Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Contrasting Coastal Dune Environments In Chile, Aurora Christianson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Emerging coastalization and urbanization threats to the prehistoric Concón Dunes and Humedal de Mantagua coastal area of Chile is being investigated by researchers via uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in "Contrasting Coastal Dune Environments in Chile." Four UAS were utilized: Anzu Raptor T, DJI Mavic 3E, DJI Mavic 3M, and DJI Air 3 to collect various images of the coastal dunes. Multispectral and RGB cameras gather images by photogrammetry to create orthomosaics and monitor vegetation indexes in Pix4Dmapper. Thermal cameras provided images in rainbow, white hot infrared, and black hot infrared schemes to monitor wildlife and vegetation. The normalized difference vegetation …

Evaluating The Impact Of Ai-Assisted Tools On Novice Interface Design For Combat Search And Rescue Operations, Louis Pandolfo, Kaylee H. Akerlund, Cassidi Ellison, Sierra Martinez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations are specialized military missions with the goal of rescuing personnel from hostile territory, often involving helicopters and elite teams tasked with locating and stabilizing survivors. It is imperative to a mission's success that any interface used by rescuers is efficient and usable, as they work under high risk, high stress, and time limited conditions. This study examined how access to artificial intelligence (AI) design tools influence novice interface design under a time constraint. Participants completed an interface design exercise based on a simulated U.S. Navy maritime disaster and CSAR mission. The overall aim of …

How Do Mainstream Newspapers In Sweden And The United Kingdom Compare In Their Framing Of 2024-2025 Gang Violence As A “Security Threat” Linked To Migration?, Ria Vlachos

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project will look at how the media portrays the relationship between gang violence and migration during the 2024-2025 time period. Sweden will be the primary case study, and it will see how the domestic Swedish newspapers and the Uk outlets explain the “security threats” through their reporting. This topic is of significant social and scientific importance because the way the media portrays things can shape the publics attitudes and give justification to certain actions/policy changes. This project is feasible as its going to be a comparative paper of a sample of newspapers from both sides. I will explore the …

Measuring Intensity Of Carrier Strike Group Anti-Air Warfare: 1945-2025, Gavin Perry

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Aircraft carrier and its associated strike group (CSG) have been the preeminent means of both projecting power and securing sea control since the 1940s. Despite this, there exists vulnerabilities associated with operating these groups. Following World War Two, a narrative emerged that in heavily contested (non-permissive) environments, CSGs would be unable to operate effectively. This line of thinking relegates the CSG to a weapon for low intensity conflicts, crisis response, and peacetime power projection. The relevance of this debate has increased in recent years with the bolstering of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) carrier forces. Misunderstanding the ability …

Fatigue And Circadian Disruption In Long-Haul Ferry Pilots: Human Factors Challenges And Mitigation Strategies, Parneet Makkar

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fatigue and circadian rhythm disruption present significant human factors challenges in long-haul aviation operations, particularly for ferry pilots (pilots responsible for transporting aircraft long distances between locations) who often travel across multiple time zones before beginning flight duties. Circadian rhythms regulate the human sleep-wake cycle and are closely tied to cognitive performance, alertness, and coordination. Rapid travel across time zones can disrupt these rhythms, producing symptoms commonly associated with jet lag such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, and reduced cognitive functioning. For ferry pilots, long travel periods and irregular schedules may increase the likelihood of fatigue before flight operations even begin. …

Drug Seizures, Entry Points, And Social Vulnerability In The Us, Taryn Eddy

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Drug trafficking into the United States remains a significant homeland security challenge, shaped by transportation infrastructure, border dynamics, and community vulnerability. This study conducts a spatial analysis of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drug seizure activity in relation to major transportation entry points and county-level social vulnerability. Using ArcGIS Pro, drug seizure data are mapped by CBP Field Office and overlaid with key infrastructure layers, including land ports of entry, international airports, seaports, and interstate highway corridors. County-level Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) data from the CDC/ATSDR are incorporated to assess whether areas experiencing high seizure activity are also characterized …

Effects Of Human-Animal Interaction On Positive Youth Development: A Replication Study, Allison Pachunka, Jay Jeffries, Lisa Karr, Lena Luck, Bryan A. Reiling, Douglas H. Schultz, Jeffrey R. Stevens

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Interacting with animals can improve health and well-being across the lifespan. Some programs such as 4-H and FFA center around youth interacting with animals, potentially enhancing youth development. Mueller (2014) investigated whether these interactions and attitudes about animals influenced measures of positive youth development. The aim of our studies was to replicate Mueller’s methods and extend her work by evaluating whether membership in animal-focused youth programs moderate associations between interactions, attitudes, and positive youth development. We did not find strong relationships among human–animal inter-action and positive youth development, which failed to replicate Mueller’s findings. However, we did find relationships between …

Family Religious Socialization Index: Development And Preliminary Validation, Kaelie Rene Crockett

Theses and Dissertations

A key area of interest for religious scholars is how religious beliefs are passed across generations, or religious socialization. To expand this field of study, a theoretically grounded, validated measure of this construct is needed. This article describes the development and validation of the Family Religious Socialization Index (FRSI), a multi-informant, multidimensional assessment of the processes through which parents socialize religion and faith in their children. Based on Social Cognitive Theory and through a rigorous development and validation process, three subscales were developed to represent the primary processes of religious socialization. The FRSI consists of two parallel scales, a parent …

Redefining Just Cause For Contract Termination In Fifa's Rstp: Striking A Fair Balance Between Player Rights And Club Interests In Light Of The Interim Regulatory Framework, Walid Ben Salah, Nayel Alomran, Noor Alhendi, Zouhaier Nouri

All Works

Introduction This article examines the concept of just cause for the unilateral termination of professional football employment contracts under FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). It pays particular attention to the changes introduced by FIFA's 2025 Interim Regulatory Framework. The RSTP aims to protect contractual stability while safeguarding the rights of both players and clubs. However, the meaning and application of just cause continue to raise important legal questions.Methods The article uses a doctrinal legal approach. It examines the RSTP, the 2025 Interim Regulatory Framework, the FIFA Commentary on the RSTP, decisions of the FIFA Dispute …

Through Her Lens: The Card-Based Storytelling, Daisy Elizabeth Morales-Zaragoza

McNair Summer Research Program

Women in male-dominated roles in military environments navigate complex institutional, cultural, and interpersonal barriers throughout their military careers. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of women serving in the United States Navy. We can accomplish this by examining how institutional culture, power dynamics, and traditional leadership definitions shape their service and career progression. The inquiry is grounded in Eagly’s Role Congruity Theory of Prejudice Towards Female Leaders, Crenshaw’s Intersectionality, and hooks’ ethics of active care and behavior. Utilizing a qualitative design, data were gathered through a novel, interactive card-based interview method designed to transfer agency to participants and cultivate …

Identifying The Brain Circuits Involved In Religious Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Kiana Bunnell

Theses and Dissertations

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an often-debilitating psychiatric disorder involving a pattern of obsessive thoughts and compensatory compulsions. Symptoms tend to be chronic, leading to substantial emotional burden and significant impairment across multiple domains of daily functioning. Previous research has identified some consistency in the brain regions implicated in OCD. In particular, cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuitry has been linked to behavioral features commonly observed in OCD. Moreover, some studies suggest that distinct patterns of brain activation and functional connectivity may be associated with different OCD symptom dimensions, though findings have not been consistent. One symptom dimension of OCD (scrupulosity) is characterized by …

Is “No Change” Really No Change?: A Qualitative Analysis Of Clients With “No Change” On Routine Outcome Monitoring Who Report Improving In Therapy, Audrey Louise Stewart Parker

Theses and Dissertations

Routine outcome monitoring (ROM), the practice of tracking client progress in therapy by administering regular questionnaires to assess functioning, has demonstrated a significant positive effect on psychotherapy outcomes, especially for clients are who not improving as expected. However, some researchers argue the symptom-based measures and outcome classification criteria commonly used in ROM may not represent a complete picture of client change. A recent body of mixed-methods research has investigated these ROM-determined outcome categories to gain insight into client experiences and whether the category and client perception of therapy outcome align. In this investigation, researchers have found significant variety within outcome …

From Burnout To Belonging: Reintroducing Joy Through Collaborative Library Culture Change, Jason D. Phillips, Chereeka Garner, Cindy Dancel

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Libraries are often expected to create joy for others, yet many library workers continue to experience burnout, dissatisfaction, and disconnection. This session explores how one academic library implemented a staff-led, administration-supported approach to rebuilding workplace culture through collective, low-cost, and capacity-aware strategies. Centered on the work of an internal advisory group, this model creates structured opportunities for feedback, collaboration, and shared decision-making while introducing small, intentional interventions that foster connection, recognition, and belonging. Rather than relying on individual resilience or one-time morale boosts, this approach emphasizes sustainable, iterative practices that respond to staff needs and organizational realities. Attendees will leave …

Info 7001: Technology Of Information, S E. Hackney

Open Educational Resources

BULLETIN DESCRIPTION INFO 7001. The Technology of Information. 3 hr.; 3cr. The course will introduce the conceptual and practical elements of visual and computer literacy for the library and information science profession. Particular attention will be paid to libraries and information centers.

EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION The evolution into the age of information has created a requirement that professional librarians establish and steadily increase their understanding of four areas of literacy: oral, print, visual, and technology. Professional training has long been concentrated on the oral and printed aspects of information with some minor attention to the visual and technological. Library and …

Influence Of National Policies In Addressing Intimate Partner Violence In Sierra Leone, Yatta Matilda Musa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been shown to be a critical public health and human rights crisis in Sierra Leone driven by patriarchal sociocultural norms. However, despite legislative frameworks like the Domestic Violence Act of 2007, IPV incidents continue to rise, revealing a gap in policy implementation and real-world enforcement. Past research has documented IPV prevalence, yet an empirical evaluation assessing how stakeholders viewed the impact of national policies on prevention and response had not been conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore frontline stakeholders' perceptions regarding the operational influence of existing IPV policies. Grounded in the narrative …

The Role Of Political And Media Narratives In Housing Affordability, Craig Anthony Bardo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that persistent reliance on market-oriented affordability strategies continued despite evidence of declining housing affordability in Nashville. Understanding how policy narratives structured accepted solutions may help explain the persistence of existing policy approaches. Research has shown that housing affordability is a significant policy concern in many U.S. cities. Rising housing costs, displacement pressures, and persistent rent burdens have been indicated in studies as contributing factors. However, less attention has been paid to how political and media narratives shape the boundaries of recognized housing policy solutions within local discourse, specifically in Nashville, Tennessee. The purpose …

Staff Education To Improve Depression Screening Adherence Using The Patient Health Questionnaire-2/Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Jeremiah Umeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a common mental health condition that frequently goes undetected in primary care because of inconsistent screening and follow-up practices. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based staff education program to improve adherence to standardized depression screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in a primary care clinic. Eighteen clinical staff members, including registered nurses, medical assistants, and primary care providers, participated in a structured educational intervention focused on standardized screening, documentation, scoring, and referral procedures. Project outcomes were evaluated using pre- …

Hypnotherapists’ Perspectives On Using Hypnosis To Address Somatic Symptoms In Clients With Psychological Distress, Tina Wilkerson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Somatic symptoms accompany psychological distress and can affect well-being. Hypnosis has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing psychological distress and related somatic symptoms, but limited research has explored hypnotherapists’ perspectives on its clinical application. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of licensed hypnotherapists with 3 years of experience using hypnosis to treat adults experiencing somatic symptoms associated with psychological distress. Guided by Engel’s biopsychosocial model and Hilgard’s neodissociation theory, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 licensed hypnotherapists and analyzed using phenomenological reduction and thematic analysis. Analysis resulted in four primary themes: (a) mind–body connection …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of African American Couples: Narcissism, Marital Quality, And Spousal Distress, Lindella Lenise Mcdowell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Narcissism is a global phenomenon that is manifested across cultures. Despite research on narcissism and relationships, there is limited literature focusing on diverse cultural backgrounds, particularly African American couples, where one spouse has been diagnosed as exhibiting narcissistic tendencies or traits. Addressing the research gap may foster cultural understanding and encourage recognition of the effects of narcissism within the African American culture and the significance of social support. The purpose of this study was to increase knowledge and awareness of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism’s impact on African American couples. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used. The hierarchical two-dimensional view …

Corporate Social Responsibility And Firm Value: A Critically Appraised Topic, Shinika L. Byrd

Engaged Management ReView

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an important component of strategic management, yet whether it enhances firm value remains a debated question. This Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) synthesizes the most recent peer-reviewed evidence to examine the relationship between CSR and the firm value of U.S. publicly traded companies. The guiding research question is: Does corporate social responsibility improve firm value? Findings indicate that CSR does not consistently improve firm value. Rather, its impact depends on factors such as strategic alignment, governance quality, transparency, stakeholder perceptions, and market conditions. Evidence suggests that strategically integrated, employee-centered CSR initiatives are more likely to …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Human-Ai Interaction Through Animated Shapes, Kavya Dipen Shah, Angel Hinojosa, Caroline Deck

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As technology becomes more advanced, it is important to understand how people perceive the intentions and abilities of machines. This project, conducted in the InTeRACT Lab, explores how we attribute humanlike qualities to different types of agents, ranging from animals to robots. The study analyzes data from an experiment where participants watched animations of moving triangles. Although the videos were identical, participants were told the shapes represented either humans, robots, dogs, or inanimate objects. While previous math-based data showed that these labels changed how people felt, those structured scales didn't allow for a natural, unbiased explanation of what people actually …

Social Attributions Of Moving Shapes: Comparing Qualitative Analyses Of Humans Vs. Ai, Angel Hinojosa

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As technology becomes more intelligent, the relationship between humans and machines is rapidly shifting. Whether a machine is perceived as a capable partner or a source of wariness often depends on the intentions and abilities, we attribute to it. My research in the InTeRACT Lab seeks to empirically assess these perceptions by comparing how we view different nonhuman agents, ranging from animals to robots.   This study analyzes qualitative data from a task where participants viewed animations of moving triangles. While the videos remained the same, participants were told the shapes represented either humans, robots, dogs, or inanimate shapes. Previous quantitative …

Las Voces Olvidadas Del Territorio: Infancias Mayas Ante El Conflicto Socioambiental En Ixil, Cielo María Ávila López, Myriam Montserrat Baca Canché, José Israel Herrera

Journal of Maya Heritage

Resumen: En la península de Yucatán, en el sureste de México, la comunidad maya de Ixil resiste ante los diversos intentos de implementación de megaproyectos en su territorio. En el marco de estas disputas territoriales, las voces de las infancias adquieren un matiz clave en el análisis de las dinámicas de desterritorialización y las respuestas de resistencia que devienen del contexto del conflicto socioambiental. Es así como, a partir de la ecología política y metodologías que favorecen el acercamiento a las voces de las infancias, emergieron los significados construidos en torno a dichos sucesos, lo que reveló que más allá …

Stress-Triggered Automation Reliance, Jazmin Elek

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Automation is widely used in complex systems and includes any process that replaces human motor, sensory, or cognitive functions with machines or computers (Norman, 1996). As automation becomes more common, understanding how humans trust and interact with these systems is critical. Trust can be measured by whether users override automation or blindly follow its prompts (Norman, 1996).   Artificial intelligence (AI) introduces additional complexity by enabling systems to learn patterns from data it generates. AI performs tasks with the ability to learn from experience (NASA, 2024). AI builds internal databases that can mimic human-like responses (Norman, 1996). However, AI systems can …

A Nuclear Crossroads: South Korea's Nuclear Stance And The Factors That Shape It, Brianna Johnshon

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

South Korea represents a standard case of latent nuclear power, where nuclear development is constrained by choice rather than capability. In the past, Seoul’s rhetoric surrounding nuclear capabilities has ranged from endorsement of a domestic nuclear program to a staunch commitment to nonproliferation. These shifts are shaped by both foreign and domestic factors that reflect Seoul’s broader strategic calculations. Through comparative case studies of three key periods in South Korea’s nuclear rhetoric, this paper analyzes the main factors that influence the official stance on nuclear development. The first case covers early attempts at nuclear development in the 1970s with Project …

Greenwall Use For Air Repair And Depollution (G.U.A.R.D.), Sophia Elwood, Sophia Piro, Maura Barrada, Kathrine Lopez, Wendi Goffer

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Creating habitable indoor environments for long-duration space missions and extraterrestrial habitats requires reliable, sustainable air quality improvement. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s ACE Lab provides a unique opportunity to investigate plant-based purification in a controlled environment while addressing campus air quality concerns linked to a high-traffic airport and exposure to jet fuel particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This collaborative project between Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering researchers and the Botanical Society evaluates whether a green wall can improve indoor air quality as a scalable model for future closed-loop habitats. In the study's first phase, student researchers documented ACE Lab dimensions to …

How Does Earning A 4-Year Degree Affect Promotion Rates Among Municipal Police Officers?, Anna Brumfield

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

How does earning a 4-year degree affect promotion rates among municipal police officers?   The importance of a 4-year degree for law enforcement officers has been a topic of interest in a number of studies throughout the recent decades; however, significantly less research has been conducted to understand the relationship between earning a degree and the possibility of career advancement in municipal police officers. In the past, the need for higher education in this field was considered negligible; but studies have been conducted that point to the possible value of college experience and more specifically a 4-year degree. This value has …

Fall Hazard Prevention: A Zero-Fatality Goal For Health, Safety, And Well-Being On Construction Sites, Alena Richardson, Chaidaliz Minguela Alicea, Nicola Kaehler, Charlene Weaver

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Jobsites face hazards like falls, which threaten the health, safety, and well-being of construction workers. Falls are the leading cause of all accidents and fatalities in construction, accounting for approximately 40% of all worker deaths in 2023. While achieving a zero-accident rate for falls is inherently challenging, prioritizing a zero-fatality objective represents a practical and impactful starting point. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends a six-step action approach for the prevention and control of hazards like falls. Of particular interest, the State of Florida is consistently ranked among the highest for construction fall fatalities, often attributed to insufficient …

Gender Disparities In Sheltered Status And Systemic Drivers Of Homelessness In Johnson City, Tennessee, Preet Patel, Dr. Opal Frye-Clark

Journal of Appalachian Health

The article examines the homelessness crisis in Johnson City, Tennessee, a mid-sized Appalachian city. First, analysis of Point-in-Time (PIT) counts from 2023 to 2025, conducted in 2025, showed persistently high unsheltered rates (35.88% – 47.17%), with men comprising 60 – 65% of the unhoused population. Men experiencing homelessness also had approximately half the odds of being counted as sheltered compared with women, indicating a gender disparity in sheltered status. Second, an interview with an experienced public health practitioner from the Appalachian Region contextualized these findings by identifying systemic drivers, including the regional housing crisis and policy restrictions, and supporting equitable …

Deaths Of Despair Among Cancer Survivors In Rural/Urban Appalachia (2000-2022), Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rising deaths of despair (premature deaths from suicide, overdose, alcohol, and violence) in adults under age 65 persist across the United States, especially in Appalachia. People diagnosed with cancer may face elevated risks of such deaths due to pain, psychosocial distress, and financial hardship.

Purpose: Deaths of despair trends were compared among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions, stratified by sex and rurality.

Methods: Analyzing SEER-21 Incidence-Based Mortality data (2000–2022), deaths caused by suicide, cirrhosis of the liver, or accidents (includes overdose) were identified among adults aged 20–64 years. Annual mortality rates per 100,000 total population were …