Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

How Far Is Too Far? Travel Planning Burdens In Autism Families, Risae Carlson, Daniel Olsen, Ruth Kerry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines how the burden of planning and risk management influences travel distance and destination choice among families with a child on the autism spectrum. Survey data from Utah-based parents indicate that higher planning burden is associated with a preference for familiar, closer-to-home destinations and shorter travel distances. Despite these constraints, families report that travel remains highly valuable for bonding, fostering a sense of normalcy, and supporting developmental growth.

From Crown To Communism To Crown: Reconstruction In Budapest's Castle District Reveals How Heritage Is Selectively Rebuilt To Shape National Identity, Risae Carlson, Daniel Olsen

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This project examines how reconstruction in Budapest’s Buda Castle District shapes perceptions of authenticity and historical memory. Following World War II destruction and socialist rebuilding, post-1989 reconstruction has emphasized a return to imperial-era aesthetics. Using visual and historical analysis, this study shows how different political periods have reshaped the same space to reflect shifting cultural priorities. While the district appears historically cohesive, many structures are reconstructed rather than preserved. This creates tension with UNESCO’s standards of authenticity and integrity. The findings suggest that reconstruction does not simply restore the past but actively reshapes it by prioritizing certain narratives while downplaying …

Our Stories: Black Parents’ Experiences At K-12 Predominantly White Institutions, Jason Thompson

Dissertations

Black parents of Black children attending K–12 predominantly White institutions (PWIs) often experience stress as they navigate school environments where they may be perceived as uninterested, combative, or “token” members of the school community. These deficit-based perceptions can cause Black parents to limit school interactions, question whether their perspectives will be valued, and develop distrust toward school personnel. Although research has examined Black students’ experiences in PWIs, fewer qualitative studies have centered on Black parents’ stories. Capturing these experiences in parents’ own words helps challenge harmful stereotypes and offers schools, especially school counselors, deeper insight into strengthening relationships with Black …

Divergent Paths Towards Belonging: A Comparative Analysis Of Latina/O/E Domestic And International Student Experiences At A Pwi, Sebastian Lema, Rita Kagaju

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

In this study, we examine how undergraduate international students from Latin America and domestic Latina/o/e students experience belonging and inclusion at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). While existing research highlights systemic barriers and microaggressions faced by domestic Latina/o/e students, we address a critical gap by exploring the distinct challenges faced by international Latin American students. We ask how these groups’ experiences of inclusion, microaggressions, and support systems differ within a PWI context. Using qualitative interviews with 55 students (40 domestic, 15 international), we employed grounded theory to analyze themes such as classroom dynamics, feelings of inclusion/belonging, and institutional support. Our …

Eudaimonia In Democracy: Finding The Soul In No-Excuse High School English Classrooms, Anna Snader

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

This paper explores Alexis de Tocqueville’s observations of American equality in No-excuse high school English classrooms and analyzes how these equality-driven tendencies transform a once liberal study into a servile one. I argue that these practical pedagogies, especially in stringent school models, reverse equality into a cycle of inequity. Through the removal of liberal-based learning, No-excuse schools fail to emphasize purpose and flourishing as an end for their diverse students, and as a result, oppose the primary goal of racial and economic equity. In my research, I propose that No-excuse high schools ought to return English to its liberality through …

Enhancing The Well-Being Of Refugees With Disabilities Through Equitable Access To Essential Services: A Participatory Qualitative Study In The United States, Mustafa Rfat

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Access to services for refugees with disabilities (RwDs) is critically important for improving their well-being and enhancing their integration. This population often faces prolonged exclusion that begins in their country of origin and often continues to worsen during displacement, leading to accumulated disparities. Because the United States (U.S.) refugee program is structured around rapid employment, refugees who do not fit the fast-track employment criteria are often left behind. RwDs are often considered unemployable, which automatically shifts resources and services away from them. Abandoning RwDs during the critical period of resettlement puts them at heightened risk of increased and long-term exclusion. …

Empathy Is Hard, Replication Is Harder, Kylie R. Springfield

Undergraduate Research Conference

My classmates and I got the opportunity to further our research experience over the course of this semester by conducting a research study. The purpose of our study was to investigate if people would choose to empathize if they were given a choice. Our study was a replication of a prior widely cited study. The replication crisis in psychology is important to understand because if studies cannot be replicated, then it undermines their credibility. Furthermore, the participants in our study were given a choice between two card decks that showed images of refugee children. One of the decks asked the …

The Quiet Strength Of Empathy, Jourden J. Whitfield

Undergraduate Research Conference

This study is a replication of a well-known experiment by Cameron on empathy. We want to see how people decide to engage with tasks that require thinking and emotional effort. In the study, participants were shown scenarios where they could choose to see more or less detail about a person, like their age, gender, or how they were feeling. After reading, participants answered questions about how hard or mentally tiring the task felt. We also collected basic demographic information. The goal is to test if the original findings hold true and see how they apply to the W campus community. …

Replication Of Empathy And Cognitive Effort: The Trials And Errors Of An Undergraduate Researcher., Meshun S. North

Undergraduate Research Conference

Cameron et al.'s purpose for their study was to see whether, given a choice, people would choose to show empathy. Why and why not? My purpose was to know this as well, but to also get a better understanding of the research process as a whole. As a class assignment, I am also doing this replication to aid in the understanding of the replication crisis, which is a worldwide issue of researchers replicating previous experiments and not getting the same results as the original.  Our participants are all 18 and older college students on this campus. In this replication, we …

Teaching Under Pressure: A Study Of Factors Influencing Stress Among Educators, Daniel K. Ashlock, Shaun D. Bell, Victoria K. Hutcherson

Ex Sapientia Loqui

There were three purposes of this non-experimental study. The first purpose was to determine whether there was a difference in stress levels between teachers of different grade levels. The second purpose was to determine whether there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of the educational setting (either public or private school). The third purpose was to determine if there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of class size. The participants (n=81) included a convenience sample of PreK through twelfth-grade teachers in or around Searcy, Arkansas. Their …

In The Shadow Of Justice: How The Mythos Of The Batman Balances Major Ethical Theories In His Pursuit Of Ideal Justice, Camille Bewley

Ex Sapientia Loqui

For more than eighty years, the Batman character has exhibited a unique synthesis of major theories of Justice, and through his experiences as a vigilante, exemplified the pursuit of the ideal virtue of Justice. Because virtue requires a lived example to be understood, Batman is one of the foundational stories fulfilling this need for one of collective society’s prominent pillars. Within the horror of Gotham City–a hyperbolic, fictional representation of urban corruption–Batman’s actions as a vigilante, walking a tightrope to maintain morality even above the law might not only be justified, but necessary. The Batman’s nature, balancing ethical theories and …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Behavioral Problems Among Hispanic Adolescents, Emily Bennett, Hugo Garcia Arreguin, Aubrey Britten, Pietra Ferreira, Seowon Song

Celebration of Research

Introduction: A growing body of research has documented the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adolescent behavioral problems (Hunt et al., 2017; Larn et al., 2024). Children who experience greater numbers of ACEs are more likely to develop a range of behavioral problems, including aggression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite the well-established association between ACEs and later behavioral problems, less is known about the mediating role of internalizing behaviors in the link between ACEs and externalizing problems among Hispanic adolescents. Guided by Life course perspective, highlighting a developmental approach for understanding heterogeneity in individuals’ experiences and outcomes in …

Health And Motivation, Lydia E. Erickson, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Mental and physical health are two fundamental components in a person's life that directly affect well-being. Across continents, cultures, and all human backgrounds, mind and body are something every individual has in common. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mental and physical activity when accounting for motivation.

Understanding this relationship is critical for developing more effective health interventions and motivational strategies, especially among adolescent and young adult populations. The researchers hypothesized that intrinsic motivation and physical activity would positively predict well-being.

Participants in this study were students attending Northwestern College. Participants included both male and …

Belonging, Motivation, And Academic Achievement, Rubin Charles

Celebration of Research

This study examined whether motivation correlates with academic success and whether students’ sense of belonging mediates this relationship. A sample of undergraduate students completed self-report measures assessing academic motivation, belonging, and grade point average (GPA). A mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 4 (Hayes, 2022) and a series of multiple regressions revealed that motivation was not significantly related to belonging, and neither motivation nor belonging significantly correlates with GPA. Correlation analyses similarly showed no significant linear associations among the three variables. These findings suggest that motivation and belonging may not directly influence academic performance within a high-achieving sample and highlight the …

Political Orientation As A Predictor For Collegiate Anger And Narcissism, Tyson D. Braunschweig, Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Recent research suggests a potential association between anger and narcissism among politically right-leaning individuals (Hart & Stekler, 2022; Maglić et al., 2024). It also indicates a potential relationship between political extremism and anger (Marinthe et al., 2025; Dono et al., 2024). To test these hypotheses, 100 Midwest college students were surveyed and answered questions regarding their political orientation, level of narcissism, and level of anger. A multiple regression was performed, seeking to predict political orientation scores from anger and narcissism scores. We found anger and narcissism to not be significant predictors of political orientation, both together and separately. Anger and …

Perfectionism And Excellencism: A Study On Parental Impact, Devon Miller, Megan Heitritter, Jennifer S. Feenstra Ph.D.

Celebration of Research

This study examined how parenting behaviors and neuroticism relate to perfectionism and excellencism—two distinct achievement orientations. Seventy-five undergraduates completed measures of parental warmth, control, contingency of worth, neuroticism, and achievement tendencies. Results showed that parental contingency of worth was positively associated with perfectionism but not excellencism. Parenting warmth and control were largely unrelated, except for a negative relationship between paternal control and excellencism. Neuroticism and contingency of worth explained a small portion of variance in perfectionism. Overall, findings suggest that parental expectations may contribute to perfectionism, while excellencism is influenced by other factors.

Does Reappraisal Of Test Anxiety Improve Performance?, Lydia Baker, Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Test anxiety, anxious thoughts and worries surrounding testing, is a relevant issue for around 20-30% of students today. Different methods have been researched to treat test anxiety, including emotion regulation strategies, one of which is cognitive reappraisal. Personality traits such as neuroticism may make it hard for a person to emotionally regulate, which is why cognitive reappraisal is helpful. A Qualtrics survey was distributed that placed people into 3 experimental groups: positive reappraisal, negative reappraisal, and a control group, and participants were asked to complete a memory test after reappraisal. A One-way ANOVA revealed no significant effect of reappraisal on …

The Effect Of Sports On Personality: An Examination Of Athletes Vs. Non-Athletes, Noah C. Parmelee, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study aims to further investigate these relationships by comparing personality traits between athletes and non-athletes, as well as differences between participants in team and individual sports. It is hypothesized that athletes will score higher in conscientiousness, extraversion, and emotional stability, while showing no significant differences in agreeableness or openness. Additionally, individuals in individual sports are expected to exhibit higher levels of neuroticism than those in team sports. By clarifying how sports participation relates to personality development, this research contributes to a better understanding of how athletic experiences shape psychological outcomes and can inform coaching, education, and athlete support strategies.

Hockey Top Hand Trainer Effectiveness, Alice A. Boggs, Brooke Bartscher, Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

This study tested whether a top hand trainer improves hockey stickhandling performance. Twenty-eight college students were randomly assigned to train with or without the device by stickhandling in a figure-8 pattern. Participants were tested before and after training by timing how long it took them to complete five figure-8s. Results showed no significant differences between groups for trainer use or handedness. However, a small effect was observed, suggesting that the top hand trainer may be effective with long-term use. Future research should use longer training sessions and a larger sample size to better understand the effect of using a top …

Do Social Relationships Matter Equally? Predicting Academic Motivation Among Latine And Non-Latine Students, Pietra Ferreira, Aubrey Irene Britten, Emily Bennett, Hugo Garcia, Valerie Stokes, Seowon Song

Celebration of Research

Introduction: Academic motivation can be shaped by multiple social relationships within the school context. While previous research has examined which social relationships are associated with students' motivation to pursue their education among both Latine and non-Latine students(Alfaro et al., 2006; Wentzel et al., 1999), less is known about comparative approaches that examine social relationship pathways to academic motivation among both Latine and non-Latine students. Such understanding may provide valuable insights into how interventions targeting school-aged students can be informed by distinct social relationships among both Latine and non-Latine students. Guided by Self-Determination Theory(SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2002), which highlights the …

Effects Of Social Media Comparisons On State Self-Esteem, Fomo, And Depression In Young Adult Women, Amanda J. Trapp

Student Scholar Showcase

Social media has quickly become a main source of entertainment that may have more damaging effects than one may expect. For specifically women, it is important to understand how the use and comparison of exposing oneself to the life of other influencers, family members, and friends affect self-esteem, depression, and FOMO. Previous research has shown the damaging effects of other social media sites such as Facebook, and the way comparing oneself to others has an impact on these variables. It is important to focus on women in this topic as they are more susceptible to damaging effects through comparison. Along …

Somatic Experiencing: Healing From The Body Up, Nathaniel Carnell Dent

KU Inspires! Undergraduate Research Day

No abstract provided.

Teaching With S2scc-Ai: A Practical Framework For Sport Management Classrooms, Kimberly D. Bynum, Wendy T. Gillis

The COSMA Journal

ABSTRACT

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, are radically changing how higher ed students approach their college learning experience. These shifts are especially impactful in undergraduate sport management programs, where employers expect graduates to demonstrate teamwork, critical thinking and digital literacy skills. As AI becomes embedded across sport industry functions such as event operations, marketing, analytics, and fan engagement, higher ed pedagogy must evolve to reflect the professional contexts students are preparing to enter. In this paper, Student-to-Student Co-Creation enhanced by AI (S2SCC-AI) is advanced as a practical, COSMA-aligned pedagogical framework for leveraging …

Leveraging Student Specialties For Innovative Digital Commons Exhibits, Madison Price, Sara Decaro

Faculty Submissions

In this presentation, Madison Price and Sara DeCaro of Pittsburg State University will cover their unique projects created with Digital Commons Exhibits, what inspired them, and how they incorporated student employees into their workflow. Pittsburg State’s location in southeast Kansas has been home to historically significant institutions like the Haldeman-Julius Publishing Company, an internationally-known leftist press, and artists such as Gordon Parks and Eva Jessye.

PSU’s collection of 2,000 Haldeman-Julius printing plates presented a quandary for Special Collections, until one student’s interest in them prompted this question: could the plates still be used? The result was multiple collaborations across PSU’s …

"A Pre-Eminently Christian Life": The Seventh Earl Of Shaftesbury As A Guide For Modern Political Engagement, Clara Kernodle

Harding Undergraduate Research Conference

Society has suffered in the absence of Christian courage. Today, an antagonistic culture is feeding an increasingly antagonistic government. Christians do not know how to “win” – we do not even know how to engage. Rod Dreher's "The Benedict Option" encourages us to give up and retreat. Andrew Isker's "The Boniface Option" encourages warfare-style aggression. But Dreher’s and Isker’s approaches each take an aspect of the solution and expand it out of proportion. The proper solution is found in the historic Christian tradition. The Church has always understood her role within culture as one not of fear and loathing, but …

Somatic Experiencing: Healing From The Body Up, Nathaniel Carnell Dent

KU Inspires! Undergraduate Research Day

No abstract provided.

Utilizing Dungeons And Dragons With Expressive Arts Therapy To Analyze Sense Of Connection Socially And To The Self: A Literature Review And Autoethnography, Neve N. Johnson

Expressive Therapies Theses

This expressive arts-based autoethnography explores the use of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) as a tool in expressive arts therapy to foster self-expression and connection to oneself and others. Research on the use of TTRPGs as a viable therapeutic medium is in its early stages, particularly for the widely-renowned fantasy TTRPG Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Geek Therapy, a therapy surrounding “geek culture” and affinities, emerged in 2011 and began research questioning if such affinities as costume play, anime, video games, or TTRPGs could be tools for self-expression in therapy. This has led to a range of current literature on the therapeutic …

Schema For Success, Meredith K. Mcfadden

Staff and Faculty Scholarship

Presented at Elsevier Impact Conference 2026 in San Diego, IR Librarian Meredith McFadden discusses how the back end configuration of ARCH was designed for optimal organization.

The Psychology Of False Confessions– From Interrogation Lies To Courtroom Truths, Ashton L. Brophy

Harding Undergraduate Research Conference

A confession is defined as a “detailed written or oral statement in which a person admits to having committed some transgression, often acknowledging guilt for a crime” (Kassin & Gudjonsson, 2004). There are three areas where confession has been deemed important, even necessary, societally: “religion, psychotherapy, and criminal justice” (Kassin & Gudjonsson, 2004). In all three contexts, confession is seen as necessary for absolution and social acceptance, making the statements of guilt feel weighted. Indeed, in the American criminal justice system, confessions often appear to have the final say in the question of a defendant’s innocence or guilt. However, not …

Setbacks And Stigmas: The Career Consequences Of Mental Health Treatment For Soldiers In Combat Roles, Micah Mark Marchand

LSU Master's Theses

This study examines how potential career consequences, perceived stigma, and confidentiality concerns influence mental health help-seeking among United States Army Soldiers, with particular attention to differences across Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) categories. Despite the availability of behavioral health services, many service members delay or avoid treatment due to fears that seeking care may negatively impact their careers, including risks to promotion, deployment eligibility, and retention. Guided by Systems Theory, this research explores how interconnected military structures, policies, and cultural norms shape these perceptions and behaviors.

Using a confidential survey design, data were collected from current service members and recently separated …