Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Roles Of Shame In Ex-Christians' Personal Experiences And Deconversion Journeys, Anaya Bruno

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Although the benefits of religion on individuals’ mental wellbeing have been well-studied, research exploring aspects of religion that may prove harmful to mental wellbeing is limited. This study explores the roles of shame in the experiences of ex-Christians that led to their deconversion. The study’s results have implications for understanding the experiences of religious trauma, considering that chronic shame has been linked to the development of trauma. Respondents, recruited via Reddit, answered survey questions about the ways in which they perceived shame to influence their religious experiences, personal experiences, and religious deconversion. Inductive thematic analysis was utilized to derive themes …

Learning About Gujarati: Cultural Identity And Family Language, Vritti Sodha

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Language loss is a prevalent problem that is occurring in immigrant families in the United States. Since regional languages such as Gujarati are not used outside of households and community gatherings, it is not given much importance to learn. In order to combat this problem, community centers hold Gujarati classes for students of all ages to help preserve the language, but the lack of motivation to learn the language still remains. This is because a student needs to have a connection to the language to be motivated to learn it, which can be made through active learning. This study examines …

Unwilling Consent Or Ravishment? Sexual Violence In Late Seventeenth-Century London, Susan Hernandez

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Common Cybersecurity Attack Types And Zeek-Based Detection Strategies In Iot Networks, Christofer Piedra, Alain Edwards

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

As cybersecurity threats increase in scale and complexity, the ability to distinguish hostile traffic from benign network activity is essential. This research examines five prevalent cyberattack categories that impact IoT environments and outlines detection strategies utilizing the open-source Intrusion Detection System (IDS) Zeek. This study provides practical detection methods designed for scalable, real-time environments by classifying five commonly encountered attacks, namely: Reconnaissance, Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), Brute Force, Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) and Spoofing, and Botnet and Malware Behavior. For each attack, we analyze the prevalence, operational impact, and associated indicators. We also present Zeekbased pseudocode …

Gender Differences In Streaming Service Adoption And Cancellation During Covid-19, Dylan Lewis

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

For over a decade, the rise of subscription-based entertainment models has appeared inevitable. This trend became even more apparent when the world went into lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. During this time, many people began reevaluating how they allocated their discretionary income for day-to-day purchases as the future looked bleak. The purpose of this study was to examine people’s preferences between subscription-based models and one-time purchases. To do this, a 12-question survey was conducted, and data were collected through Amazon Mechanical Turk, yielding over 195 responses. The results indicate a statistically significant relationship between age and the use …

Acknowledgements, Editorial Team

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

An In-Silico Investigation Of Induced Target Neural Activity Through Simulation-Based Inference Informed Deep Brain Stimulation, James Lee, Ty Roachford

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is clinically effective for various neurological disorders, yet its underlying neuronal mechanisms remain unknown. Building on previous studies, we used an in-silico Hodgkin-Huxley biophysical model to investigate hippocampal CA1 responses to DBS. Our simulations replicate key experimental findings, confirming robust somatic depolarization at 140 Hz and a more gradual ramp at 40 Hz, alongside distinct transient and sustained voltage profiles. Both frequencies modulated firing rates, supporting the notion that DBS disrupts pathological network activity. Beyond frequency-specific effects, we employed Simulation-Based Inference (SBI) to identify the DBS features needed to suppress spiking and match a quiescent target …

Copyright, Editorial Team

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Biographies, Editorial Team

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, Editorial Team

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Man, Cut The Crop: Effects Of Cropectomies On Survival And Behavior In Drosophila Melanogaster, Emily Peraza

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

The gut-brain axis mediates communication between the digestive and nervous systems to regulate physiology and behavior. Its dysfunction profoundly impacts human health and causes disease. Region-specific hormones and neurotransmitters in the digestive system respond to several processes to signal the brain, but the mechanisms of gut-brain signaling are not fully defined. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model for studying gut biology by showing remarkable similarity to mammalian digestive systems, as both regulate energy by distributing nutrients. We refined a minimally invasive surgical protocol to remove the crop from adult flies. We then utilized the Activity Recording CAFE (ARC) and Drosophila …

Artist Statement, Zarina Mason

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor, Ana Tyulmenkova

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Exploring Gender Differences In Perceptions Of Ai's Impact On Social Media, Samkit Bothra

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping social media through content personalization and moderation, raising questions about its influence on public opinion and trust in digital news. Gender plays a key role in shaping perceptions of AI’s impact, with men and women potentially viewing its applications differently. This study explored gender-based perspectives on AI’s role in social media, focusing on its effects on information credibility and privacy. Data from 155 participants, collected via Amazon Mechanical Turk, were analyzed using IBM’s SPSS. The first hypothesis proposed that women would be more skeptical than men about AI's use in news, citing greater concerns …

A Comprehensive Overview Of The Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm, Vincent Stafford

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

As quantum computing research advances, the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) has emerged as a leading approach to harnessing current quantum hardware for solving complex combinatorial optimization problems. This pedagogical, expository paper outlines the mathematical foundations of QAOA, explains its step-by-step implementation from first principles in a manner accessible to advanced undergraduate students and non-specialists, and explores real-world applications such as protein folding and job scheduling. We also examine the algorithm’s performance challenges, including barren plateaus and circuit depth limitations.

America At 250: A Selected Bibliography From The Leatherby Libraries, Katherine Roth

Library Displays and Bibliographies

A bibliography created to support a display about the United States of America's 250th anniversary in summer 2026 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University.

Essays In Applied Microeconomics, Md Tahmeed Hossain

Economics Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contributes to empirical economics research by examining three settings in which historical shocks, behavioral constraints, and localized public events affect social relations, decision quality, and public safety. The first chapter examines the persistence of historical religious conflict in contemporary Hindu–Muslim relations in India. The second chapter studies how time pressure affects decision quality in online chess. The third chapter analyzes the localized traffic-safety externalities of NFL game days. Across these settings, the dissertation uses large-scale data and quasi-experimental research designs to distinguish causal effects from selection, spatial concentration, and persistent local conditions.

The first chapter asks whether historical …

Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School For Asia-Pacific (Ellssa): Smu Libraries Flagship Leadership Development Program For Librarians, Rajendra Munoo, Sumita Govindan

Research Collection Library

Strong leadership skills are becoming more important for librarians as they deal with rapid digital change in a VUCA world, rising user expectations, and a workforce made up of different generations. The Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific (ELLSSA) is Singapore Management University (SMU) Libraries’ main leadership development program, created to prepare early‑career librarians and high‑potential staff for future leadership roles across the Asia‑Pacific region and beyond. Recognised by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) as one of only a small number of leadership programs in the region, ELLSSA helps address gaps in leadership development within …

Assessment Of Information Literacy Instruction In Reference: Applying Vanscoy’S Conceptual And Procedural Framework In Practice, Vanessa Arce

Publications and Research

The instructional aspect of reference work has long been acknowledged, especially in academic libraries. The current RUSA guidelines include helping users develop information literacy as a goal of reference. In this context, investigating the presence and nature of information literacy instruction can be used to assess the quality of reference services. This study applied Amy VanScoy’s conceptual/procedural framework for point-of-need instruction to a sample of chat reference transcripts at Lehman College, City University of New York. One of the assessment’s goals was to determine the prevalence of instruction and type of knowledge addressed in reference interactions. Another goal was to …

Synoptic Conditions Favoring Tropical Cyclone-Enhanced Southwest Monsoon High Precipitation Events In The Philippines, Alwin Andriel L. Bathan, Lyndon Mark P. Olaguera, Faye Abigail T. Cruz, Jose Ramon T. Villarin, John A. Manalo, Jun Matsumoto

SOSE Affiliate: Manila Observatory

The interaction of tropical cyclones (TCs) with the southwest monsoon frequently causes heavy precipitation events (HPEs) and widespread flooding across the Philippines. Despite their substantial socio-economic impacts, the synoptic conditions that favor these events remain insufficiently understood, underscoring the need for systematic investigation to help improve forecasting and risk assessment. Lag composite analysis of daily rainfall records and reanalysis data from July to September for the period 1981–2023 shows that HPEs are more likely to occur when: (1) enhanced monsoon westerlies are present over the tropical Indian Ocean for at least nine days before the HPE, (2) a TC passes …

If You Want To Fly, Nandi Gayles '29

Black Studies Student Scholarship

My research explores the intersections of Sociology and Literature rooted in the unique gendered perspective of Blackness in the novels The Bluest Eye and Beloved by Toni Morrison. Morrison’s works are rooted in the authenticity of Blackness and being. She inherently studies human behavior and social interaction to communicate narratives that have often gone untold––those that center the Black experience. Morrison’s work is revolutionary as she intentionally wrote to disregard the white gaze. Her work is literature rooted in a sociological landscape that contributes to personal and social liberation of Black people. Using auto-theory as my methodology, this project places …

If You Want To Fly, Nandi Gayles '29

Sociology & Anthropology Student Scholarship

My research explores the intersections of Sociology and Literature rooted in the unique gendered perspective of Blackness in the novels The Bluest Eye and Beloved by Toni Morrison. Morrison’s works are rooted in the authenticity of Blackness and being. She inherently studies human behavior and social interaction to communicate narratives that have often gone untold––those that center the Black experience. Morrison’s work is revolutionary as she intentionally wrote to disregard the white gaze. Her work is literature rooted in a sociological landscape that contributes to personal and social liberation of Black people. Using auto-theory as my methodology, this project places …

Doctor Decision Making And Patient Outcomes, Janet Currie, W. Bentley Macleod, Kate Musen

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Doctors often treat similar patients differently, which affects health outcomes and medical spending. We assess the recent literature on doctor decision making through the lens of a model that incorporates diagnostic and procedural skills, beliefs, incentives, and differences in patient pools. Decision making is affected by beliefs, training, experience, peer effects, financial incentives, and time constraints. Interventions to improve decision making include providing information, guidelines, and technologies like electronic medical records and algorithmic decision tools. Economists have made progress in understanding doctor decision making, but applications of that knowledge to improving health care are still limited.

Impacts Of Climate Hazards On Employment And Earnings By Hazard Type, Industry, Race, And Ethnicity, Dania V. Francis, Keren M. Horn

Sustainable Solutions Lab

We examine the relationship between climate-related disasters and subsequent county-level aggregate employment and earnings. We combine earnings and employment data from 2000 to 2023 with data on disasters to estimate local projection impulse response functions relating extreme disaster events to cumulative percent changes in employment and earnings. On average, disasters appear to reduce employment growth three to five years post disaster. There are small positive impacts on earnings. These results are largely driven by responses to hurricanes and tropical storms. Key rebuilding industries such as construction see short-term gains in employment that turn to losses in the longer-term that are …

Collectivist Culture Values And Self-Esteem In Asian Americans With Adhd, Skye Taemi Jieling Sakashita

Doctoral Dissertations

This study is a quantitative correlational analysis that evaluated the relationship between collectivism and self-esteem in Asian American adults diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A total of 29 Asian American adults with ADHD participated in this study that included a survey of three scales assessing for collectivism, self-esteem, and ADHD symptoms. The results indicated that the correlation between self-esteem and collectivism in participants was not statistically significant. The correlation between self-esteem and ADHD symptoms was also found to be not statistically significant. However, certain correlational analyses regarding collectivism and ADHD symptoms were found to be statistically significant. Specifically, the results …

An Exploratory Analysis Of Neurocognitive Performance And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) Among Latinx Asylum Seekers, Elsie A. Arias

Doctoral Dissertations

Asylum seekers are exposed to violence and traumatic events in their home countries at high rates, leading to mental health challenges such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms and comorbidities such as depression and alcohol misuse are associated with impacts to multiple domains of cognitive functioning among populations such as Veterans. However, the neurocognitive performance of Latinx asylum seekers who experience PTSD symptoms are under-documented in the current literature despite its meaningful impact on clinical care engagement and navigation of the legal process. This study utilized an exploratory, quantitative, cross-sectional design to examine whether higher levels of self-reported PTSD, …

The Accidental Entrepreneur: How Military Spouses Take Their Careers Into Their Own Hands, Jennifer Barnhill, Rosalinda Maury, Jeanette Harvie

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The Accidental Entrepreneur is the second narrative profile in the Reimagining Military Spouse Employment series, a companion to the initiative's data briefs. Through the story of a mid-career military spouse who builds a business after repeated career disruptions, it examines why many spouses turn to entrepreneurship and what stands in their way. The profile covers the barriers spouses face when starting a business, including access to funding, certifications, and grants, along with the reality that self-employment does not eliminate the military spouse earnings penalty. It offers guidance for military spouses considering entrepreneurship and for the community leaders positioned to support …

Influence Of Stormwater Flooding Events On The Mobile County School District Student Population, Kadence Kali Johnston

Honors Theses

Mobile County, Alabama, receives among the highest annual rainfall totals in the United States resulting in frequent stormwater flooding that intersects with existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Within the Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS), 77% of students are economically disadvantaged and over 10% experience homelessness, creating heightened risk for educational disruption during flood events. This study investigates how stormwater flooding influences school attendance, closures, and academic performance across MCPSS, providing insight into how climate-driven hazards exacerbate educational inequities. The research integrates flood frequency, school performance metrics, and GIS flood-zone mapping and teacher perceptions to understand how flooding affects student learning opportunities. …

Scroll Control: Reducing The Influence Of Social Media Trends On Adolescent Risk-Taking, Camilla Vitola-Franchi

Psychology

Adolescents tend to take more risks than other age groups due to a combination of sensitive reward systems, lower impulse control, and stronger susceptibility to peer influences. These days, many adolescents spend a substantial amount of time on social media, which can further influence their decision-making. Although risk-taking plays an important role in adolescent development, social media can increase exposure to unhealthy and potentially dangerous forms of risk. Dangerous online trends and the addictive nature of social media algorithms contribute to the normalization of risky behavior and expose adolescents to social pressures, leading them to be more likely to take …

Religiosity And Female Autonomy In Indonesia, Milda Irhamni

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

This study estimates the effect of religiosity on married women’s autonomy within households in Indonesia using panel data from the 2007 and 2014 rounds of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS4 and IFLS5). Women’s autonomy is measured by the wife’s decision-making power relative to her husband across eighteen household decisions, complemented by indirect proxies such as asset ownership and contraceptive use. Applying household fixed-effect and IV estimation to control for endogeneity, the analysis finds little robust evidence that religiosity systematically reduces female autonomy, suggesting that any negative association is weak and sensitive to specification.