Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Newsletter, Wku Staff Senate

Staff Council

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

Sibling Bullying Reported By Emerging Adults: Profiling The Prevalence, Roles, And Forms In A Cross-Country Investigation, Kristen Cvancara, Esta Kaal, Maili Pörhölä, M. Beatriz Torres

Communication Studies Department Publications

Prevalence estimates of sibling bullying indicate it occurs more frequently and with more negative consequences than peer bullying, yet many countries do not track or investigate the phenomenon. University students from Argentina, Estonia, and the United States were surveyed to investigate their retrospective experiences involving sibling bullying, how often it occurred, the roles held, and the forms communicated. In the aggregated data, roughly 50 % of the sampled emerging adults (N = 3477) reported experience with sibling bullying, with the dual role of bully-victim being the most frequently reported role held by males and females, with the second role being …

Hand In Hand, July-August, 2024

Hand in Hand

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Milwaukee, WI

Hand in Hand Finding Aid

2023-2024 Annual Report, Miguel J. Colon Jr.

LARC Annual Reports

The 2023–2024 Annual Report for the Scholarly Services team at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law highlights the team’s major accomplishments in advancing the visibility and impact of the law school’s scholarly work. The report details the ongoing management of the LARC repository, which experienced a notable increase in usage and engagement over the past year. It also showcases the launch of new digital series and the processing of the Benjamin N. Cardozo Papers. Through their work, the team continues to support the preservation of the school’s intellectual legacy, promote research visibility, and contribute to academic excellence—serving as a …

Social Media Journalism And Its Impact On Social Change: The Case Of Twitter(X), Daniel Ebo

Waldo Library Student Exhibits

Traditional journalism has converged with digital media to provide easier and accessible ways of news production and distribution. Several studies have interrogated the impacts of social media on journalism, but less has been studied on specific mediums and how they impact some of the traditional journalistic roles of addressing social issues. This study specifically adopted a user approach in identifying the roles of news organizations and journalists on X and how those roles influence social change initiatives utilizing the agenda-setting model. A correlational analysis conducted showed that there is a significant positive relationship between user engagement with news organization tweets …

Simplicity Of Wildlife Information, Brandon Joseph Kosiancic

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project came from curiosity and to help connect information to the community both locally and for tourists. Connecting with people from different backgrounds of the community helped solidify my deliverable and creativity that was made. After receiving feedback and doing field research of examples I came to my final product of what could benefit the community with the least amount of money or resources needed. By learning new sets of skills like graphic design and forming new relationships regarding wildlife and just what wildlife ecosystems do for the environment. I was able to help out in a way where …

Library Signage, Aleena Ann Gingerich

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

While working at the Eastern Florida State College Library and interacting with patrons I have gained insight for the areas which can be altered to improve our patrons’ experiences. I decided to apply the skills I’ve gained through my higher education experience to step outside of my current role at the Eastern Florida State College library, to improve the library’s signage.

The goal is to make the library more accessible and easier for patrons to use, promoting more book loans and encourage students to use library services.

A Versatile, Semi-Automated Image Analysis Workflow For Time-Lapse Camera Trap Image Classification, Gerardo Celis, Peter Ungar, Aleksandr Sokolov, Natalia Sokolova, Hannah Bohner, Desheng Liu, Olivier Gilg, Ivan Fufachev, Olga Pokrovskaya, Rolf Anker Ims, Wenbo Zhou, Dan Morris, Dorothee Ehrich

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Camera traps are a powerful, practical, and non-invasive method used widely to monitor animal communities and evaluate management actions. However, camera trap arrays can generate thousands to millions of images that require significant time and effort to review. Computer vision has emerged as a tool to accelerate this image review process. We propose a multi-step, semi-automated workflow which takes advantage of site-specific and generalizable models to improve detections and consists of (1) automatically identifying and removing low-quality images in parallel with classification into animals, humans, vehicles, and empty, (2) automatically cropping objects from images and classifying them (rock, bait, empty, …

York County Rural Communties Opioid Response Implementation Iv Grant: Interim Evaluation Report, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Gordon Mcintire Ba, Sarah Mclaughlin Mph, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This interim evaluation report has been developed for the York County Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, an RCORP-Implementation IV grant awarded to MaineHealth and funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). A main goal of this grant project is to understand the needs of individuals impacted by substance use disorders who have faced structural inequalities to access, in both correctional and heath care settings. The project utilizes a collaborative coalition that is community based, the Rural York Community Coalition (RYCC). For more information, please contact Lindsey Smith at [email protected]

Carrying Meaning, Bridging Worlds: Indigenous Language Localization In Western Courts, Nora K. Rivera

English Faculty Articles and Research

This work examines the localization practices of Indigenous court interpreters through prototyping and analyzing legal glossaries in eight Indigenous languages from the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. These languages are often needed in Mexican courts and immigration court hearings in the United States. Thus, examining the localization praxes of the court interpreters who use them can provide important intercultural technical and professional communication insights in global contexts. I compare the preliminary results of this ongoing study with the court interpreters' code of ethics from the State of California to demonstrate how Western court assumptions about language interpretation cause gaps between worldviews. …

Mental Health In Price: A Report On Community Perspectives, Kristen Koci, Jessica Ulrich-Schad

Publications

This report is from a research project conducted at the end 2022 that focuses on mental health in Price. Dr. Kristen Koci conducted interviews in Price to understand community members’ perspectives on and factors affecting mental health in the area. Community leaders from government and local organizations were interviewed along with general community residents, for a total of 27 interviews. The report that follows summarizes themes and perspectives gathered during these interviews.

Short-Term Rentals: How Are They Impacting The Bear Lake Community?, Alexander Theophilus, Jessica D. Ulrich-Schad

Publications

Bear Lake is a popular recreation and tourist destination split between the borders of Northeastern Utah and Southeastern Idaho. Bear Lake's beaches, watersports, and other outdoor recreation opportunities have attracted tourists for decades. Communities around Bear Lake include Garden City and Laketown, Utah, as well as Paris, Montpelier, Fish Haven, St. Charles, and Bennington, Idaho. Additionally, Bear Lake lies in close proximity to larger metropolitan areas along the Wasatch Front of Utah, such as Salt Lake City and Logan.

Healthy Acadia Prosper: Year 2 Interim Evaluation Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Evelyn Ali Bs, Gordon Mcintire Ba, Sarah Mclaughlin Mph

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

The PROSPER initiative is a collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia and its regional healthcare and nonprofit partners designed to support pregnant women, mothers, and families with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The project is funded by a four-year HRSA Outreach grant from 2021 to 2025. Through grant funding, PROSPER provides personal care planning, navigation support, and parenting and life skills training to clients at no cost to them. The partners also work to alleviate regional barriers to care and reduce stigma and discrimination of women seeking treatment to benefit their families.This report includes findings from the year 2 evaluation of the …

Making Resources Available - A Capstone Project, Colleen Seay

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project began as an attempt to make connections within my community. Connections between people in need, and the resources and services available to them. Making these connections involved research, discovering all of the wonderful organizations available locally and statewide and compiling those into an organized list with contact information. From there, I built a website that was easy to navigate and provided anyone who wanted access, every resource I had found. This website assists not only those who are looking for a little extra help, but also those who are trying to do good within their community. Those who …

Alternative College Program, Juan Francisco Alvarado

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

I wanted to create another option for students who do not wish to go to college after high school for whatever reason they have. I was in the staffing industry for three years and know there are opportunities for kids. Students have free periods during the day which they do not use effectively. I recommended using those hours to have kids go work at manufacturing plants and pick up useful trades. It evolved to something greater and the community was great. In helping out.

Learning With A Bang!, Jesse Poseley

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project focuses on a polarizing topic in America today, firearms. The Supreme Court of the United States has been very clear on the topic and therefore private ownership of firearms is here to stay for the foreseeable future. What can be done to ensure that their ownership and use is done in a way that is both safe and effective? Training. This project introduces the sport of USPSA as a training ground for the owners of firearms to learn and hone skills for the safe and effective use of firearms. This project consisted of 5 hours of mixed classroom …

The Maintenance Support Initiative, Quentin T. Turner

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The Maintenance Support Initiative, my capstone project, was designed to address inefficiencies in maintaining sensitive medical equipment, where precision and reliability are crucial. Inspired by the potential to enhance quality and safety, I developed user-friendly checklists specifically tailored to our organization. By collaborating closely with stakeholders, I gathered diverse perspectives to ensure the checklists were practical and effective. Emotional intelligence and innovative thinking proved to be essential along the way. These skills helped me navigate challenges and foster a collaborative environment where everybody got to be involved in the project. The post-implementation surveys revealed the project's success, showing reduced maintenance …

Instructional Video On Mental Health, Sarah Angelica Cruz Salum

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project is an instructional video promoting mental health in educational and workplace settings. Sharing important information regarding mental health. What it looks like, techniques to help those struggling with their mental health, and programs that could be implemented.

Weekly Wellness Program, Rogene Rux

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project brings to light some reasons why employees do not participate in in-house wellness programs which can worsen the feelings of burnout and isolation at work. A weekly wellness program, consisting of short and fun wellness activities, will help people be resilient physically and mentally.

Sexual Assault Disclosure: Understanding How The Reception Of Disclosure Effects Survivors’ Mental Health, Jade Buchanan

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Sexual Assault is a rampant issue in the United States that affects Americans across race, gender, and lifespan. The United States’ continually fails to provide comprehensive physical and mental healthcare to Survivors post-assault. Survivors experience a lack of access to formal support systems and post-assault care that for Survivors of Sexual Assault could dramatically impact post-traumatic cognitions. Furthermore, there are several factors of a Survivors identity that interact with and shape their experience with these unique supports systems. The purpose of this research is to engage in a meta-analysis of how adult Survivors’ gender, race, support received, and experiences with …

Ocular Gene Transfer In The Spotlight: Implications Of Newspaper Content For Clinical Communications, Shelly Benjaminy, Tania M. Bubela

Office of the Provost

Background: Ocular gene transfer clinical trials are raising hopes for blindness treatments and attracting media attention. News media provide an accessible health information source for patients and the public, but are often criticized for overemphasizing benefits and underplaying risks of novel biomedical interventions. Overly optimistic portrayals of unproven interventions may influence public and patient expectations; the latter may cause patients to downplay risks and over-emphasize benefits, with implications for informed consent for clinical trials. We analyze the news media communications landscape about ocular gene transfer and make recommendations for improving communications between clinicians and potential trial participants in light of …

“We’Ve Been Doing Mindfulness Since Time Immemorial”: Provider Experiences Using Mindfulness-Based Interventions In American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, Jalene L. Herron

Psychology ETDs

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals are underrepresented in mindfulness research. Mindfulness may be relevant to some AI/AN traditions and aid in providing culturally responsive mental healthcare. This study examined the experiences of providers who use mindfulness-based interventions with AI/AN clients. Twenty-five providers completed interviews about their experiences. Three primary themes were identified using thematic analysis: 1) using a cultural lens in providing therapy, where providers integrate cultural practices and utilize a client centered approach; 2) framing mindfulness in AI/AN contexts through cultural adaptations to demonstrate the applicability of mindfulness to cultural settings; and 3) processes in implementing culturally …

The Influence Of Coaching Behaviors On Gen Z Collegiate Athletes And Team Morale, Erik Bennett

PhD in Organizational Leadership

A coach's behavior significantly influences both athlete and team morale. As a generational change occurs, the behaviors exhibited by coaches may also require change. As members of Generation Z (Gen Z) begin to fill collegiate sports rosters, understanding their unique characteristics and preferences becomes critical for effective coaching strategies. Drawing upon generational studies and the interviews of six collegiate athletes within the Gen Z cohort, how coaching behavior influences collegiate athletes' athletic performance and team morale was analyzed within this cohort. Using a qualitative approach, data gathered from the six Gen Zaged collegiate athletes were analyzed to reveal patterns of …

English As The Scholarly Language: Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Implications For Academic Reference And Instruction Librarians, Linda Ueki Absher, Michelle R. Desilets

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

This article examines the use of non-English resources in academic libraries, with a focus on reference and instruction. Academic librarians from the United States and Canada were surveyed about their perceptions regarding the use of non-English resources during reference and instruction duties and the results are considered through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. The authors explore literature regarding the dominance of the English language in higher education, scholarly communication, and academic publishing. Library literature is also reviewed, emphasizing reference and instruction services viewed through a critical librarianship or “critlib” lens. These perspectives are applied to the survey results with …

Never Solved, Only Outgrown: The Most Important Problem(S) Facing Utah, Thomas C. Terry

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

Nearly 90 percent of Utahans surveyed identified the most important problem (MIP) facing the state as either the environment (50%) or population growth and development (40%) in the inaugural Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP) conducted in March-May 2023 (see Figure 1). Eleven percent of Utahns identified air quality issues – including pollution and its negative impacts – as the single largest component within the MIP environment and climate change category. According to the results of the poll, water and air pollution, affordable housing, pressure on the environment and threats to habitat boil down to “too many . . . …

Workshop Series: Embark On Your Journey Of Growth And Development, Heather Wilharm

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Project Overview: Embark is a workshop series structured to assist entry-level associates in beginning, continuing, or restarting a journey of growth and development by offering each participant valuable knowledge, tools, and strategies to become a lifelong learner.

Project Themes: The curriculum consists of three steps, each with three to four modules. Step One—During Step One, each participant will understand their real (and true) needs, desires, goals, strengths, and everything else that makes you tick. Step Two—During Step Two, each participant will learn what it takes to optimize their performance which will inform their individualized growth and development plan. Step Three—During …

Effects Of Posttraumatic Cognitions, Working Alliance, And Relational Intimacy Skills In Ptsd Treatment, Xiaonan Zhang

Dissertations (1934 -)

Cognitive theories have been proposed to explain the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Social-cognitive theories, as one of two major categories of cognitive theories (Brewin et al., 1996), emphasize the role of trauma-related beliefs in the development of PTSD, which led to the incorporation of modifying maladaptive trauma-related cognitions in psychological treatments of PTSD. Although extant studies have provided empirical evidence for the efficacy of these treatments, questions regarding active therapeutic components still exist. To that end, this study examined the effects of social-cognitive factors (i.e., posttraumatic cognitions, relational intimacy skills, and working alliance) on PTSD symptomatology …

The Nexus Between Revenue Decentralization Reforms And Economic Growth, Frankline Muthomi, Titus M. Ndunda

Public Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

Revenue decentralization represents a framework that facilitates enhanced fiscal autonomy for subnational governments, thereby enabling the tailoring of services to meet local needs and potentially fostering economic growth. In Kenya, the ratification of the 2010 constitutional formalized novel revenue frameworks aimed at supporting the operations, management, and sustainability of devolved county governments. However, there remains a paucity of empirical analysis examining the relationship between the revenue decentralization reforms and county-level economic growth. We begin by identifying the main sources of county revenues within the decentralization frameworks, then investigate the dynamic interrelation with county economic growth. Through panel vector autoregression estimation …

Building Partnerships Through Third-Party Facilitation: Best Practices From The Community Collaborative Initiative, Shariq Siddiqui, Abdul Samad, Rafeel Wasif

Public Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

Small minority group organisations rarely collaborate with other nonprofits owing to a lack of expertise and resources. Third-party facilitators can help these groups navigate the process of collaboration. However, the literature has largely ignored their role in the process. We address this gap by studying the challenges third-party facilitators face in the collaboration process and best practices they can apply using the Community Collaboration Initiative (CCI), a unique third-party-facilitated collaboration process working with Muslim American nonprofits.

Transportation, Healthcare Seeking, And Outcomes, Xiao Lin Ong

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Advancements in engineering and transportation technology have integrated commuting into modern living. Most studies on transportation infrastructure, such as roads and railways, focus on economic outcomes. This paper examines an overlooked outcome of transportation connectivity: access to medical care. We study the role transportation networks play in determining patients’ treatment location choices. Specifically, we aim to study 1) why patients travel to begin with, 2) how do patients choose where to go for treatment, and 3) how travel times can affect patients’ travel decisions. To do so, we develop a dynamic discrete choice, spatial model and provide empirical estimates. We …