Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Toxic Stress : Exploring Mental Health Narratives Of Environmental Justice In Richmond, California, Elizabeth Gonzalez

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory study was to gather narratives of residents and/or community members who perceive the presence of the Richmond Chevron Oil Refinery in their community as a psychological stressor. The study used semi-structured interviews with eight community organizers and activists to gather qualitative data providing personal accounts of the possible psychological impact of living near a toxic facility with great political power in the city. The common trend among the narratives was the tendency of the participants to focus on a macro interpretation of how mental health is affected by a corporate giant. A collective sense of …

Strengths, Narrative, And Resilience: Restorying Resilience Research, Sherry L. Hamby, Victoria Banyard, John H. Grych

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To envision a path toward a more strengths-based approach to violence research, prevention, and intervention—a path that focuses on thriving and resilience. Key Points: Both the content and the process of research need to change if we are to transform our efforts to understand and overcome adversity. Greater focus on strengths and the achievement of well-being despite adversity is 1 important avenue; focusing on the narrative and the power of story is another important path. However, merely shifting the focus of traditional research and scholarly efforts is not enough. At another level of analysis, the field needs communication across …

Seven Reasons To Invest In Well-Being, Kathryn H. Howell, John K. Coffey, Gregory M. Fosco, Kristen Kracke, Katherine S. Nelson, Emily F. Rothman, John Grych

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: This commentary reviews current conceptualizations of well-being, examines explanations for the lack of attention to well-being research, and provides justification for investing research time and funding into well-being studies. Opportunities for integrating factors related to well-being into prevention and intervention programs are also outlined. Key Points: Well-being may motivate people toward success, improve health and longevity, strengthen relationships, and boost the economy. Well-being can be enhanced in easy and inexpensive ways by incorporating facets of well-being into already-existing individual and systems-level intervention or prevention programs. Implications: Future research into this important construct should focus on objective means to assess …

Exercise Training And Functional Connectivity Changes In Mild Cognitive Impairment And Healthy Elders, Theresa J. Chirles, Katherine Reiter, Lauren R. Weiss, Alfonso J. Alfini, Kristy A. Nielson, J. Smith Carson

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Effective interventions are needed to improve brain function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus is a hub of the default mode network (DMN) and is preferentially vulnerable to disruption of functional connectivity in MCI and AD. Objective: We investigated whether 12 weeks of aerobic exercise could enhance functional connectivity of the PCC/precuneus in MCI and healthy elders. Methods: Sixteen MCI and 16 healthy elders (age range = 60–88) engaged in a supervised 12-week walking exercise intervention. Functional MRI was acquired at rest; the PCC/precuneus was used as a …

Validation Of The Vaccination Confidence Scale: A Brief Measure To Identify Parents At Risk For Refusing Adolescent Vaccines, Melissa Gilkey, Paul Reiter, Brooke E. Magnus, Annie-Laurie Mcree, Amanda F. Dempsey, Joseph M. Brewer

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To validate a brief measure of vaccination confidence using a large, nationally representative sample of parents.

Methods

We analyzed weighted data from 9018 parents who completed the 2010 National Immunization Survey–Teen, an annual, population-based telephone survey. Parents reported on the immunization history of a 13- to 17-year-old child in their households for vaccines including tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal, and human papillomavirus vaccines. For each vaccine, separate logistic regression models assessed associations between parents' mean scores on the 8-item Vaccination Confidence Scale and vaccine refusal, vaccine delay, and vaccination status. We repeated analyses for the scale's 4-item …

Vaccination Confidence And Parental Refusal/Delay Of Early Childhood Vaccines, Melissa Gilkey, Annie-Laurie Mcree, Brooke E. Magnus, Paul Reiter, Amanda F. Dempsey, Noel T. Brewer

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To support efforts to address parental hesitancy towards early childhood vaccination, we sought to validate the Vaccination Confidence Scale using data from a large, population-based sample of U.S. parents.

Methods

We used weighted data from 9,354 parents who completed the 2011 National Immunization Survey. Parents reported on the immunization history of a 19- to 35-month-old child in their households. Healthcare providers then verified children’s vaccination status for vaccines including measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella, and seasonal flu. We used separate multivariable logistic regression models to assess associations between parents’ mean scores on the 8-item Vaccination Confidence Scale and …

Common Ground: Uniting Archaeology And Secondary Social Studies Curricula, Jeremy Allen Haas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Archaeologists have been attempting to establish stronger connections with communities for several decades. Concepts such as stewardship can be presented to a larger audience, and archaeology can be a valuable tool for public education. Public schools across the nation are struggling to improve with limited resources. Archaeology can provide teachers with inexpensive resources that improve student learning while simultaneously helping teachers meet more rigorous standards. Using historical, archaeological, and cultural resources from the World War II Japanese American internment camp, Amache, I created a new supplementary curriculum that focused on the experience of Japanese and Japanese Americans during that era. …

Access And Barriers To Care During Transition From Active Duty To Veteran Status In Veterans With Diabetes: A Look At Health Literacy, Change, And Ongoing Diabetes Self-Management Education, Mark R. Malebranche

Dissertations

Background and Rationale: Transition from active duty to veteran status may be a challenging time, especially for veterans with diabetes. These veterans face multiple changes that can cause distress. Most veterans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, however a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes on active duty is cause for discharge for active duty.

Purposes and Aims: The purpose of this study was to describe the transition experience of veterans diagnosed with diabetes while on active duty from active duty to veteran status. The study describes barriers and facilitators to healthcare and diabetes self-care management. The four aims of the …

Clients As Voting Board Members: A Mixed Methods Examination Of San Diego County Nonprofit Human Services Organizations, Elaine Marie Lewis

Dissertations

The literature suggests that thoughtful board composition generates more strategic and thoughtful policymaking. This study examined one aspect of board composition that is frequently cited as a source of more strategic and thoughtful policymaking: clients as voting members.

This study used descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the prevalence of, and the factors associated with clients participating as board members of human services nonprofit organizations in San Diego County. Through a review of the most recent 12 months of board meeting notes, this study also explored the level of participation of two clients on the board of directors of one …

A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Minority Resource Eligibility For Half White Multiracial College Students, Nicholas Reyes Franco

Dissertations

Over the last several decades, multiracial populations have received increased attention in academic literature, particularly regarding identity development and psychological health and wellness. Less attention has been given to individuals with one minority and one white parent (i.e., half white individuals) in the context of affirmative action and higher education. Existing quantitative studies on this topic suggest, on the one hand, that half white individuals are likely to be considered members of racial minorities, yet, on the other hand, less of a minority—and less deserving of affirmative action benefits—than monoracial individuals or multiracial individuals with multiple minority identities. College students’ …

Meaning-Making In Student Conduct Administration: A Developmental Perspective, Sean Robert Horrigan

Dissertations

The field of student conduct administration (SCA) in higher education has grown more complex. Researchers and practitioners have noted the tension for conduct officers between managing legal and policy compliance focused on the adjudication of cases and serving as restorative justice minded educators oriented towards student growth and learning. As a result, the knowledge required and the skills practiced by conduct officers are broad and varied. An overlooked dimension of SCA is how conduct officer development, especially as it relates to meaning-making, influences their experiences, knowledge, and skills. This study, utilizing a developmental theory known as “action logics,” explores how …

A Grounded Theory Approach To Healthy Work Environment: Its Impact On Nurses, Patient Safety, And Significance In Healthcare Settings, Nicole Sevilla-Zeigen

Dissertations

A healthy working environment has been an area of interest for occupation health providers. There is anticipation that a safe working environment improves patient safety, which is associated with reduction in clinical nurse errors. Issues with medication errors and poor working environment pose a greater risk to patient safety. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide a broad understanding on nurses’ perceptions on the processes that influence a healthy working environment and the impacts of a healthy working environment on patient safety. An interpretive grounded theory methodology was used in this study to evaluate nurses’ perceptions in acute …

The Multiple Meanings Of San Diego's Little Italy: A Study Of The Impact Of Real And Symbolic Space And Boundaries On The Ethnic Identities Of Eight Italian Americans, Thomas Joseph Cesarini

Dissertations

The literature suggests that identifying with a particular place can promote a sense of ethnic identity. This study focused on eight Italian American community members’ perceptions of San Diego’s Little Italy as both a container and creator of ethnic identity. The study addressed a) how the participants define and convey their Italian American ethnic identity and b) how the participants perceive the role of San Diego’s Little Italy pre-redevelopment and post-redevelopment in creating and shaping their sense of being Italian American.

The study employed a case-study design. Ethnohistoric accounts of life experiences were gathered from participants selected through convenience and …

Digitization And The Changing Roles Of Libraries In Support Of Humanities Research: The Case Of The Harrison Forman Collection, Krystyna K. Matusiak

Library and Information Science: Faculty Scholarship

Objective – this article examines the role of libraries in expanding access to primary sources through digitization and in providing support for humanities research. Research method – the author analyzes the literature on information behavior of humanist scholars in light of the increased use of digitized primary sources. Next, using the example of the digitized photographs and diaries from the Harrison Forman Collection, the author explores the emerging role of libraries in creating a new source of scholarly materials and supporting research in humanities. Results and conclusion – digitization increasingly matters not only for practical reasons of ease of use …

Understanding Roles And Responsibilities Of Data Curators: An International Perspective, Anna Maria Tammaro, Krystyna K. Matusiak, Frank Andreas Sposito, Ana Pervan, Vittore Casarosa

Library and Information Science: Faculty Scholarship

Data curation has emerged as a new area of responsibility for researchers, librarians, and information professionals in the digital library environment. This paper presents the preliminary findings of a large research project sponsored by the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), under the auspices of its Library Theory and Research (LTR) Section. The primary objective of the project is to identify the characteristic tasks and responsibilities of data curators in both international and interdisciplinary contexts. The ultimate objective, however, is to develop a “data curation ontology” that will better define the profession and support the development of educational curricula to …

Examining The Role Of Threat Processing In Memory Consolidation And Prejudice Formation, Stephanie Marie Reyes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Memory is a flexible system that integrates new incoming information into existing memory representations (Stickgold & Walker, 2007). Through sleep and over time, memories become stable via consolidation processes (Payne, Stickgold, Swanberg & Kensinger, 2008). Prejudice formation can occur through the consolidation of stereotype schemas. In a previous study Latino participants learned positive and negative trait information about in-group and out-group members (Enge, Lupo & Zárate, 2015). At test, participants responded more quickly to out-group targets paired with negative traits than in-group pairings with these traits. Findings indicate that participants also responded more quickly to in-group targets paired with positive …

The Persistent Fear Of Crime In A Safe Metropolitan Area: The Continual Impact Of Social Disorganization, Guillermo Rivas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

While the association between physical and social disorder on crime have been established (Skogan, 1990), it is less clear how they influence fear of crime. Fear of crime is important to consider given that is can decrease both physical and mental health (Gee & Payne-Sturges, 2004). Utilizing data based on a randomly selected household survey in El Paso County, Texas (N= 1,070) I seek to examine the influence of physical and social disorders and social cohesion on fear of crime. OLS linear regression results illustrate the persistent impact of physical and social disorders regardless of neighborhood characteristics of poverty and …

Development Of Efficient Simultaneous Confidence Bounds For Linear Mixed Models With Applications In Alcohol Research, Emmanuel Joseph Sequeira

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Multiplicity corrections are necessary to ensure the accuracy of conclusions made in studies that carry out multiple inferences simultaneously. This Thesis uses the methodology derived by Hunter and Worsley to obtain improved simultaneous confidence bounds (SCBs) that are less conservative than the highly used Bonferroni SCBs, for studies using linear mixed modeling. Empirical coverage rates were obtained for data that was generated using simulations, to compare the accuracy of the Hunter-Worsley SCBs with that of the Bonferroni SCBs. The bounds were also applied to data in the field of alcohol research, where comparisons were made to determine the moderating effect …

Investigation Of Lunar Subsurface Cavities Using Thermal Inertia And Temperature Maximum To Minimum Ratios, Rachel Ann Slank

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Previous studies have revealed a small number of subsurface cavities, including lava tubes, as well as skylights, lava flow pits, and impact melt pits on the Moon. The interiors of subsurface cavities would have been protected from micrometeorite bombardment, solar radiation, space weathering, and extreme diurnal temperature swings over long periods of geologic time. As a result, subsurface cavities can provide access to pristine crustal samples and stratigraphy. These cavities may also harbor important volatiles, such as water ice, that would enable future exploration missions by relieving many operational constraints, including the supply of propellants and life support. In addition, …

Guaging Student Levels Of Comfort And Approachability, Hannah Li

A with Honors Projects

As part of Anthropology 103’s Ethnographies of Parkland College Project, this is a summary of the qualitative study conducted by the author and two other students which examined the approachability of strangers, especially in regards to how comfortable someone feels when been approached by someone of their own demographics versus very different demographics (age, gender, and ethnicity). The group hypothesized that Parkland students and faculty would either display a lot of openness to diversity, or they would be close-minded. However, data proved to demonstrate a mixture of results, as well as more complicated themes. They concluded that students and faculty …

Composting At Parkland College, Della Jacobs

A with Honors Projects

This essay summarizes the student's efforts to establish a composting program at Parkland College. The student had previously worked to establish a garden plot to supplement the offerings at the College's food pantry and subsequently worked with the cafeteria to collect composting materials for the garden plot.

Reunification Of Koreas: A Hidden Treasure Box For The Global Economy, Hye Tae Kim

A with Honors Projects

In this student work, the author discusses the reunification of North and South Korea. The Republic of Korea’s president Park Geun Hye said “Reunification is the jackpot!” (qtd. in Park, my trans. par. 2). Recently, the global economy and individual countries’ economies are settling, without any major changes in the economies. Also, economic levels of countries are calculated and graded, and there have not been drastic changes for years. However, there are sometimes unexpected events which affect every economy and individual a lot, and the reunification of South Korea and North Korea is one of them. The reunification will recover …

Parkland In 1974, Megan Walker

A with Honors Projects

For this student honors project, the author compares Parkland College (Champaign, IL) of 1974, using a yearbook, to Parkland College of 2016 (the fiftieth year of the college).

Parkland Pantry Produce Plot, Della Jacobs

A with Honors Projects

For this student service learning project, the author describes her efforts to establish a gardening plot to support the Wesley Food Pantry at Parkland College in Champaign, IL, and illustrates the first year's harvest.

Black And Blue, Savana Butler

A with Honors Projects

This student honors project is a case study focusing on the psychological effects of emotional and physical abuse in childhood and how it affects the victim physically, cognitively, and social-emotionally into adulthood.

Analysis Of Speeches From Mary Fisher, Steve Jobs, And Barak Obama, Hye Tae Kim

A with Honors Projects

For this honors project, the student viewed three well-known speeches by socially influential people to assess organization, language, materials, analysis, and delivery and found that the speeches have identical characteristics and common delivery skills that made them more persuasive and interesting.

The Prototype Case Designed For Case-Based-Learning In Bio 201, Junli Diao

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Machito And His Afro-Cubans: Selected Transcriptions, Paul Austerlitz, Jere Laukkanen

Gettysburg College Faculty Books

Machito (Francisco Raúl Grillo, 1909–1984) was born into a musical family in Havana, Cuba, and was already an experienced vocalist when he arrived in New York City in 1937. In 1940 he teamed up with his brother-in-law, the Cuban trumpeter Mario Bauzá (1911–1993), who had already made a name for himself with top African American swing bands such as those of Chick Webb and Cab Calloway. Together, Machito and Bauzá formed Machito and his Afro-Cubans. With Bauzá as musical director, the band forged vital pan-African connections by fusing Afro-Cuban rhythms with modern jazz and by collaborating with major figures in …

Supporting Reading Curriculum Without Restricting Access To Library Materials: Resources For Teacher Librarians, Tricia Carty

Graduate Research Papers

External pressure upon teacher librarians to arrange library book collections by level and to limit students’ choices to books within their level is complex due to the interwoven but sometimes conflicting demands of providing quality reading instruction, resources for independent reading, and relevant readers’ advisory. The school library and its teacher librarian are positioned squarely in the middle of this dynamic topic. The purpose of this study was to identify the strategies and policies teacher librarians use to support reading instruction without restricting students’ access to library materials. This study revealed that through the use of focused instruction, adaptable policies, …

Gender And Society, Kaiden Pope

A with Honors Projects

For this A with Honors project, the student carried out a qualitative study to explore if or how traditional gender roles and identities are changing. For the study interviews were conducted with a small group of members of the LGBTQ community in a small university town, and one individual outside the LGBTQ spectrum and concluded that that to those who find that they have a gendered community, such as the community offered to women, feel less affected by the lack of a gendered community. For those who feel that they do not fit into those strict social communities, the community …