Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Selective Attention With Lyrical Music Vs. No Music, Scovs Majors, Rachel Falleur, Kim Niang, Olivia Pokrifcsak

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Selective attention refers to the brain’s ability to focus on relevant information while filtering out distractions. Research suggests that language cues and semantic context can shape how attention is directed, indicating that cognitive control is context-dependent (Reisman, 1964). Environmental factors such as background noise can also disrupt attention, leading to reduced accuracy on cognitive tasks (Pearson & Lane, 1984). In the present study, we examined music as both a linguistic and environmental variable influencing selective attention. Previous findings indicate that lyrical music can serve as a significant distractor, impairing attentional performance in both music and non-music majors (Darrow et al., …

Kairiomone Moderated Anti-Predator Responses In Pleurocera Laqueta, Daisy V. Mcleod, John Webb, Amanda Waggoner, John Niedzwiecki

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Predator-prey coevolution in freshwater ecosystems often involves chemical communication, where the prey detect predator released compounds known as kairomones. These chemical cues allow prey to alter behavior to reduce risk of predation. In Middle Tennessee streams, the native snail Pleurocera laqueata commonly coexists with predator crayfish, and previous studies have shown that exposure to crayfish kairomones can induce an anti-predator “crawl out” response. This response is commonly demonstrated through snails climbing above the waterline to avoid crayfish predators below. We hypothesized that Pleurocera laqueata would display a similar anti-predator response when exposed to both native and non-native crayfish cues. After …

Physiological Response To Concealed Information In A Mock-Crime Paradigm​, Ezra Koenigsberg, Tamya Mchenry, Jasmine Manzana, Taylor Powell, Samantha Jackson

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Concealed Information Test (CIT), based on Lykken’s guilty knowledge framework, measures physiological responses when individuals recognize crime-related details compared to neutral alternatives. Previous studies show that variations in stimulus presentation enhance the CIT’s accuracy, especially through changes in electrodermal activity and heart rate. However, few studies have tested whether a Qualtrics-based mock-crime version of the CIT can replicate these physiological patterns. This study addresses that gap by adapting the CIT for a digital research environment. The goal is to determine whether participants show greater physiological arousal—measured through skin conductance, heart rate, and respiration—when exposed to crime-related “critical” stimuli compared …

Archaeology As Alternative Prison Education, Jayne Price Dr, Caroline Pudney Dr

Journal of Prison Education Research

This paper presents the educational focused outcomes of a set of workshops entitled 'Introduction to Archaeology’ that were delivered within a prison. The workshops were delivered as part of a project that seeks to explore the pro-social benefits and social capital (i.e. social and structural aspects that support positive identity formation) that could be developed through engagement with archaeology, specifically for those within the criminal justice system. The workshops offered a bespoke, alternative, educational offering within an adult male prison in Wales. It was designed and delivered by an archaeologist who has an established background in the field, especially in …

A Capital Idea? The Welfare Effects Of Relocating Indonesia’S Government To A New City, Alexander D. Rothenberg, Radine Rafols, Yao Wang, Yi Jiang

Center for Policy Research

Many developing countries are planning to create new capital cities, a place-making policy designed to alleviate congestion and respond to climate change. To evaluate growth and welfare effects, we specify a dynamic quantitative spatial model with public employment, informality, fiscal transfers, and frictions in trade and migration. We calibrate the model with data from Indonesia and conduct policy experiments studying the creation of Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Despite increasing employment in the new capital region, we find that building Nusantara reduces national growth and welfare. Climate change attenuates its negative welfare effects, but only slightly.

Innovation Curse: The Wastefulness Of Technologies Believed To Mitigate Climate Change, Minh Hoang Nguyen, Valoree Gagnon, Thanh Tu Tran, Thi Mai Anh Tran

Michigan Tech Publications

Technological innovations are increasingly promoted as solutions to climate change. However, many innovations, including Carbon Capture and Storage, bioplastics, and glacier geo-engineering, suffer significant limitations from high costs, speculative efficacy, and adverse ecological consequences. Using Granular Interaction Thinking Theory (GITT), a transdisciplinary framework grounded in information theory, quantum mechanics, and mindsponge theory, in this study, we explain how such technological innovations become systemically favored despite their flaws. We introduce the concept of the “innovation curse,” which arises when institutional and cognitive filtering systems, operating under high informational entropy, default to familiar but ineffective techno-solutions while marginalizing Indigenous and Local Knowledges …

Educational Policy, Implementation, And Challenges: A Case Study Of Administrative Practice In Using Student Growth Measures For Instructional Improvement In A K-12 School District In Northern New Jersey, Dean Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative single holistic case study explores how school administrators in a Northern New Jersey district implement student growth measures (SGMs) mandated by the New Jersey Department of Education. Grounded in Lipsky’s (1980) theory of street-level bureaucracy, Wright’s Connected Actions Roadmap (2022), and Argyris and Schön’s (1978) theory of action, this work examines how administrators in the case study navigate policy mandates while addressing the demands of leading their schools. Data was collected through two rounds of semi-structured interviews with eleven administrators, supplemented by field notes. Thematic analysis revealed five areas: administrative agency in balancing compliance and authenticity, collaboration as …

Housing Market Responses To Constrained Mobility Rights - Evidence From A School Enrollment Reform For Migrant Children, Yilin Hou, Jinghua Qi, Yugang Tang

Center for Policy Research

Mobility matches open housing markets. With constrained mobility and partially open housing markets, market responses reflect the constraints. We study this mechanism by examining disparity in access to public schools across socio-economic groups, focusing on properties near primary schools accessible to migrant students under social integration policies in a Chinese megacity. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we uncover complex spatial and market dynamics: while house prices close to ordinary primary schools remained relatively stable, house prices farther away declined markedly. This differential impact suggests the interaction between a potential "peer effect" and an "amenity effect." The rental rates showed little change …

Regulating Privacy Policies On Digital Platforms, Michele Bisceglia, Alessandro Bonatti, Fiona Scott Morton

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

We study how privacy regulation affects menu pricing by a monopolist platform that collects and monetizes personal data. Consumers differ in privacy valuation and sophistication: naive users ignore privacy losses, while sophisticated users internalize them. The platform designs prices and data collection options to screen users. Without regulation, privacy allocations are distorted and naive users are exploited. Regulation through privacy-protecting defaults can create a market for information by inducing payments for data; hard caps on data collection protect naive users but may restrict efficient data trade.

Black On Black Sounds: Music, Migration, And The ‘Nu-K Blak’ Identity Formation In Early 21st Century Britain, Monique Charles

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Examining literature on the under researched areas of Afrobeats and African migration to Britain, this article identifies significant internal shifts in the ethnic diversity of Black Britain —i.e., from Caribbean (predominantly Jamaican) to West African (Nigerian, Ghanaian) (ONS 2011). Interpreting literature and applying to the British context, it highlights how Afrobeats reshapes Blackness in Britain, particularly the incorporation of desirable Africanness through Afrobeats music. It argues that demographic and musical shifts in Britain result in a renegotiation of the Caribbean and US dominant 20th century Black Britishness — ‘UK Blak’ identity (as identified by Bradley 2013, Gilroy 1993 & Palmer …

Saussure’S Universal Distinctive Feature Dimensions, Thomas M. Eccardt

Publications and Research

This paper revisits Saussure’s scalar analysis of phonemes, offering a modern reinterpretation that replaces binary features with phonological dimensions grounded in measurement theory. By redefining Saussure’s [openness] and [backness] as ordered scales and Chomsky and Halle’s “combination and concatenation” as partially ordered scales, the paper introduces a notion of “[phono]logical simultaneity.” This framework renders the variously-defined phoneme and segment redundant, and shifts the focus of distinctiveness to the linguistic sign, the morpheme. It demonstrates how phonological dimensions link continuous articulations and acoustic signals (e.g., F1 and F2) with discrete linguistic signs through calibrated distinctive features. The analysis identifies Saussure’s two …

South Carolina Reemployment Services And Eligibility Assessments (Resea) Randomized Controlled Trial Design Report, Gabrielle Pepin, Ethan Jenkins, Christopher J. O'Leary, Aaron Sojourner

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Between Sovereignty And Commons: Legal Frameworks For Digital Data Governance In India, Anushka Sachan

Journal of Law and Public Policy

This legislative note critically examines the Indian Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, with a focus on its provisions that imply data sovereignty and their implications for the governance of digital commons. Drawing on the seminal works on data commons, the note explores the conceptual and practical tensions between centralised data sovereignty, participatory, and decentralised models of data stewardship. While data sovereignty is often justified on grounds of national security and control, it may inadvertently hinder the development of inclusive and accountable frameworks for managing data as a public good.

Exploring The Recognition Of Internalizing Problems Among Black Students: Delving Into The Youth Mental Health Help-Seeking Pathway, Marketta A. Adams

LSU Master's Theses

The mental health of Black adolescents is a growing concern, with high prevalence rates of internalizing disorders such as anxiety and depression. National studies report that nearly 47% of Black adolescents experience a mental health disorder by age 18, with over 60% reporting moderate to severe depressive symptomology. Despite these alarming rates, Black youth underutilize mental health services, often due to cultural stigma, limited access to culturally competent care, and under-recognition of their mental health needs. This study aimed to explore problem recognition as a key component in the mental health help-seeking pathway for Black adolescents in school settings. Grounded …

Immigration And The U.S. Economy Under Obama And Trump, Eliz Gevorgian

Political Science Student Research

This paper examines the economic effects of the United States' immigration policy under President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump. Between 2009 and 2017, the Obama administration introduced programs such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and expanded access to student and work visas. These actions coincided with steady GDP growth averaging about 2 percent per year and a decline in unemployment from 9.9 percent in 2009 to 4.7 percent in 2016. The Trump administration, in office from 2017 to 2021, implemented more restrictive immigration measures, including the 2017 travel ban, reduced refugee admissions, increased H1B visa scrutiny, and …

“What Are We And What’S Coming Next?”: Queer People’S Experiences During Sociopolitical Unrest In The Us, Ariana Cristal Morales

Master's Theses

Queer (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other gender and sexual identities) folx have become a major focal point during political elections. As political climates have projected forced attacks towards queer populations, society has followed suit. Investigation on the impacts of such changes towards queer folx is important to uncover, as sociopolitical climates have shifted within the last 10 years in the US. The present study utilizes a phenomenological framework to understand the lived experiences of queer participants living in the US from 2015-2025 during political and social shifts. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to explore 10 queer participant’s lived experience …

Shepherding In France: The Ambiguities Of Caring For Nonhuman Animals In The Roya Valley, France, Daina Pupkevičiūtė

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

F

For over half a century, wolves in France were extinct. In the absence of predators, the shepherds became accustomed to leaving the sheep roaming freely in the mountains in relative safety. However, at the end of the 1980s, wolves returned, resulting in many victims, conflicts, and a stark division between those either for or against the wolf or otherwise sometimes framed as those against or for the survival of the mountain pastoralism tradition. This text looks at the caring relationships humans, such as shepherds, villagers, and others, have towards sheep, wolves, and the landscape in the Roya Valley in …

The Influence Of Russian Folklore On Perceptions Of Female Heroism, Mariia V. Subbotina

Heroism Science

This article examines how Russian folklore traditions have shaped cultural perceptions of female heroism. The study addresses the limited attention given to gendered aspects of heroism, particularly “female” models, which are often linked to self-sacrifice and resilience, in contrast to “male” heroism associated with physical strength and risk. As the first stage of a larger project, this research aims to introduce the issue and identify key archetypes of female heroism. Based on an analysis of A.N. Afanasyev’s collection of fairy tales, three central archetypes of active heroines are identified: the Warrior Woman (Marya Morevna), the Wise Maiden/Enchantress (Vasilisa the Beautiful), …

2025 - The Sixth Annual Fall Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Fall 2025 Symposium of Student Scholars, held in November 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

A Heart So White: Musical Reflections On Lady Macbeth's Mind, Caitlyn N. Long

Undergraduate Theses

A Heart So White: Musical Reflections on Lady Macbeth’s Mind reimagines one of Shakespeare’s most infamous characters through a trauma-informed lens. This thesis combines artistic creation with interdisciplinary research in psychology, dramaturgy, and musical theatre studies to explore Lady Macbeth’s psychological unraveling and reclaim her from centuries of villainization. Composing from Lady Macbeth’s perspective allowed for a deeper exploration of her guilt, dissociation, repression, and isolation—symptoms traditionally overlooked in favor of Macbeth’s more visible descent into violence. Through musical motifs, lyrical reinterpretation, and staging concepts, the work seeks to humanize Lady Macbeth and highlight how trauma shapes behavior, relationships, and …

Madagascar's Urban Lemur Meat Trade, Cortni Borgerson, Be Noel Razafindrapaoly, Be Jean Rodolph Rasolofoniaina

Department of Anthropology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

As the world's most endangered mammals, lemurs are key to understanding how humans and wildlife can sustainably coexist. We present the first national assessment of the urban lemur meat trade. We interviewed 2600 participants across 17 cities to determine its scale, target species, distribution, and drivers. We reveal a considerable trade, with thousands of threatened lemurs sold annually. This trade is largely hidden, with 95% of sales occurring directly between suppliers and a trusted clientele, and targets some of the nation's most endangered species, often during critical breeding seasons. While entrepreneurial peri-urban suppliers are lured by a dependable economic opportunity, …

Book Review: Resisting The Dehumanization Of Refugees, Staci Martin

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Resisting the Dehumanization of Refugees, edited by Abu-Laban, Frishkopf, Hasmath, and Kirova, has a familiar quality when I read it. The book explores the profound struggle to cocreate a sense of home and belonging amidst the relentless dehumanization refugees face from restrictive policies, biased media portrayals, and societal prejudice. It adopts a transdisciplinary approach, featuring contributions from scholars, practitioners, and refugees themselves, who focus on the Canadian context and draw on broader international comparisons that support both the mechanisms of dehumanization and strategies for resistance.

Harnessing Hyperspectral Imaging And Deep Learning For Terrestrial Habitat Mapping In Arid Landscapes: A Case Study In Saudi Arabia, Ali Elgendy, Hesham Morgan, Brandon Tran, Rejoice Thomas, Tamer Ismail, Yehya Kh. Shehadeh, Ahmed Elgharib, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Dughairi, Ali El Muburak, Khaled Allam Harhash, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Arid ecosystems remain under-mapped at actionable scales despite their ecological importance. Decision makers lack reliable, high-resolution habitat maps in drylands to prioritize protection and target restoration. This research integrates spaceborne hyperspectral imaging from the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) with deep learning semantic segmentation models to produce an updated level of habitat classification based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for part of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, Saudi Arabia. Using ground control points and the full EnMAP spectral cube without band selection, U-Net and DeepLabV3+ architectures were each implemented with VGG19 and ResNet-101 …

Renewal Of The Mind: Forgiveness Through The Lens Of Christian Faith And Neuroscience, Khelen Walsh

University Honors Theses

Within Christian theology, forgiveness is a foundational concept that is often understood as a divine command, a spiritual practice, and a path toward reconciliation and personal growth. Recent neuroscientific research further supports this viewpoint, providing data that shows forgiveness engages neural systems responsible for emotional regulation, empathy, moral reasoning, and perspective-taking. Through neuroplasticity, repeated acts of forgiveness reshape the brain, strengthen connections between prefrontal and limbic regions, reduce amygdala reactivity, and enhance emotional stability and cognitive flexibility. Although forgiveness offers many benefits, modern culture frequently distorts its meaning, framing it as a sign of weakness, gullibility, or a form of …

Interrelationships Among Social Media Use, University Social Capital, And Mental Health Outcomes In Undergraduate Students, Md Hasan Howlader

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Mental health concerns among university students have intensified globally, reflected in rising levels of psychological distress, declining life satisfaction, and reduced flourishing. These challenges present urgent implications for public health and higher education policy. Simultaneously, social media use (SMU) has become deeply embedded in students’ daily lives; however, its impact on mental health remains inconclusive. While some studies associate SMU with increased mental health issues, others emphasize its potential to foster social connection. These conflicting perspectives are further complicated by uncertainty regarding the directionality of these relationships—whether SMU influences mental health, or mental health status shapes SMU patterns. Furthermore, existing …

International Awards Ceremony, Center For International Education, International Student Engagement, Study Abroad & Global Engagement, Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society, International Student & Scholar Services, Embry-Riddle Language Institute

International Education Week

A signature celebration of international graduates and study‑abroad achievers, including honors and recognitions that mark global impact and community. The hour-long ceremony will be followed by a reception with light refreshments. All guests of our graduating students, Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society members and inductees, and award nominees are welcome!

The Art Of The Review: A 9-Step Guide For Beginning Researchers, Sandra Y. Desjardins, Jenny Stockton

Library Class: Lunch & Learn

Master the systematic review process from start to finish. This 30-minute course provides a comprehensive overview of nine essential steps. Learn how to plan, execute, and report on your systematic review with confidence.

Coe Presents: Puerto Rico, College Of Engineering

International Education Week

A vibrant event celebrating Puerto Rican culture through snacks, music, and interactive experiences that capture the island’s energy.

Travel The World: Vr Experience, Ernie Central

International Education Week

An immersive virtual‑reality journey to iconic sites and everyday street scenes around the globe that lets participants “visit” new places and cultures in minutes.

World Tour: Campus Edition, Ernie Central, Cob Advising, Coa Advising, Veterans Services, Parent And Student Programs

International Education Week

Grab a passport from one of the locations below and travel to the 7 continents around campus to get your passport stamped! Map included inside passports to show locations. Turn in your completed passport to ERNIE Central for a chance to win an International Snack Box.

Passport Pickup Locations:

• SU 161 - ERNIE Central
• LB 170 - COE Advising
• Tomcat 250 - Parent and Student Programs
• Tomcat 260 - COA Advising
• NR3-174 - Veterans Affairs