Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cannabis: Its Benefits And Risks, Becca Bischoff

University Honors College

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that comes from the cannabis plant that has been used medicinally and recreationally for decades. With cannabis becoming legalized in more and more states, it is important to know its e*ects, whether they are good or bad. However, there are most benefits to using cannabis as its properties can help treat various diseases and conditions. Using cannabis can not only be beneficial to the individual who is using it but also to the state that legalized it. Various questions arise from cannabis use, including, how does it help manage pain or other conditions? What makes …

True Crime Obsession: Analyzing The Effects Of True Crime Media From The Past To The Present, Brianna Nirtaut

University Honors College

True crime media has affected the way people perceive the true crime genre from the 1500s until the present day. This thesis will first introduce the popularity of true crime media and describe the important role that true crime plays in today’s society. Historical examples of true crime depictions will be outlined in the first section to display how the true crime obsession has been prevalent for centuries and how the examples compare to present day depictions. Once the history of true crime media is understood, the ethical boundaries that should be kept by podcast hosts and documentary directors is …

“It’S Your Fault”: The Overcriminalization And Self-Fulfilling Prophecy In The Imprisonment Of African American Males In America, Jonnishae Bennett

University Honors College

African American men have been subjected to the abuse and neglect of America’s Criminal Justice System for centuries. Such subjection has made them victims of systematic racism and prejudice; however, they have been depicted as everything other than victims. Societies’ continuous rejection of them as anything other than criminal, has forced them into the confines of imprisonment. The basis of their imprisonment can be directly connected to history’s congestion of the African American community. The utilization of the prison system has become a new-found version of enslavement. Labels attached to African American men have remained consistent with America’s overcriminalization of …

How Parental Involvement Coincides With Student Achievement: How To Get Parents Involved?, Torrence Farmer

University Honors College

Parental involvement is crucial for a child's education, impacting their academic success and overall development. This research examines how parental involvement affects students' learning, social skills, behavior, and long-term success, particularly focusing on elementary school students. By analyzing varying levels of parental involvement, the study aims to identify key factors contributing to student achievement. Understanding the impact of parental involvement is essential for educators, policymakers, and parents. This research provides insights to develop effective strategies for engaging parents in education. By fostering strong partnerships between parents and schools, we can create a more supportive educational environment that benefits all students. …

Incarceration And Its Impact On Family And Communities, Ti’Anyana Hayes

University Honors College

Incarceration does not just affect the convicted person, it has far-reaching consequences for their families, communities, and society as a whole. This research paper provides a closer insight at the wide-ranging impacts of incarceration. Reviewing interviews, data analysis, and long-term studies provides a clear perspective of how damaging incarceration can be to the incarcerated, their families, friends, and community. The findings show that prison takes a significant toll on someone's mental health, both during their time inside and even after they are released. Yet prisons severely lack adequate mental health support, which is desperately needed. The research also reveals that …

Age At Lung Cancer Diagnosis In Females Versus Males Who Never Smoke By Race And Ethnicity, Batel Blechter, Jason Y Y Wong, Li-Hsin Chien, Kouya Shiraishi, Xiao-Ou Shu, Qiuyin Cai, Wei Zheng, Bu-Tian Ji, Wei Hu, Mohammad L Rahman, Hsin-Fang Jiang, Fang-Yu Tsai, Wen-Yi Huang, Yu-Tang Gao, Xijing Han, Mark D Steinwandel, Gong Yang, Yihe G Daida, Su-Ying Liang, Scarlett L Gomez, Mindy C Derouen, W Ryan Diver, Ananya G Reddy, Alpa V Patel, Loïc Le Marchand, Christopher Haiman, Takashi Kohno, Iona Cheng, I-Shou Chang, Chao Agnes Hsiung, Nathaniel Rothman, Qing Lan

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: We characterized age at diagnosis and estimated sex differences for lung cancer and its histological subtypes among individuals who never smoke.

METHODS: We analyzed the distribution of age at lung cancer diagnosis in 33,793 individuals across 8 cohort studies and two national registries from East Asia, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). Student's t-tests were used to assess the study population differences (Δ years) in age at diagnosis comparing females and males who never smoke across subgroups defined by race/ethnicity, geographic location, and histological subtypes.

RESULTS: We found that among Chinese individuals diagnosed with lung cancer …

That Way: An Examination Of Male Relationships In Film During The Hays Code, Jane Knudsen

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The Hays Code (1934-1968) influenced the construct of United States masculinity and the discourse surrounding masculine presentation between the 1920s to the 1960s. The Hays Code and World War II affected the culture surrounding male/male relationships in the United States. Previous research done by David Lugowski (1999) and Jeffrey Suzik (1999) shows that both World Wars led to crises of masculinity in which the hegemonic ideal of masculinity was restructured to establish men as providers and warriors, and Code-era films reflected the discourse. To understand the gender roles in the 20^th century, I analyzed the Hays code, male bonds, …

"Not That Type Of Asian": Deconstructing The Model Minority Myth From A South Asian Perspective., Shraddha Patel

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses

The myth of the model minority is an essential aspect of the literature on Asian American racialization. However, dominant narratives of the concept largely focus on East Asians, with limited literature highlighting its unique impact on South Asians. In light of this, this qualitative study sought to illuminate where South Asian experiences align with, deviate from, or expand upon the themes observed in existing literature. Using interview data from 21 South Asian American participants from across the United States, we explored 1) identity and sense of belonging, 2) mental health as it pertains to expectations associated with the model minority …

Resource Scarcity Caused By Environmental Changes: Driving Factor In Terrorism Attacks In Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Amaris Bustamante

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Climate change, resource scarcity, and terrorist attacks are ever-growing crises that disproportionately impact different states. They are crises that can impact the stability and resilience of humanity in the following decades if they are not addressed and mitigated. This study addresses the impact of resource scarcity caused by climate change that can then serve as a driving force in terrorist attacks in climate-sensitive and conflict-prone states. The objective of this mixed-methods study is to identify the correlation between climate changes that lead to resource scarcity such as rainfall and surface temperatures with terrorist attacks when taking into consideration other demographic, …

Abortion Funds As Care Work: Navigating The Emotional Tolls Of The Texas Executive Order Abortion Ban And Covid-19 Pandemic, Brianna Trejo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the experiences of abortion fund staff and volunteers amidst the unprecedented challenges posed during the early months of COVID-19 and the Texas Executive Order. Through analysis of semi-structured interviews, we aimed to identify the shared experiences of staff and volunteers during this time. Four categories of experiences were identified: (1) Reproductive Justice, (2) Emotional Support, (3) Creating a Community of Care, and (4) Emotional Burnout. Our findings revealed that to navigate the uncertainties of the pandemic and Executive Order, staff and volunteers adapted a community of care model deeply rooted within the framework of reproductive justice. …

The Role Of Soft Infrastructure In Developing Sustainable Volunteer-Based Healthcare For Transient Migrants In The El Paso-Ciudad Juárez Border Region, Daniel Avitia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Race, Severe Mental Illness, And Crime: An Intersectional Look Into Stigma And Policy Implications, Elena Therese Vaudreuil

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Criminal behavior has been a long-discussed topic in the United States and often is tied to characteristics such as race and mental illness. The presumed connection between criminal behavior and being a member of a racial minority group or having a mental illness have been researched for years, however few researchers have sought to take an intersectional approach to investigate the unique experiences of people belonging to both groups in the criminal legal system. Using the lenses of attribution and intersectionality theories, the proposed studies sought to understand the effect of race that influences policy support of justice-involved people with …

An Examination Of Police Response To Individuals Suffering With Mental Illness, Aliss Copsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine police officer response to individuals suffering with mental illness. There had been little prior research that used qualitative methods and explored police officers in rural areas. Several research questions were explored, including stigmatizing beliefs held by police officers toward individuals with mental illness, perceived levels of preparedness, challenges experienced by police officers, improvements officers wish to see implemented, and the impact of Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) training. This study gathered data through semi-structured interviews with 19 police officers who worked in East Tennessee in order to address the research questions. The results …

The Relationship Between Social Cognition And Team Cohesion In Collegiate Athletes, Jessica Pegg

Master's Theses

Thesis Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social cognition and team cohesion in Division III collegiate athletes. Methods: A total of 103 athletes from SUNY Cortland participated. Two questionnaires were used: social cognition was assessed via the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS), and team cohesion was assessed via the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ). The two questionnaires, along with demographics, were completed online. Analysis: Pearson’s bivariate correlations were analyzed to assess the relationships among TSIS total score, GEQ total score, and GEQ social cohesion for the total sample and separately by sports season and sports type. Linear …

Gender Stereotypes In The Elementary Classroom, Mckenna Gill

Master's Theses

This study explores ways to reduce gender stereotypes in the elementary classroom. Specifically, it was designed to collect data on male and female behaviors related to gender stereotypes toward different school subjects, volunteering, peer relationships, and student redirections during lessons. A literature review was conducted to investigate existing research on this topic. A mixed-methods design was used in this study. Data was collected in a fifth-grade classroom, by keeping a tally of each of the subject areas Math, Reading, Science, and Writing, and the students who volunteered. Included in the investigation was a teacher interview regarding her thoughts on gender …

The Effects Of Student Choice On Motivation And Writing Skills, Laura Annunziata

Master's Theses

This mixed methods action research study investigates the potential effects of student choice on motivation and academic performance in writing-based assignments in a fourth-grade classroom. Baseline data was collected prior to implementation of student choice writing activities and then used to compare writing samples collected post intervention. The baseline data suggests that students’ attitudes towards autonomy are positive. Having choices was important to them and helped them learn better. However, data also indicates that while students were motivated to write using choice, many of the reading and writing competency scores dropped during journal entry writing samples. Data shows that while …

Implementing Music To Increase Elementary Student Focus, Kathryn Garceau

Master's Theses

This action research project used a mixed methods design to address the effect of different types of music on student focus while performing an independent task. Despite its success with memorization, does music work equally as well on student focus? Data was collected over a period of three weeks for 30 minutes each morning for 5 days each week. The music played while students completed the task changed each week. This included lyrical songs during week one, classical music during week two, and instrumental versions of songs students knew the lyrics to during week three. Four behavior markers were observed …

The Permaculture Discussion Group: Participatory Learning For Community Connection And Systems Transformation, Belu Katz

Honors College

There is a need in our society to have a more holistic understanding of the polycrisis, the intertwining of environmental and social crises that create compounding effects, and the underlying issues that have temporarily and psychologically separated humans from our local ecosystems and biophysical limits. This requires creating space to deeply discuss these issues and possible responses. Permaculture is an ethical framework for designing regenerative and resilient human systems that work within, instead of against, nature. The Terrell House Permaculture Living & Learning Center is a student housing project where four resident stewards run the Permaculture & Gardening Club (PGC) …

Are Rural States Equipped For The Youth Mental Health Crisis? An Investigation Of The Mental Health Attitudes And Stigma Beliefs Of Caregivers, Benjamin Roseman

Honors College

There are clear mental health treatment disparities between rural and urban communities, especially in accessing quality mental health care and youth suicide prevention services. In 2021, the CDC reported an increase in youth mental health concern rates and alarmingly, a rise in youth suicidality rates. Considering these trends, and that rural people already experience higher suicide rates, the status of caregivers’ readiness and ability to access mental health services for their children must be examined. The present study aimed to investigate how caregiver mental health stigma and knowledge drives rural-urban disparities in suicide rates and access to quality mental health …

“Triple Consciousness”: How Chinese International Students Navigate Identity Amidst U.S-China Tension And Covid-19 Xenophobia, Haoxuan Gao

Sociology Honors Projects

International students from China account for the largest number of international students in the United States. Behind their vast and growing population lies the legacy of U.S. soft power diplomacy to spread democracy during the Cold War era, while a similar strategy has been utilized by the Chinese government for students to “represent China.” However, Chinese international students now stand on the intersection between COVID-19 xenophobia and the contentious U.S.-China relationship. How do these individuals navigate and (re)orientate their identities when they are pulled to opposite directions? This study utilizes one-on-one interviews with 22 Chinese international students from a small …

Queering Storytelling: Challenging Normative Storytelling Methodology And Building A Queer Approach To Documentary Filmmaking, Ruben Schneiderman

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Honors Projects

As representations of queer people on screen grow, so too has the violence for queer folks at the margins. This project looks at four documentaries that cover key moments in LGBTQ history to see how filmmaking methodologies and choices can further the harms of institutional violence. Key themes include homonormative and assimilationist representations in film, the formation of a reductive cultural memory of queer politics, and the obscuring of the global crises of AIDS. Through an analysis of these films, I argue for the formation of queer documentary methodologies that are grounded in the ideas put forward by queer theorists …

“Embracing Existence: Exploring Mexican-American Identity, Agency, And Resistance”, Daisy Alcantar

Sociology Honors Projects

Abstract:

This research investigates Mexican-American identity, agency, and resistance, contextualizing them within the socio-political landscape of the United States. Drawing from existing scholarship, the study employs qualitative interviews to explore how Mexican-American college students assert their ethnic identities as resistance against societal pressures to assimilate and institutions that marginalize them. The findings reveal the pervasive influence of racialization and marginalization experienced by Mexican-Americans, shaping their sense of belonging and connection to their Mexican heritage. Drawing upon Telles and Sue's (2019) concept of the "ethnic core," participants deepen their ties to their Mexican identities through familial and social networks, cultural practices, …

Evaluating A Short Duration Relationship And Marriage Education (Rme) Event Across Time And Format: 8 Years Of Learning, Pamela B. Payne, Naomi Brower

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how short-term relationship and marriage education (RME) reached participants for events such as the Utah Marriage Celebration Conference. This article examines participant-perceived relationship knowledge from an annual marriage conference that began prior to the pandemic and has continued through the disruption (from 2015 through 2022). Results indicate this short-duration marriage conference does improve participant-perceived knowledge across years [t(2381) = 59.84, p = .001]. Further, results indicate that online participants rate their perceived relationship knowledge as higher than in-person participants at both pre [F(1, 2752) = 153.0, p = .001] and post [F(7, 2594) = 25.14, p …

Beyond The Screen: Understanding College Students’ Perspectives On Cyberstalking, Gabrielle Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research regarding the victimization of college students is primarily geared toward physical or sexual encounters. There is a limited scope of research regarding the online victimization of college students, specifically those involved in Greek life organizations. Furthermore, there is a misinterpretation of the definition of cyberstalking among college students, as many students are unaware that they have been personally victimized (Cass, 2011). This study seeks to examine college students’ perceptions of online victimization and how they may vary. The different student impressions and the prevalence of online victimization were examined using self-reported data from students enrolled in a university …

Breaking Bonds: Effect Of The Loss Of Parental Rights On Prison Admission In The United States, 2000-2019, Audrey E. Erickson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This paper investigates the relationship between termination of parental rights (TPR) and prison admission rates in the United States over the period from 2000 to 2019. Grounded in social bond and labeling theories, the study explores how the loss of parental rights influences the likelihood of parents to offend or reoffend and whether such a relationship differs between men and women. Using state-level administrative data, fixed-effects regression models are employed to analyze the impact of TPR rates on prison admissions, while accounting for time-varying socioeconomic factors (poverty rate, unemployment, and TANF maximum benefit). Findings indicate a positive causal effect association …

Capitol 'H' Horror: Pereptuations Of Risk And Fear In Horror Movies, Lavinia Greer

Senior Theses

In this study, I dissect the messages symbolically communicated by horror movies through the eyes of their consumers, and thus how they reproduce systemic inequality through the ideals they perpetuate (Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T., 1966). Through two rounds of interviews, this thesis argues that not only do horror movies have lasting impacts on watcher’s behavior and constructions of social realities, but that the very industry of horror films has lasting effects on the social construction of what is scary, who deserves to be afraid, and what we should consider entertainment.

How Gender Affirming Care Affects The Current Sex Estimation Standards In Forensic Anthropology: A Preliminary Study, Dakota Taylor

Anthropology Department: Theses

Current sex estimation standards in forensic anthropology are based on individuals whose gender matches their biological/osteological sex, also known as Cisgendered individuals. Recently, transgender individuals have started to become more common in the forensic context due to the increase in hate crimes and violence. This research builds upon past research done on how facial feminization surgery can affect both visual and metric methods, where it was found that forensic anthropologists should rely on the visual methods if they suspect someone to be transgender due to it being more accurate and being able to clearly state the scars left on the …

A Manual On The Planning And Integration Of Archaeological Methods In To Outdoor Forensic Search Investigations, Jonathan Robert Garcia

Anthropology Department: Theses

As archaeology and its applications into forensic contexts develop into the growing discipline of forensic archaeology, an increasing amount of literature has resulted stemming from research on the integration of common archaeological methods. However, much of this literature is intended for professional archaeologists or forensic anthropologists who are well experienced in their respective disciplines. Emerging literature generally does not consider those who leads efforts at forensic scenes in the outdoors such as law enforcement officers who often lack a background in archaeology or forensic anthropology. This thesis seeks to resolve this dilemma by creating a new and accessible manual. The …

American Perspectives On The Legitimacy Of Transgender Identities, Sethe Zachman

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This mixed-method project examines how Americans’ and Nebraskans’ perceptions of the validity of transgender identities varies by the demographic characteristics of respondents, and how these perceptions are justified. Two representative surveys are used to examine demographic associations with opinion on the cisgender and transgender binary: the 2023 American Values Atlas (AVA) from the Public Religion Research Institute (N=4,788) and the 2022 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey (NASIS) (N=934) from the Bureau of Sociological Research. A measure from the AVA data examines the degree to which respondents believe there are only two genders versus a range of gender identities. The NASIS …

The Contemporary Causes Of Americans' Fear Of Illegal Immigration, Amilie Cai

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Annually, the U.S. aspires to extend its liberality by opening its border to more than ten thousand refugees. In this paper, I examine how political party identification, census region, and internet usage influence U.S. adults' fear of illegal immigration. Relying on the 2023 Chapman Survey of American Fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults, I find that political party has remained a consistent predictor for an American’s fear of illegal immigration, with people who align themselves with the Republican Party in 2022 being more afraid of illegal immigration compared to other political parties, such as the Democrat Party. In …