Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Hedonic And Utilitarian Products For The 21st Century: Classification Of Modern Product Categories, Jin-A Choi, Sufyan M. Baksh, Hyuk Jun Cheong

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

Consumer purchasing behavior varies according to the type of product being considered. Notably, these behavioral differences become more salient depending on whether a product fulfills a utilitarian function or offers hedonic gratification. The present study aims to develop a novel product classification model that categorizes contemporary goods and services based on the extent to which they possess hedonic or utilitarian value. Methodologically, the study employed a two-stage approach. In the first stage, to identify appropriate products for inclusion in the classification model, the researchers conducted focus group interviews, a comprehensive literature review, and an analysis of major retailers’ websites. In …

The Role Of Temporal Predictability In Sustained Attention, Miho Kato, Harun Yörük, Thomas S. Redick

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Attention requires sustaining focus on information and goals over time. Sustained attention performance is affected by time and temporal predictability. Specifically, previous research showed that performance in sustained attention tasks decreases when the focus of attention is required to be sustained over a longer period of time, and performance increases when the duration to sustain attention is predictable (known as temporal predictability). The current research examines the relationship between the duration of sustained attention and temporal predictability with two cognitive tasks. In the Sustained Attention to Cue Task (SACT), participants were required to sustain their focus of attention on a …

Breaking Up Or Bound Together? Unraveling Us-China Economic Interdependence, Vinh Huynh, Guangjun Qu

Annual Student Research Poster Session

This study investigates the extent to which the U.S.-China trade war has altered bilateral trade flows and economic interdependence between the two largest economies in the world. The question at the heart of this research is whether the two countries have truly begun to “decouple” or whether they remain deeply interconnected despite political and economic tensions. Drawing on U.S. and Chinese trade data from multiple official sources, we examine both the scale and persistence of trade disruptions over time. Our analysis extends beyond the pre-pandemic years to include 2020 through 2024, allowing us to distinguish between the trade war’s temporary …

Analyzing The Evolving Digital Public Dialogue On Juneteenth, Ky Nguyen, Quan Nguyen, Khusi Singh, Annie Tran

Annual Student Research Poster Session

This research explores how public conversations surrounding Juneteenth have evolved over time by analyzing 10,000 tweets. Through annotation of sentiment, emotion, and topics, the project provides insight into how Juneteenth is celebrated, debated, and understood across diverse cultural and political contexts. The resulting dataset lays the groundwork for a machine learning model capable of identifying large-scale patterns in language, tone, and narrative.

Entrepreneurship Over The Business Cycle, Ryan Rudderham, Miyu Aoki

Annual Student Research Poster Session

During economic recessions, individuals face a challenging decision: whether to seek traditional employment or start their own business. While recessions are a poor time for entrepreneurship due to reduced consumer spending and business productivity, these periods also feature high unemployment, which makes finding wage work difficult. This project developed a theoretical framework to study entrepreneurship over the business cycle by introducing labor market frictions, creating a tractable yet realistic structure for occupational choice. Traditional macroeconomic models struggle to capture entrepreneurial decision-making across business cycles. As such, this project looked at labor market frictions in building a theoretical framework. Over the …

Navigating Permitting Reform: A Comparative U.S. Analysis With Illustrative Evidence From Indiana, Toan Minh Bui

Annual Student Research Poster Session

This study examines the effects of permitting reform on infrastructure performance in the United States, highlighting the trade-offs between regulatory efficiency and environmental oversight. Using a comparative multi-case design, we analyze twelve transportation, energy, and public facility projects across six states—two each representing high, moderate, and low reform intensities. The analysis combines quantitative performance indicators (cost overruns, schedule delays, environmental oversight scores) with qualitative assessments of legal frameworks, administrative capacity, and political context. Findings show that moderate-intensity reforms—those that streamline procedural steps while retaining environmental safeguards—deliver the most consistent balance of timely delivery, cost control, and regulatory integrity. High-intensity reforms …

Propelling Aging-Related Initiatives In A Next-Gen Cooperative Extension System: Editors’ Introduction To The Jhse Special Issue On Aging, Erin L. Martinez, James S. Bates

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 2, James S. Bates, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Erin L. Martinez

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Aging In America: Implications For Family Resource Management, Becky Smith, Portia Johnson, Brandan Wheeler, D E Kiss, Ann A. Berry

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The Stanford Center on Longevity reports life expectancy has surged over the last 120 years. Unfortunately, living longer may not equate to living with a higher quality of life without considering the amount, type, and uses of all resources available to individuals and families as they age. Family Resource Management (FRM) is the science and art of how individuals and families make decisions to develop and allocate resources, including money, time, energy, space, material, and health assets, and networks of support to meet their goals. Living longer means making more decisions and developing and allocating more resources to enhance the …

Individuals Aging With Developmental Disabilities: Programmatic Foundations For System Improvement, Morgan D. Foster, Andrew Bronson Crocker, Beth Stalvey

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

As the population in the United States ages and grows, so does the number of older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Individuals who have lifelong disabilities experience age-related conditions, such as dementia, cancer, or arthritis, differently from those who acquire similar age-related disabilities in late life. The aging population with IDD represents a demographic shift and introduces both challenges and opportunities in various contexts, including, but not limited to, healthcare, caregiving, housing, and economic stability. Concurrently, aging caregivers, including parents of individuals with IDD, must balance their own age-related needs with the current and future plans of care …

Community Partnerships To Address Social Determinants Of Health Among Older Adults, Cory Bolkan, Raven Weaver, Cheryl Eschbach, Erik Geissal, Breanne Wise-Swanson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH) among older adults is key to addressing health disparities, maintaining independence in their homes/communities, improving health outcomes, and avoiding high-cost institutional care. While primary care settings are equipped to meet older adults’ physical health needs, the network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) is designed to meet social needs (e.g., transportation, nutrition, caregiver support). Yet, cross-sector community partnerships between AAAs and primary care are rare. This article shares an evaluation of one such partnership, where SDOH screenings were routinely implemented in primary care, yielding social prescribing and direct referral to AAA’s support services. …

Daily Consumption Smoothing? New Evidence From A Payment Diary, Shaun Gilyard, Scott Schuh

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

This paper shows that consumption and income data in the Diary of Consumer Payment Choice (DCPC) cover high percentages of U.S. data, forecast well in real time, and replicate the literature’s estimation and general rejection of PIH models with time aggregated data. Novel estimates reveal evidence of daily consumption smoothing after accounting for three features of daily data: 1) discrepancy between consumption and expenditures (e.g., bill payments); 2) discrete daily expenditures and income; and 3) asynchronous consumption and income. Convenience samples used in the literature appear to reflect selection effects related to payment choices (cash or mobile) that affect model …

Community Engagement Newsletter, October 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

--- Spring into Service: Cats Who Care
--- UNI's Day of Service
--- Events
--- Service Learning Course Designation
--- Community Engagement - Report Hours

Cross-Cultural Validity Of The Ppi-R In U.S. College Students, Cassidy Liang

Student Theses

Psychopathy has traditionally been studied using Hare's Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) but self-report measures like the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R) have gained popularity due to comparative ease, speed of administration, and its broader applicability to the general population. However, the validity of the PPI-R across cultures has produced mixed results, particularly in non-Western and non-English speaking participants. This study examined racial/ethnic and gender differences in the PPI-R in a diverse sample of 536 college students. The internal and external validity of the PPI-R was good. The PPI-R correlated with the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM), as well as trait anxiety, and empathy …

Perspective: Restoring Rest-The Critical Role Of Sleep In Foster Care Well-Being, Jill Mcleigh, Anna Wani, Likhita Shaik

Health Status, Outcomes, and Literacy and Healthcare Utilization

In 2023, approximately 400,000 children were in foster care in the United States, a population disproportionately affected by trauma, instability, and systemic inequities.1 These children face chronic disruptions in sleep—an essential physiological process that underpins physical development, learning, emotional regulation, and overall health.²⁻⁴ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are prevalent in this group and contribute to significant sleep disturbances through pathways of hyperarousal, stress dysregulation, and recurrent nightmares. 3,4 Understanding the interplay between foster care, social determinants of health (SDOH), and sleep health disparities highlights opportunities for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.

For questions about …

Report On Assessing The Digital Preservation Landscape And Capacity Of Prrla Libraries, Pin Pin Yeo, Suqing Liu, Pimnapa Amaritworachai

Research Collection Library

This project evaluated the current state of digital preservation practices among PRRLA (Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance) member libraries. This report outlined the best practices and guidelines of the member libraries. The study involved a literature review to examine existing research and practices in digital preservation. A survey was designed to collect detailed information from PRRLA members, complemented by online interviews with selected institutions to gain deeper insights. The report has the key findings, successful strategies with some suggestions for sustainable development of digital preservation.

Examining The Spatial Inequities Of Urban Heat Islands And Tree Canopy In Conway, Sc, Patrick W. Da Silva

Honors Theses

This study examines spatial inequities in urban heat island (UHI) effects and urban tree canopy (UTC) distribution in Conway, South Carolina, through an interdisciplinary environmental justice framework. Integrating qualitative field observations, quantitative temperature measurements, and geospatial analysis using GIS and remote sensing techniques, the research evaluates how land surface characteristics and vegetation influence localized temperature variation across eight representative sites, including residential neighborhoods and downtown streetscapes. Results demonstrate a consistent relationship between reduced tree canopy cover, increased land surface temperatures, and elevated ambient temperatures. Areas with limited vegetation—particularly lower-income public housing communities—experienced the highest thermal burdens, while locations with established …

Analyzing Attitudes On Social Welfare: Partisanship Versus Self-Interest, Jack D. Ryder

Student Publications

What influences Americans' attitudes on social welfare? Why do some Americans vote seemingly against their interests? Using data from the 2020 National Election Survey, this paper will test hypotheses examining how rurality and Republican partisanship are associated with lower favorability toward social welfare spending. This paper will also analyze the current literature on immigration, locality, and partisanship to see how they shape attitudes toward welfare spending. Overall, the regression models show that Republican partisanship is more correlated with support for social welfare cuts than an individual’s rurality. This study is important for understanding how partisanship shapes attitudes on policy and …

Echoes Of The Goddess: Reclaiming Power-Within In The Modern Workplace, Chloe E. Hanousek

Student Publications

This work examines gender inequality in the American workforce as part of a broader cultural system that consistently devalues care, embodiment, and relational labor. Rather than treating issues such as the wage gap or the motherhood penalty as isolated problems, it situates them within a historical pattern shaped by patriarchal power, medical dismissal, and the domination of nature. Through an interdisciplinary feminist approach, this work traces how the suppression of the feminine influences women’s working lives, health experiences, and relationships to their bodies. By connecting labor inequality to burnout, ecological harm, and the erosion of inner authority, it argues that …

Belmont Council On Aging: Planning For The Future, Caitlin E. Coyle, Nancy Mazonson, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report presents the results of a comprehensive needs assessment of Belmont’s older adult population. The study was conducted to support planning by the Belmont Council on Aging and Beech Street Senior Center, and it also provides valuable information for other town departments, community organizations, and residents. Specifically, this report aims to: *Describe Belmont’s current older adult population and their needs. *Assess the services and resources currently available. *Identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. *Provide recommendations to ensure Belmont remains a supportive, age-friendly community for years to come.

As the number of older residents grows, so too will the need …

Comprehensive Library Access For Hybrid And Remote Researchers, Tressa M. Graves

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

As hybrid and remote work continues, special libraries are continually evolving to meet the needs of their communities. This includes remote and hybrid researchers at the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC). While the EERC is physically located in eastern North Dakota, EERC employees are scattered throughout Mountain Plains Library Association states. Using embedded librarianship principles, the EERC’s Library & Information Services team fulfills complex and time-sensitive information needs by providing creative solutions and building partnerships with researchers.

Who Owns Our Knowledge: Open Access Week 2025, Devon Olson, Rosemary Pleva Flynn, Zeineb Yousif

Librarian Publications

Commemorating Open Access Week 2025, this zine includes educational content on concepts central to open access scholarship as well as games and activities, and comics illustrating reader feedback to works posted on UND's Scholarly Commons.

Partisan Responses To Cancel Culture On Social Media: Hostile Media Effects On Political Behavior, Joon Soo Lim

Media Studies - All Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Supporting Digital Accessibility In Community College Libraries, Jessica Tipton

Sabbatical Projects

Original Sabbatical Proposal: As part of my dissertation on removing accessibility barriers to library services and resources, I will evaluate materials our library creates, purchases, and shares, focusing on WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.  I will earn a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) certification and create a guide for academic librarians on developing accessible learning materials and evaluating purchased content to ensure equitable access for all students.

Library Newsletter, Volume 21 Number 1, Sacred Heart University Library

Library Newsletters

A Word from the Stacks...Strategic planning initiative -- New staff -- Programming spotlight: Creativity in motion --Books we love: Staff-recommended reads

Key Library Resources: New Student, Raquel Estrada

Library Display Posters

No abstract provided.

Key Library Resources: Graduate Resources, Raquel Estrada

Library Display Posters

No abstract provided.

Key Library Resources: Graduate Students, Raquel Estrada

Library Display Posters

No abstract provided.

Issue 9, Why I Chose Bryant, Shantell J. Dorley

Thrive

No abstract provided.

Decoding Influence: Cosmetic Industry Strategies, Media Beauty Standards, And Their Mental Health Impact On Generation Z Consumers, Tatiana Avila Velasquez

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This research explores the complex relationship between cosmetic industry marketing strategies, media-driven beauty standards, and the mental health of Generation Z consumers. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study examines how frequent exposure to curated beauty ideals and persuasive advertising shapes self-esteem, confidence, and personal identity among young adults. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, the research highlights the evolving nature of cosmetic use, revealing how early engagement with beauty products often stems from social conditioning and personal insecurities. Participants describe a shift from using cosmetics as a means of concealment to embracing them for creative expression and self-care. However, …