Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cycling For All: Designing With The "Invisible Cyclist" As A Pathway Towards Urban Sustainability And Citizenship, Eloise Heimert

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis explores the role of “invisible cyclists” in cycling networks and practices. Through an application of the “right to the city,” spatial production, and mobility justice frameworks, this paper investigates the experiences of women and disabled cyclists in London, England. By examining a city with an emerging cycling network, this thesis offers insight into measures for increasing the inclusivity and resilience of them. The argument establishes that these lines of analysis reveal important lessons in urban design and planning for a more sustainable future. Firstly, this thesis examines social barriers to cycling participation, and thus urban citizenship. In the …

On Saying Goodbye: Interactional Role Liminality & Post-Death Symbolic Interaction, Deborah Cobb

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Grief is often understood as a process that culminates in detachment, with "saying goodbye" positioned as both an emotional and social necessity. Yet many bereaved individuals describe a different experience, one in which supernatural post-death contact allows them to receive messages from their deceased loved one. Drawing on 22 in-depth interviews and 47 anonymous open-ended surveys, this study explores how individuals who experience unsolicited post-death communication interpret these encounters and integrate them into everyday life. Analysis revealed three interconnected themes: resistance to saying goodbye, interpretation of encounters as specific messages from the deceased, and emotional stabilization following continued contact. These …

Watching Over Cold Waves: The Influence Of Social And Technology Surveillance On Independent Older Adults’ Safety, S M Ashfaqur Rahman

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Cold waves pose a recurring and serious hazard for independently living older adults, yet the monitoring arrangements that shape their protective responses remain understudied. This study examined how social surveillance, defined as check-ins and support from family, neighbors, and community contacts, and technological surveillance, defined as weather applications, smart devices, and emergency alert platforms, jointly and independently predicted cold-wave safety behavior. A cross-sectional, exploratory mixed-methods design was employed. One hundred independently living adults aged 65 and older, residing in cold-prone U.S. states, completed a survey measuring monitoring frequency, source trust, perceived autonomy, concern across six cold-wave hazard types, and a …

Pbis Fidelity As A Predictor Of School Connectedness For Secondary Students, Danielle German

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

School connectedness, defined as the extent to which students "feel accepted, respected, included, and supported in the school environment," (Goodenow, 1993, p.80) has been identified as a protective factor linked to numerous positive behavioral, academic, and affective outcomes for secondary students. Given its importance, schools may seek to invest in efforts that enhance students’ sense of school connectedness. Research suggests that targeted instruction may be particularly effective in promoting school connectedness among adolescents (German et al., 2026). Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, multi-tiered framework that emphasizes explicit instruction of behavioral expectations and reinforcement of appropriate behavior. …

Stories That Wound, Stories That Heal: Navigating The Effects Of Performing Traumatic Experiences In Collegiate Forensics, Manuel Reyes

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis explores the student's motivation for performing traumatic experiences in forensics and what considerations come with the performance of choice. The literature review highlights the intricate nature of trauma, emphasizing benefits of storytelling in recovery, and the current state of forensics when it comes to performing traumatic experiences on judges and spectators. The research examines the motivation on students for performing traumatic experiences and how the students navigate the tensions before, during, and after performance. Through semistructured interviews with current and former competitors, the research delves into the justification and the impacts of performing traumatic experiences. The thesis shows …

The Future Of U.S. Higher Education: Equity Implications Of Shifting Immigration Policies, Research Institute For Social Equity Rise

Research Institute for Social Equity

This report examines the impact of U.S. immigration policies on higher education and international students from 2000 to 2025. It traces five major policy eras, from the post- 9/11 security overhaul and Obama-era expansion to the restrictive turns of 2017–2020 and 2025, and analyzes how shifting regulations have influenced enrollment patterns, economic contributions, and student well-being. Despite hosting more than 1.1 million international students in 2023–2024, the U.S. share of the global student market has fallen from 20% to 16%, underscoring how policy volatility and restrictive measures weaken national competitiveness. Drawing on federal data, scholarly research, and institutional reports, this …

Evaluating The Burnout Mitigating Effects Of A Structured Mentorship Program In Newly Hired Advanced Practice Providers, Melissa Soper

DNP Projects

Importance: Burnout is a leading driver of clinician intent to leave, lower productivity, increased medical errors, and increased resource use.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effects of an evidence-based mentorship program on newly hired advanced practice providers’ (APPs’) level of stress, burnout, and professional fulfillment.

Results: At baseline, APPs demonstrated higher stress levels, moderate professional fulfillment, and low burnout. Outcomes showed improvement at the end of a mentorship program.

Conclusion: Longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine the true effect of a 6-month mentorship intervention on APP burnout, stress, and professional fulfillment.

A Word From The Writing Team (January 2026), Pam Walter, Mfa, Laura Deloretta, Phd

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Huburban America: New Haven And The Promise Of Mobility, Jhansiddh Setthachayanon

Library Map Prize

This project analyzes micromobility as the emerging solution to New Haven’s incomplete urban transportation project. It argues that micromobility’s legitimization through mobility hubs is key to the city’s modern connectivity. Finally, it proposes a version of new hubs for New Haven.

The Empirical Double Standard: Opinion Surveys Across The Civil–Criminal Divide, Kay L. Levine, Bernard Chao

Faculty Articles

Across different legal domains, liability doctrines recognize the value of community input. But do courts truly listen to the community’s voice when deciding these sorts of cases? This study is the first to explore how courts treat community opinion survey evidence within both civil and criminal law. To that end, we comprehensively examine trademark, false advertising, patent, antitrust, obscenity, death penalty, and search cases.

Our research uncovers a significant asymmetry: Courts readily admit survey evidence in civil proceedings but systematically exclude it in criminal cases. This asymmetry does not appear to stem from structural differences between civil and criminal litigation …

Early Developmental Wounds To Interpersonal Struggles: The Role Of Emotion Dysregulation, Parth Yogesh Sompura

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Numerous studies have examined the effects of trauma on emotion dysregulation or have focused primarily on childhood trauma. The present study aimed to understand the effects of trauma at different developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The sample consisted of 201 participants, who were selected from a larger pool of participants who received course credit for completing this study. The results of this study revealed that trauma at all ages significantly and positively affects interpersonal difficulties, through emotion dysregulation as a positive mediator, as hypothesized. However, contrary to hypotheses, childhood trauma did not have a greater effect compared to adolescent …

Framing Of Obesity In Magazines, Chitrangda Malik

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

The aim of this study is to determine how the top four magazines in America portray the issue of obesity in terms of responsibility and in relation to mental health. Additionally, it is to determine the kind of framing used to present the issue of obesity. The data of this study is limited to Costco Connection, Better Homes & Gardens, AARP, and People magazine. Data has been divided into two timelines, one from January 2020-January 2026 and the other from January 2022-January 2026. Results indicate that magazine articles primarily attribute the cause of and solution to obesity as behavioral and …

Erosion Of Trust In Online Information, Tirth Desai

A with Honors Projects

Researching how AI spreads misinformation and impacts trust in information.

Entrepreneurial Persistence, Renate Alant

A with Honors Projects

This project explores the psychological factors of self-efficacy, passion, grit, and value alignment that drive long-term entrepreneurial persistence, challenging and elaborating on the notion that confidence alone determines success.

Collaboration And Co-Management Ahead Of Permitting: Understanding How Actors And Their Interactions Lead To Non-Optimal Shoreline Projects, Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf, Mariana Saitgalina, Michelle Covi

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

Living shorelines are widely promoted as nature-based solutions to coastal erosion and wetland protection, yet hardened shoreline structures continue to dominate even in jurisdictions with explicit policy mandates prioritizing living shorelines. In this research, we examine why non-optimal shoreline modification outcomes persist in Virginia (USA) despite a regulatory framework designed to promote ecological alternatives. We use primary data from interviews with wetlands board members, marine contractors, and nonprofit organizations and findings from a secondary survey of shoreline property owners to analyze shoreline management as a multi-sector collaborative decision-making process. Findings show that shoreline outcomes are shaped less by individual regulatory …

Digital Lover: Insecure Attachment Styles And Romantic Parasocial Relationship Among Chinese Female Otome Game Playersdigital Lover: Insecure Attachement Styles And Romantic Parasocial Relationship Among Chinese Female Otome Game Players, Weifan (Kyrie) Zhang M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The existing literature has explored the relationship between insecure attachment styles and parasocial relationships, particularly focusing on traditional media such as television. However, it has largely overlooked the novel form of media represented by contemporary Chinese otome games, which offer an idealized digital environment potentially more appealing to players with insecure attachment styles. Moreover, previous studies have not sufficiently differentiated between general parasocial interactions and the specific nuances of parasocial romantic relationships unique to romantic video games (RVGs). This study seeks to bridge these gaps by examining the psychological underpinnings of Chinese female players' engagement with female-oriented romantic video games. …

The Lived Experience Of Intimate Partner Violence For Females In Emerging Adulthood: A Qualitative Study, Laurel Dobkin M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Emerging adulthood is the developmental period between ages 18 to 25 where individuals begin to explore their worldviews and develop intimate relationships. This period is important for developing a sense of identity and self (Arnett, 2000, 2014). During this period, negative events or relationships, such as intimate partner violence (IPV), may have detrimental effects (Erikson, 1968; Barreto & Frazier, 2012). While literature suggests that IPV has high rates and negative consequences in emerging adulthood (Bhattacharjee & Gopal, 2022; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024; Shen & Kusunoki, 2019), there is little research on the subjective experience of females …

Forging Industry: Craft Practice At The Delaware Mine Blacksmith Shop, Lucy A. Gibbs

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis examines the archaeological remains of a nineteenth-century blacksmith shop associated with the Delaware Mine Site in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Blacksmiths played an important role in early mining operations, providing the metalworking services and tool maintenance necessary to support mineral extraction. Drawing on evidence from the 2025 Michigan Technological University field school, the study investigates the shop’s operational lifespan, organization, and potential activities as it supported daily mining operations. Artifact analysis, spatial reconstruction, soil testing, and archival sources assist in reconstructing shop functions and history.

Results indicate that the shop was likely constructed during the earliest development of the …

Public Perception Of Environmental Contamination And Its Implications For Fish And Community Health In West Bengal, India, Libia Hazra

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

In West Bengal, India, the highest fish-consuming state in the country, fish are woven into everyday life, including ceremonies of birth and marriage, prayers offered during harvesting and the cultural memory of communities whose identities are inseparable from aquatic life. However, the rivers, wetlands, and ponds that sustain these fish-human relationships are increasingly threatened by environmental contamination resulting from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and inadequate environmental management. Understanding how communities perceive these environmental changes is essential for developing effective conservation and public health strategies.

In collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology (ITT) Kharagpur, India, and Michigan Technological University (USA), …

Beyond Receptive Measures: Development And Validation Of The Spatial Grid Drawing Assessment (Sgda) As A Productive Measure Of Spatial Skill, Katrina L. Carlson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Spatial skills are vital in many STEM disciplines, starting at or prior to university training, and often extending throughout one’s career. The most widely used spatial ability measures (e.g., PSVT: R, MRT) rely on what I refer to as receptive skills: examining an object or design, mentally transforming it, and comparing it to given alternatives. But because work in many STEM disciplines also involves productive spatial skill such as drawing, I hypothesize that a productive measure of spatial skill may predict distinct aspects of spatial ability. This research investigates the relationship between traditional receptive Spatial Visualization (SV) assessments, such as …

Shifting Tide: A Comparative Analysis Of News Coverage Of The Israeli–Palestinian Conflict, Devon Skufca, Gloria S. Vaquera

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Internationally, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has been widely reported for years in mass media. Most recently, the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, again focused international attention on this region. Examining how this conflict has been reported starting October 2023 and for the subsequent eight months provides an opportunity to examine the framing of these events. This comparative study examines two newspapers of record, one from the United States (a known ally of Israel) and the other from Ireland, often seen as more sympathetic toward Palestinian statehood. A total of 179 articles from the New York …

Formation-Based Ai Ethics: Ethical Formation, Responsibility, And Opportunity Cost In Ai Ecosystems, Maurice Emelu

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Recent efforts in AI ethics have been dominated by the proliferation of high-level principles intended to guide responsible development and deployment. Yet persistent implementation failures suggest that principlism and tool-based approaches alone do not cultivate the moral capacity required to govern sociotechnical systems. This article advances a formation based framework for AI ethics that situates moral agency throughout the developmental conditions of design, use, and the AI lifecycle. Drawing on Aristotelian-MacIntyrean virtue ethics applied to media ecology, and sociotechnical responsibility, the argument reframes AI as a formative environment that shapes patterns of attention, judgment, delegation, and accountability over time. Against …

The Hierarchy Of Humanization: A Theory Of Victim Visibility In News Narratives, Maurice Emelu, Chika Nwugo, Regina Tuma, Sean Sims, Mariah Moulds, Elijah Williams, Felipe Covarrubias

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Journalism frames events and distributes human recognition in public discourse, yet little is known about how narrative attention is allocated among individuals within the same event. This study introduces Victim Visibility Theory (VVT), conceptualizing news stories as systems of narrative allocation in which victims receive unequal levels of humanization. Drawing on a content analysis of 433 articles from four U.S. elite newspapers covering 52 victims across four mass shootings, it examines how identity cues, symbolic capital, and structural narrative prominence shape representation. The findings show that humanization is allocated at two levels: first between events, where whole tragedies are humanized …

Exploratory Data Analysis On Stress In America: The Impact Of Health, Age, And Employment, Liv E. Bookhammer, Olivia Turkal, Rebecca Fang

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Over the past few decades, stress levels in America have increased significantly. This study explores the relationship between stress and key demographic and health-related variables using the 2018 Stress in America survey data. The research aims to examine how age, employment status, physical health, mental health, and mental health treatment influence average stress levels in the U.S. Previous studies have highlighted that younger adults, particularly those aged 18-34, experience higher levels of stress, while individuals with employment tend to report greater stress than those without. Furthermore, stress is known to be linked to physical and mental health, with severe stress …

Ben-Porath Dd, Mekhel V, Mekhel R, Ghanem M, Akouri C, Yost Jh. A Cross-Temporal Comparison Of Depression Stigma Among College Students: Gen X Versus Gen Z. J Am Coll Health. 2026, Denise Ben-Porath, Veronica Mekhel, Rebecca Mekhel, Mohammed Ghanem, Celine Akouri, John H. Yost

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether undergraduate students today (i.e., Gen Z; born: 1997–2012), exhibited the same level of mental health related stigma when compared with college students, studied approximately two decades ago (i.e., Gen X [born 1965–1980]).

Participants: 379 undergraduate students from a private midwestern university participated in the experiment.

Method: Participants were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes about a fictitious student, “Tom” who either (a) was depressed and sought treatment, (b) was depressed and did not seek treatment, (c) suffered a back injury and sought treatment, or (d) suffered a back …

Comprehensive Psychometric Evaluation Of The Child/Adult And Family Quality Of Life Scale : Third Edition, Thomas Frazier, Nissa Van Etten, Richard M. Kubina Jr, Ben Knaebel, Allison Frazier, Yagnesh Vadgama, Lacey Chetcuti, Mirko Uljarevic

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Purpose Quality of life (QoL) has become a key concept for understanding the impact of neurodevelopmental conditions and for monitoring intervention progress. Existing QoL measures often focus on health-related QoL in neurotypical populations or were developed specifically for autism. The CFQL was designed to bridge this gap. The present study describes evaluation of the second revision of the CFQL - the CFQL-3/AFQL-3.

Methods Psychometric evaluation was conducted in two samples: a large validation sample and a clinical intervention sample.

Results Results indicated a clear factor structure, measurement invariance across demographic and clinical factors, good scale and conditional reliability, adequate or …

Hegemonic Microtonality: Decolonizing The Soundscape Of Music Theory Pedagogy, Ash K. Wetty

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how Western music theory pedagogy—long organized around tonal and twelve-tone equal-temperament frameworks—structures both what is taught and how students are trained to listen. Through a literature review tracing the historical construction of tonal universality in undergraduate curricula, the project argues that dominant models of music theory reproduce broader epistemic hierarchies inherited from Western conservatory traditions. Situating these histories within my own experience as a student navigating institutional listening norms, the thesis combines critical self-reflection with ethnographic research conducted across five liberal arts institutions, including the CBB consortium and JanPlan research at Wesleyan University and Amherst College. Rather …

Near And Dear: How Proximity To Amenities Shapes Land Value In Maine, William Kopans

Honors Theses

Residential land values reflect the benefits of accessibility to amenities as well as the costs associated with commercial activity. This trade-off is particularly important in Maine, a predominantly rural state where most households rely on automobiles to access employment, retail, and civic amenities. Drawing on hedonic theory, I analyze how households value proximity to public and private amenities located within downtowns and shopping centers. Using parcel-level transaction data from ATTOM combined with amenity data from OpenStreetMap, I construct a novel approach that differentiates downtown and shopping center clusters across the state. The findings demonstrate that properties located immediately adjacent to …

Ultra-Processed Or Ultra-Addictive? A Demand-Based Redefinition Of Ultra-Processed Foods, Braden Jondro

Honors Theses

Ultra-processed foods now comprise the majority of the U.S. food supply and have been directly associated with 32 chronic diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Current classification systems such as NOVA provide a useful framework for identifying food processing, but rely on broad and subjective categorizations that may not capture the mechanisms most closely associated with promoting persistent overconsumption. In particular, existing classification systems remain limited in their ability to evaluate addiction-like behaviors associated with highly processed foods, including persistent purchasing patterns, reinforcement effects, and substitution responses. This paper introduces the Ultra-Processed Food Intensity (UPFI) index, an objective, …

How Biased Beliefs About Vulnerability To Harm Influence Assessments Of Noneconomic Tort Damages, Roseanna Sommers, Nathan Creek

Articles

The American tort system aspires to provide fair compensation to injured plaintiffs, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, religion, or gender. Recent experimental evidence from psychology suggests, however, that factfinders consistently judge identical harms as less severe when experienced by individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES). People presume, for instance, that a paper cut hurts a wealthy person more than a less well-off person, that domestic violence inflicts greater suffering on a high-SES woman than a lower-SES woman, and that bullying harms a five- year-old from a high-SES family more severely than one from a low- SES family. This Essay examines …