Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

International Students And Cultural Identity, Juliet Afrifa, Olukorede Leo-Olagbaye

Capstone Research Posters

The aim of the research is to explore the cultural adjustment challenges faced by international students in Ontario. Specifically, this study examined how studying in Canada affects the cultural identity of international students and how international students' cultural identity affected their learning experiences in Canada. Using a qualitative methodology, using interviews as a data collection tool, a total of 10 international students from different colleges and universities across Ontario were engaged virtually with 7 open ended questions through which participants shared their experiences of settling into the Canadian Culture. Participants shared their experiences of cultural adjustment highlighting culture shock, challenges …

Bhalo Lagena! What Well-Being Means To Young Immigrant South Asian Women, Fatima Jahra , '24

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

A Tale Of Two Transit Systems: Comparing Copenhagen, Denmark And Portland, Oregon's Transit Networks, Aurora Trani '24

Marcuss Fellows

This research project aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the intercity train systems in Copenhagen and Portland based on their related scholarship and each system's efficiency, ridership, and projected expansion. In 2008 and 2010, the International Metrorail conference cited the Copenhagen Metro as one of the most effective transit systems in the world for its stability and customer satisfaction (Institute for Human Centered Design, 2016). Given the accolades awarded to the Copenhagen Metro, this project will work to understand what elements of Copenhagen’s Metro systems make it so efficient, and how they can be applied in Portland. More …

So What Is Exercise Anyway?: A Sociolinguistic Study On The Definition Of Exercise, Javin Morrison

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

All people generally know what is and isn’t exercise. However, when we get into the gray areas and finer details, our definitions do not all match each other. Most of our definitions feed into the toxicity of fitness culture, which is far from accessible for all people. In order to expand our perceptions of what exercise could be, I conducted a survey with students at Western Washington University. In this survey, participants would be presented with a list of activities and agree or disagree with whether or not that activity could be considered as exercise. I asked participants for demographic …

Evaluating How Well Open-Source Ai Models Interpret Written Prompts, Madeline Pysher

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The purpose of this study was to take a cursory look into understanding how good “utopian” urban form is interpreted by AI. The importance of this study is that AI is now being used in every facet of society. Some examples of this include using AI to find cures for diseases (Heaven, 2023), integrating with geography to create digital-twins that control traffic lights (Digital-Twin, n.d.), and fabrication of news and profiles on social media (Mishra, 2024). All this exposure to AI feeds into people's expectations and desires for an ideal world- aka for a utopia. Some current examples of how …

Colorblind Ideology And Inheritance Status Predicting Wealth Inequality And Poverty Perceptions In The United States, Caitlyn Steiner

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Wealth inequality and the racial wealth gap are large disparities in the modern United States. This study examines the relationship between colorblind racial ideologies, inheritance status, and wealth inequality relevant beliefs. This was done to assess whether expecting to receive an inheritance or having colorblind racial ideology can predict one's beliefs about wealth inequality. An online survey was given to participants that used Likert scales to gather support/opposition levels on wealth inequality, wealth redistribution, poverty attributions, and colorblind ideology. Answers were coded into R-studio and statistical analyses were run to observe the relationship between these variables. Results revealed that there …

Feed The Earth: An Exploration Of Regenerative Agriculture Programs In Washington State, Lily Storbeck

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Regenerative agriculture centers soil health as the solution to the environmental and economic problems caused by conventional agriculture. By using regenerative practices agricultural operations become more cost-effective and supportive of the environment. The transition to regenerative techniques can be complex and expensive, but government financial and technical assistance programs have the potential to lower risk for individual farmers. Washington state supports the use of regenerative agriculture through Conservation Districts, the Sustainable Farms and Fields grant, and the Soil Roadmap report. These programs benefit from an administrative framework linking local, state, and federal resources, but capacity is generally limited by financial …

The Myth Of Brokenness: Ableism And Anti-Ableism In The Field Of Speech-Language Pathology, Kieran Sutton

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This Zine investigates the treatment of clients with disabilities within the field of speech-language pathology (SLP). Speech-language pathologists support individuals with communication challenges such as individuals recovering from a stroke, Autistic people, or people who stutter. Many SLP clients are disabled, therefore understanding ableism (discrimination against disabled people or people perceived as disabled) is essential to a successful and ethical SLP clinic. This Zine compiles and summarizes relevant sources relating to ableism and speech-language pathology. In addition, outreach was conducted to hold interviews with SLPs and SLP clients. The primary finding of this project is that ableism can be perpetuated …

Food Systems Mapping And Goals At Western Washington University, Dylan Braund

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

In this project, I map food systems on the Western Washington University (WWU) campus with the intention of better understanding how different groups are working and collaborating to make food systems more accessible and sustainable on campus. By examining these connections, I also hope to reveal areas for potential future connections to form between groups engaging in similar work. In addition, I provide recommendations for new goals to be added to the existing WWU Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) related to food systems. As most of the goals currently listed in this plan relate directly to Dining Services, this research provides …

Landscapes Of Change: Acequias, Community Resilience, And State Power In Northern New Mexico, Amaya Coblentz

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Settlement of the American West, the majority of which is a naturally arid and harsh landscape, has historically been defined by access to a reliable source of water. In the mountains of Northern New Mexico, small communities have adapted to desert life through communal management of this scarce resource, known as the acequia system. Introduced to the landscape when the Spanish began occupation of the area and evolving through the Indigenous groups and Hispanic settlers, the acequia system has supported communities in this rugged landscape for hundreds of years. Now, with the changing political and physical landscapes of the West, …

Conformity In Our Youth, C J. Chopot

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Current studies show that conformity is a social tool used during development to convince children to accept society’s norms and expectations. These social norms are created and maintained through public institutions such as schools and social media platforms which children interact with every day. Through these common experiences, children often adopt social norms and form a group identity to belong in the greater society. As a part of a group, children can often fall victim to peer pressure which can negatively impact their mental health, create risky behaviors, and make it harder to voice opposing opinions. This literature review explores …

The First Developments Of Bellingham Washington: Understanding The Plat Maps Of Bellingham Washington In The Late 1800s Following The Oregon Land Law Of 1850, Caton Coldicott

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

This paper explores the impact of the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 on the development of Bellingham, Washington, focusing on the transformation of land use and platting over time. The Act provided 320 acres to married white settlers and 160 acres to single white males. This was one of the most important federal acts in settling what would become Washington State. This research focuses on using historical plat maps to identify which Donation Land Claim recipients developed their land into Bellingham, Washington. Using historical documents, maps, and plats, the research traces the land's transition from large rural plots to …

From Threads To Treasures: The Resilient Journey Of The Western Worn Community Closet, Jessica Dietzman

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Picture this - You are walking into a room filled with made-from-scratch clothing racks, hangers donated from the College of Business and Economics (CBE) Career Closet, clothes, shoes, and accessories filling up the shelves and racks all donated by your fellow students, professors, and faculty. You notice artwork decorating the walls designed from art students, and you have total access to any of these articles of clothing for free! This room is called the Western Worn Community Closet and written here is the resilient story of how it came to be.

Omori's Portrayal Of Self-Compassion As A Means To Prevent Suicide, Kal Hines

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

A media analysis of self-compassion and forgiveness in OMORI using empirical psychological literature. In this essay, I define trauma and discuss OMORI's portrayal of fragmented traumatic memories using scattered photos. I also cover post-traumatic responses including the dissociative subtype of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In discussing dissociation, I also cover depersonalization, derealization, and maladaptive daydreaming. The final focus of the paper is on self-compassion. I use Kristin Neff's operationalization of self-compassion which has three main aspects: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness. At multiple points, I will engage in plot summary and detail the events of the game while drawing connections …

Weeding Out The Truth: Can We Reduce Neuroinflammation In Huntington’S Disease?, Milica Jakovljevic

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by unwanted choreatic movements, cognitive decline, and behavioral and psychiatric difficulties. The mutant protein that causes HD results from an abnormal expansion of the CAG repeat segment on the HTT gene. This protein becomes prone to aggregation, resulting in neuron dysfunction and degeneration. The striatum is crucial for regulating voluntary movement and is the primary region affected. While neurons are found in abundance, glial cells–namely microglia and astrocytes–are the most abundant cell type in the striatum. When in a resting state, these cells work to clear debris and modulate neuronal signaling. …

Environmental Equity In An Unjust World, Carly R. Hopp

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Climate change and related flooding in the Ganges Delta and Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) Basin region disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. This is examined through the lens of environmental justice by exploring how common themes are portrayed in photography and mainstream media. Fifty photos taken in and around the Ganges Delta and GBM Basin were selected for analysis. Photos were collected from a variety of news articles by international media companies and organizations about flooding and divided into five primary categories: Unnatural Disaster, Aftermath, Life Goes On, Resilience, and Awe-striking.

Education And Community: Education Helping Immigrants Find Community And Belonging., Belle Lemieux Chan, Josephine Smith, Lauren Gracey

Egypt Migrations Partnership and Comparative Immigrant Experiences

Education serves as a structured pathway for immigrants to establish a sense of community and belonging in their new country. Through the consistency and frequency of interactions within educational environments, immigrants have the opportunity to form meaningful friendships with peers from diverse backgrounds. These connections not only enhance their quality of life but also facilitate a smoother transition into their adopted homeland. By engaging in academic pursuits alongside fellow students, immigrants find camaraderie and support, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends cultural barriers. In essence, the educational community becomes a sanctuary where immigrants can thrive socially and academically, forging …

Preserving Cultural Harmony: Music's Role In Connecting Communities, Justin Marton,, Hudson Steele, Ahmed Khawaja

Egypt Migrations Partnership and Comparative Immigrant Experiences

This project tells the story of different ethnic groups and their relation to their cultural heritage through music. It goes over the roots of their music, and the stages of immigration to Canada and how they’ve adapted this music to their new environment.

Addressing Workplace Violence In Healthcare, Eric Crane

M.S. in Leadership

This research paper explores the prevalence, consequences, and mitigation strategies for workplace violence in healthcare. The literature focuses on the importance of leadership’s involvement of the implementation of change, providing programing, and obtaining buy-in from staff to combat what has consistently been a factor leading to employee burnout, assaultive behavior, and compromised patient safety. It shows that workplace violence has been a constant in healthcare, however, has escalated post COVID-19 pandemic. Research and statistics show that workplace violence in healthcare is more prevalent than in other fields and is on the rise. A multiple-choice survey was conducted using Survey Monkey, …

A Word From The Writing Team (April 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Join Us for Our Virtual Writing Retreat on April 5th
• Attend a Packback Workshop
• Check Out the Spring 2024 Research Support Newsletter
• Learn about the Ethics of AI at Jefferson's Research Compliance Symposium
• Attend a Reception for the Drs. Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize Winners on April 25th
• Publication Spotlight
• Jefferson's AI Library Guide is Available on the Library Website
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Scott Memorial Library Archive Renovations are Almost Done!
• Wiley Open Access Fees Waived for Jefferson Authors

2023-2024 Men's Basketball Roster, Cedarville University

Men's Basketball Rosters

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Men's Basketball Schedule, Cedarville University

Men's Basketball Schedules

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Men's Basketball Statistics, Cedarville University

Men's Basketball Statistics

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Men's Golf Season Statistics, Cedarville University

Men's Golf Statistics

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Men's Golf Career Statistics, Cedarville University

Men's Golf Statistics

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Men's Track & Field Schedule, Cedarville University

Men's Track & Field Schedules

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Men's Track & Field Roster, Cedarville University

Men's Track & Field Rosters

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Men's Tennis Individual Match-By-Match Statistics, Cedarville University

Men's Tennis Statistics

No abstract provided.

Is Asia On The Precipice Of A Currency Crisis? Exploring Regional Risks And Implications On The Global Economy, Hannah Deng

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper examines the economic stability of Asia in the face of a potential currency crisis through drawing upon the historical context provided by the 1997 East Asian Financial Crisis. It systematically explores the characteristics and precursors of currency crises, analyzes the Asia-Pacific region’s response to past financial upheavals, and evaluates current macroeconomic vulnerabilities as well as policy frameworks. By juxtaposing the changes in Asia’s financial landscape from the late 20th century to the present, the study identifies persistent structural weaknesses and the region’s ongoing exposure to volatile global financial markets. It also considers the possibility of emerging markets establishing …

Short-Term Larval Surveys Reveal Rainy Season Breeding Site Preferences Of Malaria Vector Anopheles Spp. In Zanzibar City, Kaeden K. Hill

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Malaria is a serious illness that causes over 500,000 deaths annually worldwide, with Tanzania alone contributing to approximately 4% of those deaths. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites, and it is vectored by mosquitoes in the Anopheles genus. In Zanzibar City, the incidence of malaria has decreased over the past few decades due to standardized treatment protocols and public health interventions targeting adult mosquitoes. However, the incidence remains between 1-2%, with an increasing trend observed over the past few years likely stemming from continued exchange of Plasmodium spp. from other malaria-endemic areas. Because larvicidal strategies can be useful in …