Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

We Need Deep Theories Of Virtues: Four Principles For Advancing Research On Virtues In Positive Social Science, David S. Bright, Jason M. Stansbury, Bradley A. Winn

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This article aims to help Positive Social Science (PSS) researchers develop theories of virtues, whether of single, discrete virtues, or several virtues considered together. We argue that a weak virtue theory assumes a virtue consists of single constructs, whereas a deep virtue theory assumes a virtue is an integrated system of constructs. We briefly review indicators of weak theory in the PSS literature: definitional divergence, valence confusion, and conceptual incommensurability. Drawing from the field of Virtue Ethics, we suggest four essential attributes of a virtue that should guide the development of deep virtue theory. Any virtue is (1) holistic, in …

A Caution Against Customized Ai In Healthcare, Kristin M Kostick-Quenet

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

This article critiques the shift towards personalized AI in healthcare and other high-stakes domains, cautioning that without careful deliberation, customized AI systems can compromise the diversity and reach of human knowledge by restricting exposure to critical information that may conflict with users' preferences and biases. Customized AI should be applied with caution and intention where access to a wide and diverse range of perspectives is essential for impartial, informed decision making.

Symposium Review: Strictly Observant: Amish And Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Women Negotiating Media [2nd Ed], Emma Rosenberg, Sheila Petre

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Far too often, female agency within strictly observant religious groups is dismissed. Especially in secular scholarship, the perceived voicelessness of these women remains largely unchallenged. Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar’s sophisticated and compelling book, Strictly Observant: Amish and Ultra-Orthodox Women Negotiating Media, destroys this superficial and monolithic understanding. Using media consumption as a lens, Neriya-Ben Shahar reveals the pivotal role that Amish and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women play in safeguarding their communities from the threats of secularism and immorality. [First paragraph.]

Riding The Wave: Tech Tsunami'S Rhetoric Enables Plain Anabaptist Adopters, Cory Anderson

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Arguably, no book has shaped plain Anabaptist discourse about technology more than Gary Miller’s Tech Tsunami. Since its 2016 publication, the book has achieved near-canonical status within certain Conservative and Old Order Anabaptist circles, particularly among business owners wrestling with technology adoption. The book’s influence extends beyond the original text—an audiobook and a youth edition (Tech Talk, 2021) circulate widely, discussion groups form around its ideas, and its vocabulary infiltrates conversations about church rules. The book’s success builds on Miller’s existing platform; his works Kingdom Focused Finances, Church Matters, and Life in a Global Village helped establish him as a …

Symposium Review: Virtually Amish: Preserving Community At The Internet’S Margins—Lindsay Ems, Harry Argo, Dan Raber, Jonathan Stoll

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Ems’s book, “Virtually Amish,” is a significant contribution to research on Amish survival and how the Amish continue to endure the influence of modernized technological capitalism on their faith, values, and way of life. The underlying questions address not only whether increased exposure to digitization will accelerate their assimilation but, more significantly, how they are able to address such challenges. [First paragraph.]

Symposium Review: Facing Infotainment Technologies: Evolution Beyond Human [2nd Ed], Steven Yoder, Gerald Mast, Karlin High

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Daniel Mast offers a very detailed review of the ever-changing world of information technology and entertainment. The book opens by addressing the pleasure and entertainment aspects of technology and later focuses on how technology has become more advanced and has the potential to be used to monitor and control people. The intended audience is the plain Mennonite, Amish, and Brethren people. He writes from the perspective that the Bible is the final authority and cites many Biblical verses to make his case clear; the Bible gives reason for concern about the infotainment flood. As well as the Bible, the author …

‘We Wish To Keep A Wall Of Reserve’: Modesty Practice And Discourse Within Old Order Amish And Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Communities, Rivka Neriya Ben-Shahar

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

This study advances our understanding of modesty practices within religious groups by examining mixed-gender groups among Old Order Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel. Through ethnographic participant observation and semi-structured interviews, my research addresses three questions central to understanding modesty practices: How do members of these religious bodies define and enforce acceptable practices of modesty and body management in mixed-gender settings? What mechanisms transmit written and unwritten rules within these groups? And how do religious leaders and texts shape modesty discourse and practices? Drawing on Hobsbawm’s differentiation between old and invented traditions, this comparative analysis reveals …

Profiles Of Major Amish Settlements In North America: A Guide For Researchers And Service Providers, Cory Anderson, Rachel Bacon

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Amish populations cluster in ethnic enclaves, or “settlements,” which are located across much of North America, notably in the regions of the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Midwest, and Upper South. This article profiles 38 of the largest and best known Amish settlements. The profiles include (1) a recent population tally and population projections to 2050, (2) population density maps, (3) settlement history, (4) socio-economic attributes, (5) religious affiliations, and (6) an overview of the physical and economic landscape. The purpose of this article is to provide scholars and service providers an informative introduction to the different settlements. This article can help …

Latine Immigrant Survivors Of Sexual Assault: Clinical Considerations For Aid And Empowerment, Jasmine Pochini

Counseling Psychology | Master's Theses

This thesis project attempts to ascertain the impact of sexual assault on Latine immigrants in the United States with the aid of a literature review and subsequent manual of clinical and sociocultural recommendations. The historical and political background of immigration in the U.S. is discussed, providing a background for the difficulties that Latine immigrants have faced for decades. All facets of immigration are explored, as well as the hostility that many immigrants face due to anti-immigrant sentiment. This combined with the acculturation process proves to have drastic effects on mental health. Sexual assault is then explored, identifying background and statistical …

Moving From ‘Managing Stakeholders’ To ‘Managing For Stakeholders’: The Imperative For Responsible Business, Meena Raghunathan, Kara Li Liu

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Gone are the days when it was accepted that shareholders were the ones for whose benefit business was done, and that the purpose of business was to maximize returns to shareholders. Today, it is universally accepted that a business has to look beyond maximizing profits. It has to take into account the needs all stakeholders, including the environment.

Several frameworks and approaches have been advocated to achieve the objective of optimizing the value of the corporation from multiple angles, including Triple Bottom Line, Responsible Business, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility, etc. At the heart of all these concepts is the issue …

Grieving & Swiping: Online Dating As Consumers' Post-Breakup Resolution, Zeynep Ozdamar Ertekin, Salih Kural, İrem Taştan

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

This study explores the underlying motivations of consumers’ usage of online dating applications after the breakup of romantic relationships. The experiences of young-adult consumers who went through post-breakup grief are investigated through in-depth interviews. Findings resulted in twelve categories of motivations that participating consumers had regarding their usage of dating apps, in relation to managing the grief after breakup. Motivations are grouped under the categories of coping, updating, and desiring. Moreover, findings also demonstrated diverging pathways in using dating apps for emotional resolution. The study contributes to our understanding of dating app usage by highlighting important insights from consumers who …

From Cypherpunks To Decentralized Finance: How Crypto-Anarchy Is Redefining Legal And Economic Systems, Alesia Zhuk

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

This article explores the evolution of crypto-anarchy, tracing its origins from the cypherpunk movement to the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and its transformative effects on legal and economic systems. Central to crypto-anarchy is the belief in individual empowerment through privacy, financial autonomy, and decentralization, which allows users to bypass traditional intermediaries like banks. While these technologies offer increased freedom and financial inclusion, they also introduce significant risks such as money laundering, tax evasion, and the facilitation of illegal activities, posing challenges to current regulatory frameworks. The article examines the socio-economic implications of decentralization, including both the democratization of finance …

From Socially Responsible Enterprises To Crypto-Anarchy: We Cover Quite A Range, Nikhilesh Dholakia, Deniz Atik, Delphine Godefroit-Winkel

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

No abstract provided.

Navigating The Academic Terrain: Examining The Challenges And Success Factors Of Student Veterans In Higher Education Institutions, Katherine Reyes, Corey Idleburg

Education Division Scholarship

This study investigates the academic experiences of student veterans, addressing specific challenges they face in higher education. Using Schlossberg’s adult transition theory, it explores the effects of invisible barriers, enrollment trends, and institutional factors on veteran student success, leveraging the VA’s GI Bill Comparison tool to examine public versus private school support. Findings underscore the need for targeted resources, faculty training, and institutional awareness to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that enhances veteran students' academic success and sense of belonging.

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 09, January 6, 2025, Grand Valley State University

Volume 59, August 5, 2024 – April 14, 2025

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Did Medicaid Expansion Help Mitigate Self-Reported Health Issues Among People With Chronic Health Conditions During The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Rajendra Dulal, Umesh Ghimire

Pennsylvania Economic Review

Our study investigates the impact of Medicaid expansion during the pandemic, focusing on health insurance coverage and self-reported health among individuals with chronic health conditions. Utilizing 2 years of pre-pandemic and 2 years of during-pandemic data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we apply a difference-in-difference (DID) model to evaluate these effects. We find an increase in insurance coverage and a decrease in poor physical health days among individuals with chronic conditions in states that expanded Medicaid compared to non-expansion states. However, the impact on mental health remains inconclusive. Furthermore, we observe no significant impact of Medicaid expansion …

A Randomized Trial Of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Leah D. Talbert

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects over 1.7 million people annually in the U.S., often leading to autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation and reduced heart rate variability (HRV), which may impact cognitive performance. This study investigated whether HRV biofeedback (HRV-B) improves HRV at rest and recovery after stress in individuals with TBI. Secondary aims examined links between HRV improvements and reductions in physical symptoms, enhanced emotional functioning, and better cognitive performance, as well as the role of practice adherence in moderating HRV-B effects. This randomized controlled trial compared HRV-B treatment to a sham control using a pre- and post-assessment design. Of …

Modern Digital Query Analytics Of Patient Education Materials On Acanthosis Nigricans: Systematic Search And Content Analysis, Kevin Johny Varghese, Som Singh, Emily Kamali, Fahad Qureshi, Aleena Jamal, Fawad Qureshi

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: Online digital materials are integral to patient education and health care outcomes in dermatology. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a common condition, often associated with underlying diseases such as insulin resistance. Patients frequently search the internet for information related to this cutaneous finding. To our knowledge, the quality of online educational materials for AN has not been systematically examined.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to profile the readability and quality of the content of publicly available digital educational materials on AN and identify questions frequently asked by patients.

METHODS: This study analyzed publicly available internet sources to …

Diseño De Experiencia De Usuario En El Continuo Del Cuidado Del Vih. Revisión Sistemática De Literatura Científica (Análisis Bibliográfico Y Bibliométrico), Marco Antonio Guzmán Garnica, Marco Vinicio Ferruzca Navarro, Román A. Mora

GDI. Revista de investigación de Género, Diseño e Innovación

Resumen: Introducción: En los últimos años, el UX design ha ganado terreno en el desarrollo de intervenciones para la atención del continuo del cuidado del VIH. Sin embargo, no existe claridad sobre el desarrollo epistemológico de la disciplina. Metodología: Se recolectaron 180 materiales publicados entre 2014 y 2024 en cuatro bases de datos especializadas a través del método P.R.I.S.M.A. y se realizó un análisis bibliográfico de la literatura encontrada y su contenido con el método L.A.T.C.H. y un análisis bibliométrico a través de procesamiento de lenguaje natural. Resultados: Se encontró que los trabajos tendieron a concentrarse en tres modelos de …

From Climate To Conflict: Unravelling Multidimensional Vulnerabilities Of Small-Scale Fisheries In The Jaffna Peninsula Of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Senevi Gunaratne, R. B. Radin Firdaus, Augustine Sosai Sihivaitthasan, Sarjiyanto Sarjiyanto, Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar

The Qualitative Report

Vulnerability studies have often centered on climate change and catastrophic climatic events. Contrary to this trend, this study explores the multidimensional vulnerabilities faced by small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in the Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka. We employed the Integrated Vulnerability Analysis for Sustainability (IVAS) Framework for this analysis. Data was collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. We analyzed our data following Reflexive Thematic Analysis using ATLAS.ti software and identified 15 vulnerability drivers across five domains specific to the local context, revealing that SSFs in the Jaffna peninsula are highly susceptible to multiple vulnerabilities. Notably, the …

The Manipulation Of Odor Availability Of Training Aids Used In Detection Canine Training, Katylynn B. Sloan, Michele N. Maughan, Caitlin E. Sharpes, Robin R. Greubel, Shawna F. Gallegos, Aleksandr E. Miklos, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Detection canines can identify numerous substances for which they have been trained. Historically, and a point of ongoing contention, detection canine threshold (i.e., sensitivity or limit of detection) training has primarily focused on changing the weight of the training aid substance used. There has been minimal focus on other principles, such as surface area, confinement, and temperature, which can be manipulated to affect odor availability. That said, trainers have been manipulating odor availability for years without necessarily understanding the governing scientific principles. The aim of this review is to highlight the principles that control odor availability of a substance and …

Gendered Sexual Behaviors: Unintended Pregnancies, And Sexually-Transmitted Infections, Deirdre Ferguson

All ETDs from UAB

Education is the most effective way to address unintended pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Education through preventative counseling has been negatively correlated with unintended pregnancies. Although research has shed light on the risks posing challenges to the prevention of unintended pregnancies, the consequential costs of these pregnancies continue to mount, both individually and societally. Birth control counseling corresponds with reducing the behavior of nonuse of contraceptives significantly. Education is thus associated with combatting inaccurate information passed along via primary social groups. To gain insight into the prevention of unintended pregnancies and STIs, data was gathered using a mixed-method approach incorporating …

The Power Of Connection: Unraveling The Significance Of Social Support In The Stress Levels Of Informal Black Women Caregivers, Antoinette Shantay Williams

All ETDs from UAB

This study examines how three types of social support—having someone to talk to, someone to help with activities, and someone to provide care—affect the stress levels of informal Black women caregivers compared to Black men, White men, and White women caregivers in the United States. It explores the intersection of race and gender, with a specific focus on how social support influences the emotional, financial, and physical stress levels of informal Black women caregivers. This research aimed to answer two questions. Does social support decrease stress levels among informal caregivers? Does the association between social support and stress levels differ …

Perceptions And Preferences Of Virtual Health To Promote Exercise Among People With Physical Disabilities: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study, Madison Mintz

All ETDs from UAB

People with physical disabilities and mobility limitations can greatly benefit from participating in a physically active lifestyle and adopting health-promoting strategies and behaviors. Benefits of physical activity include better sleep quality and quantity; decreased anxiety; weight loss or healthy weight maintenance; and maintained or increased balance, coordination, strength, and endurance, to name a few. However, rates of physical activity and exercise participation are disproportionate among people with disabilities (PWD). Current literature suggests a myriad of barriers and environmental inaccessibility as a leading cause of PWD not engaging or meeting physical activity guidelines. However, community-based, virtually-delivered programs have become dramatically available …

The Role Of The Executive Control Network In Social Functioning In Autism, Mckayla Kurtz

All ETDs from UAB

Social functioning difficulties are often seen in autism and impact one’s ability to engage in meaningful social interactions and to maintain social relationships. Emerging research suggests that executive function (EF) impairments may underlie these social challenges, though the neural mechanisms involved remain unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between the functional connectivity of the executive control network (ECN) and social functioning in autistic children using resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) data. Resting-state fMRI data was obtained from 95 autistic participants (ages 5-13 years) from the publicly available Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange II (ABIDE-II) database. Data were preprocessed …

Humans Are Not Normal: How Did This Happen?, Hermann Strasser

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

Autoethnographic Action Research As A Contemplative Practice: Awareness And Transformation Of Inner And Outer Selves, Jiju Varghese, Bal Chandra Luitel, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

Contemplation as a spiritual practice has taken various forms across different religious traditions and regions worldwide. Over the years, various contemplative practices have evolved and become popular even outside religious traditions to promote the well-being of all for inner and outer selves’ transformation. In education, many scholars worldwide have expounded on the benefits of contemplative practices in the classroom for students and teachers. Contemplative practices have penetrated research practices in the form of contemplative inquiry considering performative, philosophical, and artistic transformations, where researchers enter into a deep, thoughtful, and reflective introspective journey to see the connection between what is seen …

The Development Of A Valid And Reliable Survey To Assess Sexual And Reproductive Health Knowledge, Practices, Beliefs, And Risk For Abuse In Adults With Spina Bifida, Betsy Hopson

All ETDs from UAB

Adults with spina bifida (SB) face significant sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges, including knowledge gaps, limited access to services, and increased vulnerability to abuse. Sexual health is critical for this population, as most now live into adulthood. By age 20, many individuals with SB are sexually active, and over 90% express a desire for sexual activity. However, only 5% have discussed SRH with a healthcare provider, leading to sexual dysfunction, low contraception use, and inadequate SRH knowledge. Despite guidelines from the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) advocating for patient-centered SRH communication, healthcare providers’ lack of training and discomfort in having …

Predictors Of Everyday Function Among Older Adults Using Data From The Active Clinical Trial., Deborah Awusuah Dadson

All ETDs from UAB

The nature of the lifespan causes a decrease in the bodily functioning of people as they age which affects the ability to engage in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), mostly amongst older adults. A reduction in the individual’s abilities combined with environmental changes can lead to functional decline impacting everyday function. The aim of this study was to examine the association between visual, cognitive and physical factors with everyday function (IADL/ADL) among older adults and assess whether social determinants of health (SDoH) measures moderate the associations of vision, cognitive and physical function with …

The Latter-Day Saint Indian Placement Program: An Examination Through An Experiential Lens, Quinn Elise Christiansen

Theses and Dissertations

The Indian Placement Program, operated by the LDS Church from around 1947 to 2000, was influenced by the Church's belief in a connection between Native Americans to a Book of Mormon group known as the Lamanites. This group held a special status within the LDS Church because of their believed Israelite heritage as well as a prophecy promising their conversion in the last days. Spencer W. Kimball, motivated by both personal goals and his authority within the LDS Church, expanded on a successful experience of a young Native girl, Helen John, growing it into the broader Indian Placement Program. This …