Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Transformation Of Autonomous Faculties: From The Enlightenment Era To Present-Day, Amber Ready

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This thesis examines the historical transformation of autonomous faculties from the Enlightenment to the present, arguing that the material and technological conditions necessary for autonomous judgment have been progressively eroded through capitalism. Beginning with Kant’s account of enlightenment as the emergence from a self‑incurred minority, this paper shows that autonomy has always depended on social and economic structures that determine who can exercise independent reasoning. Through Marx and Lukács, the analysis traces how commodity production, alienation, and reification reorganize subjectivity and render social relations increasingly opaque. Adorno’s account of recognition, self‑preservation, and the culture industry further illustrates how individuals are …

Social Support And Weight Management Behaviors Lived Experiences Of Overweight Native Hawaiian Women, Satu Gruenstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Hawaiian Islands have an alarming concentration of obesity and related chronic health issues and many Native Hawaiian women do not have access to culturally sensitive weight loss information. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to increase understanding of the lived experiences of middle-aged Native Hawaiian women, relating to weight loss, weight management, and the impact of social support and cultural factors on those experiences. The conceptual framework for the study included the models of social support and social networks. A phenomenological research design and purposeful sampling were used to conduct semistructured interviews with eight middle-aged Native Hawaiian women, …

Community-Based Program To Support The Occupational Needs Of Middle Eastern Refugee Women Transitioning Into Western Society, Zuha A. Mohammad, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Middle Eastern refugee women resettling in Western societies often experience barriers that disrupt participation in meaningful occupations, including language barriers, unfamiliar systems, financial challenges, and social isolation. These challenges can limit independence and community participation during the resettlement process. Occupational therapy is well-positioned to address these barriers through culturally responsive, occupation-based interventions.

This capstone project developed and implemented a community-based program designed to support Middle Eastern refugee women during early resettlement. The program focused on key areas including system navigation, financial literacy, home safety, stress management, self-advocacy, and community engagement. Educational sessions and practical activities were used to promote skill …

The Searcy Story, Elise S. Spinder, Sheeva Chourazghi-Azad, Nate Krammerer, Anna Blubaugh, Sarah Brewer

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This presentation explores the planning and execution of our Honors project: a documentary highlighting local Nashville activists Joyce and Walter Searcy. It outlines our research process, the development of timelines documenting their lives, our collaboration with Fisk University, and the production of the documentary. Housed within the Belmont-Fisk Social Justice Collaborative, our work examines strategies that contributed to the systemic change during the Civil Rights Movement. This inquiry sparked deeper engagement with the Nashville community and illuminated the Searcys’ vital role in fostering community organizing and leading meaningful change. This documentary reflects on what it means to be a selfless …

Crafting The Narrative: A Look At Long-Form Storytelling Through The Art Of Quilling, Jaycee R. Lundell

Student Works

This thesis explores the journeys of four contemporary quilling artists and their works. It dives into the creative process of conducting the interviews, capturing the footage, and making the documentary. The documentary also explores the history of quilling including its resurgence in the 1980s and the complicated process of navigating the declining numbers of the International Quilling Guild while the craft spreads across the internet, potentially losing its rich history and standards of excellence. Since quilling is a lesser known art, this thesis is also an attempt to spread the knowledge of the craft since there are very few scholarly …

Sense Of Agency And Control, Self-Esteem, And Psychological Distress Among Undergraduate Students In The U.S. And China, Wenqi Zhang, Peiyi Wang, Chuansheng Chen, Yufei Li, Baojuan Ye, Jianmin Shao

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Beliefs about oneself are closely related to one’s psychological distress, yet little is known about how different dimensions of self-perception interact to predict psychological distress and how these relationships vary across cultural contexts. This study examined cultural differences in the sense of agency and control, their associations with psychological distress, and the protective role of self-esteem among undergraduate students. The sample included 501 U.S. students and 336 Chinese students. Results revealed systematic cultural differences in agency and control: U.S. students reported higher levels of sense of positive agency and personal mastery, but lower levels of sense of negative agency and …

Workers' Compensation Court Summer Clerkship: Funded By The Feinstein Institute Summer Fellowship Program, Judy Akid

Political Science Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Community-Defined Principles And Practices For Neighborly Engagement, Miranda Macaluso, Chase Quigley, Katherine Laduke, Daleth Rodriguez, Zekar-Yah Henry, Jack Pawlowski, Riley Londraville

Public & Community Service Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Rates Of Dysregulation And Treatment Adherence In Autistic Youth, Sara Welch

Public & Community Service Studies Student Scholarship

Approximately 28% of autistic youth demonstrate aggressive behaviors (Baweja et al., 2023) toward themselves and others (e.g., hitting, spitting, biting, head banging, etc.) Dysregulation, including aggression and broader symptom severity, is an important factor in treatment engagement. Prior research suggests that autistic youth with higher levels of dysregulation are less likely to receive mental health treatment and more likely to receive medication management (Vasa et al., 2021). It was unclear how treatment adherence may be affected by varying levels of child dysregulation, particularly whether aggression may alter this relationship over time.

Hypothesis: Greater dysregulation would be associated with greater …

Using Ai Tools Shifts The Cognitive Structures Of Creative Problem-Solving In A Prompt-Based, Free Response Task, Veronica Smith, Andra Geana

Psychology Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Leadership & Title Ix: Does Political Ideology Shape Supportive Measures, Jillian Evans

Political Science Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Student Culture And Experiences Of Discrimination And Racism At Providence College, Colin Cavanaugh, Bianca Rego, Melissa Enriquez

Social Work Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Homesickness And Family Relationships In College Students, Emma Burgess, Taylor Gilmour, Emma Medina

Social Work Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Association Between Sleep And Social Media Among Older Adults, Ava Santoro

Psychology Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Globalization: Tensions Between National Sovereignty And Global Economy, Isabelle Camoin

Political Science Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Caste, Religion, And Inequality In India, Chloe Johnson, Elyse O’Leary, Diana Tarazi, Claire Geis, Francesca Bambara

Global Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Diasporic Belonging Of Palestinian American Women In New England, Elizabeth Muller

Political Science Undergraduate Theses

No abstract provided.

How Does Corruption Impact The Growth Of Globalization And Poverty In Brazil, Olivia Taveira

Political Science Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Diverse Children's Books In Shaping Social And Political Identity: Exploring The Effects Of Representation, Banning, And Cultural Perception In Arab-American Children's Literature, Judy Akid

Political Science Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

What The Land Knows: Solastalgia And Land-Based Cultural Trauma Among Appalachian Americans, Clara Johnson

Social Work Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Hb2008: Universal Pre-K, Grace Rutland, Sofia Wells

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Representatives Charlane Oliver and Aftyn Behn have introduced a bill which would make preschool available to all children in Tennessee. The Universal Pre-K Funding Act, which was introduced in February of this year, would draw from a tax on digital advertising to ensure that every four-year-old has access to high quality early learning. Universal pre-K has been shown to improve academic outcomes spanning all the way to college acceptances, and to increase parental earnings by nearly 20% (Humphries et. al, 2024). These results are especially pronounced among low-income families. It also functions as a form of childcare, which is invaluable …

Student Perspectives On Grading In Higher Education Stem Courses, Christopher Sean Burns, Daniela D.S. Digiacomo, Jennifer Pusateri, Katherine Ritchie, Christine Wusylko

Information Science Faculty Publications

Purpose

Despite a growing awareness of instructional practices that support student learning and well-being, higher education classrooms tend to still be dominated by the use of rigid approaches to assessment and course design. This study aims to understand the experiences of students in courses that implement a universal design for learning (UDL) pedagogical approach and an ungrading assessment approach. Design/methodology/approach

Leveraging a qualitative methodological approach, authors interviewed 13 graduate students in two library and information science technology courses and 11 undergraduate students in a computer science course in discrete mathematics about their experiences with ungrading within the context of UDL-designed …

Social Workers’ Views On Students With Developmental Disabilities In Charter And Private Schools In Idaho, Branden Smalley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Idaho private and charter schools are experiencing increased enrollment, including students who are developmentally delayed. Such an increase in the population of developmentally delayed students presents challenges for school social workers in providing needed therapeutic services. This study addressed the limited therapeutic services for students with developmental disabilities in Idaho’s private and charter schools, as perceived by school social workers. The purpose was to examine school social workers’ perceptions of the barriers and challenges they encounter when supporting students with developmental disabilities in private or charter schools in Idaho. Participant eligibility criteria included holding a minimum of a bachelor’s degree …

Fermentation As Food Pedagogy: Insights Into How Teaching Fermentation Facilitates Engagement With The Food System, Madhura Rao, Ashley Thuthao Keng Dam

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper explores the pedagogical potential of fermentation as a tool to support critical engagement with food systems among urban European consumers. Drawing on the food pedagogy framework developed by Park et al. (2022), the study analyses qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 13 fermentation educators operating across eight European countries. The analysis examines how fermentation workshops may contribute to building awareness about food systems, enabling enjoyment and social connection, encouraging experiential practice in everyday life, and prompting action for change. Our findings suggest that fermentation enables sensorial and reflective learning, allowing learners to not only learn about …

Challenging Assumptions: Social Participation And Barriers For Autistic Students In Higher Education, Sue Iliff, Nicole Richard Williams, Siobahn Collins, Abby Noblitt, Meris Gilliam, Tori Knox, Alina Randall

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Autistic students bring diverse social preferences and ways of engaging to college, yet campus structures often do not reflect the full range of these experiences. Understanding how students across neurotypes navigate social participation can inform more inclusive practices. This mixed‑methods study used a convergent parallel design to examine the social experiences of autistic and non‑autistic undergraduates at a mid‑sized private university. Quantitative survey items assessed participation levels, satisfaction, and perceived barriers, while open‑ended responses provided qualitative insights. Quantitative analyses showed no significant group differences in hours of participation, satisfaction, or reported barriers. Qualitative findings highlighted varied social experiences across neurotypes: …

Pilattes; A Campaign With Prickly Pear Coffee Co., Grace Elizabeth Lappenga, Karis Grace Joe, Abigail Brooke Encalade

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The Prickly Pear Coffee Co. campaign sought to build awareness and community engagement around the brand’s new mobile camper location in Franklin, Tennessee. Founded by Annika Baylis, Prickly Pear Coffee Co. is a Christ-centered brand that began as a mobile espresso cart during the COVID-19 pandemic and grew into a Nashville staple with multiple storefronts.

With the new Franklin location facing limited awareness and a reduced marketing budget following complications from the January 2026 ice storm, three students in Belmont University’s PR Campaigns class conducted a situation analysis that included audience research, social media audits, and influencer identification. These insights …

The Impact Of Smartphone Notifications And Locus Of Control On Reading Comprehension, Katherine Visner, Sarah M. Fritts, Audrey Laskey, Chloe Giraud

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Locus of Control, defined as “...individuals' beliefs about the degree of control they have over events in their lives,” has long been associated with task performance, specifically in both compliant and initiative domains (Blau, 1993; Galvin et al., 2018). Existing literature on task performance suggests that, aside from Locus of Control, noise distractions play a significant role in individuals' ability to focus and concentrate (Jafari et al., 2019). In academic contexts, research indicates that noise disturbances and subsequent inability to concentrate impede an individual's task performance by reducing reading comprehension and textual processing (Foroughi et al., 2015). As such, the …

An Expressive Arts Therapy Literature Review: Spiritual Experiences And Dsm-5 Assessment In Bipoc Communities, Amanda Paige Rodriguez

Expressive Therapies Theses

Spiritual and non-ordinary experiences such as clear-hearing, visions, and spiritual perception are frequently interpreted within Western mental health systems through diagnostic frameworks rooted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). For Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), these interpretations may overlook cultural, spiritual, and ancestral contexts in which such experiences hold meaning rather than indicate pathology. This literature review examines how DSM-5 frameworks conceptualize spiritual experiences in BIPOC communities and explores assessment practices that may reduce the risk of misdiagnosis.

A literature review methodology was employed, drawing on sixteen peer-reviewed articles representing qualitative, quantitative, and …

Hb 1938: Ending Prison Privatization In Tennessee, Skyler J. Duplessis, Xavier Tharpe-Patton, Josie Lerer, Carley Wood

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The term recidivism refers to the tendency of an individual convicted of a crime to reoffend after release. A growing body of research has found that individuals incarcerated in privately operated correctional facilities often demonstrate higher rates of recidivism compared to those held in publicly managed prisons. Scholars suggest that differences in access to rehabilitative programming, staffing patterns, and institutional resources may contribute to these disparities. Critics argue that cost-containment priorities unique to for-profit correction can conflict with investment in education, treatment, and reentry preparation -factors consistently linked in the literature to reduced reoffending and improved community reintegration. This is …

People Who Moved In The Mountain West, 2024, Anthony Arroyo, Sydney Mitchell, Maisoon Faris, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Cities & Metros

This fact sheet presents 2024 data on state and city-level mobility rates across the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Point2Homes’ “Mobility Rates Reach Record Low: In 2024, Americans Moved Less Than Ever” report provides data on mobility rates within states, as well as the rate of new residents moving into states and cities across the U.S. This fact sheet highlights mobility rates within Mountain West states, the rate of new residents moving into Mountain West states, and the rate of new residents moving into 63 Mountain West cities. This fact sheet also includes national …