Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Shiny New Beginnings: Reaching For Celestial Bodies In Romance And Research, Alexandra C. H. Nowakowski

The Qualitative Report

This commentary explores a series of social fiction novels about relationships through the lens of ethnographic research. It amplifies the lessons about love and life from Dr. Patricia Leavy’s Celestial Bodies series focused around two people with complex trauma finding kinship and healing with one another after a chance meeting. In the process, it uplifts the rigor and uniqueness of Leavy’s methods in translating findings from many years of observational research with people in different kinds of relationships to the social fiction format whose name she coined herself. In journeying through a shared life with main protagonists Tess Lee and …

Exploring The Strategies In Creating And Sustaining Commons : Organization, Mobilization, And Tactics In The Hong Kong Context, Ho Yin Mickey Wan

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

After experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest, and the migration wave in the post-2019 era, Hong Kong has undergone a rapid change in its social context. Facing the multifaceted aspects and complexities in the new context, this thesis hopes to explore the possibility of commons and commoning - a pluralistic concept that encompasses a set of principles for social practices in making a more inclusive society - to be a potential alternative, or at least a kind of hope mechanism to enhance people’s well-being amid the current predicament.

Drawing on the seminal literature of Elinor Ostrom, J. K. Gibson-Graham, and …

Digital Inequalities And U.S. Undergraduate Outcomes Over The First Two Years Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Vikki Katz, Amy B. Jordan, Katherine Ognyanova

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated major and rapid changes to undergraduate student learning conditions, but the longer-term consequences of those changes have yet to be fully understood. We assess how digital inequality—defined as challenges in accessing or maintaining a broadband internet connection and functional digital devices—affected undergraduates’ advancement toward on-time graduation over the first two years of the pandemic (2020-2022). We utilize survey data from a representative sample of 1,106 undergraduates at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, a public, 4-year university located in New Jersey, USA. Respondents were undergraduates who had been enrolled in full-time student status throughout the first two years …

Sustainable Well-Being For Young Adults: An Online Course To Build Ecological And Psychological Flourishing In A Changing Climate, Jeremy Stanley Bekker

Theses and Dissertations

Sustainable well-being is "happiness that contributes to individual, community and/or global well-being without exploiting other people, the environment or future generations" (O'Brien, 2010, p. 2). Sustainable well-being education may encourage environmentally sustainable behavior while also teaching people how to live meaningful lives. However, there is currently a lack of research-based disseminable courses for teaching sustainable well-being. We hypothesized that taking the course would result in lower eco-anxiety and higher well-being, as well as increased pro-environmental self-efficacy and pro-environmental values. We used a randomized crossover repeated measures research design to assess pre and post effects. Quantitative results indicated that participating in …

The Future Of Ai: Join The Conversation, Jennifer Wojton, Cassandra Branham, Vijay Tummala, Laxima Niure Kandel, Kayla D. Taylor

Publications

Join the Conversation! The Future is AI? There is so much conflicting information about what AI is capable of, how it could/should be used, by whom and for what purpose. In this panel discussion, we hope to provide a baseline of information that will help all participants think critically and articulate thoughtful questions about the mechanics of AI, ethical use or non-use of AI in particular contexts (school, industry, business, art, etc.), and the impacts we are currently experiencing or are likely to experience. Hear from ERAU faculty of different disciplines to discuss what the current state of AI technology …

How We Stopped Charging Students To Submit Etds: Case Study Of A Five-Year Odyssey, Gregory Wiedeman, Emily Kilcer

Journal of Graduate Librarianship

In 2019, the Graduate School at the University at Albany, State University of New York wrote to the University Libraries about the processing of archival copies of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), hoping to reduce or eliminate deposit fees for authors. Interested library faculty and staff self-assembled into a project team and found that the university’s switch in 2008 to a born-digital submission workflow provided by an external vendor was deeply flawed as a service, and unnecessarily costly to student authors. Later, in 2013, the Libraries established an open access institutional repository (IR), which had the potential to support a …

Analysis Of Systematic Trade-Offs Between Military And Healthcare Expenditure Alongside Gdp Growth Of Select Asian And Western Exporting Economies In The 21st Century, Rahul Balamurugan, Carlos Gershenson, Preethi Nanjundan, Hiroki Sayama

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study explores the complexity in the trade-offs between military expenditure, healthcare expenditure, and GDP growth across select Asian nations and major weapon-exporting countries, examining how nations allocate finite resources between national security and human well-being over the past two decades. Using a systems science approach, the research integrates Granger causality testing to analyze temporal and directional relationships among GDP growth, military expenditure, and healthcare expenditure, uncovering their dynamic interdependencies. The methodology includes trend and slope analysis, Granger causality testing, outlier detection, and clustering to identify heterogeneity in resource allocation strategies. Developed, weapon-exporting nations exhibit complementary trends, with strong causality …

Bidding With Budgets: Algorithmic And Data-Driven Bids In Digital Advertising, Dirk Bergemann, Alessandro Bonatti, Nicholas Wu

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

In digital advertising, the allocation of sponsored search, sponsored product, or display advertisements is mediated by auctions. The generation of bids in these auctions for attention is increasingly supported by auto-bidding algorithms and platform-provided data. We analyze the equilibrium properties of a sequence of increasingly sophisticated auto-bidding algorithms. First, we consider the equilibrium bidding behavior of an individual advertiser who controls the auto-bidding algorithm through the choice of their budget. Second, we examine the interaction when all bidders use budget-controlled bidding algorithms. Finally, we derive the bidding algorithm that maximizes the platform’s revenue while ensuring all advertisers continue to participate.

The Importance Of Country Of Origin In Vaccine Messaging For H-2a Farmworkers, Anna M. Scheyett, Maria Bowie, Virginia Brown, Andrea Scarrow

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: H-2A farmworkers are disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19 and understanding their beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccines is important for public health outreach, yet to date little research has examined the influence of country of origin (COO) on the vaccine beliefs of this uniquely transient population.

Methods: Three focus groups (N=30) were held with H-2A farmworkers in South Georgia to explore their beliefs on COVID-19 vaccines, using thematic analyses to identify COO influences on these beliefs.

Results: Family in COO influenced worker vaccine beliefs through direct advice, commonly held beliefs in COO about harmful government agendas via vaccines increased worker vaccine fears, …

A Journey For A Lifetime: A Case Study On Camp Ramah In California’S Staff Retention And Professional Development Practices, Steph Sussman

Experience Industry Management

Summer camps, intending to provide exceptional experiences for their participants, have prioritized staff retention efforts. Camp Ramah in California has worked to keep staff year after year while providing opportunities for professional development. The purpose of this study was to examine the summer camp staff retention and professional development initiatives employed at Camp Ramah in California. A case study was conducted using a tool developed by the researcher to assess the staff retention and professional development practices implemented by Camp Ramah in California. Ramah has a staff retention and professional development system but does not always align with research-based practices. …

Solidarity In Print Poster 2, Sara Decaro, Rafael Tourinho Machado De Almeida

Faculty Submissions

No abstract provided.

March 2025 Government Documents Holocaust Display, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Ethnic History

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Newsletter, Wku Staff Senate

Staff Council

Newsletter created by WKU Staff Council to report on work accomplished.

Older Adults’ Health, Ethnicity, And Daily Life, Hyunsook Kang, Mihae Bae

Faculty Publications

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between ethnicity and daily functional disabilities among older adults, focusing on Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). The analysis uses data from the 2020 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) survey, which included a sample of individuals aged 57-85 (n=3,005). Respondents provided information on their demographic background (e.g., income, gender, race, age, health, retirement, and marital status) and socioeconomic characteristics through telephone interviews.

The study hypothesized that ethnic differences would be evident in perceived difficulties with ADLs and IADLs in later life. To assess these relationships, …

Criminal Justice Update - March 2025, Mia Agudelo

Criminal Justice Updates

The Criminal Justice Update is a monthly newsletter created by the Adams County Bar Foundation Fellow providing updates in criminal justice policy coming from Pennsylvania's courts and legislature as well as the US Supreme Court.

Contents:

• Updates from PA Governor's Office (no updates this month)
• Updates from the PA Legislature (no updates this month)
• Updates from the Courts
• U.S. Supreme Court: Criminal Law & Procedure
• PA Supreme Court: Criminal Law & Procedure
• PA Superior Court: Criminal Law & Procedure

Enhancing University Retention Through Faculty/Staff Mentor-Mentee Relationships: An Interpersonal Communication Approach, Emma Catherine Richardson

Master's Theses

This study investigates the role of interpersonal communication in faculty and staff mentorship and its impact on undergraduate student retention, focusing on struggling students at Louisiana Tech University. With a national retention rate of 68.2% and persistent disparities among underrepresented groups, improving student retention remains a critical issue in higher education. The research addresses a gap in understanding how communication practices, such as active listening, empathy, and constructive feedback, influence mentorship effectiveness. Guided by Interpersonal Communication Theory and Social Support Theory, this qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 12 undergraduate students. Thematic analysis revealed key findings: mentors who demonstrated empathy, …

Associations Among Shopping Methods, Diet Adherence, And Nutrition Knowledge Of Employed Primary Grocery Shoppers In Households With Children, Baylee Schneider

Master's Theses

Obesity is a prominent risk factor for chronic disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity and chronic disease rates continue to rise, requiring a need for prevention and intervention efforts. The future role of dietetics is to provide treatment and prevention through holistic approaches, by understanding individuals’ habits that contribute to the onset of disease, specifically their food choices, grocery shopping methods, and influences that waver these selections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between grocery shopping methods (online or in-store), Mediterranean diet adherence, nutrition knowledge, and food purchase patterns …

The Associations Of Negative And Disorganization Symptoms With Verbal Fluency In Schizophrenia: The Mediation Effect Of Processing Speed And Cognitive Flexibility, Ernest Marek Tyburski, Ewa Zawadzka, Adrianna Bober, Ewa Karabanowicz, Piotr Podwalski, Jerzy Samochowiec, Anna Michalczyk, Leszek Sagan, Ashok Jansari, Shane T. Mueller, Michał Harciarek, Błażej Misiak, Karolina Lutkiewicz, Krzysztof Wietrzyński, Jolanta Kucharska-Mazur, Artur Reginia, Monika Mak

Michigan Tech Publications

Background: Psychopathological symptoms appear important for cognitive functions in schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the factors and their impact on relationships between negative or disorganization symptoms and verbal fluency are still debatable. The preliminary objective of the study was to compare verbal fluency, including clustering and switching as cognitive strategies, executive functions, and processing speed between individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and healthy controls (HC). The main aim of the study was to investigate mediation models and identify whether relationships between negative and disorganization symptoms and verbal fluency in schizophrenia are mediated by cognitive flexibility and processing speed. Methods: Semantic (animal and fruit) and …

Ethics In Digital Marketing: A Gen-Z’S Perspective, Suruchi Bhatt

School of Business

Almost 72% of Americans report they have a sense of being tracked online through their cellphones, by their advertisers or companies they follow, around 20% think their activities across their days are tracked, with almost 47% reporting the government tracks their cellphones, behaviors, and everything they do online. (Atske, 2019) It is no secret that when people say privacy is a myth, it is upon the behaviors of the companies to inform the customers of what, where, and why their activity is being tracked. Answering how the activity is tracked and when it will be tracked are key factors that …

Developing Humanistic Clinicians: A Review Of Literature, Andrew Taylor, Willie Capers

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Humanistic clinicians possess scientific and technical competence and demonstrate essential virtues like empathy, compassion, patience, love, and courage. Humanistic clinicians are trained with an emphasis on the sciences and the humanities. The humanistic clinician is therefore better equipped to care for patients, the patient’s family members, other clinicians, and themselves. Defining empathy can be problematic due to a lack of consistent definition. Relevant literature regarding empathy was reviewed before settling on a working definition. Several pedagogical approaches encourage the moral development of clinicians. The methods and purpose of those approaches are explained. Illness narratives or pathography is a particular type …

Implementation Of Salary Caps In European Soccer Leagues, Tobias Ruffo

Honors Projects in Mathematics and Economics

This paper explores the theoretical implications of introducing a salary cap into a sporting system that traditionally lacks such a restriction: the professional European soccer system. Common themes regarding salary caps evident in the literature include views that deem them ineffective or insufficient in enhancing competitive balance, often suggesting that their implementation primarily benefits team owners financially. Conversely, there are studies demonstrating that salary caps indeed promote competitive balance and are not merely instituted for owners' financial gain. These themes will be analyzed through regression analysis of salaries and win percentages across the top four American professional sports leagues. The …

A New Induction Proof Of The Gibbard-Satterthwaite Theorem, Sarvesh Bandhu, Rohit Kumar

Working Papers

In this paper, we provide a new induction proof of the Gibbard–Satterthwaite theorem, where the induction argument builds on n = 1 rather than the existing proofs using n = 2. The provided proof is much shorter, and the arguments are very intuitive, which will be helpful in teaching and for beginners in this field.

Energy Saving Through Climate Education: Climate Sensitization In School For Mindful Consumption At Home, Haritha Saranga, Satyajit Roy, Kanchan Mukherjee

Working Papers

An effective fight against climate change requires both a “top-down” approach and “bottom-up” changes; that is, adopting sustainable practices at the individual and household levels, which requires knowledge, belief, and willingness to engage in climate action. Extant research has shown a number of challenges in bringing about persistent changes in human behavior. We propose to bring about mindful energy consumption behavior at the household level by using children as the conduit for behavior change. Scalable interventions that create awareness about climate change and its impact through early self-regulation in middle and high schools are a promising and cost-effective opportunity to …

Queueing Problem With Dynamic And Heterogeneous Opportunity Costs, Sarvesh Bandhu, Parikshit De, Devwrat Dube

Working Papers

We study queueing problems in which agents have heterogeneous per-period waiting costs (their private information), which can vary with queue position and are thus dynamic. Our goal is to implement a Rawlsian allocation rule that minimises the maximum of individual waiting costs among all agents. Under complete information, we introduce the Just Algorithm, a simple method that always selects a Rawlsian queue. However, in settings with incomplete information where agents possess multidimensional private types i.e., the vector of their per-period waiting costs for each period, we prove that no Dominant Strategy Incentive-Compatible (DSIC) mechanism can implement the Rawlsian queueing rule …

Economic Policy Uncertainty And Underinvestment In Indian Firms, Anubha Dhasmana

Working Papers

Insufficient investment by the private sector, especially in manufacturing, has been a major cause of worry for policy makers in India. Not only does such underinvestment affect macroeconomic growth negatively, but it also affects job creation adversely which is a serious concern for a country like India with a growing working age population. This paper studies the impact of economic policy uncertainty on underinvestment by Indian manufacturing firms. Economic policy uncertainty is found to encourage underinvestment by Indian firms significantly, but the relationship is not linear. Further, underinvestment by firms improves firm performance in the short run but only when …

Are You An Archivist? : Zines As A Method Of Archiving, Riley Natalova

Student Zines

Zines have started to be seen as an important contribution to archives with other ephemera like flyers and pamphlets. They are especially prominent in archives that focus on preserving the experiences of marginalized communities and highlighting social movements where zines were often utilized as a mode of expression and organizing. While many archives include zines as part of their collection, many zines are miniature archives themselves.

I argue that zines are the most accessible way to archive and that they are an important tool for the future of archives and libraries, especially during a time of mass censorship. I created …

Only Skin Deep Ai Lifestyle Accounts Influencing Political Discourse, Leland Fecher, Patrick Warren, Kylie Gilbert, Ella Murray, Miles Rockow, Jonathan Joon-Hyung Yoo

Media Forensics Hub Creative Inquiry Reports

Inauthentic political influence in American politics has been a prominent topic since the 2016 presidential election, and its features have shifted over time in response to platform countermeasures, feature adoption, and technological change. In this report we explore a small network of AI-empowered accounts posing as models, jewelry sellers, and artists that are espousing a particular partisan view, likely in an effort to engage specific online communities. This report includes a detailed description of the network and the topics in which the network regularly engages. We then discuss the possible effects this has on the American zeitgeist in the moments …

Obstacles Imposed By Families Against University Youth Participation In Political Parties In Jordan, Hana H. Al Nabulsi, Asem M. Al-Bakar

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This study aimed to identify the obstacles imposed by families that hinder the participation of university youth in the political life from their perspective and investigate the relationship between obstacles imposed by families and certain social variables. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive approach and the sample was selected by a simple random method and consisted of 250 students from Princess Rahma College at Al-Balqa Applied University and it was distributed electronically. Results: found that the economic situation of the family was one of the prominent obstacles to youth participation in political parties. And there is a …

Undominated Monopoly Regulation, Debasis Mishra, Sanket Patil

Working Papers

We study undominated mechanisms with transfers for regulating a monopolist who privately observes the marginal cost of production. A mechanism is undominated if no other mechanism gives the regulator a strictly higher payoff at some marginal cost of the monopolist without lowering the regulator’s payoff at other costs. We show that an undominated mechanism has a quantity floor: whenever the monopolist is allowed to operate, it produces above a threshold quantity. Moreover, the regulator’s operation decision is stochastic only if the monopolist produces at the quantity floor. We provide a near-complete characterization of the set of undominated mechanisms and use …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - March 2025, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.