Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

How Media Impact Race Relations: Positive And Negative Historical Examples And Applied Psychological Principles, Sophia Nocera

Honors Theses

This thesis sought to examine how media influenced interracial relations in the 1920s and 1930s. It starts by defining necessary terms like media, race, racism, and stereotypes. Afterwards, studies which demonstrate that media reflect society are analyzed as well as studies which determine the extent of media influence on society. Media are the most influential on people who agree with the content provided and those who have no specific opinion on the issue at hand.

Next, psychological studies which determine the circumstances in which racist ideology is accepted the most are analyzed. This analysis determined that in-group versus out-group sentiments …

Sleep-Wake Problems And Daytime Sleepiness As Predictors Of Emotion Regulation Strategies: A Longitudinal Study In Early Adolescence, Megan Toney

Honors Theses

Objective: Research has analyzed the association between poor sleep and emotion regulation abilities, yet most studies have focused on adult samples which may not generalize to youth. The present study examines how sleep problems and daytime sleepiness in early adolescence were associated with specific forms of emotion regulation later in adolescence.

Methods: A group of 109 children from a larger longitudinal study on cognitive development completed questionnaires at two separate timepoints. Cognitive tasks and survey-based measures were completed at the first point of data collection (M_age = 11.90, SD = .91, range = 10-14). Approximately 10 months later, …

Democratic Failure In Various Forms Of Democracy, Jonathan Lederer

Honors Theses

Democratic Failure is a problem which has plagued democratic states since their earliest instances, and increasingly is a problem in the world today. Accordingly, a question to ask is, “Are certain forms of democracy more likely to experience democratic failure than others?” The correlation between democratic failure and a state’s executive institutional structure has been researched extensively, while the correlation between a state’s legal tradition and democratic failure has been studied far less. This thesis attempts to confirm the conventional wisdom that certain democratic institutional structures are more likely to fail, and attempts to find out whether certain legal traditions …

A Systematic Review Of Post-Migration Facilitators And Barriers To Integration Among Muslim Refugees In The United States, Sarah Elizabeth Mähler

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Natural Disasters On Subnational Economic Growth In Latin America And The Caribbean, Olevia Sharbaugh

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Political Leanings Of Louisiana’S Young Independents, Zoe Williamson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Neuro-Exergaming For Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment (Mci): A Single Bout Of Interactive Physical And Cognitive Exercise (Ipaces V2.5), Alexa Puleio

Honors Theses

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) poses a serious risk to the older population. This disease may be a precursor to a more debilitating dementia, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and it affects the cognitive abilities as well as overall quality of life of those who suffer from it (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014). Finding preventative ways to combat these neurodegenerative illnesses is imperative for our increasing older population at risk. Prior research has shown benefits to cognition from physical exercise (Colcombe & Kramer, 2003); however, only a fraction of older adults actually achieve recommended levels (Chodzko-Zajko et al., 2009). Some researchers have explored …

The Business Cycle And Health: An Analysis Of How Macroeconomic Conditions Impact Health Outcomes In The U.S., Talitha Kumaresan

Honors Theses

The U.S. spends about twice as much per person on healthcare, yet the disease burden remains higher in the U.S. than in comparable countries (Sawyer and Cox 2018; Sawyer and Gonzales 2017). Although health status is perceived to be an outcome of individual decision making, the business cycle also affects health. While the effect of macroeconomic shocks on health outcomes has been studied extensively, results remain inconclusive. This analysis uses longitudinal data over 30 years and panel data models to examine the effect of macroeconomic conditions on obesity, diabetes, hypertension, depression, congestive heart failure, and heart attack or myocardial infarction. …

An Analysis Of Performance-Based Perception In Competitive Baseball Players, Grant Schlimgen, Michael Dodd

Honors Theses

Abstract: The correlation between performance hitting a baseball and perceived ball size has been described in previous work (Witt & Proffitt, 2005). The article in question used recreational softball players to demonstrate that greater performance led to a perceived change in softball size, but discussed a desire to replicate their experiment with competitive professionals. Using athletes from a semi-collegiate baseball team during their summer season, we were able to find a correlation that although weaker, continues to propagate the relationship found in previous studies. The finding of a weaker relationship also sheds new insight into why elite athletes may fare …

The Relationship Between Religiosity And Implicit Vs. Explicit Death Anxiety, Samantha Marin

Honors Theses

While there is ample reason to expect a relationship between religiosity and death anxiety, conflicting results across studies indicate a need to separately measure the unconscious and conscious aspects of death anxiety in order to further the research and refine theory. The current study tests the hypothesis that those who are more religious will demonstrate greater implicit death anxiety (IDA) and lower explicit death anxiety (EDA) than those who are lower in religiosity. Due to a lack of adequate measures for IDA, a self-report measure was created for the purpose of this study in order to assess death anxiety below …

Trendjacking: A Social Justice Analysis, Rachel Finnegan

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to look at the intersection of trendjacking and social justice within five specific advertisements targeted at an American audience from well-known brands. A variety of success in utilizing this intersection is presented and explained through an analysis of the advertisement, people highlighted, the brand’s financial giving and history, social media response, etc. The five brands examined are Pepsi, Dove, Nike, Airbnb, and Levi’s.

To successfully utilize social justice trendjacking, brands must be genuine and specific with their message, be prepared to explain their reasoning for their decisions, have the advertisements checked by many people …

Mandatory Minimum Penalties: An Analysis Of Four State’S Penal Codes And Federal Court Policies, Cassie Geiken

Honors Theses

In Nebraska, variations of bills attempting to amend mandatory minimum laws in the state have been introduced. The harshness of the mandatory sentences, as well as the looming state of emergency caused by prison overcrowding, have sustained the debate over sentencing laws. This essay identifies the core issues of mandatory minimum sentencing laws and analyzes the states of Nebraska, Texas, Alabama, California, and the federal system’s use of mandatory minimums for felony charges to identify potential solutions. Statute review found that Nebraska’s current sentencing codes are misaligned with the rest of the nation; not even Alabama with one of the …

“That’S Why I Deleted You, Aunt Kathy”: Political Tolerance, Online Selective Exposure, And Relational Closeness, Justice Forte

Honors Theses

In the present day, people have copious options for news consumption, and therefore, are presented with increased opportunity to engage in selective exposure, or the selection of media that confirm their beliefs (Stroud, 2008). Past research in the areas of political tolerance (Sullivan et al., 1979), ideology (Brandt et al., 2014), and political conversations in the context of our relationships (Mutz, 2006) highlights the negative impact of tuning out the other side. In exploring these topics, these scholars set out to determine when individuals are willing to extend tolerance toward groups or views with which they disagree and when they …

An Evaluation Of Police Interviewing Methods: A Psychological Perspective, Cassandra Neal

Honors Theses

This paper discusses false confessions and memory’s fallibility and how they can decrease the reliability of an investigative interview. In an effort to remedy this issue, the three most popular interview techniques utilized by police officers during an investigation were examined to decipher which one elicits the most reliable testimony. In order to determine which of the three methods out of the Reid Technique, Cognitive Interview, and PEACE Method is the most reliable, literature on the different techniques was examined to see which method resulted in the most accurate information, free from false statements. As a result of this evaluation, …

Escaping Death: Naloxone's Chemical Nature And Potential To Combat The Opioid Epidemic, Abigale Miller

Honors Theses

Naloxone is a life-saving drug with the ability to reverse an opioid overdose. As the opioid epidemic’s death toll rises, we can turn to Naloxone as a tool to combat the crisis. The epidemic, born of corruption, has a wide reach among the people of the United States, with especially firm grasps on middle-aged people, sufferers of chronic pain, white Americans and those living in the eastern portion of the country. Naloxone’s elegant design saves lives by effectively competing for a position on an opioid biding receptor in the brain to almost instantly end an overdose and restore normal breathing. …

Interparental Control During Pregnancy Predicts Parental Control Directed Toward Infants, Jaime Stephenson

Honors Theses

Numerous studies have found that the quality of the intimate relationship between parents significantly impacts the quality of the parent-child relationship which, in turn, has important implications for child psychosocial adjustment. Research calls to Enfger’s spillover hypothesis suggesting that discord or dysfunction in one family relationship (e.g., the interparental relationship) puts other family relationships (e.g., parent-child relationships) at increased risk for dysfunction. Examining the association between interparental respect and control dynamics during pregnancy and the parent-child relationship when the child is 1 year of age is important because (a) children’s social and moral adjustment is in a critical stage of …

"The Tyrant Father": Leslie Stephen And Masculine Influences On Virginia Woolf And Her Novel, To The Lighthouse, Anya Graubard

Honors Theses

This paper examines the volatile yet nurturing relationship between Virginia Woolf and her father, Leslie Stephen. It specifically considers the effects of three male “tyrants” in Woolf’s childhood, including not only her father but also her two half-brothers, who abused her sexually. Analysis of the dynamics of these relationships provides insight into Woolf’s lifelong battle with mental illness and helps us to understand the complicated relationships she had as an adult with men and women.

In her letters, diaries, and memoir essays, Woolf reveals how she drew from her own experiences of childhood to write her most famous novel, To …

A Qualitative Study Of The Possible Link Between Masculinity And Aggression Among College Football Players, Leanna Brown

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Net Foreign Direct Investment In The Usa, Jordan Burt

Honors Theses

This paper examines whether Net Foreign Direct Investment between the USA and its major trading partners (USNFDI) is affected by US Net Competitiveness (USNC), US Net Economic Freedom (USEF) and US Net Ease of Doing Business (USNE)^(*). Through the use of panel data methodology, the hypothesis that US NFDI is positively affected by USNC, USEF and USNE was tested with data from the Global Competitiveness Report (World Economic Forum), the Index of Economic Freedom (Heritage Foundation), the Ease of Doing Business Index (World Bank) and the World Fact Book (CIA). It was found that all three independent variables …

The Immigration Crisis In Italy: A Convergence Of Crises And What It Means For Globalization, Emma Salachi

Honors Theses

This paper is an analysis of what is deemed the “immigration crisis” in Europe as it affects the country of Italy. Originally, I had theorized that the effects of the immigration crisis on Italy were due solely to the failings of the Schengen Agreement. However, upon further research, I concluded the problems of the Schengen are only one part of a larger picture that finds its beginnings in the economic problems of Italy. The worldwide economic crisis of 2008 and the actions of the European Central Bank in the wake of the crisis created a separation in the European Union …

Early Childhood Trauma: Implications For Educators And The Importance Of Trauma-Sensitive Schools, Mattie Couch

Honors Theses

Dr. Bruce Perry, the renowned child psychiatrist, defines trauma as “an experience, or pattern of experiences, that impairs the proper functioning of the person’s stress-response system, making it more reactive or sensitive” (Supin, 2016, p. 5). According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, one study discovered that more than half of children aged 2–5 had experienced some form of a severe traumatic stressor in their lifetime (Zero to Six Collaborative Group, 2010). Consequently, there is a high likelihood of finding a child who has experienced trauma within any educator’s classroom walls. Because of this fact, future and present educators …

Effects Of Diagnostic Labels On College Students' Perceptions Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sarah Grace Cowell

Honors Theses

The Center for Disease Control reports current research that indicates 1 in every 68 children in the United States has the diagnostic label of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research literature of the past 20 years has warned of the possible dangers of labels, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, and the potentially negative impact these labels can have on an individual throughout a lifetime.

This project investigates college students' perceptions of the label Autism Spectrum Disorder in regard to a child's educational potential and later employment. College students viewed a four-minute video of a child in solitary play. One-half of the participants …

Modern American Federalism: Defending A Dualist Approach To State-Federal Government Relations, Julia E. Williams

Honors Theses

One of the greatest tenets of what American founders called this "experiment in democracy" is the Constitutional standard of federalism. Those in the Continental Congress labored over the proper relationship of a people to its government and, thus, the proper size of government that this relationship implies.

The tyranny from which the young republic sought independence just thirteen years before the drafting of the Constitution was a pervasive and seemingly omniscient one. The hand of the British Crown into the affairs of the common man was an instrument of autocratic control, rather than that of guiding protection. According to Constitutional …

Lions, And Dragons, And Wolves (Oh My): A Study Of The Series "Game Of Thrones" And Political Theory, Emily Manus

Honors Theses

Game of Thrones has a reputation for being unpredictable. Fans watch in anticipation as their beloved characters face dangerous situations, not knowing if they will make it our alive or not. No character is safe. While this reputation, may lead one to think that there is no way to know what characters will do and how they will react to certain circumstances, if one looks at them through the sphere of political theory and ethics, one can possibly piece together what actions characters will take and what outcome these actions could possibly have. Looking at the characters through these lenses …

Analyzing Access To Higher Education: Through The Lens Of Socioeconomic Factors At Bucknell University, Autumn J. Patterson

Honors Theses

Access to higher education in the United States greatly varies depending on numerous characteristics; especially an applicant’s race and financial status. This thesis aims to answer the following questions regarding access to higher education at Bucknell University: How have socioeconomic factors affecting access evolved in the past twelve years? Has this change increased or decreased access for Bucknell students? Does the level of access change when gender and race are analyzed? Is Bucknell successfully leveling the playing field for all students regarding their earning potential after they graduate? Lastly, does the mismatch hypothesis apply to Bucknell? By utilizing data from …

Electoral Dysfunction: Assessing State Electoral Laws And Turnout In Presidential Elections, Ellie S. Krossa

Honors Theses

Due to the United States’ shockingly low turnout in comparison to other Western democracies, many states around the country have enacted laws to increase the number of people who participate in presidential elections. Scholars have found mixed results when testing the effects of specific electoral reforms in individual states, but few have looked at comprehensive models to test the overall effects of these reforms on turnout. This thesis examines the ways in which electoral reforms across all fifty states have led to increases or decreases of turnout in presidential elections. It utilizes a comprehensive longitudinal model accounting for electoral reform …

Examining The Interaction Of State And Trait Anxiety On Working Memory Performance, Carly C. Moore

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Game Theory In Cricket, Shabab Ahmed

Honors Theses

The paper uses the natural setting of cricket to test theoretical predictions in game theory. In this setting, the agents play a one-shot-two-person constant sum game. The paper assesses whether trained professionals in cricket follow the `mix' of strategies predicted by Nash equilibria. The test uses a unique dataset derived from commentary data comprising of bowler and batsman strategies and outcomes. The paper creates a model for bowler-bastman interactions in cricket and uses this in conjunction with the data to generate predicted Nash equilibrium frequencies. These predicted frequencies are then compared with the actual frequencies from the data. My study …

Comparing The Management Of Adhd In The United States And Vietnam: A Cross-Cultural Exploration, Nguyen Nhat Thu Le

Honors Theses

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Since ADHD was formally recognized by psychiatrists in the US in 1968, knowledge about this condition has spread to many countries, including Vietnam. The US and Vietnam differ significantly in their perception and management of this disorder. ADHD is an “academic disorder” in the US because the intensifying pressure on children to succeed academically is a key factor in the emergence of ADHD, as well as its high diagnosis rates in some states. In contrast, Vietnamese people consider ADHD a developmental disorder of early childhood, apparently …

The Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Pipeline: Attitudes, Symbolism, And Geography, Catherine W. Fraser

Honors Theses

Oil pipelines, such as the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, are increasingly controversial and contested in the United States. Since its proposal in 2015, the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement (L3R) pipeline in Minnesota has also generated considerable debate. People who support and oppose oil pipeline projects are influenced by their ideologies, core values, partisan learnings, age, identity, and place attachment, as well as their proximity to new energy projects. However, the ability of any one variable, like spatial proximity or age, to predict attitudes towards new energy projects is debated. I conducted a literature review on attitudes towards energy …