Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring The Role Of Whiteness In Sociopolitical Development: Predictive Contexts And Trajectories, Jesiah P. Salazar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Critical consciousness is the ability to understand and challenge oppressive social systems, believe in one's power to create positive social change, and take actions toward making those changes. Sociopolitical development theory suggests that this awareness grows through a mix of social influences, opportunities for activism, and personal identity. Historically, this concept has been viewed as a way to empower youth of color to challenge systemic oppression, rather than just cope with it. Therefore, most research has focused on critical consciousness in youth of color. Recently, however, researchers have begun to explore critical consciousness among White adolescents. Using a person-centered approach, …

Mind-Body Bridging (Mbb) Techniques And Emotional Regulation In Political Discourse And Confidence In Political Talk, Joseph Ofori Acheampong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In today's politically divided landscape, conversations across political lines can often provoke intense feelings of anger and anxiety, making productive dialogue difficult. This polarization not only dampens the quality of public discourse but also affects individual emotional well-being and the broader societal cohesion. This study explores a novel approach to alleviating the negative emotional effects caused by political polarization, using Mind-Body Bridging (MBB) techniques. It specifically targets emotional regulation- how we control and manage our feelings- during political discussions, without attempting to change participants' political beliefs. The study involved participants from Utah State University setting who engaged in MBB training. …

From Reliance To Resilience: Teaching Versatile Research Strategies, Stephanie Western, Katie Strand

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

In the rapidly evolving information landscape, students navigate a myriad of research platforms and tools. This presentation delved into the potential consequences of depending too heavily on one platform and discussed the importance of our students developing the fundamental skills necessary to become adaptable, research-savvy individuals. Participants helped craft a repository of openly accessible research platforms and tools in efforts to support our current educational efforts and serve students as life-long learners.

Impacts Of Climatic Fluctuations And Vegetation Greening On Regional Hydrological Processes: A Case Study In The Xiaoxinganling Mountains–Sanjiang Plain Region, Northeastern China, Chi Xu, Zhijie Zhang, Zhenghui Fu, Shenqing Xiong, Hao Chen, Wanchang Zhang, Shuhang Wang, Donghui Zhang, Heng Lu, Xia Jiang

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The Xiaoxinganling Mountains–Sanjiang Plain region represents a crucial ecological security barrier for the Northeast China Plain and serves as a vital region for national grain production. Over the past two decades, the region has undergone numerous ecological restoration projects. Nevertheless, the combined impact of enhanced vegetation greening and global climate change on the regional hydrological cycle remains inadequately understood. This study employed the distributed hydrological model ESSI-3, reanalysis datasets, and multi-source satellite remote sensing data to quantitatively evaluate the influences of climate change and vegetation dynamics on regional hydrological processes. The study period spans from 2000 to 2020, during which …

Accuracy And Effectiveness Of An Orchestration Tool On Instructors' Interventions And Groups' Collaboration, Luettamae Lawrence, Emma Mercier, Taylor Tucker Parks, Nigel Bosch, Luc Paquette

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper presents the development of a novel orchestration tool that predicts collaborative problem-solving (CPS) behaviors of undergraduate engineering groups and investigates the use of that tool by instructors. We explore the impact of receiving real-time, machine-learning, model-based prompts on 1) instructors' orchestration strategies, which are strategies instructors use to manage and facilitate collaborative activities, and 2) groups' participation, including how groups are engaged in CPS activities. The orchestration tool is a dashboard that notifies instructors of–and advises them on–monitoring and intervening with groups who may need collaborative support and guidance. We describe the accuracy of the models in predicting …

Please Don’T Break: Best Practices For Digitizing And Archiving Glass Plate Photographs, Ariel Hammond, Noelle Zocco, Alejandra Tomeo, Diego Jimenez

Journal of Western Archives

Glass plate photographs, taken primarily between 1860-1930, were meant to document and preserve imagery, however, these photographs developed directly on glass are increasingly prone to destruction. With recent advances in imaging techniques, metadata, and collections care, the preservation of glass photography has evolved. This paper is a snapshot of the current best practices for preserving, digitizing, and storing glass plate and lantern slide photographs. It also features a case study from the San Diego Natural History Museum Library & Archives, which digitized a collection of 2,000+ glass photographs depicting the earliest images of flora and fauna in San Diego County, …

Quaking Aspen In A High-Use Recreation Area: Challenges Of People, Ungulates, And Sodium On Landscape Resilience, Georgie Corkery, Anna B. Miller, Paul C. Rogers

Environment and Society Student Research

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) landscapes are valued for their biodiversity, water retention, fire mitigation, aesthetics, and recreation opportunities. Across North America, some aspen populations are experiencing population declined as they face uninhibited ungulate browsing, drought, fire suppression, insects, disease, and inappropriate management. Increased human development and recreational use within aspen landscapes can serve as additive stressors, though there is a dearth of literature examining these elements. At a popular recreational area in Utah, USA, identifying the cause of apparent decline within a larger aspen community is complicated by development upstream and recreation-related activities. We sought to (1) assess …

Computational Models As Tools For Supporting Responsive Teaching, Hillary Swanson, Luettamae Lawrence, Jared Arnell, Bonni Jones, Bruce Sherin, Uri Wilensky

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

It is widely agreed that science instruction should help students build new knowledge on the foundation of their prior knowledge. Responsive teaching refers to a family of teaching strategies that pursue and build on student ideas. We introduce a particular approach to responsive teaching and examine how it can be supported by the use of computational models. We analyze an 8^th grade science teacher's facilitation of a class discussion near the end of a lesson on sound. We present a moment-by-moment characterization of her responsive teaching moves, highlighting the ways she used a computational model to help students articulate …

Citing Sources (Engl 1010) - 2024, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

This module is full of information about citation types, how to cite various materials, and more.

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/2ff3927a94e6495cb042ee2ac4526844?shared

Sw: Library Resources For Practicum Students, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

Your practicum will include activities that help you develop CSWE Competency 4: "Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice." You may need to research populations, treatments, models, interventions, evidence-based practices, and more. This module brings together tips and resources for doing so in one place.

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/d2b2201dec2a4bdb8b9339d409194912?shared

Avoiding Plagiarism (Engl 1010) - 2024, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

This module will enable students to: Recognize and avoid plagiarism, correctly incorporate others' ideas in their work, cite sources using a variety of citation styles, and find resources for help citing sources.

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/7bee013bdb9e42158977c6096a280969?shared

Soc Proseminar Library Module (New Grad Students) - 2024, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

This library module contains a few pages to help you get to know what library resources you have access to and strategies for using them:

• Sociology research resources
• Accessing materials
• Demography and data resources
• Organizing materials
• And more!

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/5131c7c854e24b06afc9b2c6a209f417?shared

Anth 1099 Library Module (2024), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

This library module contains a few pages to help you get to know what library resources you have access to for Anthropology research:

• Anthropology research resources
• Finding articles with Anthropological Literature
• Tips for accessing articles
• Finding books and ebooks with the library catalog
• Citing your sources

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/f8104e7cf9ae4ffda4538f5ab57da017?shared

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

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

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

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

Publications

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

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

Publications

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

Musc 3190 Library Module (2024), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

This library module contains a few more pages to help you get started with your research:

• Using Oxford Music Online
• Using RILM
• Finding related sources
• Evaluating your sources
• Organizing your research

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/bfc182f696ac435b8d6700e713e34e14?shared

Sw: Accessing Research After Graduation, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

As a practicing social worker, you'll "engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice" (CSWE Competency 4). This module contains pages on the following topics:

• What changes after graduation, including how you can still use the USU Libraries
• Free research databases
• Information about Open Access
• Tips for finding free copies of articles
• Other helpful sources, including reports, dissertations/theses, evidence-based practices, data/statistics, and tests/measures

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/711dee5dde284385a4ad1d4d63918edb?shared

Sw 1010: Finding And Using Research, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

In this module you'll learn:

• What a peer-reviewed source is and why you'll want to use them for your research assignment
• How to avoid paywalls and get full access to peer reviewed sources for free
• How to break your research topic into keywords for database searching
• How to cite your sources using APA citation style

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/371bfd58e56e4bc0a62b50b178fe00a9?shared

Teal 6545, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

The learning objectives for TEAL 6545 are to develop a research question about a chosen topic and to design a realistic study to conduct in the future. This library module teaches viewers about research and resources including strategies, grey literature, peer review, and more.

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/17bf6c8efaee41648e7e6f724404dc85?shared

Engl 2010: Synthesis Lesson Pre-Work, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

This pre-work module will prepare you for your class session with your librarian by teaching you:

• what synthesis is,
• how to create a Research Matrix,
• and get you thinking about the perspectives represented in your research.

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/570f4ae6084d44909abe5a44fcfd4c1e?shared

Evaluating Sources (2024), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

In this module you'll complete these objectives:

• Understand the importance of source evaluation
• Learn strategies for addressing bias when evaluating sources
• Learn evaluation criteria
• Effectively employ evaluation criteria for academic and personal purposes

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/130fbbb01b8b4c7b87f4c4d154b06761?shared

Usu 1730 Library Workshop Pre-Work - Fall 2022, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

This module will help you complete the Library Workshop Pre-Work. You will be introduced to a case study, the Spectrum of Sources, and some of the library databases.

Preview: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/cd9af6512c5a4611b795a545c069ddef?shared

Benefits Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (Act) For Chronic Pain, Maria Kleinstaeuber, Ashley Yaugher, Emily Roundy, Michael Levin

All Current Publications

Chronic pain is a common experience for people and can be difficult to manage. However, there are many evidence-based and effective psychological treatments for chronic pain to help people improve their lives. One of these is acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT. ACT teaches how to accept pain and live a life full of meaning and quality, with pain. It helps individuals increase their quality of life through mindfulness-based methods, experiential processing, and a focus on values, goals, and actions. ACT has been shown to be effective in reducing pain and improving pain management and personal well-being. Consult the resources …

Incorporating Design Based Implementation Research With A Randomized Controlled Trial To Develop And Evaluate The Efficacy Of Playful Rational Number Learning, Kreshnik N. Begolli, Vanessa N. Bermudez, Luettamae Lawrence, Lourdes M. Acevedo-Farag, Sabrina V. Valdez, Evelyn Santana, Daniela Alvarez-Vargas, June Ahn, Drew Bailey, Katherine Rhodes, Lindsey E. Richland, Andres S. Bustamante

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

We combine design-based implementation research with a pre-registered RCT to address a long-standing challenge in psychological science: How to use psychological principles to address real-world problems while designing and implementing interventions in the field. We posit this as a design methodology for optimizing the translation between psychological science and real-world applications. We tested the efficacy of an extensively co-designed version of a game-based rational number intervention, Fraction Ball, versus "business-as-usual" math instruction and physical education in a sample of 4th/5th grade Latine students (N=360). Insights from nine co-design sessions with 20 teachers informed revisions and additions to a …

Theory-Based Science Communication At Comic Cons, Lisa Lundgren, Emily Slater, Man Zhang, Kadie Kunz, Gabriel-Philip Santos

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

The majority of research concerning science communication happens in spaces where people already have a vested interest in or knowledge of science, such as museums and science cafes. Thus, there is a gap in understanding what theory-based science communication looks like in non-science-centered spaces. This qualitative research study, which featured cosplaying science communicators at comic conventions, offers insights into what science communication practices occur within everyday spaces. We conducted observations of and semi-structured interviews with 15 cosplaying scientists, examining how they utilized effective framing and narrative structuring when communicating science at comic cons in cosplay. Across 700 coded utterances, cosplaying …

Creating, Connecting, And Communicating: A Look At Social Support For Postpartum Women, Aubrey E. Jones Phd, Diana Frankenburger Msn, Bsw, Rnc-Ob, Cce, Cls

Transforming Communities

The prevalence of postpartum depression underscores the critical need for support systems for new mothers. Virtual support groups, such as the Fourth Trimester Support Group described in this paper, represent a promising avenue for addressing these challenges and providing much-needed support. This article describes the formation, activities, and evaluation of an online support group that leverages technology to foster a sense of community for new mothers. Further, the details within the case study provide a basic model for starting a similar support group.

Who Gets To Decolonize: A Reflection On The Importance Of Positionality In The Decolonization Of Digital Learning Spaces And Learning Design, Rebecca Y. Bayeck, Tutaleni Iita Asino

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Decolonization as a term and concept gained prominence in the 20th century as new nations emerged from the cessation of the global colonial project which primarily saw European countries occupying different parts of the world. In modern times, interests in decolonization have taken different forms, particularly in learning design and digital learning spaces. In the digital space, researchers mainly suggest introducing indigenous perspectives and cultural lenses in the design of digital learning environments and the design of emerging technologies that embed indigenous perspectives (Nede, 2023). This reflexive essay discusses the importance of positionality in digital learning spaces and learning/instructional design. …

Understanding Non-Designers' Practices And Processes In A Human-Centered Design Course, Luettamae Lawrence, Saadeddine Shehab, Mike Tissenbaum

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Human-centered design (HCD) has been identified in the literature as a useful problem-solving approach for learners. However, learning and applying HCD poses several challenges for students who are unfamiliar with this form of learning. In this paper, we analyse how a novice design team worked on a HCD class project to examine how non-designers learn about and integrate HCD practices into their project. We introduce the HCD taxonomy to define the processes and practices that students engage in. The team’s design work is triangulated across multiple data sources and revealed three challenges for engaging non-designers in HCD: 1) the need …

Review Of Building Representative Community Archives: Inclusive Strategies In Practice, Louis Knecht

Journal of Western Archives

Review of Building Representative Community Archives: Inclusive Strategies in Practice.