Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Role Of Greenfield Investment, Institutional Quality, And Economic Activities On Environmental Performance In Belt & Road Initiative Countries, Jamal Hussain, Sajid Hassan

CBER Conference

Researchers have produced varying conclusions on the matter of coexistence of economic activities with the protection or improvement of environmental performance. This study investigates the association between greenfield investments, economic activity, institutional quality, and environmental performance in Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 2003 to 2022. Yale University's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) assesses environmental performance. Advanced second-generation econometrics estimation approaches address concerns like cross-sectional dependence, potential endogeneity, and heterogeneity. Further analysis is employed across four income-level sub-panels: lowincome (LI), lower-middle-income (LMI), upper-middle-income (UMI), and high-income (HI) countries, covering the years 2003 to 2021 to validate reliability and consistency. This …

Digital Bodyguards: Experimental Evidence On The Role Of Personal Safety On Mobility And Empowerment, Fareena Noor Malhi, Sheheryar Banuri, Zehra Aftab

CBER Conference

This research paper examines the impact of the Women Safety App (WSA) on female mobility in urban Lahore, Pakistan. Through a randomized field experiment targeting lower middle-income households, we evaluate the effectiveness of the WSA in reshaping gender safety perceptions and increasing female presence in public spaces. The intervention includes comprehensive training and awareness sessions, followed by the download and registration of the app on participants' smartphones. Data collected from 319 working-age women reveal significant improvements in mobility patterns and safety perceptions postintervention. Our preliminary findings indicate the intervention significantly impacts extensive margin, increasing the time spent travelling. Further it …

The Power Of Assets: A Catalyst For Multidimensional Well-Being, Nasir Iqbal, Saima Nawaz

CBER Conference

Asset transfer program, known as the "Big Push" intervention, emerges as a powerful tool to promote multidimensional well-being among the poor. However, its effectiveness in settings with decade-long state-provided consumption support remains unclear. This study investigates the impact of asset transfers under the National Poverty Graduation Program (NPGP) in Pakistan, amid an established framework of unconditional cash transfers. Using a quasi-experimental approach, we observe significant enhancements in overall well-being, food consumption, ownership of assets, and social integration among beneficiaries. Furthermore, the NPGP encourages savings behavior among beneficiaries, contributing to their long-term financial resilience. Our findings exhibit substantial differences in the …

Concierge: How The Pandemic Lockdown Changed The Face Of Access Services, Stephen J. Walker

Urban Library Journal

This article addresses the changes made in Access Services in an urban college library after reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic the library witnessed a downturn in patron visits and physical textbook usage as classes remained mostly online. Access Services moved from being a fast-paced, high demand service desk of print textbooks and laptops to a slower user assistance library services unit. Reopening the library to the college community and creating a safe study space for students required preparation. Various key resources such as study rooms, calculators, phone chargers, and headsets became a higher priority for students post-lockdown. …

No. 32: Narratives Of Food Consumption And Food Insecurity: Zimbabwean Migrants In Windhoek, Namibia, Godfrey Tawodzera

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

Decades of interlocking economic and political crisis have generated significant out-migration from Zimbabwe to other countries. Neighbouring countries with relative political stability and better livelihood opportunities, such as Namibia, have witnessed increased inflows of Zimbabweans. While there are studies documenting these movements, far less attention has been paid to the food security of Zimbabwean migrants in other countries. This paper investigates the changing dietary and food consumption patterns of recent Zimbabwean migrants in Windhoek, Namibia, and the impacts of these changes on household food security. The narratives of 35 Zimbabwean migrant households in Windhoek show that they face numerous food …

Investing In The Future: A Financial Comparative Study Of Hsis, Hbcus, And Non-Minority Serving Liberal Arts Colleges, Sophia Phelan

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

This research presents a preliminary expedition into identifying the relationship between Net Present Value (NPV) and Return on Investment (ROI) of general liberal arts institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HSIs and HBCUs have a long tradition of serving specific underrepresented communities of color, fostering success through culturally appropriate learning environments. This research utilizes a unique business lens to discuss the value of a service-based institution, using tools such as value proposition and consumer fit, and then, it compares each set of institutions using ROI and NPV. The data, sourced from College Scorecard, Georgetown …

Notes From The Editor, Derek Stadler

Urban Library Journal

I am very pleased to welcome you to the first issue of the 30th volume of Urban Library Journal.

Steps In The Right Direction: The Pursuit Of Walkability Within The United States, Griffin Neuschaefer

Honors Projects

The benefits associated with walkability are well documented and observed across a number of disciplines. Benefits pertaining to the economy, physical and mental health, and safety are clearly associated with walkability and the implementation of walkable design within specific communities. Due to dominant practices pertaining to urban design within the United States and a history of increasingly single-use and low-density zoning, walkability and the use of walking as a form of transportation are rarely utilized to the same extent as similarly developed countries. This paper aims to evaluate the features of walkability related to the aforementioned benefits in order to …

Steps In The Right Direction: The Psychological And Physical Health Impacts Of Public Infrastructure And Walkability, Julianne Bailey

Honors Projects

Walkability is a concept that impacts every individual on a daily basis, but yet is not understood well in public discourse. The United States has been built for decades to rely on cars as the primary method of transportation, despite proven success from other models abroad. This project looks into the benefits that walkability and certain elements of public infrastructure have to offer in regard to mental and physical well-being. Concepts such as green space, active commuting, and neighborhood design highlight how walkable environments offer a number of benefits pertaining to mental and physical health, and exemplify why walkability is …

U.S-Venezuelan Relations: Personality And Foreign Policy Decision Making, Isabella D. Alvarez Chacon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, the authoritarian socialist regime leaders in Venezuela, are known for their social programs and their stance against the U.S., but only Maduro cut off diplomatic relations with the U.S., one of the most significant FP decisions of his administration. This research examines the role that the personalities of these leaders may have played in explaining their distinct FP towards the U.S. Personality helps find traits that shift a leader’s behavior that then influence how they make decisions. Previous research has shown that personality is a helpful tool for understanding leaders' strategies, but it has not …

Latinas In Law Enforcement: Tokenism, Barriers And Changes Along The Narrow Bridge To Promotion, Saturnino Velazquez

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand and analyze themes and patterns shared among the lived experiences of 12 female Latina Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) in male-dominated police departments in the Midwest (Illinois and Minnesota). The researcher chose to adopt a basic interpretive qualitative research methodology for this study because it provides a flexible and useful research tool, and provided a broader approach to interpreting meaning from rich and detailed data, yet complex, and account of semi-structured interviews that served as a data collection instrument. This study was guided by the theoretical framework of Kanter’s research on …

Leadership Awakening: Shifting Towards Eco-Consciousness Through Psychedelics, Ladana Edwards

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Corporate leaders, wielding influence and decision-making power over world resources and capital, are key drivers of systemic change to address current social, economic, and ecological crises. To address the myriad complex and interdependent crises, a transformative shift in consciousness is required in leaders and leadership teams, from ego-consciousness towards eco-consciousness, which can be supported through psychedelic experiences. Shifting towards eco-consciousness can facilitate holistic decision making and an expanded sense of leadership responsibility to the planet and all its inhabitants—ultimately supporting the creation of healthier eco-nomics in our Earth community.

Shifts towards leadership eco-consciousness have the potential to open up space …

4th Annual International Conference Proceedings: Rethinking Economics In The Contemporary World, Centre For Business And Economic Research (Cber), School Of Economics And Social Sciences (Sess)

Conference Proceedings

The School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS), through the Department of Economics and the Center for Business and Economics Research (CBER), opens the call for papers for its fourth international conference: Rethinking Economics in the Contemporary World.

The development of technology, the immediate effects of climate change, complex geopolitical situations, substantial migration, rapid urbanization, increasing income inequality, the emergence of digital economies, and global health crises have all amplified uncertainties and accelerated changes in the economic landscape, underscoring the imperative for better insights and new perspectives in economics profession. This year's conference recognizes the new paradigms and shifts in …

An Exploration Of Russian "Plea Bargaining": Americanization And Administratization Theses, Nathaniel Brewer

Honors Theses

This Project attempts to answer the question: Why did Russia adopt a legal practice that is seemingly inconsistent with its inquisitorial legal history? The Project examines this question through two theses posited by Máximo Langer and applying them to the Russian Federation’s Code of Criminal Procedure (“CCP”) Chapter 40. Chapter 40 of the CCP creates the Special Trial Procedure (“STP”), a summary proceeding allowing the defendant to agree to the charges they face in exchange for a reduced sentence. In inquisitorial legal systems, this sort of proceeding is not meant to occur because they are meant to be predicated on …

H. H. Holmes: Savage Monster Or Cruel Conman?, Max Ewoldt

Bakerman Student Research Awards

No abstract provided.

How Should Scientists Act? Assessing Public Perceptions Of Scientists And Scientific Practices And Their Implications For Science Communication, Thomas G. Safford, Emily H. Whitmore

Faculty Publications

Is how science is conducted legitimate? Are scientists trustworthy? Whether the public answers “yes” to these questions is critical for science communicators. We explore how social factors affect public perceptions of the practice of science, and then test how those beliefs relate to views about how scientists engage with the public and policy making. Our results show that political ideology and religiosity affect these views. However, more importantly, respondents’ concerns about the integrity of the scientific process are the strongest predictor of views about scientists’ behavior, providing a focus area for future communication efforts in support of science-based decision making.

Social Media Influencer’S Crisis Responses And The Short And Long-Term Effects On Their Brand And Reputation, Reese K. Brosnan

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A crisis for a social media influencer is incredibly prevalent as a part of the career since they are constantly online and showing themselves to the world. There is currently plenty of research on how to plan for a crisis response for organizations that are not having to respond as both an individual and as a brand. The need for research on how an influencer can plan for and respond to a crisis in an effective manner is imperative as the rate of people wanting to be a social media influencer has increased. Therefore, more people will become reliant on …

When Help Hurts: Workplace Instrumental Support And Employee Emotional Exhaustion Within-Person, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, Anthony T. Misisco, Eden B. King

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The social support paradox describes mixed findings on the effects of social support on well-being. An application of the person-environment fit perspective can address the paradox by reasoning that similar quantities of social support needs and social support supplies should result in optimal well-being outcomes. We integrate a person-environment fit perspective with self-determination theory in an examination of the relationship between workplace instrumental support and emotional exhaustion through a two-week experience sampling method study. Fifty-nine participants responded to questions about desired quantities of work-related help from their colleagues (coworkers and supervisors) and their perceived quantities of work-related help after work …

Sharing Our Screens, Katie Day Good

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Recently I re-watched The Truman Show, the 1998 film about a man, played by Jim Carey, who discovers that his life has been broadcast to the world as a reality TV show. Though produced a quarter of a century ago, the movie’s critique of an “always-on,” surveillant media culture felt timely and spoke to my social media-fatigued soul. But in other ways, the film reminded me that it is the product of a bygone era.

12.09.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Employee Profiles

In Person Account Reconciliation and Tableau Training

NSF Proposals with Consultant or Professional Services

Sharing Our Screens, Katie Day Good

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Association Of Unmet Social Needs With Disease-Related Outcomes In Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Molly Sonenklar, Sarah Marks, Cerelia Donald, Cecelia Valrie, Wally Smith, India Sisler

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Social determinants of health (SDoH) are socioeconomic factors that influence health and well-being, though when unmet can greatly contribute to health disparities. Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk of mortality, disability, and healthcare utilization. However, there are limited data linking specific social needs with disease outcomes in this population. Therefore, we sought to identify the unmet needs in one institution and their association with healthcare utilization. Methods: Children with SCD and their guardians answered demographic and SDoH questionnaires during routine Sickle Cell Clinic appointments. We defined an unmet social need as any positive answer to …

Development Of A Rapid Method For Pfas Detection And Quantitation In Human Hair, Justin M. Allen

Student Theses

In recent years, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as a critical focus in environmental and public health research due to their persistent nature and widespread use in products ranging from non-stick cookware to firefighting foams. These "forever chemicals" resist degradation, posing significant ecological and human health risks. While extensive studies have explored PFAS in environmental matrices, research into their presence in human hair remains limited, with only a handful of studies addressing this biomarker's potential. This thesis aims to develop a robust analytical method for detecting PFAS in human hair, leveraging its unique properties to provide a long-term …

Family Ties: How Families Of Origin And Procreation Influence Women’S Migration And Integration, Becca Goldrup

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Women's migration is an increasingly important focus of interest in understanding the family-level factors shaping individual and family-level migration decisions. Utilizing interviews with 30 immigrant women residing in Utah who migrated to the US at three different ages (childhood, young adulthood, and later adulthood), I ask: “How do familial relationships impact the immigration experience for women in the US, and how does this vary by age at migration?” I find that family significantly shapes women's migration decisions and experiences post-migration for women of all ages, but this influence has subtle differences based on their age at migration. Women who migrated …

Inference For Regression With Variables Generated By Ai Or Machine Learning, Laura Battaglia, Timothy Christensen, Stephen Hansen, Szymon Sacher

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

It has become common practice for researchers to use AI-powered information retrieval algorithms or other machine learning methods to estimate variables of economic interest, then use these estimates as covariates in a regression model. We show both theoretically and empirically that naively treating AI- and ML-generated variables as “data” leads to biased estimates and invalid inference. We propose two methods to correct bias and perform valid inference: (i) an explicit bias correction with bias-corrected confidence intervals, and (ii) joint maximum likelihood estimation of the regression model and the variables of interest. Through several applications, we demonstrate that the common approach …

Forecasting Crime Rates Utilizing Machine Learning And Economic Indicators, Owen Miller

Honors Projects

Abstract: The following project utilized the correlation between economic indicators and crime rates to build tree-based machine learning algorithms that predict monthly crime rates in Ohio. The goal of the study was to answer how economic variables could be used in forecasting county level crime rates. A sample of 9 counties were utilized in building regression trees, random forests and evolutionary random forest models. The study concluded that lagged crime rates provided the best predictive ability in forecasting models, while economic variables provided more accuracy to property crime. The study could be furthered by creating models at the department level …

¿Qué Dijo El Médico?: Creating A Procedural Preparation Booklet For Spanish-Speaking Patients And Families In The Pediatric Hospital Setting, Caitlyn Bockbrader

Honors Projects

The purpose of my Honors Project is to demonstrate the need for and creation of a resource that supports Spanish-speaking children’s ability to cope through commonly stressful medical procedures. In developing this project, I conducted a literature review on the efficacy of preparation booklets in lessening pre-procedural anxiety, cultural considerations for the Hispanic community, and current barriers to equitable language access in healthcare settings. My final product was designed to answer the following question: How can the psychosocial outcomes of Spanish-speaking children in U.S. hospitals be improved through the use of Child Life procedural preparation materials? In answering this question, …

The Relationship Between Religious Coping Styles And Eating Disorder Risk In Christians In A University Setting, Meghan E. Aubuchon

Honors Theses

Existing research on eating disorders and religion is beginning to gain momentum in the present day, but research is lacking on the topic of religious coping and eating disorder risk. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between two known styles of religious coping—positive and negative—and eating disorder risk in University of Mississippi students, faculty, and staff who identify as Christian. A survey consisting of basic demographic questions, the EAT-26, and the Brief RCOPE was distributed via emails sent by the office of IREP to students, faculty, and staff at the University of Mississippi. A total of 330 participants were …

Libraries On The Front Lines: The Imperative For Disaster-Ready Information Professionals, Feili Tu-Keefner Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Libraries, particularly local public libraries, have evolved into hubs for community-first services, extending beyond traditional roles. Library personnel are now expected to act as first responders and crisis leaders during times such as natural disasters. This report documents the critical crisis leadership qualifications required for library personnel, identified through comprehensive research from 2015 to 2023. Findings from these situation-specific case studies call attention to the community’s needs for library services during emergencies, underscoring the requirement for LIS education to include disaster management. Continuing education (CE) is also critical in preparing information professionals for these essential roles.

On The Benefits Of Directness In Virtual Characters For Motivational Interviews, Michael O'Mahony, Cathy Ennis, Robert Ross

Conference papers

Understanding the factors influencing successful engagement with Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) remains a significant challenge. This understanding could be used to personalise agents to users to improve interactions. Some studies have shown that simulating personalities in healthcare agents can improve effectiveness and engagement. However, it is not yet well understood how variations of agent personality can be leveraged to improve user engagement with Motivational Interviewing (MI) ECAs. Specifically how the balance between agent warmth and directness can be controlled in an MI agent to improve likeability and engagement. We conducted an online Wizard-of-Oz (WoZ) mediated study of two variants of …