Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Conceptualizing Hope As A Virtue, Isabella Musherure, Esther Turahirwa

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

The purpose of this study is to develop a quantitative measure for conceptualizing hope as a virtue while expanding on the psychological framework of hope theory. Hope has predominantly been studied in positive psychology under Snyder's Hope Theory framework (Snyder, 2002). However, its current definition does not encompass a virtuous definition of hope, something that is inherently good. Hope Theory predominately studies hope as a personal trait that promotes individual success and well-being (Schornick et al., 2022). Virtues are a target of much scientific focus and a theoretical framework has recently been proposed to further its empirical study (Fowers et …

Does Visual Dominance Influence Looking Patterns In Adults?, Erin Vokal, Lars Overos, Lauren Tocco

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Language acquisition begins with learning names of common objects by discovering the link between the word and the object. Yet even this is difficult because many objects are often in view when an object's name is spoken. Research shows that children hold objects close to their faces, making them larger in view than other objects, which we call "visual dominance". Infants learn names of objects better when the object named is visually dominant (Yu & Smith, 2012). We want to test if visual dominance aids word learning even when objects are not being held. We will test this by displaying …

Political Biases In State Supreme Courts, Jackson Uyl

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

The judiciary of the United States makes thousands of decisions a year that directly affect the political landscape of the United States. When judges make decisions, they purportedly make their rulings based on the rule of law presented for a given case. Judges, however, are not without biases and can be prone to make rulings that have been cultivated by their political beliefs. This study focuses on the political decision making of state Supreme Court justices and examines how they make decisions that are potentially politically motivated in cases dealing with criminal rights and economic liberties. My research examines how …

Religiosity And Conspiracy Theories, Mark Fields

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Conspiracy theories are a popular phenomenon because they affect core beliefs and, accordingly, their actions. As prevalent as conspiracy theories are, we do not know why some people believe them and others do not, nor do we know why some conspiracy theories are more 'infectious' than others. I theorize that there is a positive correlation between belief in organized religion and belief in conspiracy theories because both religion and conspiracy theories are based on faith rather than empirical knowledge. Conspiracy theories vary in their characteristics, and therefore the variation between conspiracy theories might have an effect on the amount of …

Religion’S Impact In Foreign Policy, Alexis Potapczak

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

This research paper analyzes religion's involvement in foreign policy concerning the time period that the United States was involved in the Cold War. Previous contributions to the research of foreign policy show that religion does have a profound impact, and now can be applied to theories surrounding the Cold War. I theorize that Cold War foreign policy was strongly influenced by Christian rhetoric and practices. I will compare the current ways of quantifying the involvement of religion in foreign policies with decisions made by the United States' foreign policy leaders during the Red Scare. Decision makers', like congressmen and President …

Effects Of Religion And Health On Humility In Undergraduate Pre-Health And Nursing Students, Bergen Johnson

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Physicians who display greater humility tend to have better communication with patients, who then self-report as having better health (Ruberton et al. 2016). Research shows that older adults with increased humility have better self-rated health (Krause 2010). Religiosity also relates to humility in older adults, with more religious individuals scoring higher in humility (Krause 2010). Due to the benefits of humility for patients and physicians, the early character development of humility in undergraduate pre-health and nursing students is of interest — especially as this is a time of rapid character change and development (Clydesdale 2007). This study investigates whether the …

Humbly More Religious: The Role Of Humility In Religious Change, Chloe Swanson, Hannah Fuller, Carmen Casper, Isabella Brady

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Recent polls indicate that rates of individuals in the United States who identify as currently religious are declining (Twenge et al., 2016). Events such as COVID-19, presidential elections, and personal adversity affect religious change, likely because such events threaten one's religious worldview. One understudied area of religious change is intellectual humility. Religious change may be more welcome and less destabilizing. We seek to better understand religious change by examining the critical role of humility. In this study, individuals who attended a ex-vangelical conference participated in a year-long longitudinal study where they answered surveys in both 2019 and 2020. These surveys …

Infants’ Ability To Associate Objects And Their Names, Nycole Kragt, Chloe Swanson

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Language learning is a complex, dynamic process (Kaplan, 2008). Nevertheless, research indicates that infants as young as 6 months can learn the names for common objects (Bergelson & Swingley, 2012). Learning to associate objects and their names is a difficult task. However, research demonstrates that when infants see objects and hear their names simultaneously across multiple settings, they can begin to associate word-object pairings (Yu & Smith, 2008). This process is called "cross-situational learning." The present study uses eye-tracking to examine how infants accomplish cross-situational word learning. Infants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a naming condition where …

Religious Liberty In Modern American Constitutional Law, Leah Renkema

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

In its most recent completed term, the United States Supreme Court decided a number of key cases altering the placement of religious liberty in modern American constitutional law. While the Court has long struck different balances between preserving the constitutional mandates on both religious liberty and religious establishment, there has been a general consensus by those studying the Court that their interpretations over the past twenty years underneath the Roberts Court have trended towards the more accommodationist understanding of religious liberty. There is less agreement on what this newly composed Court and their recent decisions mean for the direction of …

Infant Object Transference And Play Preference, Elianna Kuehn, Danielle Mitchell, Grace Sarafa

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

This study investigates the link between virtual object learning and physical object play. This concept is relevant for today's digital culture where infants are routinely exposed to online educational programs (Barr, 2010). Research is unclear, however, about if and how what infants learn about objects on screen (visual preferences) applies to play choices — primary contexts for early learning.

The ability to recognize that an object's image on a screen is the same as the physical object is referred to as object transference (OT). For example, OT would be the ability to see an image of a cow on a …

Exploratory Study Of Undergraduate Pre-Health And Nursing Student Differences In Development, Bergen Johnson, Grace Rellinger

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

There is a great deal of research on how the professionalization and work of medical students, physicians, and nurses affect them, including burnout, stress, and empathy loss. We are interested in the earlier development of these trends and whether they already begin among undergraduate students pursuing health or nursing professions. There is a substantial knowledge gap in the differences and commonalities between pre-health, nursing, and students who have left health professions already. This research explores some of these commonalities and differences that begin developing quite early in nurses’ and physicians’ education. We look specifically at aspects we have labeled as …

Social And Emotional Knowledge In Hippocampal Amnesia, Ashley M. Trainor, Olivia Onderdonk

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

The hippocampus has been found to play a role in general semantic knowledge, but it is unclear if it plays a role in social and emotional semantics. This study seeks to evaluate the role of the hippocampus in social and emotional semantics through the study of patients with hippocampal damage and severe amnesia. Although previous literature has shown that individuals who have damage to their hippocampus show deficits in neutral words, we predict that the hippocampal amnesic group should show the same social-emotional knowledge as the healthy control group. For this study, we investigate this by using more sensitive measures …

Shoplifting And Other Types Of Petit Larceny In New York City, Jeffrey A. Butts, Richard A. Espinobarros

Publications and Research

This data brief from the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice highlights recent trends in petit larceny in New York City, based on the latest police crime data. Thefts involving items valued under $1,000 have increased by 50% since 2006 and 29% since 2019. Between 2019 and 2022, incidents at major commercial retailers rose sharply by 53%, with drug stores and chain stores experiencing some of the most dramatic increases. While some types of petit larceny had been in decline prior to 2019, many surged again in the years following. These patterns suggest shifting dynamics …

Trait Sadism In Bdsm Practitioners And Non-Practitioners, Marley Russell

Psychology ETDs

Sadism is an elusive construct within psychology. Multiple types are studied without clear psychometric or theoretical distinctions, and operationalizations of these respective sub-constructs lack validity. This study explores the empirical distinction between two sadism types: consensual sexual sadism (i.e. in the context of BDSM) and trait sadism. Trait sadism is widely synonymized with “everyday sadism”, but here conceptualized as a higher-order construct encompassing both everyday and a novel “prosocial sadism”. I develop and pilot the BDSM Identities and Behaviors (BIB) checklist in a sample of BDSM practitioners. I then compare those practitioners to non-practitioners on trait sadism and dark triad …

Magic As Political Might: Harry Potter, Authoritarianism, And Youth Political Behavior, Alexis Cobbs

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how authoritarian structures found in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series affect the political thoughts and behaviors of its readers, particularly those who read them at young ages. By examining how Rowling depicts authoritarianism and its opposition in the books, I hypothesized that increased exposure would correlate to an increased impact on readers’ political opinions. To test this hypothesis, I created an original survey designed to measure levels of exposure and participation in the Harry Potter fandom as well as respondents’ political opinions. I asked respondents to provide different examples of authoritarianism and its opposition in the books …

A Qualitative Study Of Food Behaviors In University Of Mississippi Students As They Relate To Nutrition Security, Bethany Selby

Honors Theses

Recent literature has demonstrated high rates of food insecurity in college students, with most estimates ranging from 30 to 40 percent. Additionally, the college diet is notoriously lacking in nutrition, and a large majority of college students do not meet the recommendations made by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Nutrition security, defined as an individual having consistent access, availability, and affordability of foods that promote wellbeing and prevent disease, addresses both of these issues.

This study, conducted in Spring 2022, used focus groups to examine food behaviors in a sample of majority undergraduate students at the University of Mississippi (n …

Reviving Agricultural Growth : Part - Iii, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Newspaper and Magazine Articles

At present, the canal irrigation management system recovers only a quarter of its repair and maintenance costs. In the 1970s, the entire cost was recovered by these water charges called ‘abiana’. The present average rate of surface water charges per acre is only one-fourth of what the farmer pays for tube wells and so it is not the ability to pay constraint. Flat water pricing or uniform water charges rather than usage based on volumetric measures militate against the adoption of high efficiency irrigation technologies and conservation of water. Punjab used to charge a flat rate of Rs 135 per …

Still Lending You The World: The Toledo Lucas County Public Library In The 21st Century, Cade Clem

Honors Projects

This research paper focuses on how the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) has adapted to the 21st century, with an emphasis on the impact of digital materials and the Internet. This paper looks at these changes primarily through three lenses: official policies, services and programs, and internal culture. This paper uses quantitative data to determine if TLCPL has maintained overall growth in areas such as number of cardholders, customer counts, circulation, computer usage, and program attendance. These numbers show that, while not always maintaining growth, TLCPL has adapted quite well to the 21st century, bringing in record high numbers …

Starting Young- Instilling Research Skills Through School Libraries, Anitha B. Librarian, Priyadarshini Don Thomas Librarian

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

This article focuses on the impact that school libraries can have on the informational and research skills of an individual if utilised as proposed while working within the academic framework of the institution that they serve. The benefits of introducing high school students to the world of research and the structured approach to it is discussed in detail along with how it improves student performance as well as equipping them with the tools and techniques they will need as they move forward with confidence to higher education and the professional environment. The paper also visits in brief the research …

The Information Literacy And The Infodemic In Covid-19 Pandemic At Kampala International University, Justina E. Ogbonna Cln, Jackline E. Kiwelu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Access to reliable information in times of emergency is important. However the quantum of information during emergency may cause infodemic. The study investigated the role of information literacy in mitigating infodemic in COVID 19 pandemic. A survey was conducted among educators and students in School of Mathematics and Computing (SOMAC), Kampala International University (KIU), Uganda. The findings reveal that: majority of the respondents (50%) either agreed or strongly agreed that they evaluated information before use; on the state of their emotions, respondents were confused, overwhelmed, alarmed and anxious; 50% were able to access the information with ease, while 50% could …

Methodological Guidelines For Focus Groups With Children From Developing Regions, María J. Peñaherrera-Vélez, Angélica Ochoa Avilés Phd, Nancy Arpi, Elisabeth Rodas, Gabriela Zúñiga, Elena Jerves

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research with children has gained recognition in recent years. Nevertheless, special considerations should be analyzed before conducting focus groups with children from developing countries where methodological guidelines are scarce. This article provides methodological guidelines for conducting focus groups with children from developing countries based on an extensive literature review and our experience in urban and rural areas in Ecuador. Peculiarities of urban and rural contexts are highlighted, and child-friendly strategies are proposed. We conclude that focus groups can be conducted successfully with urban and rural children from low-and-middle-income countries if their specific circumstances, such as language and cultural diversity, …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Negotiating Everyday Sexism In India: A Daily Diary Study, Sudha Shashwati, Parul Gupta, Preeti Kapur

The Qualitative Report

This study was undertaken to investigate the negotiation of everyday sexism encountered by college going young adult women in India in an urban context. An open-ended daily diary form was constructed, and 185 such forms were filled by 58 women enrolled in various colleges of a central university located in Delhi, India. These were analysed by content analysis with the help of NVivo software with a focus on target and type of sexism reported as well as response to sexist incident faced. The findings of this study reveal that participants chose inaction (53%) more than confronting sexism (47%), and reasons …

Approachability And Mask-Wearing During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review, Lauren Dehaan

Honors Theses

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic greatly impacted many aspects of life. Due to the airborne transmission of this respiratory disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement in early April of 2020 recommending that people wear face masks as part of an effort to reduce the spread of the virus (CDC, 2020). Mask-wearing presented a plethora of adjustments in many areas of life. In this literature review, we focus on the sociological impacts that mask-wearing had on sociability and approachability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studying the sociological impact of COVID-19 serves to inform both mental …

Approachability And Mask-Wearing During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review, Lindsay Kovach

Honors Theses

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic greatly impacted many aspects of life. Due to the airborne transmission of this respiratory disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement in early April of 2020 recommending that people wear face masks as part of an effort to reduce the spread of the virus (CDC, 2020). Mask-wearing presented a plethora of adjustments in many areas of life. In this literature review, we focus on the sociological impacts that mask-wearing had on sociability and approachability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studying the sociological impact of COVID-19 serves to inform both mental …

Investigating The Effects Of Work-Family Conflict On Turnover Intention Of Ict Employees In Malaysia, Lai Meng Lee, Su Wan Gan, Yong Sheng Chia

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

With the intensified focus on information and communication technology (ICT) as a driver of the Malaysian economy, pressure will increase on the recruitment and retention of ICT employees. However, work overload and conflict with family roles may lead to a higher level of turnover intention among ICT employees. The objective of this study is to investigate the predicting effects of all forms of work-family conflict (time-based, strain-based and behavior-based) on turnover intentions. This quantitative cross-sectional study utilizes primary data collected from 200 employees from ICT companies in the Klang valley using purposive sampling. Various statistical analyses such as correlation and …

Chilean Cinema In The 21st Century World (Review), James L. Richie Iv

Vernacular: New Connections in Language, Literature, & Culture

No abstract provided.

Understanding Involuntary Illegal Online Gamblers In The U.S.: Framing In Misleading Information By Online Casino Reviews, Sinyong Choi

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Although there are many illegal online gamblers in the United States who use offshore gambling sites while falsely believing that their activity is legitimate, few studies have focused on the role of online casino reviews (OCR) who facilitate this activity. These reviews, for a variety of reasons, may present misleading information designed to encourage U.S. players to use offshore gambling sites. Using framing theory and neutralization techniques, we conducted a content analysis of multiple OCR to examine how they present information and justifications regarding the use of offshore gambling sites in the U.S. The findings indicate that many OCR positively …

Non-State Actors And International Crisis Outcomes, 1987-2017, Taylor Schubert

Undergraduate Research Competition

This study examines the way non-state actor involvement affects the outcome of international crises. This was tested by looking at a set of international crises from 1987 through 2017. We find that the involvement of a non-state actor in an international crisis is associated with a greater likelihood of the crisis terminating via agreement or unilateral act, and a reduced likelihood of a crisis fading away. Additionally, we find that non-state actors who engage in direct fighting as a part of the crisis are further associated with negotiated and unilaterally-imposed outcomes, but that non-state actors who control territory are less …

Hispanic Population At Coastal Carolina University: An Analysis Of Challenges And Adversity In Higher Education, Valentina Bermejo

Undergraduate Research Competition

This research pursues the analysis of the Hispanic Population at Coastal Carolina University. It seeks to explain the factors that shaped their journey to secondary education whether it be through intrinsic motivation or generational guilt; while also seeking to understand the hardships that come with being the first generational student to attend an American University. Through previously conducted research by scholars such as Consuelo Arbona, Amaury Nora, Laura Perna, and Claudia Kouyoumdjian, along with a series of interviews amongst self-identifying Hispanic university-goers at Coastal Carolina; the study comes to find the disparities amongst the previously grouped category of "Hispanics at …

Developing Narrative Content For The Virtual Shikoku Pilgrimage Immersive Platform, Theresa Brick

Undergraduate Research Competition

The Virtual Shikoku Pilgrimage project is a multidisciplinary digital virtual heritage project to replicate the experience of the 88-temple Shingon Buddhist pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku. The project also aims to teach users about the Shikoku pilgrimage, including its historical, cultural, and spiritual significance. Utilizing the Unity 3D engine for 3D immersive virtual applications, this project is centered on developing an immersive videogame-style platform where users can navigate a recreated digital version of the pilgrimage temples and journey using a third-person perspective. Within these virtual landscapes, embedded multimedia popups (such as text, photos, and video) provide users with information …