Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cap-And-Trade And Air Quality: Which Communities Benefit The Most?, Nicole Bobbs

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Air Quality significantly impacts public health, particularly for individuals with respiratory issues. Cap-and-trade (CAT) programs aim to mitigate emissions, focusing on greenhouse gases to improve air quality. This paper evaluated the long-run effectiveness of CAT programs, comparing multi-sector and single-sector initiatives, and their impact on air quality across counties with varying economic statuses. Using a difference-in-difference approach, comprehensive data spanning recent years up to 2023 is analyzed. The dataset includes air quality measures, population, personal income, average temperature, precipitation, and vehicle registrations enabling a thorough examination of the programs’ effects. Results reveal a complex relationship. Both programs’ initiatives create a …

Cognitive Indicators Of Performance In League Of Legends Players, Emerson Fant

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project attempts to discover the importance of several cognitive traits in esports performance, specifically League of Legends. The traits (performance indicators) measured are frustration tolerance, locus of control, self-efficacy, and intrinsic/extrinsic motivation. Participants will take several existing tests to measure each trait, as well as provide their League of Legends username(s) so that their results can be compared to their in-game performance. I hypothesize a positive relationship between League of Legends rank and frustration tolerance, internal locus of control, intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy. I hypothesize a negative relationship between rank and external locus of control, extrinsic motivation, and frustration …

Gains And Challenges Of The Barangay Health Worker (Bhw) Program During Covid-19 In Selected Cities In The Philippines, Mikhaela Y.T. Baliola, Margaret R. Golpe, Leslie V. Advincula-Lopez

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Background: The Philippine Barangay Health Worker (BHW) program extends the accessibility of health care services at the community level. BHWs are trained volunteers who perform various health-promoting and health-educating tasks and provide primary health care (PHC) services within their communities. However, the weak implementation of policies meant to protect their welfare, like the BHW Benefits and Incentives Act (Republic Act No. 7883), translates to challenges that impact the sustainability of the BHW program. This qualitative study aimed to explore the BHWs' experiences with RA 7883 and how its implementation shaped their overall role as frontline health workers during the pandemic. …

Pharmaceutical Messianism And The Politics Of Covid-19 In The United States, Gideon Lasco, Vincen Gregory Yu, Nishtha Bharti

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, public officials in the United States–from the President to governors, mayors, lawmakers, and even school district commissioners–touted unproven treatments for COVID-19 alongside, and sometimes as opposed to, mask and vaccine mandates. Utilising the framework of ‘pharmaceutical messianism’, our article focuses on three such cures–hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and monoclonal antibodies–to explore how pharmaceuticals were mobilised within politicised pandemic discourses. Using the states of Utah, Texas, and Florida as illustrative examples, we make the case for paying attention to pharmaceutical messianism at the subnational and local levels, which can very well determine pandemic responses and outcomes in contexts such …

Deciphering A Non-Meal: Pantawid-Gutom And The Everyday Negotiation Of Hunger In The Philippines, Gideon Lasco, Jhaki Mendoza

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Pantawid-gutom literally means “to bridge hunger” and refers to a range of food and non-food products and practices in the Philippines that allow people to survive in between “serious meals.” What does its existence as a liminal category between food/non-food or serious/non-serious meal signify, particularly for millions of Filipino families who regularly experience hunger? Drawing on fieldwork in low-income urban communities on Luzon Island, and from a review of the scholarly and popular literature, we use local conceptions of pantawid-gutom—hitherto overlooked in the scholarship—as a starting point for exploring the lived reality of food insecurity in the country. The efficacy …

‘Saving The Youth’: Children And Young People As Moral Subjects In The Philippines’ Punitive Drug Regime, Gideon Lasco, Luis Emmanuel A. Abesamis

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Background

The Philippines has one of the must punitive drug regimes in the world, as evidenced not just by Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war but previous anti-drug campaigns. This article examines the place of ‘the youth’ in the longstanding moral panic around drugs and drug policy in the Philippines.

Methods

This article uses critical discourse analysis to analyze figurations of young people across three distinct periods in the Philippines’ contemporary history: Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s early dictatorship (1972–1975), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s presidency (2001–2010), and Rodrigo Duterte’s administration (2016–2022).

Results

In all three periods, young people were simultaneously invoked as a group that needs …

Examining Public Responses To Transgressions Of Ceos On Youtube: Social And Semantic Network Analysis, Jin A. Choi, Sejung Park

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

In what was labeled the "nut rage" incident, the vice president of Korean Air, Hyun-Ah Cho (Heather Cho), demonstrated behavior that exemplifies corporate transgression and deviation from societal moral standards toward a flight attendant aboard a flight. Such behavior instigated the public to express negative sentiment on various social media platforms. This study investigates word-of-mouth network on YouTube in response to the crisis, patterns of co-commenting activities across selected YouTube videos, as well as public responses to the incident by employing social and semantic network analysis. A total of 512 YouTube videos featuring the crisis from December 8, 2014 through …

Internalized Racism: A Theoretical Model, William Glen Fisher

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

Internalized racism exists, we can observe and measure the effect it has on people. It manifests from both the psychological and sociological factors that form a person’s racial self-image. As Campón and Carter (2015) state: “less attention to date has been given to … how racial minority groups appropriate (i.e., take in) racial beliefs.” (p.498). In this dissertation, I explore how internalized racism forms. Further, I propose a new theoretical model integrating two concepts, the racialized self and racialized experiences. Racism is found at different levels, within the self through the racialized self, it highlights how People of Color view …

Welcome To The Fruit Farm: How Queer Farmers Are Shaping The Agroecology Of The Future, Alessandra Del Brocco

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

The question of sustainability has many different facets, but one of the most urgent issues is that of sustainable agriculture. Decades of agricultural policy demanded farmers go big or get out, more colloquially known as the government directive of the 20^th century to farm “fencerow to fencerow”. In the 21^st century, we now face a near-critical consolidation of farmland and decline in the overall number of farmers. If sustainability calls for a resilient, diversified agrisystem, how can we change direction at this point in the trajectory?

In this study, I demonstrate how queer farmers make valuable contributions to …

Perspectives 2024, Oberlin College Libraries

Perspectives Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Reconciling With The State: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Perspectives Of Reconciliation Of Wrongfully Convicted Persons In Southern Nigeria, Chinyere Erica Chisom

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Wrongfully convicted persons in Nigeria experience numerous harms and losses from their wrongful convictions and face various challenges after their exoneration and release from prison. These adverse effects occur on multiple levels of the wrongfully convicted persons’ relationships and impact these relationships in profound ways. Although legal remedies exist to deal with the aftermath of wrongful convictions in Nigeria, they are grossly inadequate. Reconciliation, an innovative, holistic, and restorative measure, is required to address the impact of these devastating experiences and repair the affected relationships. Grounded in the social contract, human needs, and restorative justice theories, this study employed a …

Effects Of Mindfulness Training On Prosocial Responses In Intergroup Relations: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Denise Yiran Zheng

Theses and Dissertations

Based on social identity theory and intergroup emotions theory, individuals feel for and act toward others based on their group-based social identities. Recent research shows that mindfulness can enhance prosocial responses toward others across group divides. The current research examined the effects of mindfulness training on prosocial behavior in intergroup relations where such behavior is difficult (e.g., with marginalized or devalued social groups). The study also examined potential mechanisms, namely state empathic concern and appraisal, that may explain how mindfulness increases prosocial behavior toward outgroups. This study compared the effects of a 2-week mindfulness training to a matched coping training …

An Exploratory Study Of Ombuds As Agents Of Change: From Observation To Action, Michael A. Wahlgren

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on identifying successful approaches used by university ombuds offices to enact change regarding dispute resolution options within their academic institute. The field of Ombuds has grown steadily in North America since the 1970s and is widely used by private industry, academia, and government organizations to deploy alternative dispute resolution techniques, an often cheaper and more successful means of conflict resolution compared to the traditional litigious approach. Identifying how ombuds approach promoting change requires understanding the dispute resolution system and the conditions that produce conflict. Based on interviews with 10 current university ombuds officers from a variety of …

Why Is My Hair Micromanaged In The Workplace? Black Women And Natural Hairstyles In The Federal Government, Darnella Mcguire-Nelson

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the impact on the career advancement of Black women in the federal government who choose to wear their hair in its natural textured state. The researcher used a structural narrative approach and thematic analysis, guided by the following research question: What are Black women’s experiences when they choose to wear their hair in its natural state as they seek career advancement in the federal government? The two major theories used in this study to elucidate participants’ experiences were structural violence and intersectionality. The following theories provided insight and context to intersectionality: …

A Case Study Analysis Of The Financial Structure Of Boko Haram In Nigeria, John O. Opara

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the various techniques used by Boko Haram (BH) to source funds for its violent activities in Nigeria. The study also examined the reasons why the group maintains support from the locals and others despite the violence the group has caused in Nigeria. A case study qualitative research technique was selected by using Key Informant Interviews (KII) and relevant document review to gather data to address the central questions of why Boko Haram has support, and why it maintains a strong financial structure. Findings of the study revealed that Boko Haram has several sources of funding and support …

Decisional And Intrapersonal Conflicts Regarding Treatment Choice For Breast Cancer And The Lived Experiences Encountered During Treatment., Uchennamee Vital Durulawrence

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is a widely recognized health concern, yet the concept of 'intrapersonalconflict' within the context of breast cancer treatment is relatively underexplored. While existing research predominantly addresses the impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on everyday life, there is limited investigation into the decisional and intrapersonal conflicts that women face during the course of their treatment. This qualitative study employs transcendental phenomenological analysis to examine these conflicts and the broader experiences of women as they navigate treatment decisions, lifestyle adjustments, and relational dynamics throughout their breast cancer journey. The study participants comprised 12 women aged between 21 and 80, …

Giving Voice To The Victims Of The Insurgency In Eastern Uganda In The Late 1980s And Early 1990s: A Phenomenological Research Study, Lawrence Egulu

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

After five years of protracted guerilla warfare, Uganda’s current President Yoweri Museveni capturedpower in January 1986, displacing the preceding regime that had been dominated by Northern politicians and Eastern Ugandans (army and police). Feeling humiliated, deprived, and out of government, several rebel insurgencies erupted, among which was the Uganda People’s Army in the Teso region. The experiences of the affected population at the hands of the army, rebels, and the Karamojong cattle raiders from the North East have remained largely unexplored, unheard, and undocumented outside of the region, and neither have how the victims made meaning of their conditions. The …

The Cultural Adaptation Of An Eating Disorders Assessment Tool For South Asian American Women, Neha J. Goel

Theses and Dissertations

South Asians (SAs) are less likely to be screened, referred, and treated for eating disorders (EDs), although they experience these serious health conditions at rates similar to those of their White counterparts. Available ED assessment tools do not adequately capture cultural nuances in the presentation of eating psychopathology in SAs. Thus, the current study culturally adapted the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) to enhance its validity, applicability, and cultural relevance for SA women living in the US. During the cultural adaptation phase, the principal investigator consulted with participant experts (N=24) and research experts (n=4) to create the …

Artificial Intelligence In Aviation: A Path Analysis, Leila Halawi, Mark D. Miller, Sam J. Holley

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The study applied the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess trust in artificial intelligence (AI) within the US commercial aviation industry. It found that ease of use and usefulness positively influenced attitudes toward AI, impacting users’ intention to use it. However, perceived usefulness did not significantly affect meaning, purpose, and mood positively correlated with trust in AI. In some cases, higher perceived usefulness led to lower trust, indicating the complexity of trust in AI in aviation. This study highlights the importance of trust in AI and suggests the need for further investigation in the aviation context. It also recommends expanding …

A Second Look At Active Shooter Events: Expanding Our Understanding Of Key Factors, Kyle Gamache, Matt Zaitchik, Judith Platania, Cecelia Coslovi, Willem Pontbriand

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

In the current study, we investigate active shooter events (ASEs) with emphasis on expanding our understanding of key factors involved in these events. The impetus for this study is a 2015 exploration (Gamache et al., 2015) that highlighted common perpetrator and event characteristics in ASEs occurring in the US prior to 2014. Since the 2015 study, mass-shooting events have moved from tragic, isolated incidents, to a phenomenon that is widely discussed in the media and highly politicized. Our goal was to investigate continued trends, if any exist, and to compare our current sample of ASEs to the sample utilized in …

Education And Religion In Shaping Support For Same-Sex Relations: Considering Differences Over Time And Across Geographical Areas, Amy Adamczyk, Ashely French

Publications and Research

Across the world, attitudes about same-sex relationships have become rapidly more supportive. While education is typically viewed as a liberalizing force, religious beliefs are often seen as restricting more tolerant perspectives and contributing to more conservative attitudes in general. Focusing on the United States this study examines the roles of religion and education, as individual and group properties, for understanding disapproval of same-sex relationships. Drawing on restricted information that makes it possible to identify where General Social Survey respondents lived, we find that graduating from college is associated with more support, but has less of an effect on Evangelicals and …

Revamping Email Communications: A Review Of Five Free Email Design Platforms, Karen Okamoto

Publications and Research

This article reviews five free online email design platforms that libraries can use to create visually appealing and engaging email newsletters and other email communications. The five platforms reviewed in this article – Beefree, Mosaico, Smore, Stripo, and Tabular – are assessed according to ease of use, the availability of pre-designed templates, and other features, such as the ability to add collaborators. This review begins with a summary of the library and marketing literature on email communications, including best practices, and ends with a brief overview of email marketing platforms and services.

Fat And Water Content Effects Of Three Food Substrates (Ground Veal, Ground Beef, And Beef Liver) On Lucilia Sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Development And Mortality, Nicole Dailey

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Although temperature has been identified as the most important catalyst affecting blow fly larval development, other variables encountered by these species, such as the fat and moisture content of the food source, may have an impact on accurate estimations of the PMImin in forensic investigations. Thus, body composition differences between human carrion, such as variations in body fat and water percentages between younger and older individuals, or heavier persons, could affect blow fly developmental rates, and in turn cause over or under estimations of the PMImin. In this study, the weight, length, and development times of Lucilia sericata third instar …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Method For Complete Collagenase I Digestion Of Bos Taurus Bone Samples, Reilly Price

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Current methods for processing aged forensic bone samples for DNA analysis involve pulverization and organic extraction, which further destroys already degraded DNA and uses large amounts of limited samples. Additionally, the success rates for this type of analysis vary widely as homogenization incorporates PCR inhibitors into the sample. Little research has explored how pulverization results in DNA damage in profiles obtained from skeletal remains. This study proposes an enzymatic digestion method to separate osteocytes from PCR inhibitors in the extracellular bone matrix to improve the quality and quantity of DNA isolated from aged bone samples. The technique described here used …

A Comparative Analysis Of Swabbing Solutions For Sexual Assault Evidence: Direct Impact On Spermatozoa And Dna Recovery, Olivia Q. Kassie

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Forensic laboratories struggle with a backlog of sexual assault cases, prompting the need for effective techniques to develop consistent protocols and address scientific gaps. Challenges in recovering optimal DNA from assault evidence stem from factors like collection timing and sampling variables. Variations in lab protocols can lead to differences in DNA yields and profile success. This was observed in a state lab when protocols were developed allowing the use of acetone to swab sexual assault evidence. The use of acetone originated due to their case-routing protocols in multi-section cases involving latent fingerprints. While not necessary for sexual assault and porous …

Evaluation Of Charcoal Strip Extraction Efficiency Under Varying Substrate Conditions, Abby Wester

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

The ability of a forensic examiner to identify the presence of ignitable liquids (ILs) in fire debris collected from the area of origin of a fire is an essential component for determining intent in fire investigations. However, this relies on an effective extraction method that provides a complete picture of what is present in the debris. In this study, eight substrate materials underwent three different treatments: a low-volume of substrate that was unburned, a low-volume of substrate that was burned, and a high-volume of substrate that was unburned. Each sample was spiked with a 1:1 mixture of gasoline and diesel …

Discrimination Of Blue Denim Fibers Utilizing Physical Characteristics, Optical Properties, Fluorescence Microscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible Microspectrophotometry, And Microchemical Testing, Elkin Howard

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Cotton, the most common natural fiber, has numerous uses in the textile industry. This fiber type is ubiquitous in forensic casework due to its prevalence, particularly in blue jeans. The abundance of blue cotton in society and its limited variations in features can diminish the probative value of its presence on items of evidence. While a pair of blue jeans may be constructed with a combination of natural and manufactured fibers, the most likely fiber type to be transferred between sources is cotton. In this study, a comprehensive analytical approach to blue jean fiber analysis was explored to determine if …

Cellular Autofluorescence Signatures For Determining Time Since Deposition Of Whole Blood, Hannah Lamer

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Knowledge of the relative window of time that evidentiary biological material was deposited at a crime scene, referred to as the time since deposition (TSD), would help investigators determine which evidentiary items are most probative and assist with scene reconstruction. One commonly encountered body fluid at a crime scene is blood. Various methods for estimating TSD of bloodstains have been developed, but none to date have been validated for use in the forensic laboratory. Recently, flow cytometry measurements of cellular autofluorescence and size/structure have been investigated as a signature for TSD of saliva and touch epidermal cells. This study assessed …

Overcoming The Effects Of Oily Contaminants On Dna Extraction Efficiency Using Dna Iq™ System, Elizabeth G. Gillece

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

In forensic science DNA extraction and purification are crucial to DNA analysis as evidentiary items vary in DNA quantity and quality. In casework the goal to is maximize DNA yield, remove PCR inhibitors, and develop a full profile while preserving evidence. Extraction methods are developed to target the DNA for optimal isolation. Solid-phase extraction is advantageous as it can extract DNA from a variety of tissue types, it is amenable to automation, and it provides quick and efficient purification of DNA. Solid-phase extraction methods may have complications with contaminants that hinder the quantity and quality of the DNA recovered. In …

A Novel Dual Configuration Dart/Uhplc-Ms/Ms System For The Rapid Analysis Of Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms And Other Seized-Drug Submissions, Aron R. Jaffe

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

The use and availability of controlled substances is highly dynamic. When a classical or novel psychoactive substance becomes popular, an influx of seized-drug evidence submissions closely follows, contributing to an ever-growing backlog of exhibits awaiting identification. The need for inclusive, rapid, and robust analytical methods is apparent, as demonstrated by recent growth in hallucinogen use. Psilocybin and psilocin, among other entheogens, have become increasingly popular and an increase of psilocybin mushroom seizures by law enforcement has followed. The structural similarity and thermal lability of many entheogens preclude their identification using many conventional analysis techniques. A DART and UHPLC were interchangeably …