Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Rise And Run Of Women Corporate Leaders, Alicia R. Ingersoll

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research was to understand the contexts that support the barriers to women’s advancement and to identify the conditions under which women leaders overcome the barriers to attain top corporate leadership positions. I have identified and discussed three distinct approaches for understanding how we can increase women’s representation and influence in the executive and director ranks within top U.S. corporations. The first approach investigates the complexities of leveraging the social and cultural capital attained through post-secondary education in order gain entry into the corporate elite. The second approach examines gendered stereotypes of risk-taking versus the organizational risk-taking …

Exploring The Impact Of Positive Peer Views Of Girls On School Engagement In Middle School Girls, Christine E. Hansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study focused on the types of messages female middle school students receive about their gender from their peers. Specifically, it looked at microaggressions, which are sexist messages from peers, and microaffirmations, which are positive and affirming messages from peers. There were four goals of this study. First, to check if the Students Affirming Girls in Middle School scale (SAG-MS), a scale created for this study, could consistently measure microaggressions and microaffirmations. Second, to look at the relationship between when girls experience puberty and microaggressions and microaffirmations. Third, to measure any differences in the number of microaggressions and microaffirmations girls …

Do Booster Emails Improve Learning Transfer Among Parenting Professionals?, Benjamin C. Stout

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Parenting professionals play a key role in helping parents have a positive influence on their children, which is why it is important to ensure that professionals have and use research-based information and materials. Using data from 96 parenting professionals from Utah and Missouri, who completed a 4-hour Strong Parents, Stable Children training, we examined the effects (at 2-months post training) of reflective reminder emails on parenting professionals’ utilization and learning transfer of training materials. Results from independent samples t tests show that participants who received “booster” emails at 1-week and 1-month post training shared some information and some materials with …

Youth Prevention Programs: A Framework For Conducting Mediation Meta-Analyses, Morgan A. Kawamura

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Often for prevention program designs, researchers are interested in understanding the processes through which a program impacts a targeted outcome. Mediation analysis assists in identifying not only how a program influences an outcome, but also which intermediate variables (i.e., mediators) cause the effects between a program and an outcome to occur. Mediation analysis explains why a program works, which is useful for program developers in creating effective prevention and intervention-based programs.

To make use of mediation analysis findings for preventive intervention programs, researchers need a comprehensive understanding of the mediators between various programs and outcomes. However, a comprehensive examination into …

The Effect Of "Drought Tolerant" Labeling On Consumers' Preferences And Willingness To Pay For Ornamental Plants, Susanne Tábara Cenador

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Utah’s water resources are endangered by low rainfall rates, high per capita water consumption and a strong projected increase of residents. The irrigation of ornamental plant landscaping is estimated to account for 60% of residential water use, and is, therefore, a target of education programs in the effort to promote water conservancy. The water-wise “Yellow Tag” program developed by the Utah Division of Water Resources seeks to provide retail nurseries with free tags for labeling plants which are considered low water use with the objective of promoting water conservation. The objective of this study is to determine consumer preferences for …

Religiosity, Perfectionism, And Parenting Practices In A Latter-Day Saint (Lds) Sample, Trisha Chase

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Parenting practices greatly influence child behavior. It is important to study the relationship between parenting practices and child behavior in specific religious contexts. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have not been extensively studied in the psychological literature despite there being a relatively large number of LDS individuals in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of religiosity on parenting practices and child behavior outcomes in an LDS sample. The influence of perfectionism on religiosity and parenting practices was also studied. The relationship between parents’ interpretation of the bible and …

The Organic Wheat Market: Three Essays On Pricing, Consumer Segments, And The Importance Of Labels, Tatiana Drugova

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation aims to address issues related to supply and demand of organic wheat either as a commodity or contained in the final consumer products. Objectives for the first essay are to evaluate organic wheat price and premium risk, how it affects the profitability of organic wheat production, and examine whether hedging and forecasting can be used to manage the organic wheat price risk. A side objective is to apply and evaluate several data imputation methods to recover missing organic wheat price observations. Objectives for the second essay are to identify “very likely,” “likely,” and “unlikely” consumers of organic wheat …

The Use Of A Values Affirming Intervention: Does It Impact Math Scores And Semester Grade Point Averages In A Student Support Services Population, Amy L. Debruler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

College students who are from low income families, have disabilities, or are the first in their family to attend college are more likely to struggle socially and academically in a college setting. Promoting college graduation within these disadvantaged populations is critical for increased life wellness. Previous researchers studied to see if when students wrote about their personal beliefs if it would lead to higher levels of academic confidence and better academic performance (as measured by grades). This study expanded upon those previous studies to look specifically at whether a values-affirming writing intervention provided to at risk students in a federally …

An Examination Of Seasonal Shifts In Climate And Visitation, And Perspectives On Seasonal Shifts And Climate Adaptation Strategies In Tourism And Recreation Businesses For Moab, Utah, Elizabeth Cook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The city of Moab, an outdoor recreation hub in eastern Utah, has been encountering both shifts in the seasonality of visitation, and increases in tourist visitation, even with summer temperatures above the normal high. Tourism research describing the effects of climate change on the outdoor recreation industry has focused on winter, snow-dependent activities, while studies in Moab city have focused on the economic value of outdoor recreational activities. Few studies have described the relationship between seasonal tourism and climate change for arid desert locations. The purpose of this study is to describe how the tourism and recreation industry in Moab, …

The Impact Of Federal Lands On Per-Pupil Spending In The Western United States, Matthew K. Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Property taxes are a significant form of funding for states’ public education. In the West, nearly half of the land is owned by the federal government, making it off limits to tax. This research examines the relationship between federal land and its impact on per-pupil spending.

Death Ends A Life Not A Relationship: The Embodied Mourning And Memorializing Of Pets Through Material Culture, Gemma N. Koontz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many individuals develop strong bonds with their pets, viewing them as close “furry” friends or family. When these beloved companions die, both their relational and physical absences are deeply felt. Lacking socially recognized rituals to mourn and memorialize their pets, owners turn to and adapt traditional “human practices,” primarily that of keeping meaningful or significant items of the deceased.

Using both personal experiences and perspectives from multiple fields, this thesis discusses the life-cycle of the human-animal bond, examines the types of items owners keep or create, and how these are used to facilitate both mourning (the outward expression of grief) …

The Sue-And-Settle Phenomenon: Its Impact On The Law, Agency, And Society, Katie L. Colton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sue-and-settle is the name applied to a federal agency’s use of litigation to create policy outside of the normal regulatory process. This paper discusses the impact that the sue-and-settle policy has had on Congress, the judiciary, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Specifically, this paper will discuss the issues caused by the perception of collusion within the sue-and-settle policy. First, this paper examines whether a relationship occurs between the litigants. The paper then discusses whether the relationship between the litigants in sue-and-settle cases tends to be collusive or not. The second part of the paper examines how Congress, the Environmental Protection …

Untangling The Economic And Social Impediments To Producer Adoption Of Organic Wheat, Donya L. Ralph-Quarnstrom

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Consumer demand for organic products has shown double-digit growth in recent years encouraging the development of a wider range of goods (Greene, 2017). Americans with an annual household income under $30,000 actively purchase organic foods at nearly the same rate as households with over $75,000 in annual incomes, 42% versus 49% (Greene et al., 2017). Previous research observed the adoption of organic farming practices on a combination of different grains, fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products from across the globe. However, this is the first study to examine the adoption of organic wheat in the Western U.S. By addressing …

By Proxy: A Radiocarbon Perspective On Prehistoric Mobility Using Summed Probability Distributions And Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions In Wyoming And Montana, Anastasia M. Lugo Mendez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Stone circles are among the most common and understudied archaeological features in the Rocky Mountains and High Plains. Their widespread availability coupled with increased archaeological research accompanying oil and natural gas exploration in the region has expanded the availability and size of the region’s radiocarbon database. The dates as data approach uses radiocarbon ages as variables from a larger sample. This thesis compiles radiocarbon ages associated with tipi ring sites in Wyoming and Montana and creates a summed probability distribution from these ages to serve as a proxy for prehistoric mobility. The distribution is corrected for taphonomic bias, or data …

Narrative Identities Of Early-Return Missionaries From The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Jillian Ferrell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Leaving home to become a missionary is important for many young adults in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (CJC). Some missionaries return home from their missions before their anticipated return date and struggle to make sense of who they are while facing judgment from members within the church communities and families. Little is known about the experience of identity development for early return missionaries (ERMs). There have not been many chances for ERMs to share what it means to them to have come home early from their mission. This study investigated the process of how ERMs make …

Smoothing, Discounting, And Demand For Intra-Household Control For Recipients Of Conditional Cash Transfers, Diego Aycinena, Szabolcs Blazsek, Lucas Rentschler, Betzy Sandoval

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Inter-temporal preferences are important determinants of investment decisions, including investments in human capital. Yet, little is known about these preferences for recipients of conditional cash transfers (CCTs). We simultaneously estimate utility curvature (preference for consumption smoothing), discounting, and present biasedness for such recipients. We also introduce a financially motivated method of measuring willingness to forgo funds to control household finances. We find that female participants in a CCT program in Guatemala have very high degrees of utility curvature and low discount factors, which may lead to low levels of investment by participants in the human capital of the household. We …

Bad Behavior During Political Primaries, Rachel Robinson-Greene

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

The new presidential election cycle brings with it both a sense of hope for the future and cause for frustration over bad behavior in an increasingly hostile political environment. As primary candidates emerge, it’s worth pausing for reflection on what appropriate behavior during the primary season and beyond looks like.

“Are You A Good Witch Or A Bad Witch?”: An Exercise In Suspending Judgment When Interacting With “Difficult” People, John S. Seiter, Christian R. Seiter

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Courses:

Interpersonal Communication, Health Communication

Objectives:

In this single-class activity, students gain awareness and practice in suspending judgments about “difficult” people in order to understand the reasoning behind certain objectionable behavior.

Cultural Value, Charitable Giving, And The Fire At Notre Dame, Rachel Robinson-Greene

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

On Monday, April 15, viewers looked on in horror as Notre Dame Cathedral was devastated by fire. Onlookers hoped that the flames would be fought back before too much damage was done, but the cathedral’s spire came crashing down, taking much of the roof with it. The extent of the damage remains to be seen.

The Picture Of Smartphones At School Is Not A Dire One And The Picture Of Student Competence Is A Bright One, Victor R. Lee

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

In the United States, where I am based, one would get the impression that smartphones are a dangerous drug. Adults worry about smartphone addiction, the correlation of depression with smartphone usage, and an excess amount of screen time (e.g., Elhai, Levine, Dvorak, & Hall, 2016; Duke & Montag, 2017; Škařupová, Ólafsson, & Blinka, 2017). News headlines appear about technology moguls who will not allow their own children to have their own mobile device despite they themselves being the leaders in smartphone products and services. This then evokes guilt and causes anxiety for all the other American adults who are not …

El Reajuste De La Derecha Colombiana. El Éxito Electoral Del Uribismo, Laura Gamboa Gutierrez

Political Science Faculty Publications

Objetivo/contexto: este artículo busca explicar el éxito electoral de Iván Duque en las elecciones de 2018. La victoria del candidato uribista es paradójica por dos razones. Primero, Duque hizo campaña contra el proceso de paz, uno de los logros más importantes en la historia reciente colombiana y un paso importante para reducir la violencia y fortalecer la democracia del país. Segundo, Duque era el candidato más inexperto de la derecha. Logró derrotar a políticos más visibles, con más trayectoria y mejor acceso a maquinarias electorales. Metodología: El texto presenta un estudio de caso que triangula información de fuentes primarias y …

The Effects Of Photographic Activity Schedules On Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity In Children With Asd, Lorraine Becerra

Student Research Symposium

Obesity rates in children who live in the United States have increased 17% in the past few decades and affects approximately 1/3 of U.S. children (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2012). Occurrence of obesity in children with disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), were found to be 40% higher than for children without disabilities (CDC, 2014; Hinckson et al. 2013; Curtin et al. 2010). Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is likely to reduce many risks associated with obesity in children (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). The Observational System for Recording Physical Activity codes (OSRAC; Brown et al., …

Interactive Computer Training For Graphing Embedded Phase Change Lines In Microsoft Excel, Kerry Shea

Student Research Symposium

Graphing data is an essential skill for those who are implementing behavior analytic interventions. The current investigation evaluated the effects of an interactive computer training on graphing skills using a multiple-baseline design across four participants. The computer training included 4 modules, based on a modified version of the embedding phase change task analysis from Deochand, Costello, & Fuqua, (2015). Each module included instructions, video demonstrations, opportunities to practice, and prompts to self-monitor performance. Participants completed modules independently. During baseline sessions, participants were given a data set, case scenario, and model graph. Participants had up to 20 minutes to create a …

Preservice Agriculture Teacher Attitudes Toward The Education Of The Gifted, Olivia Hile

Student Research Symposium

Agriculture classes are heterogeneous in ability level, and agriculture teachers have the responsibility of teaching a wide range of students but it is unclear how much preservice teacher training undergraduates receive regarding gifted students in their future classrooms. Preservice agriculture and technology engineering education teachers were surveyed using Gagné and Nadeau's (1991) Opinions About the Gifted and their Education questionnaire on a 6-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 6 = strongly agree), as well as additional questions to assess their preservice teacher education program. When asked if their Education of Students with Disabilities course (SPED 4000) addressed teaching …

Student Loan Borrowers: Who Figured Out Student Loan Monthly Payments Prior To Taking Out Student Loans?, Emily Shaffer, Sierra Walters

Student Research Symposium

Student loan debts are fast growing in the U.S. Individuals who are considering taking out student loans need to be fully aware of the choices they will make. Using data from the 2015 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), this study examined the association between financial capability and student loan decisions among borrowers, while focusing on how the association differs across age groups (age 18-34, 35-54, and 55+). The study sample included 7,491 student loan holders. In the study, 51.4% of student loan holders are age 18-34, 20% of those age 35-54, and 11.7% of those age 55+. The descriptive results …

The Social Dynamics Of Protected Area Centered Ecosystems, Ryan Tarver

Student Research Symposium

In the United States many of these protected areas have been designated as national parks and are managed by the National Parks Service. The jurisdictional boundaries of National Parks rarely cover an entire ecosystem. Therefore, the activities that take place beyond the park boundaries must be considered when trying to understand the ecosystem at a landscape scale. Furthermore, when it comes to land stewardship, it is important to realize the social dynamics that influence the larger protected area centered ecosystem (PACE). A PACE includes various public agencies and private land owners that make up a management mosaic. Land management jurisdictions …

Listener Impressions Of Individuals Who Use Alaryngeal Communication, Kate Scott

Student Research Symposium

For individuals with laryngeal cancer, a multimodal treatment approach is commonly used, which often includes a total laryngectomy. Total laryngectomy involves surgical removal of the entire larynx, the muscular and cartilaginous structure in the neck, also known as the voice box. Subsequently, a hole is surgically created in the front of the neck and trachea (or windpipe), then a small tube and valve called a stoma is inserted into the hole. The purpose of the stoma is to reroute the respiratory pathway from the mouth and nose to this opening. For individuals who require a total laryngectomy, the ability to …

An Exploration Of Kindergarten Students' Use Of Perspective And Computational Thinking, Joseph S. Kozlowski, Hannah Evans, Lise E. Welch

Student Research Symposium

Computational thinking (CT) is a research topic that has garnered increased interest, however investigation of CT amongst early childhood populations is sparse. Recent research suggests that coding toys present beneficial CT learning opportunities for young students. The purpose of this study is to explore 1) kindergarten students' first- and third-person perspectives as they interact with coding toys, and 2) the influence of these perspectives on kindergarten students' CT skills. Four kindergarten students, aged 4-5, participated in five, 30-minute tasks with a Code-a-Pillar robot. The video-recorded final task in this series of five tasks was the main data source for this …

Depression Mediates The Association Of Disordered Eating Behaviors And Sexual Function In Female Service Members And Veterans, Whitney Livingston

Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Poor sexual function is comprised of diminished sexual desire and arousal, presence of sexual pain, inability to reach orgasm, and loss of satisfaction. Worse sexual function is associated with disordered eating behavior; however, the mechanism through which this association exists remains unclear. Theory suggests that depression mediates the association of disordered eating behaviors and poor sexual function in female service members and veterans. Indeed, veterans with depression have almost 12 times higher odds of having an eating disorder diagnosis and 7 times higher odds of having a sexual dysfunction disorder, relative to those without depression. The purpose of the …

The Influence Of Postural Stability And Yoga Experience On Perceptions Of Other's Postural Stability, Kristina Casos

Student Research Symposium

The purpose of this study was to ascertain if an extensive previous history of experience with body stability affects one's gaze and postural sway when making a judgement of another individual's stability. We assessed postural control of two groups of individuals, those with and without yoga experience. Each group underwent a postural test in the form of a vestibular balance test (COBALT). Each group was then asked to make stability judgments of another individual through a series of photographs of that individual holding different postures. While making the stability judgments, the participant's gaze was tracked and their postural sway was …