feasibility Of On-Demand Charging For Private Evs At The El Paso International Airport, Katerina Zizalova

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As electric vehicle adoption rate continues to grow globally and across the United States, it is desirable for airports to adapt to meet the needs of electric vehicle driving passengers. This thesis develops an implementation plan for an on-demand charging solution for the El Paso International Airport to address the current limitations in charging infrastructure. After analyzing the electric vehicle adoption trends, four charging solutions were studied: conventional fixed-point charging, fixed-point charging with added valet service, mobile charging service and wireless inductive charging. Using decision-making matrices implementing criteria such as operational suitability, scalability or costs, one charging solution was recommended …

Forensic Search Methods: Comparing Effectiveness And Efficiency In A Grassland Environment, Robert Brown

Honors Theses

An important aspect of death investigations is the recovery of human remains to determine crucial details such as body identity, time of death, and cause of death. Physical evidence is often moved by elements, such as water, gravity, plants, and scavengers in outdoor crime scenes, making recovery challenging. As a result, forensic scientists have created several search methods to locate dispersed human remains. Previous studies have primarily focused on predicting animal scavenging patterns, but few have compared the performance of forensic search methods in specific environments. This study addresses this area of research by assessing three common search methods in …

Women’S Independence In The Archives: A Study Of The Sisters Of The Holy Family As Found In The New Orleans Archdiocese Archive, Georgia Campbell

Honors Theses

The Sisters of the Holy Family, a Catholic convent based in New Orleans, have a space in the archival records of the archdiocese. The overwhelming presence of documents by men means that the story in the archive belongs as much to them as it does to the sisters. This follows the patriarchal hierarchy of the Church. Nevertheless, the documents that are available tell the sisters’ story and how they sought independence

Voice-Language Cues In Speech Comprehension, Andy An Huynh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Voice familiarity has a powerful effect on speech comprehension, improving both intelligibility and recall. Speaker consistency also benefits speech comprehension with better recall for words spoken by one versus multiple speakers. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the benefits of voice familiarity for bilinguals depend on the consistency between a familiarized voice and the language of production, with improved perception for words when the speaker produces in the same language versus in a different language. Highly proficient Spanish-English bilinguals performed a speech-in-noise transcription task. During a familiarization phase, participants listened to brief utterances in …

El Terror Y El Ritual: Estudio De Los Festivales De Cine De Terror En México, Luis Jesús Quiñones Beltrán

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Esta investigación contribuye al campo de los estudios de festivales de cine, cine de género y representaciones simbólicas del miedo. Analiza el papel de los festivales de cine de terror en México como espacios de construcción simbólica, circulación cultural y resignificación del miedo. A partir de un enfoque cualitativo basado en entrevistas a organizadores de festivales y cineastas colaboradores, se examina cómo estos festivales configuran experiencias colectivas en torno al terror a través de prácticas rituales, afectivas y culturales. Se retoman conceptos como el capitalismo gore, necro-máquina y contra-máquina para contextualizar la investigación. Se utilizan categorías de los estudios de …

Finding Strength In The Struggle: The Impact Of Resilience On Life Satisfaction Among Veterans With Mental Illness, Marissa Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Veterans living with mental illness often face challenges that impact their overall life satisfaction and adjustment to civilian life. While resilience is widely considered a protective factor, limited research has examined its role in conjunction with personality traits, psychosocial factors, and demographic characteristics. Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between resilience and life satisfaction among U.S. veterans with mental illnesses, while accounting for personality dimensions, demographic variables, and psychosocial factors. Methods: Secondary data from 156 veterans diagnosed with mental illness were analyzed. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the relationship between resilience and life satisfaction, controlling for …

Testing Revenge Pornography Using The General Strain Theory And Online Disinhibition Effect, Jesus Manuel Guardado Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The current study tests whether perceptions of general strain and online disinhibition effect could explain the intent to commit Revenge Pornography (RP). The data was collected using an online survey that was launched on a research platform called "Connect Cloud Research." After gathering the data, bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis were necessary to establish the relationship and causality. Results were mixed, showing that there is a positive correlation with general strain and online disinhibition effect factors with the intent to commit RP, while multiple regression indicated that the independent variables did not predict the intent to commit RP. Unexpectedly, …

Charging Infrastructure Needs For Electric Trucks In Texas, Katerina Jilkova

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis focuses on the design of a methodology for determining the optimal location of charging stations for heavy-duty electric trucks. The work focuses primarily on long-distance trips that require charging the truck battery outside cities, where the range of charging stations is not extensive. In addition to design the algorithm, the thesis also focuses on implementing the algorithm on a specific case - the implementation of charging stations in the I-10 Freeway corridor between El Paso and San Antonio. The output of the work is not only a description of the procedure, but also an application to a real …

Improving Traffic Management During Special Events At The Sun Bowl Stadium, Marek Polak

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis focuses on improving traffic conditions around the Sun Bowl Stadium, especially during large public events. The goal is to propose effective solutions that enhance the use of public infrastructure during both event days and normal traffic conditions. To understand the current situation, two surveys were conducted during a football game - one monitoring parking lot occupancy and the other measuring traffic volumes using video recordings and pressure sensors. Based on the collected data, design changes were proposed for two key intersections: Sun Bowl Dr. with W. University Ave., and Sun Bowl Dr. with Glory Rd. The new designs …

The Role Of Ecological Nostalgia And Prostalgia In Pro-Environmental Intentions, Perla Celeste Perez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Climate change will have catastrophic impacts on humans and the natural environment. However, despite abundant evidence suggesting climate change is happening, climate change mitigation remains a highly polarizing issue in the U.S. Addressing this challenge requires social science research to tailor climate change information to resonate with both liberals and conservatives. Certain concepts, such as nostalgia and prostalgia - a sentimental longing for the past and future - have yet to be explored in the context of pro-environmental behaviors within liberal and conservative samples. Specifically, the longing or sentimental attachment to a past or future natural environment (i.e., ecological nostalgia …

The Relationships Between Behavioral And Sociocultural Constructs And Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends) And Cannabis Patterns In Hispanic Young Adult University Students, Kevin Sandoval Medina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The proliferation of both electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and cannabis has contributed to a concerning trend of dual usage, posing a greater public health risk, particularly pronounced among at-risk populations of increased substance use, such as Hispanic young adult college students. This study utilized the socioecological framework and social cognitive theory to observe behavioral and sociocultural constructs associated with dual use and identify potential risk and protective factors. Four hundred and twenty-one Hispanic young adult university students completed a cross-sectional survey assessing sociodemographics, depression, anxiety, stress, familism, acculturation, self-efficacy, and past month dual use and dual use recency of …

Bilingual Inconsistency Effect, Colin Andrew Scholl

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

One of the leading models of discourse processing states that the activation of information within a text occurs through an automatic spread of activation between associated concepts, known as cohort-based retrieval. Moreover, previous studies that have investigated bilingual reading comprehension have found that certain processes that support the construction of quality mental representations of discourse are less efficient in a bilingual's non-dominant language (L2) compared to their dominant language (L1). The current study investigated cohort-based retrieval in the L1 and the L2 using a sample of 44 highly proficient, college-aged Spanish-English bilinguals that read narrative passages all in their L1 …

A Cross-Sectional Examination Of Rejection-Identification And Collective Action Among Latino College Students Following The Walmart Shooting In El Paso, Xavier Vera-Adrianzen

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Objectives: The present study aimed to test predictions derived from the rejection-identification model and collective action perspectives. Using a cross-sectional design, hypothesis 1 examined whether ethnic identification mediated the association between perceived discrimination and psychological distress, and hypothesis 2 examined whether attitude toward activism moderated the mediating effect of ethnic identification on the association between perceived discrimination and issue-specific activism. Method: 372 (77.4% female; Mage = 20.9 years, SD = 4.2) Latino undergraduate students from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) completed an online survey within approximately two years after the El Paso Walmart shooting, the deadliest attack …

A Brighter Future Lies Ahead? The Impact Of Juvenile Records On Adults' Hiring Prospects, Morgan Rose Wagner

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Having a record can make obtaining employment difficult - while the stigma against criminal records is well established, the effects of a juvenile record on hiring outcomes is less clear. Juvenile records can often be sealed; however, when sealing is not done consistently or transparently, people with juvenile records face a difficult decision when applying for jobs - disclose a record that may be sealed, or omit information about a record that shows up on a background check? Experiment 1 used a hypothetical applicant paradigm with a sample of hiring managers to evaluate the impact of juvenile record disclosure and …

Leveraging Publicly Available Data To Identify Candidate Intersections For Tactical Urbanism Efforts Using Geospatial Analysis, Luisa Maria Venegas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Urban strategies and countermeasures to increase pedestrian safety in low-density neighborhoods have been proposed by the Federal Highway Administration. Often municipalities have limited resources and would like to have a strategy to achieve maximum impact per dollar spent, as is the case in El Paso. El Paso's urban landscape is a mix of urban, residential, and commercial in the exurbs of the city. Most of El Paso consists of low-density industrial land, commercial strips, and residential development. A scalable and transferable approach was developed to identify intersections that have the potential to reduce traffic-related fatalities and increase pedestrian safety through …

Can Shame And Guilt Be Used As A Deterrent For Drug Use And Drug Crime Recidivism?, Megan Elizabeth Pesek

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: The present study focuses on how shame and guilt can be used as a deterrent for substance use and substance-related crime recidivism. This research is significant because of on-going alcohol and other drug crime recidivism in the United States. About 68% of drug-involved offenders have been found to recidivate within three years of their release from prison. Understanding how guilt and shame affect one's drug use and crime recidivism is important in recovery. This study was influenced by Braithwaite's theory of reintegrative shaming: using shame and guilt as the specific deterrent for recidivism. Methods: Based on this theory, I …

Women’S Participation In Homegrown And Domestic Terrorism Plots, Caroline Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 21^st century ushered in major social, political, and cultural changes in the United States, including a new era of homeland security and new forms of domestic terrorism. Little is known about how such shifts may have impacted women’s participation in terrorism plots. In response, data from the American Terrorism Study (ATS) are used to comparatively examine the involvement of women in homegrown and domestic terrorism plots before and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Findings of similarities and differences in women’s involvement in terrorism across time periods are presented and contextualized.

Trends In Prenatal Care Utilization, 2014-2022: The Role Of Race And Ethnicity, Sidney Bigham

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States has made significant advancements in healthcare, yet maternal mortality rates continue to rise, with pronounced racial and ethnic disparities in prenatal care (PNC) utilization. The current study examines PNC trends from 2014 to 2022 using data from the CDC WONDER Natality database, focusing on disparities across racial and ethnic groups and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings reveal a concerning decline in PNC utilization, with average visits decreasing from 11.24 in 2014 to 10.96 in 2022. Persistent racial disparities are evident, as Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women consistently receive fewer PNC visits compared to Non-Hispanic White …

Ghrelin And Decision-Making: Exploring Its Role In Food Reward, Novelty-Seeking, And Cost Valuation, Serina A. Batson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

When low energy levels are detected, Ghrelin, a peptide hormone, is produced in the fundus of the stomach. Referred to as the "hunger hormone", Ghrelin is traditionally associated with increased food intake and blood sugar levels. A key modulator in the gut-brain interaction, Ghrelin's growth hormone secretagogue receptor can be found widely across the cortico-striosomal circuit. Critical for decision-making, Ghrelin-based manipulation of this circuit can directly affect reward and cost valuation. While Ghrelin is uniformly considered to increase the valuation of food-based rewards, little research has explored its impact on non-food-based rewards or its effects on cost valuation. Therefore, to …

The Feast And The Furious? The Effects Of Diet On Opioid Tolerance, Withdrawal, And Stress, Nina Marie Beltran

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Opioid drugs (e.g., morphine) are used medicinally for pain relief but can also lead to opioid use disorder (OUD). These medications are prescribed at a higher rate among individuals with obesity (who might consume high fat diets) than the general population. Further, previous work from our lab and others has demonstrated that eating a high fat diet enhances sensitivity of rats to other addictive substances, including stimulants. However, it is not known if dietary manipulations impact individual sensitivity to the effects of opioids. This dissertation systematically explored the effects of dietary manipulation on sensitivity to the effects of morphine. …

A Texas-Sized Problem: Abortion Policy And Public Perception On The Border, Sabrina Bustillos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The present study is an examination of the impacts Texas' abortion restrictions have had on residents of El Paso, Texas. As of 2022, virtually all instances of abortion are illegal in the state of Texas. Despite the complete overturn of Roe V. Wade, in addition to Texas' passage of the "Texas Heartbeat Act", lawmakers have continued to propose and enact laws that encourage the intimidation, investigation, and punishment of anyone suspected of aiding and abetting an abortion, regardless of whether it occurred outside of state lines. These policies are ever-changing and impact millions of Texans, whether they know it or …

Retoriando "La Neta": Cosechando Testimonios Del Campo Y Desahogos Laborales As Regenerative Rhetoric Pathways For Raza Obrer@ Performing La Talacha In Marginalized Laboral Spaces, Ramiro De Anda

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Emic, phenomenological, and interdisciplinary, this study draws on and seeks to bring the fields of Sociopsychology and Rhetoric and Writing Studies into conversation to address the potential intracultural cognitive bias of raza obrer@ (RO), by raza non-obrer@ (RNO), throughout the Borderland (the El Paso/Juarez Region) through the strategic application of Regenerative Rhetoric.

In this dissertation, I examine testimonios del campo (personal narratives from laboral spaces) and desahogos laborales (emotional laboral releases) of RO performing la talacha (arduous blue-collar work) within marginalized labor spaces utilizing Regenerative Rhetoric reparative discourse/dialectic strategies that spur sentipensamiento en la sudoracion (sensing and thinking within the …