Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Honors Theses

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 2881 - 2910 of 3962

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Concrete Conflict: An Examination Of The Israeli Security Barrier, Ian Schwartz Jun 2012

Concrete Conflict: An Examination Of The Israeli Security Barrier, Ian Schwartz

Honors Theses

On May 14, 1948 David Ben Gurrion declared the independence of the state of Israel. This event forever changed the climate of the Middle East. Today, the conflict born 64 years ago between Israel and Palestine continues on. Since 1948, the conflict has evolved to become extremely complex, encompassing all aspects of Israeli and Palestinian life. Throughout the years the conflict between the two groups has taken on many shapes. From terrorist attacks to failed peace negotiations the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been the setting for one of the most well-known and controversial battles of the modern world.


Prostitution: An Independent Business Or A Societal Downfall?, Jaclyn Toop Jun 2012

Prostitution: An Independent Business Or A Societal Downfall?, Jaclyn Toop

Honors Theses

This thesis breaks down the subject of prostitution to be examined by four smaller categories: the history of prostitution, the pros and cons of current legislation surrounding prostitution, the effects of the media’s portrayal on society, and a comparison of abortion as a similar issue. While society may have a current notion of prostitution, this thesis would like to examine the idea of prostitution as an independently run business under government regulation in hopes of recognizing the positive effects it would have upon sex workers. Through the use of surveys distributed to a number of students at a small liberal …


Quels Sont Les Facteurs Clés Qui Définissent Les Économies Et Par Conséquent, Les Cultures En France Et Aux États-Unis?, Paige Jacquelyn Valchuis Jun 2012

Quels Sont Les Facteurs Clés Qui Définissent Les Économies Et Par Conséquent, Les Cultures En France Et Aux États-Unis?, Paige Jacquelyn Valchuis

Honors Theses

My thesis examines the question of how the structure of work, government and policies affect work and leisure in France and the United States. Economy structures create different cultures that show important principles of a country. Economists often look at GDP when they compare countries' economies, but GDP is not the only factor for country analysis. In addition, the process of researching my thesis taught me that GDP does not calculate activities where no money is exchanged. In addition, this study examines GDP statistics, unemployment rate, incomes, hours worked, taxes, rules, governments, policies and leisure to make a true full …


Perception Of Parental Favoritism In Young Adults: The Influence Of Extreme Favoritism Vs. Slight Favoritism, Amanda Wiener Jun 2012

Perception Of Parental Favoritism In Young Adults: The Influence Of Extreme Favoritism Vs. Slight Favoritism, Amanda Wiener

Honors Theses

This study examined perceived parental favoritism in a sample of 91 male and female undergraduate students from Union College. Participants were given a series of questionnaires asking about their demographics, academic achievement, and favoritism within their family. In addition, participants were given Rosenberg’s self-esteem questionnaire. This research was meant to investigate the possible predictors and effects of parental favoritism by assessing the following variables: birth order, gender, self-esteem, problem behavior and academic achievement. As hypothesized, results showed a significant correlation between perceived parental favoritism and academic achievement. Participants who reported more extreme favoritism within their families had overall lower grade …


Net Co2 Reduction Analysis For A Wind Farm, Darren Del Dotto Jun 2012

Net Co2 Reduction Analysis For A Wind Farm, Darren Del Dotto

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the net CO2 reduction benefit that can be achieved by using wind instead of coal power. Coal power has a significantly higher rate of CO2 emissions than wind generation, but wind power generation has a significant amount of embodied energy. The goal of this study is to determine the net carbon reduction benefit that can be achieved using wind power after accounting for factors such as embodied energy in materials and construction.


Obesity In The United States: The Food Environment And How It Is Linked To Obesity, Meredith Allenick Jun 2012

Obesity In The United States: The Food Environment And How It Is Linked To Obesity, Meredith Allenick

Honors Theses

The rising obesity rates have been constantly discussed in the media, academia, science, and society in the United States; from root causes and possible solutions to effects on individual health and the health of our nation. In my thesis, I focus on the social and economic causes of obesity, especially on the food environment in the United States. My ultimate goal is to effectively argue that obesity a problem rooted in society, often caused by factors such as the price of food, the availability of food, and the mass marketing of food to both children and adults.


Queen Bees: An Examination Of The Mean Girl Phenomenon, Danielle Ayers Jun 2012

Queen Bees: An Examination Of The Mean Girl Phenomenon, Danielle Ayers

Honors Theses

As highlighted in the media, it is clear that the mean girl phenomenon is becoming a dangerous and growing trend in schools around the country. While girls are less likely than boys to engage in physical fights, they fight within friendship networks to damage relationships and reputations. Within these friendships, the “queen bee” is the girl holding supreme power and influence over the rest, using a combination of charisma and manipulation to keep absolute control. This study examined who these queen bees are and why they negatively dominate schools by asking females in grades six through college senior to discuss …


The Fourth Amendment After The Usa Patriot Act: Cross-State Comparison On The Effect Of Ideology And Partisanship In State Legislation Of Anti-Patriot Act Resolutions And Wiretapping/Eavesdropping Laws, Zoe Atlas Jun 2012

The Fourth Amendment After The Usa Patriot Act: Cross-State Comparison On The Effect Of Ideology And Partisanship In State Legislation Of Anti-Patriot Act Resolutions And Wiretapping/Eavesdropping Laws, Zoe Atlas

Honors Theses

The USA Patriot Act, passed in September 2001, changed the standards of Fourth Amendment rights and protections. The USA Patriot Act gave more authority to the government and diminished the rights and privileges given to individual citizens. An eruption of Fourth Amendment legislation and cases arose in the states following the passage of the act and it created a problem for policy and implementation. The legislation presented, for the USA Patriot Act and wiretapping/eavesdropping laws, demonstrated the differences in opinions on these issues on the individual state level. These drastic differences in policy between states created a question of why …


End Of Life Decisions In The Nicu: The Value Of New Life And The Degree To Which Religion Plays A Role In These Ethical Decisions, Maria Battaglia Jun 2012

End Of Life Decisions In The Nicu: The Value Of New Life And The Degree To Which Religion Plays A Role In These Ethical Decisions, Maria Battaglia

Honors Theses

This thesis explored the role of religion as a social variable affecting end of life decisions in the NICU. The existing literature has studied many factors that are a part of the tough ethical decisions made in the NICU with some reference to religion. However, there is not adequate attention given to religion specifically. In order to further expand upon religion, various members composing the medical teams of two hospitals were interviewed. The interviewees included neonatologists, nurses, chaplains, and a social worker. This thesis found that religion is a variable that matters more than the existing literature has claimed. Often, …


The Yield Curve: An Analysis Of Its Forecasts For The Future Of The U.S Economy, Michael Casper Jun 2012

The Yield Curve: An Analysis Of Its Forecasts For The Future Of The U.S Economy, Michael Casper

Honors Theses

Being able to forecast recessions is a useful tool for policymakers and investors alike. Doing so is often a difficult task. Using data on the yield curve spread, the S&P 500, and monetary regimes, this paper investigates the merits of forecasting using the yield curve. This paper found that the yield curve has done a reliable job of forecasting recessions in the past. In addition, both the probit and continuous models used in this study are enhanced by the inclusion of a detrended version of the S&P 500 index and a dummy variable adjusting for the change from the Bretton …


An Economic Analysis Of Somali Piracy Deterrence Strategies Within The Context Of The Economic Theory Of Crime And Punishment, Ryan Castello Jun 2012

An Economic Analysis Of Somali Piracy Deterrence Strategies Within The Context Of The Economic Theory Of Crime And Punishment, Ryan Castello

Honors Theses

From 2006 to 2010, the number of reported piracy incidents perpetrated by Somali pirates, has increased from 19 to 212 per year, an alarming trend for the international shipping industry. This paper examines the increasing number of pirate attacks within the context of the theory developed in, Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach (Becker, 1968). This paper demonstrates the supply of pirates is a function of probability of punishment, severity of penalty, as well as institutional factors. This research entails a theoretical discussion, and an analysis of the available data on Somali piracy. The theoretical discussion combines theory with current …


Agricultural Policy In America: The Rise Of Industrial Farms And The Emergence Of Alternative Farming, Elizabeth Dagostino Jun 2012

Agricultural Policy In America: The Rise Of Industrial Farms And The Emergence Of Alternative Farming, Elizabeth Dagostino

Honors Theses

America’s treatment of agricultural policy is unlike that of any other country in the world. After the Great Depression, the government, urged on by a strong lobbying force, began to implement strong policies aiding and regulating the farming sector. Massive intervention that started as a means of food security has developed into a system today that still leans on subsidies, grants and other means of support. Industrial agriculture, meaning farming done on a large scale with chemical inputs, has largely replaced the traditional methods practiced at the time of the post-depression subsidies. However, in recent years counter-industrial farming has emerged …


Effects Of Income Inequality On Economic Growth, Madelyn Degutis Jun 2012

Effects Of Income Inequality On Economic Growth, Madelyn Degutis

Honors Theses

Economic growth reflects the change in the overall well-being of a country and the standard of living of its population. It is important to understand what factors affect economic growth. This thesis hypothesizes that income inequality negatively affects growth. A country-level data set of 114 countries for 2000 and 2005 is used to estimate a growth model. The dependent variable, the five year average of economic growth per capita, is regressed on a set of standard factors (human capital, investment, and technology), institutional factors (political stability, corruption, and property rights), income inequality, and demographic factors (gender equality and racial diversity). …


Laura Bush And Hillary Clinton: Helpmates To Resident Or Role Models For Nations Women?, Majorie Brooke Donnelly Jun 2012

Laura Bush And Hillary Clinton: Helpmates To Resident Or Role Models For Nations Women?, Majorie Brooke Donnelly

Honors Theses

In spite of the fact that First Ladies are usually depicted as just helpmates to their husbands, they can in fact be very powerful figures, even if only as symbols. Indeed, First Ladies are free to mold, shape and define their role how they choose. Throughout history, we have seen First Ladies act in a variety of ways: some use the platform as a way to promote non-partisan issues; others focus on being symbols for the perfect American mother and wife; and there are few activist First Ladies who get involved in partisan politics. But although free to shape their …


The Fragmentation Of Collective Action In Contemporary China: Micro-Regions And Occupation, Jessica Sherrod Jun 2012

The Fragmentation Of Collective Action In Contemporary China: Micro-Regions And Occupation, Jessica Sherrod

Honors Theses

Since the creation of labor markets in China, there has been a rapid increase in collective contentious action, such as striking and protesting, and this has attracted the attention of many scholars. Because the country contains such a myriad of diverse regions, scholars have commonly analyzed Chinese collective action through a “regional” lens. While that approach has been useful, this paper goes further by disaggregating Chinese collective action along two dimensions: by micro-region and by occupational sector. More specifically, this research disaggregates large macro-regions to show diversity at the city-level within regions. It also considers differences in collective action across …


He Shoots He Scores: The Effect Of Mortality Salience On Risky Decisions In A Basketball Task As A Function Of Competition And Self-Esteem, Alexandra M. Aldeborgh Jun 2012

He Shoots He Scores: The Effect Of Mortality Salience On Risky Decisions In A Basketball Task As A Function Of Competition And Self-Esteem, Alexandra M. Aldeborgh

Honors Theses

The current study was designed to examine the effects of mortality salience (MS) and competition on risk-taking behavior in a sports-related setting as moderated by self-esteem. A basketball task was used to simulate sports risk, in which participants had the option of shooting from three lines: worth one point (least risky option), three points, and five points (riskiest option). Participants were either under the impression that they were competing with another participant or not. It was hypothesized that high self-esteem individuals, when primed with death thoughts and under the illusion of competition, would be most likely to shoot from the …


Analysis Of Entrepreneurial Qualities And Preparations Influencing Success And A Business Plan For The Startup Company Modd Products, Ellen Blanchard Jun 2012

Analysis Of Entrepreneurial Qualities And Preparations Influencing Success And A Business Plan For The Startup Company Modd Products, Ellen Blanchard

Honors Theses

Entrepreneurship is crucial to the economy at large and within local communities; entrepreneurs are responsible for developing innovative products and services to meet consumer needs, as well as creating jobs. The primary purpose of this thesis is to develop a business plan for a startup company, MODD Products. The plan’s specific sections are included based on reasonable evidence that they are necessary to creating and running a successful startup. A core ideology, description of the company's first product line "MODD Cocktails", review of the industry and competition, target customer profile, and marketing strategy will all be included in the MODD …


From Roosters To Talking Fish: A Comparative Study Of Hispaniolas Societal Evolution Through Folktales And Myths, Sara Block Jun 2012

From Roosters To Talking Fish: A Comparative Study Of Hispaniolas Societal Evolution Through Folktales And Myths, Sara Block

Honors Theses

The island of Hispaniola is home to two sovereign nations with a bloody and complex history: Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Their disparate experiences with European powers and colonization and their different roads to independence fundamentally shaped their cultures and current political status. The evolution of culture and the intrusions of external influences and powers are visible in the popular myths and folktales of the two countries. After a close analysis of the respective folktales through a historical lens, the thematic and structural composition of the stories suggest that Haitian and Dominican cultures are similar, but still characterized by small …


Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier Than Nonsmokers?, Mark Chaskes Jun 2012

Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier Than Nonsmokers?, Mark Chaskes

Honors Theses

Public health advocates justify cigarette taxes, claiming they discourage smoking, which results in a healthier population. However, the more pertinent issue with which health advocates should be concerned is that of smoker well‐being. In this paper, I investigate whether cigarette taxes make smokers relatively more satisfied than nonsmokers. Additionally, because poor smokers have a higher discount rate than wealthy smokers, and therefore, perceive the tax differently, I explore the effect that income, in conjunction with a cigarette tax increase, has on smokers’ life‐satisfaction. Using cross‐sectional and time‐series data from the 2005‐2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, this paper utilizes …


The Afghan-Soviet War: The U.S. And Its Covert Cold War, Alexander Cooper Jun 2012

The Afghan-Soviet War: The U.S. And Its Covert Cold War, Alexander Cooper

Honors Theses

The country of Afghanistan, bordering Pakistan in the southeast, Iran in the west, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the north, and China in the northeast, is home to over 20 million ethnically and religiously diverse people. Afghanistan is an Islamic country divided into several tribal based groups, which follow a variety of political and religious customs and traditions. Although considered an “Islamic Republic” today, or a government representative of all people, in actuality, the nation’s central government consists of the most powerful tribal groups and fighting factions in the country. Located in the center of Asia and the Middle East, the …


Detainment And Torture In Guantanamo Bay: Events, Legality And Effectiveness, Samuel Fein Jun 2012

Detainment And Torture In Guantanamo Bay: Events, Legality And Effectiveness, Samuel Fein

Honors Theses

The first chapter found that following September 11th, the Bush Administration implemented policies allowing the indefinite detainment and torture of suspected terrorists. Many detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, as well as other detention facilities, were tortured, both physically and psychologically. The second chapter concluded that the Bush Administration was incorrect in claiming that the detainees were not subject to any protections under international law. According to international law, detainees are protected by either IHL (international humanitarian law) or by international human rights law. It was found that whether or not the prisoners can be held indefinitely and tried by military …


The Battle Of Algiers And The Dictatorship Of Truth: How Crillo Pontecorvo Used Film As An Illusion To The Reality Of A Dying Colonialism, Caitlin Gardner Jun 2012

The Battle Of Algiers And The Dictatorship Of Truth: How Crillo Pontecorvo Used Film As An Illusion To The Reality Of A Dying Colonialism, Caitlin Gardner

Honors Theses

The Battle of Algiers from a historical perspective does provide the view with a lot of attention to detail but it is a very simplistic in representing the national liberation struggle within Algeria and among the major groups, such as the FLN and MNA. Also missing is the French perspective be it in leadership circles or the intellectual circles that showed sympathy to the Algerian cause. The pied-noirs, although present in the film, are not provided any real depth or nuance aside from being portrayed also as victims within the cycle of violence in the colonial struggles. Yet while terrorism …


Life At A Local Hiv/Aids Community Outreach Program: Exploring Community Reliance In The Face Of Financial Instability, Amanda Greenberg Jun 2012

Life At A Local Hiv/Aids Community Outreach Program: Exploring Community Reliance In The Face Of Financial Instability, Amanda Greenberg

Honors Theses

The positive association between poverty and ill health is one that is supported by a number of variables. More specifically, the association between poverty and the contraction of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is one that sticks out in recent literature but frequently goes unacknowledged within mainstream society as a result of heavy stigmatization. After interning at a local HIV/AIDS community outreach center for several months, I have witnessed this stigmatization firsthand and recognize the value of educating others about this crucial topic. In my thesis, I explore the personal struggles of clients and employees at this local HIV/AIDS …


How Does Satisfaction Affect Migration Patterns Within The United States (2006-2009), Michael Jacobson Jun 2012

How Does Satisfaction Affect Migration Patterns Within The United States (2006-2009), Michael Jacobson

Honors Theses

This paper investigates whether or not aggregate state satisfaction plays a significant role in the movement of people across state borders. A person’s decision on whether to migrate or not depends on the anticipated utility of the origin state compared to that of the destination state. If the utility of the destination state is greater than the utility of the origin state, the person will relocate, and if the utility of the destination state is lower than the utility of the origin state, the person will not relocate. Utility includes both monetary and non-monetary costs and benefits. The monetary utility …


Do Structured Products Increase Social Welfare?, Eric Langner Jun 2012

Do Structured Products Increase Social Welfare?, Eric Langner

Honors Theses

Structured products are a rapidly growing type of financial engineering which allow firms to design solutions to meet the individual needs of investors. A structured product is a contract between a financial firm and its client. It involves packaging together traditional and exotic securities, commodities, and options generating a defined payout structure for the client. I ask whether these products enhance social welfare. I argue that, on balance, structured products increase social welfare. I find that while the products are complicated, they are not designed to hide risks nor are they likely to be a source of financial fragility. Rather, …


A New Crisis Of The Republic: The Erosion Of The Democratic Ideal, Michael G. Lewis Jun 2012

A New Crisis Of The Republic: The Erosion Of The Democratic Ideal, Michael G. Lewis

Honors Theses

The United States has long been considered one of the most successful examples of democracy, with success measured in the quality of representation, the duration of our polity, and the ease for political regime change. However, it is necessary to question whether our democratic ideals are still prevalent in today’s society. The unfortunate response is that they are not. The revolutionary notions that marked the founding of the American republic have been misplaced. Our government seems to have experienced a devaluation of its founding principles, where now, our government participates in actions that do not represent the vital tenants of …


The Factors That Contribute To The Rise Of Conservative Political Movements Throughout American History, Kelsey Macelroy Jun 2012

The Factors That Contribute To The Rise Of Conservative Political Movements Throughout American History, Kelsey Macelroy

Honors Theses

There have been numerous political movements based on conservative ideology throughout the course of American history. However, the question still remains as to why these conservative movements occur and what plays a role their uprising. My thesis hypothesized that there are three factors that contribute to the surfacing of conservative political movement in American history‐ a deviation from republican principles such as constitutionalism and virtue, a perceived threat to individual liberties by infringement through policies involving taxation and economic regulation and the aggrandizement of power by the federal government beyond inherent constitutional limits. These three factors were examined through the …


How To Predict Success In College, Holland Martini Jun 2012

How To Predict Success In College, Holland Martini

Honors Theses

This paper examines the Union College system for determining the academic quality of its applicants. Currently, Union College uses five criteria: high school GPA; rank; strength of schedule; quality of high school; and SAT/ACT scores, if available. Using data on about 1600 students, I examine the predictive power of these criteria for the performance of a student at Union. As a measure of performance I use cumulative GPA at Union and whether or not the student is still enrolled in Spring 2011. I find that the five criteria predict about 25% of the variation in GPA at Union. With the …


The Twisting Fed: How Changing Open Market Operation Compositions Affect Long-Term Interest Rates And Subsequently Influence Capital Expenditures, Michael Owen Miller Jun 2012

The Twisting Fed: How Changing Open Market Operation Compositions Affect Long-Term Interest Rates And Subsequently Influence Capital Expenditures, Michael Owen Miller

Honors Theses

The Federal Reserve has been highly active in the past decade in its attempts to lower long-term interest rates and spur economic growth. This thesis will investigate how the Federal Reserve’s actions have influenced long-term Treasury yields and whether the manipulation of the long-term interest rate helps stimulate economic growth through capital investment. To examine how the Fed’s actions affect long-term yields we study the maturity composition of the Fed’s Open Market Operations (OMOs). As the trend of proportional purchases shift farther out along the yield curve, we expect the long-term interest rate to decrease. The impact of shifting long-term …


Gender Power And Language: Touring With The Gatekeepers Of Union, Kaileigh Moore Jun 2012

Gender Power And Language: Touring With The Gatekeepers Of Union, Kaileigh Moore

Honors Theses

Tannen, Lakoff, O’Barr, and Atkins suggest connections between gender, power, and language. However, it is unknown if these patterns persist in our society today. Lakoff argues that women are uncomfortable with power and speak in such a way as to avoid sounding authoritative. Tannen argues that women try to be friendly and egalitarian and to use conversations to create relationships. Thus, inadvertently, women lack authority in speech. O-Barr and Atkins say speech styles are not linked to gender but to relative power. Campus tour guides hold a unique position in society in that they must be authoritative leaders, but friendly …