Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Behind Bars, Behind Lies: The Role Of Jailhouse Informants In Juror Decision Making, Anna Pierce

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Jailhouse informant testimony is a leading cause of wrongful conviction, especially in severe cases (e.g., rape and murder) with severe punishments (Warden, 2005). The current study investigated the impact of multiple jailhouse informants’ testimonies upon juror decisionmaking, especially when providing consistent or inconsistent testimony. Participants (n = 102) read a murder trial summary with two informants - consistent statements, two informants - inconsistent statements, one informant, or no informant. Results indicated that the multipleconsistent condition had significantly higher guilty verdicts and higher perceptions of credibility than all other informant conditions. Inconsistent statements reduced guilty verdicts and perceptions of credibility, yet …

Is There A Limit? Honor Ideology And Perceptions Of Extremely Violent Responses To Threat, Alexandria Elise Archer

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Honor ideology revolves around the idea that men must obey strict masculine norms including toughness, bravery, and a lack of showing one’s emotions. These expectations contribute to stigma against mental illness and help seeking behavior due to perceptions that these behaviors are “unmanly”. Research has failed to examine who men who act in an honor consistent way (i.e., aggressive response to threat) but also struggle with mental health issues may be perceived within the framework of honor ideology. For this reason, we explored whether masculine honor ideology predicted differing perceptions of a man with schizophrenia versus a man without mental …

Trading Diversity? Judicial Diversity And Case Outcomes In Federal Courts, Ryan W. Copus, Ryan Hübert, Paige Pellaton

Faculty Works

Are federal lawsuits resolved differently based on the race or gender of the judges assigned to hear them? Recent empirical research posits that women and judges of color decide cases more liberally, at least in some identity-salient areas of law. However, these studies analyze small numbers of cases and judges, and use research designs that limit their causal interpretations. Using an original dataset of all civil rights cases filed in 20 federal district courts over multiple decades and a strong causal identification strategy, we find that assignment of cases to judges of color or women has no statistically significant effect …

Essays On Macroeconomics, Krishna Sharma

All Dissertations

The first chapter examines the role of return migration in driving innovation within India’s tech startup ecosystem, using a novel dataset constructed from web scraping of startup profiles, LinkedIn data, and patent databases. By capturing founders’ international experience, education, and innovation outcomes, the analysis reveals that returnees significantly contribute to higher inno- vation levels, particularly through patent filings. Returnee-founded startups exhibit an 18% higher rate of patent filings compared to those led by locals. The study employs OLS, Poisson regression, Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), and Instrumental Variables (IV) to address selection bias and endogeneity concerns. U.S. immigration policy changes provide …

Who Gets To Have Fun? The Alternative Earmarking Of A Memecoin Marketplace, Mia Tanner

Sociology Honors Projects

Past research on cryptocurrency has highlighted its sociotechnical aspects, framing crypto projects as community-grounded movements disrupting traditional state and market structures through technological advancements. What happens when these disruptive promises are absent or only playfully invoked? Cryptocurrencies known as “memecoins” have grown their own followings without pledging future legitimacy that would seriously challenge existing institutions, instead linking their value to the meme they brand themselves with and vague democratic promises. That new scheme of valuation is especially evident in coins launched on the site pump.fun, which has lowered the barriers to crypto-coin creation. The platform's accessibility provides a new dimension …

Broadening And Broadcasting The Impact Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Muslim Residents Of Southern New Jersey With Special Emphasis On Opportunities Of Future Interventions And Prevention Tactics, Maikel Mansour, Ocean Alam, Samiha Hossain, Kirsten M. Carlberg, Katarina Rusinak

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

According to AHA and NIH, CVD includes stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease. Between 2017 and 2020, 127.9 million US adults (48.6%) had some form of CVD.

Among the target population, it was found that observing Ramadan fasting leads to an increase in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels post-fasting. Yet, Islam emphasizes the importance of physical health as a privilege from God (Allah (swt)) and is seen as a religious duty.

The objective of the HCOP service project was to investigate the …

Documenting Her Story: A Student Project Utilizing Biographical Research Methods, Bethany Fiechter, Sarah B. Rowley

Library Faculty publications

The mission of the U.S. Women’s History, 1890-Present Biography Project is to aid the DePauw University Archives and Special Collections by having students in collaborating history courses create detailed, accurate biographical notes within finding aids. They learn firsthand how to conduct archival research using primary and secondary sources. Importantly, their research is added to the finding aid for posterity and their work is credited to them.

Coming Back To Life: Inner Work, Intentional Containers And Feminine Leadership For Social Change — A Phenomenological Case Study Of A Social Change-Oriented Organization And The Self, Maria Trias Arraut

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the phenomenon of inner work within social change organizations through an in-depth case study of a nonprofit organization dedicated to women’s empowerment and transformation. Using a phenomenological approach and ethnographic methods, the research combines intensive 7-month fieldwork in 2016 with reflective analysis years later, shaped by my own evolving relationship with inner work practices, providing a unique perspective on how inner work lived experience shapes individuals, organizational culture, and social change efforts.

The findings reveal that the social change organization (SCO) operated through three distinct yet interconnected levels of inner work practice: tending to the personal …

Dental Microwear Of Miocene Primates From The Carpathian Basin, Rudabánya, Hungary, Anna K. Wilcox

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study reconstructs and compares the dietary habits of the late Miocene primates Anapithecus hernyaki and Rudapithecus hungaricus by analyzing dental microwear patterns on fossilized teeth recovered from Rudabánya, Hungary. Previous research suggested that these sympatric species were both primarily frugivores but were unable to separate them by diet. However, earlier studies were limited by smaller sample sizes and less advanced methodologies. This study used an expanded sample and modern microwear texture analysis techniques to compare molar and incisor microwear patterns between the two species. Results revealed that Rudapithecus molars exhibited higher complexity compared to Anapithecus molar complexity, suggesting a …

Asia Pacific Business School Librarians Group Highlights, Sumita Govindan

Research Collection Library

Summary of new initiatives that have been undertaken, challenges faced and emerging opportunities from the APBSLG Member Institutions. This presentation is part of updates from the Chairs of the respective groups.

To Lead Or Not To Lead? How Smu Libraries’ Ellssa Program Can Help Develop Leaders For The Future, Rajendra Munoo, Sumita Govindan

Research Collection Library

Digital libraries exist symbiotically with traditional physical libraries creating an ecosystem of hybrid services built around innovation and creativity. Leading the digital library requires the ambidexterity to keep up to date with trends and developments and be a catalyst to lead change management. With the pandemic, academic libraries learnt to become champions of agility in transforming their services to meet the new demands and needs of the community they serve. Libraries are now facing new challenges; the disbanding of the Institute of Museum and Library Services in the United States, the rising threats of censorship, and the gradual erosion of …

Temperament And Screen Time Into Adulthood, Kareem Barbis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The possible correlation between language skills, temperament, and screen time in adulthood is understudied. It was hypothesized that high effortful control scores and low childhood screentime would corelate with higher cognitive reflection scores and higher language skills. Using a correlational design, 162 participants were studied (M age = 19.17 years old, 80% female, 86% White, 6% Hispanic). Participants completed an adapted version of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire (Evans & Rothbart, 2007), Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT; Fredrick, 2005), the Cognitive Reflection Test 2 (CRT-2; Thompson & Oppenheimer, 2016), Thompson & Oppenheimer, 2016), a childhood screen time questionnaire, a bilingualism questionnaire, and …

A Systematic Literature Review Of Behavior Analysis In Psychiatric Inpatient Settings, Stephanie Henry, Robbie Hanson

Theses

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) may be best known for the treatment of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, ABA also has a long history of effective outcomes with other populations, such as with individuals who are admitted to inpatient psychiatric facilities (Dougher, 2004; Harvey et al., 2009). In 2018, 187,877 individuals in the United States were reported as receiving treatment for mental health disorders (Lutterman, 2022). Given behavior analysis’ success implementing operant procedures with these populations, an updated review of the literature on the use of behavior analysis within these settings …

The Impact Of Irrigation On Agricultural Land Values In The United States Southeast And An Analysis Of Farmland Prices In South Carolina, Christopher L. Thomas

All Theses

Land is a key component of the agriculture industry in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, farm real estate (land and buildings) accounted for 82.8% of total US farm sector assets in 2022, consequently making land the largest source of wealth in a farmer’s investment portfolio and the primary source of collateral used for farm operating loans. The Southeastern region of the United States has seen rapid farmland appreciation and intense population growth in recent years. This research investigates the rising farmland prices across the Southeast from both a regional and state-level perspective. Chapter Two …

The Impact Of Green Credit Ratio On Return On Assets, Liao Wang

All Theses

How does the green credit ratio affect a bank return on assets? This study uses panel data from 2012 to 2019, covering 18 large banks in China, including 6 state-owned banks and major 12 important joint-stock and city commercial banks. I use regression models to measure the effect of the green credit ratio (GCR) on return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), and we focus on how bank ownership and fixed effects matters.

The results show that the effect of green credit ratio (GCR) on ROA depends on the model design. When bank fixed effects are included, green …

Fit To Stay: Understanding The Impact Of Person-Group Fit On Transfer Intentions In College Sports, Marlee Johnson

All Theses

NCAA policy changes in 2021 regarding student-athlete transfer and external compensation have brought attention to the issue of turnover in college sports. Organizational psychologists have been studying turnover intentions and psychological antecedents of turnover intentions for years; however, little is known about the psychological variables that lead student-athletes to develop transfer intentions. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of both perceived supplementary and complementary person-group (PG) fit on student-athletes’ transfer intentions. It also examined affective commitment as a mediator between supplementary PG fit and intention to transfer and perceived team performance as a moderator in the …

Commodification And Objectification Of The Black Male Athlete In The Nfl, Jalen A. Terrell

All Theses

The black male body has often been viewed as a commodity in Western culture since the commodification of the black male body in the historical slave auction. Albeit slave owning ended in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation, it was not until 1946 that the National Football League (NFL) became integrated, and the commodification of black bodies became prevalent once again. As such, this study looks to understand how the X population from the data set for this study demonstrates the commodification of the black male body, the general discourse around the black and white male athletes, and explores the language …

Living Heritage Along The Ganges: Building Resilient Communities In Varanasi And Kolkata, India, Ritu G. Deshmukh

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

This doctoral research proposes an integrative theoretical framework for understanding and managing living heritage in riverine contexts, specifically focusing on the historic cities of Varanasi and Kolkata along the Ganges River in India. The study develops a new paradigm for living heritage conservation that embraces the fluid, dynamic nature of cultural landscapes through what the author terms the “Adaptive Fluid Living Heritage Continuum” (A.F.L.H.C).

Traditional approaches to heritage management often treat cultural landscapes and living heritage as static entities requiring preservation rather than living systems capable of adaptation. This research challenges this perspective by examining how communities along the Ganges …

Research Skills: Search Strategies, Elizabeth Irvine

AFIT Library Knowledge Base

No abstract provided.

Does Privacy Have Any Impact On Self-Disclosure? A Systematic Review Of Relevant Studies, Ashraf Sharif, Khalid Mahmood, Shafiq Ur Rehman

Libraries

The study aims to collect and review (systematically) literature that investigates the impact of privacy on self-disclosure using Facebook. Another purpose of the review is to identify the theories/ models applied/tested, the software used for data analysis in the reviewed research, the quality of the reviewed studies, and the countries leading in terms of publishing on the topic. The research also intends to shed light on the privacy-related aspects covered in the published studies. The researchers searched four databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), and Google Scholar to collect and review the literature on …

Beyond The Legislature’S Website: Strategies And Tools For State Legislative Research That Informs Advocacy Work, Jennifer Horne

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

As the nation’s state legislatures increasingly decide the issues that affect citizens most directly, the ability to identify, track, and understand state legislation is key to successful advocacy efforts. While all state legislative websites provide the status and authoritative text of the bill, this may be insufficient to understand what the bill seeks to do and why the change is being proposed. To find plain English summaries and necessary context and background information on proposed bills, advocates may also need to find appropriate news sources and identify key stakeholders—those who care the most about the bill or are the most …

Famílias Indigenas Entre Mundos: Standing In Pachakuti, Living In Chi’Xi Within The Constellation Of Their Comunidad De Saberes, Ymasumac Marañón Davis

Dissertations

To be Indigenous is to be la luz del mundo, to stand in your light and spread your sunrays, no matter winds or clouds of colonization that strive to dim you. This qualitative study explored ways Indigenous Latine families negotiate a sense of place within onto-epistemological realities and their home culture of learning and Western education. This research is desire-based (Eve Tuck, 2009), creating our own project of modernity, grounded in one Indigenous family’s experience within their Andean community. Drawing from Critical Latine Indigeneities Framework (Blackwell et al., 2017) and Chicana Feminist Epistemologies (Bernal, 1998), using an Entre Mundos methodology, …

Repurposing Old Railways To Enhance Recreation And Ecological Services, Carter Versaevel

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

We are currently facing what can only be described as a biodiversity crisis. Species are disappearing faster than ever before, largely due to habitat fragmentation caused by humans. How can old railroads be repurposed into recreational trails that can also help improve biodiversity and ecological function? By turning old derelict tracks into “green trails,” these tracks can be given new life and help reverse the effects of fragmentation, while providing recreational services to nearby communities.

Understanding The Need For Gender Inclusiveness: A Case Study In Kolkata, India, Nilasree Dutta

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research focuses on examining the status of women in the selected Wards of Kolkata, India: Ward 59, 64, 65, 66, and 69. Three indicators are used to evaluate the status of women: education, nutrition, and religion. Data for this study was collected with the help of a Kolkata-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) named Ek Tara. A complete questionnaire with open-ended and closed-ended questions was followed to conduct the survey. 353 households were interviewed to obtain the data. Several statistical analyses have been conducted using STATA software to address research hypotheses. To assess the nutritional status of women, hand grip strength …

After The Game: Comparing Career-Readiness Attitudes Between First-Generation And Continuing-Generation Student-Athletes, Heidi J. Robinson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Successfully transitioning from college to a career requires skills, experience, and knowledge. Specific student populations face increased challenges in accessing campus career resources that promote readiness for post-graduate employment. Among these vulnerable populations are student athletes and first-generation college students. While both student groups stand to gain increased professional success because of their college experiences, college-to-career barriers are well-documented. These challenges include access to and awareness of career-readiness resources, and career preparation and exploration opportunities. More information about the career readiness of an adjacent student group, first-generation student athletes, is needed. Students who experience the intersectionality of being both a …

From Volunteer To Member Of The Church Body: How Meaningfulness, Self-Regulation, And Fairness Relate To Giving Of Time And Treasure, Billy J. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Churches rely almost exclusively on volunteers and committed members to fulfill their mission. With decreasing engagement and financial support among churchgoers, there is a need to understand what motivates volunteers to give their time and resources. This nonexperimental quantitative correlational study examined the relationships between church volunteers’ self-regulation, perceptions of meaningfulness, and fairness, with their reported level of internalization of the local church’s mission, evidenced by their giving behaviors. Utilizing data collected from 86 church volunteers on self-report measures, all validated from previous research and adapted to church context, correlational analyses showed no significant relationship between giving of time and …

Citizenship Christian Values Education Empowerment In Papua New Guinea Through Integration Of Curriculum, Funding, And Professional Training, Timothy Hawes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since 2018, the Papua New Guinea Education Department has opened the door for Christian Citizenship Value Education, but previously, no organization has successfully addressed this opportunity. The problem is that the CCVE program in PNG does not integrate curriculum, funding, and professional training. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and deploy the CCVE Empowerment plan. Through a survey given to CCVE teachers and multiple focus groups with six different CCVE leaders, the CCVE Empowerment plan was developed. The plan included a new organizational structure, the prayer model, the self-teaching student journals, sufficient funding, and applied …

Technological Attitudes, Social Media Usage, And Work Ethics Among Educators, Roshani Kundaria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the relationship between social media use, technological attitudes, and work ethics among K-12 educators in the United States. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many educators to transition to remote work and online teaching, individuals have more online presence and social interactions. Understanding how these interactions influence the values associated with work is essential. The decision to utilize a particular social media platform for personal use depends on educators’ individual needs, preferences, and circumstances. Positive and negative attitudes toward technology usage and dependence on technology were examined. The researcher found a negative correlation between technological attitudes and social …

Women Leaders In Healthcare: Emotional Intelligence, Job Satisfaction, And Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Kuan-Yin T. Timothee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative correlational study was to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and job satisfaction among women in nonclinical leadership roles within the U.S. healthcare sector. As healthcare organizations adapt to technological, social, and economic transformations, they must increase their focus on cultivating EI and promoting OCB, especially in leadership roles (Bowling & Sessa, 2021; Herr et al., 2022; Marstand et al., 2021). Additionally, research has shown that EI facilitates business development and diminishes obstacles to organizational sustenance. Although prior research has established a link between EI and OCB, there is …

Moral Injury And Spiritual Struggles Among Christian Adults With A History Of Substance Use And Perceived Problematic Behaviors: A Phenomenological Study, Diera Shaw-Mendez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of moral injury and spiritual struggles among Christian adults from the Philadelphia tri-state area with a history of substance use or perceived problematic behaviors. Moral injury (MI) is newly studied in civilian populations. In a review of 253 studies on moral injury and substance use, only two qualitative studies explored exposure to morally injurious events amid substance use rather than as a pathway to substance use. Due to the religious characteristics of the target sample, the grounding theory for this study is Fowler’s Stages of Faith Development, which …