Convocation Speech
On August 14, 2004, I immigrated to the United States. Five years later, on June 15,
2009, I graduated from high school as salutatorian. On May 16th 2014, I will be one of the
first in my family to graduate from college and with honors. These dates represent important
milestones in my life from the past, to the present and through the future. However, my fellow
scholars, today May 1st, 2014 we celebrate a distinguished milestone together as our
individual excellence is being recognized and rewarded. While our individual stories cannot
be captured in one speech, we all have shared in the journey leading to this day.
Many of our accomplishments here at Southern were hard earned, and we dealt with our
own shortcomings, rejections and failures. We must realize that these challenges are the result
of being intellectually driven and curious beings. Some of society’s prominent leaders, too,
had their fair share of shortcomings. I often think about Nawal El Saadawi fighting for
political and social freedom for Arab women, Nelson Mandela’s fight against the Apartheid in
South Africa and even closer to home, the brave souls who had sacrificed their own lives to
save others in the Newtown shooting. These individuals shared a great deal of resilience and
perseverance in the face of adversity. It is remarkable how the human spirit has the power to
transcend the lines of doubt, fear, and uncertainty and emit a new sense of courage, strength,
resiliency, and perseverance.
When I was in high school, I recall being told that we didn’t have much to look forward
to other than getting pregnant or joining a gang. I told the person, I planned to do neither. My
ability to learn and gain an education was not contingent upon what others had to say. When I
went home and told my mother what I had heard, she of course gave me a speech, but most
importantly she said, “All I ask is that you go to school and learn. That’s it.” That’s it, I
thought? Wow, it is that simple. Of course, I later realized it was not that simple. There is a lot
of hard work, sweat, and even tears. However, my mom was referring to my ability to
overcome and persevere through my studies even when the odds were against me or when
others didn’t believe in me. You never know the power of your mind until you’re challenged.
So, I stand before you today as a woman who, like many of you, had ups and down, but
who never gave up the fight. When I entered the Honors College, I said to myself, why stay
ordinary, when I can be extraordinary? I used this attitude as my passport to gain valuable
global experiences, by studying abroad in Botswana, Africa and Guatemala and also to be able
to conduct my research study in my native island of Jamaica to deal with a primary global
issue: low incidence of breastfeeding in developing countries. While on the north coast of
Jamaica for three weeks, in a rural parish called St. Ann, 90 new mothers completed
questionnaires on their attitudes toward breastfeeding and their perception of their male
partner’s attitudes toward breastfeeding. Irrespective of the challenges I encountered, the
opportunity to contribute to the research literature and re-establish a relationship with my roots
while being intellectually stimulated was exceptionally moving for me.
Here at SCSU, we are given an academic sword to conquer mediocrity and an armor of
support from faculty, staff, and friends. Our achievements are a reflection of those who
encouraged us throughout the journey and also a result of those who might have told us “no.”
For those “no’s” drove us to find other avenues that we probably would not have considered;
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thus, a “no” is not a reflection of our potential and it is certainly not a reflection of who we are
and who we could become.
At the tender age of nine, I made a promise that I wanted to alleviate the suffering of
people because I had witnessed and experienced the misfortunes of social ills. Growing up in
an impoverished community in Jamaica where crime was rampant, mental illness was
prevalent, and sickness was the norm, a child like me, wasn’t expected to become somebody.
I am here today to profess that I am somebody. Even more so, I will be embarking on my premedicine journey at the University of Connecticut this upcoming fall to fulfill that promise I
had made to myself at nine years old.
Two weeks ago, I visited a biomedical science careers program in Massachusetts. The
speaker, Dr. Hrabowski *(Rabowski)*, raised two important points that I hope will resonate
with you today and on your life’s journey. First, he said that “we should watch our thoughts
for they become words, our words turn into actions, our actions become habits, our habits
become our character and our character determines our destiny.” Second, he said, “as we rise,
we lift.” Essentially, as we progress and attain our goals, we must not forget to help someone
else along the way.
Southern has equipped us with unforgettable experiences to do great things in this
world. Our intellectual curiosity, bountiful talents and gifts, and kindred spirits will allow us
to embark on many more journeys and climb many more mountains. We should continue to
press forward and illuminate our unique light wherever life’s journey takes us.
Congratulations for everyone honored today! You deserve it! Thank you!
HONORS CONVOCATION
THESIS ABSTRACTS
Table of Contents
Krista Alston………………………………………………………………………….
Ellen Andrusko………………………………………………………………………..
Lauren Barone…………………………………………………………………………
Alessia Campanaro……………………………………………………………………
Alexa Carolan…………………………………………………………………………
Erica Casalina……………………………………………………………………….....
Sarah Chadbourne……………………………………………………………………
Robin Donaldson………………………………………………………………………
Jenna Filakovsky………………………………………………………………………
Heather Fleming………………………………………………………………………
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Kate Garnett…………………………………………………………………………..
Rebecca Gellatly………………………………………………………………………
Joseph Grillo…………………………………………………………………………..
Stephen Gueble………………………………………………………………………..
Sadie Hartell…………………………………………………………………………..
Jennifer-Rose Hebert…………………………………………………………………..
James Henderson………………………………………………………………………
Erin Hoffman………………………………………………………………………….
Samuel Hollings………………………………………………………………………..
Samuel Hylwa…………………………………………………………………………
Emily Killilea…………………………………………………………………………..
Brittnee Kindzierski……………………………………………………………………
Patricia Kraszewska……………………………………………………………………
Alexis LaRowe…………………………………………………………………………
Natalie Laven……………………………………………………………...……………
Zachary LeClair……………………………………………………………………..….
Shani Legore……………………………………………………………………………
Jennifer Leno…………………………………………………………………………...
Sarah Lewis…………………………………………………………………………….
Tyler J. Meccariello……………………………………………………………………..
Mary K. Mohyde ………………………………………..……………………………...
Alexandra Murray………………………………………………………………………
Melissa Mushala…………………………………………………………………………
Laura O’Brien……………………………………………………………………………
Ellen Ormond……………………………………………………………………………
Akilah A. Plair…………………………………………………………………………..
Laura Richard……………………………………………………………………………
Meghan Ritt…………………..…………………………………………………………
TJ Rooney………………………………………………………………………………..
Eric W. Rothbart……………...…………………………………………………………
Georgia Russell………………………………………………………...…………………
Kristin Russo……………………..………………………………………………………
Sarah Santora…………………………………………………………………………….
Joseph J. Schifferdecker…………………………………………………………………
Colleen K. Swift…………………………………………………………………………
Danielle Szymaszek………………………………………………...……………………
Michael W. Tenney………………...…………………………………………………….
Jacqueline Turcios…………………………...……………………………………………
Evan Turek………………………………………………………………………………..
Anthony Vignola………………………………………………………………………….
Lakshmi Prayosha Villa ………………………………………………………………….
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THE IMPACT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES’ MODERNIZATION HAS ON
CLIENT INTERACTIONS
Department of Social Work
Krista Alston
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Keenan
University Reader: Dr. Dana Schneider
Thesis Reader: Dr. Stephen Tomczak
The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) has been the subject of public controversy
due to outdated technology, large caseloads, and lengthy waits clients endure to obtain crucial
social services. Research data supports the negative impact these factors have on client
interactions with DSS workers. In response to these concerns DSS has undergone a
modernization. This thesis examined the impact of the modernization on client interactions with
DSS workers. A qualitative study was conducted with five participants to gain a better
understanding of their experiences with the recent changes as well as provide a deeper look into
their communications with the department’s eligibility service employees. Despite the
modernization efforts, participants reported continued frustrations, including wrongful
termination of benefits, lengthy telephone waits, and an inability to speak with a live person. One
participant expressed a sense of gratitude and satisfaction with her DSS experience. Overall, the
modernization may have actually created a new problem; participants preferred to speak to an
actual person rather than an automated service. These interviews indicate a need for continued
research to include the consumer experience as the changes continue.
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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: ETIOLOGY, TREATMENT, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACT
Interdisciplinary Studies and Honors College
Ellen Andrusko
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Bernadette Madara
University Reader: Dr. Cheryl-Ann Resha
Thesis Reader: Dr. Maryanne Davidson
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system for which the cause and cure are
currently unknown. The disease primarily affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 50, a time most
people would consider to be the “prime” of their life. With symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, pain,
numbness, coordination difficulties, bladder and bowel dysfunction, vision difficulties, cognitive
dysfunction, and sensory dysfunction, it is undeniable that MS can have a large impact on day-to-day life.
A comprehensive overview of MS and how the disease affects the quality of life of individuals living with
the disease was explored and quality of life issues were discovered through the observation of MS
Support groups throughout Connecticut. A total of six support group meetings were attended, through two
different support groups within Connecticut. The information provided by the support groups and the
observation of the support group members suggest that many individuals living with MS have adapted
well to life with MS, though it was not easy. A number of individuals report that their main concerns
about living with MS involve monetary issues, transportation issues, and being a burden to their
caregivers.
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THE CHAINS OF TODAY: CONCEPTUALIZATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE
UNITED STATES
Department of Political Science and Honors College
Lauren Barone
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Theresa Marchant-Shapiro
University Reader: Dr. Tricia Lin Yi Chun
Thesis Reader: Malia D. Bajpai
The literature on human trafficking suggests that in the United States there is a gap between the
legal definition of human trafficking and the practical and societal understanding of the term.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether such a gap exists and if so, what is causing
this gap to occur. A peer-review survey of college students was administered to test the
hypothesis that misrepresentation of human trafficking by government officials, interests groups,
and the media has led to a misunderstanding by the public of the scope of human trafficking. The
results showed that there is indeed confusion among society about what defines a human
trafficking situation, a trafficking victim, and the trafficker and suggest that both fictional and
non-fictional media shape society’s understanding of the term. The findings of this study provide
a foundation for future research into how the United States defines human trafficking and how to
properly inform society about this important issue.
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A STUDY EXAMINING CONDOM USE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE
STUDENTS
Department of Public Health and Honors College
Alessia Campanaro
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Sandra Bulmer
University Reader: Dr. Jean Breny
Thesis Reader: Dr. Diane Morgenthaler
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV disproportionately affect adolescents and young
adults. Condoms are effective at preventing the transmission of STDs and HIV, however many
sexually active college students report that they do not use condoms or do not do so consistently.
The purpose of this study was to identify the specific factors associated with college student’s
condom use, reasons students do not use condoms, and differences in those reasons based on
gender and STD/HIV testing history. A randomly selected sample of 626 sexually active
undergraduate students completed a survey that included questions about demographics, condom
use and other health behaviors. Results showed that condom use was low in this population of
college students with only 51.5% of males and 44.2% of females reporting that they used a
condom every time they had sexual intercourse. Students who were older, living off campus,
previously tested for STDs/HIV, previously vaccinated for HPV, or cigarette smokers were
significantly more likely to NOT use a condom every time. The most frequently reported reason
provided by both genders for not using condoms was “my partner and I were using an alternative
form of birth control” and females were significantly more likely to report this reason than
males. Males were significantly more likely than females to report that “my partner did not want
to use a condom” or “condoms were not available.” Students who had previously been tested for
STDs/HIV were significantly more likely than students who had not been tested to indicate that
one of their reasons for not using condoms was that they “did not feel at risk for a sexually
transmitted disease.” These results provide valuable information that can inform University
health services on the types of health information students need regarding sexual protection and
which segments of the college population to target
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DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE TERMS CONCUSSION, MILD
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND MILD HEAD INJURY BETWEEN SENIOR AND
JUNIOR LEVEL NURSING STUDENTS
Department of Nursing and Honors College
Alexa Carolan
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Maryann Davidson
University Reader: Dr. Bernadette Madara
Thesis Reader: Dr. Elaine Martin
Concussions, mild traumatic brain injuries, and mild head injuries are one of the most commonly
occurring head injuries in the United States. Research has shown that between 1 and 3.8 million
of these head injuries are diagnosed each year. Even with such a high number of diagnosed
concussions, many people still do not seek care because they do not understand the seriousness
of their injuries. Better education should be provided so people can identify and seek help for
any head injury. This study examined the level of knowledge of junior and senior nursing
students of a baccalaureate nursing program and their understanding of brain injuries. The
convenience sample collected information from fifteen junior and twenty-eight senior students.
Data collection included Demographic data and a survey tool of common misconceptions of
brain injuries. Results showed non-significant statistical differences between junior and senior
students of their understanding of brain injuries. Results of this study were similar to the findings
of previous studies, supporting misconceptions about concussions amongst students educated in
healthcare. Limitations of this study include small sample size, use of convenience sampling, and
online distribution and collection of data. Further research is implicated to determine the
understanding of the terms concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, and mild head injury
amongst people involved in healthcare and the general population to reduce the incidence and
improve nursing care of the brain injured patient.
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A CASE STUDY EXAMINING HOW THE NEW RECORD LABEL NORTHERN SPY
SURVIVES DURING THE AGE OF DIGITAL MARKETING
Department of Marketing and Honors College
Erica Casalaina
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Robert Forbus
University Reader: Dr. Lynn Kwak
Thesis Reader: Dr. Wesley O’Brien
The Internet has become an increasingly important tool in many aspects of creating and
maintaining a successful business over the last few decades, and Northern Spy Records is no
exception. This record label entered the music market during the digital age equipped with solid
startup plans and marketing strategies that combined traditional and web-based tools for
promotion, distribution, and marketing research. The Internet, an innovation, has made it
appropriate for companies to use the diffusion of innovation model in order to create more
efficient and effective strategies for their newly innovative products. The ease of entry into the
market and Internet-based survival methods make it more feasible for new companies such as
Northern Spy to establish themselves within their industries.
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THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE TESTING CULTURE ON STUDENTS IN THE
AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM
Department of English and Honors College
Sarah Chadbourne
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Melissa Talhelm
University Reader: Dr. Andrew Smyth
Thesis Reader: Dr. Michael Shea
This thesis document begins by exploring the background of the standardized testing culture
along with the history of the SAT. It then discusses the validity of the SAT and its use in the
admissions process for the majority of colleges in the United States. The racial scoring gap has
been the topic of discussion for many years, and this thesis documents the origins and persistence
of the racial scoring gap and the consequences felt by minority students. Not only is there an
effect on minority students, but there are psychological effects felt by all students. I conducted
my own research on this topic and gather information on how the SAT affected students here at
Southern. I found that many students who participated in the survey did not believe that SAT
was a good indicator of their abilities. Many students were not accepted into the colleges they
applied to based on their SAT scores alone. Coupled with the legislation that changes the way
students are remediated, the testing culture as a whole has negatively impacted our students and
their academic futures.
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A COMPARISON OF INTRAMUSCULAR TEMPERATURE INCREASE BETWEEN
1 MEGAHERTZ CONTINUOUS ULTRASOUND AND LOW LEVEL LASER
Department of Exercise Science and Honors College
Robin Donaldson
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Gary Morin
University Reader: Corey Hannah
Thesis Reader: Dr. Matthew Rothbard
CONTEXT: Intramuscular thermal effects are desired to enhance post-injury healing.
Ultrasound has been demonstrated to effectively increase tissue temperature. Low level laser
may enhance tissue healing, possibly through a thermal effect, but the physiological effects
elicited by the laser have not been fully identified. OBJECTIVE: To measure the thermal effect
of low level laser therapy on the muscle belly of the medial gastrocnemius. DESIGN: A
univariate design. SETTINGS: A controlled laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS: Eight healthy
collegiate-aged individuals (mean age 21 ±2.27) participated. Interventions: Participants
underwent two therapeutic treatments: continuous ultrasound (1 Mhz, 1.5 w/cm2 for 10 minutes)
and low laser therapy (4 grids, 34 seconds each, 35.2 J/cm2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Intramuscular temperature increase and decay for the two treatments were recorded at pre-set
intervals. Intramuscular temperatures were recorded every 30 seconds during the 10 minute
ultrasound treatment for a total of 20 measurements. Similar measures were recorded during the
low level laser treatment every 34 seconds or after each grid for a total of four measurements.
Further measurements were recorded each minute for 20 minutes or until the baseline
temperature was achieved after each treatment was completed. An ANCOVA was used to
compare the thermal effects of both modalities and two paired-T tests were used to identify if a
significant increase in intramuscular temperature occurred. RESULTS: The ANCOVA
demonstrated a significant difference and effect size between the continuous ultrasound and low
level laser treatments (F=7.725, p= .016, Effect size= .611). The paired-T test revealed a
significant intramuscular temperature increase during the ultrasound treatment (F= 12.240, p=
.004). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound produced a thermal effect not elicited with the low level
laser. Further research is needed to identify if any physiologic effects are initiated by the low
level laser and whether are beneficial effects occur.
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AN EXAMINATION OF THE ELEMENTS OF CHILDREN’S HISTORICAL FICTION
TEXTS THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HISTORICAL EMPATHY IN
ELEMENTARY AGED STUDENTS
Department of Elementary Education and Honors College
Jenna Filakovsky
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Helen Marx
University Reader: Dr. Greg McVerry
Thesis Reader: Renee Harlow
In the past decades, history has lost emphasis in elementary school curriculum. When it is taught,
school teachers often focus on coverage rather than depth and often do not teach in ways that
promote historical thinking. This trend is of great concern; there is a firm belief that elementaryaged students must develop basic historical content thinking skills in order to succeed in middle
school and high school history courses. It is believed that historical thinking not only supports
English/Language Art learning, but also adds to the depth of historical content learning and to
student academic engagement. Historical thinking allows students to act like historians to
analyze and interpret information given to them and is a process in which students use different
forms of evidence to think about the past. Historical thinking encompasses a number of different
skills; historical empathy is one of the most important of these historical thinking skills, but it is
also one of the most complex for students to learn. Historical empathy requires children to
attempt to understand what it was like to live in the past from the perspective of that historical
time period. The development of historical empathy is supported by curriculum that provides
students with opportunities to enter into the imagined historical contexts; historical narrative
texts; specifically fictional texts, have been seen as excellent instructional tool to use towards
these ends. Such texts must be historically accurate and use a variety of devices that draw
students into the lives of the characters and the historical context in ways that allow them to
develop empathy. However, not all historical fiction texts are written in ways that will support
historical empathy development. Further, it can be hard for teachers to assess texts for the
development of empathy. This study sought to develop a rubric to aid teachers in selecting
historical fiction texts that support the development of empathy.
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THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FIVE-YEAR-OLDS’ SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF
COMPETENCE AND INTRINSIC MOTIVATION DURING A STRUCTURED TASK
The Department of Psychology
Heather Fleming
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Katherine Marsland
University Reader: Dr. Cheryl Durwin
Thesis Reader: Dr. Jo Ann Abe
In research pertaining to intrinsic motivation, one theory posits that intrinsic motivation is
established early on in life which later leads to a person’s sense of competency and that learned
competencies from life experiences will later influence children’s motivation and thought
processes (Gilmore, Cuskelly, & Purdie, 2006; Bouffard, Marcoux, Vezeau, & Bordeleau, 2003).
Having a sense of competence, the act of successfully completing a task, can promote intrinsic
motivation, the participation in a behavior that is gratifying. Intrinsic motivation and competency
are strongly related since intrinsic motivation is related to the sense of competency, and in turn, a
child’s view of competency relates back to his or her intrinsic motivation. In this study,
children’s self-perceptions of competence was measured using the Berkeley Puppet Interview
(BPI) subscales of academic competent and achievement motivation. The National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 54-Month Rating Scale was used to measure
the children’s motivation on the subscales of agency, persistence, and experience of the session.
The study evaluated the self-perceptions of competency and intrinsic motivation in 50 five-year
olds during a mother-child origami task which required the child to create three different origami
figures (a worm, a flying fish, and a clown). The study focused on whether children’s motivation
would decrease as a structured task progressed and whether maternal involvement was correlated
with the child’s performance. The study was also designed to examine whether there would be a
strong, positive correlation between observed motivation and perceived competence, in addition
to potential gender differences. Results showed that intrinsic motivation decreased as a task
progressed, but there were no significant correlations between the five-year-olds’ intrinsic
motivation and self-perceptions of competence. Furthermore, there were no significant
differences between gender differences or sustained motivation, but children were more
motivated when their mothers were optimally involved.
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ANIMALS OF THE FORMER WORLD: A NOVELLA
Kate Garnett
Thesis Advisor: Timothy Parrish
University Reader: Robin Troy
Thesis Reader: Lisa Mangini
Animals of the Former World is a novella about a young girl diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone
cancer). The book explores the physical and psychological effects that this disease has on the
narrator, Carmen, the ten-year-old protagonist. By conjuring a new reality, Carmen believes that
she is evolving into a Giant Squid, the world’s largest invertebrate. Throughout the story,
Carmen demonstrates the resilience of human survival; and through her imagination, the
connectivity of all life on Earth.
Throughout the novella, Carmen and her family unite by reading a book entitled Animals of the
Former World. The stories in this book weave through the novella’s vignettes and draw on
anthropomorphic history, cultural folklore, geology, and natural selection in order to develop
creation myths that explore the evolution of various invertebrates on Earth — both real and
fictitious, both prehistoric and modern. This metafictional text reflects Carmen’s metamorphosis
into a squid and also supports the novella’s aim at a “genre-less” piece — along with lyrical
prose, play script dialogue, poetry, and scientific hypotheses (which give the myths some
verisimilitude).
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DON’T MOURN, ORGANIZE: THE MUSIC OF JOE HILL
Department of Music and Honors College
Rebecca Gellatly
Thesis Advisor: Dr. David Chevan
University Reader: Walter Stutzman
Thesis Reader: Dr. Alan Friedlander
Joe Hill was a historically significant singer songwriter from the early part of the 20th Century.
He was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World and active in the labor movement at
that time. Joe Hill was well known within the IWW for his rousing repertoire that was often
published in “The Little Red Songbook.” When Hill was controversially sentenced to death by
the state of Utah, he became known internationally as a symbol and a martyr and with that came
the spread of his songs. Some of his songs include: “Casey Jones: The Union Scab,” “The
Preacher and the Slave” and “Rebel Girl.” I will be performing and explaining up to ten of these
songs. Hill has also been memorialized in song, most famously “I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last
Night.” For this lecture recital I will provide an overview of Joe Hill’s life, perform up to ten of
his songs and give a background on the songs and their context.
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NIGHTMARE KINGDOM: A COLLECTION OF POETRY
Department of English
Joseph Grillo
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Dana Sonnenschein
University Reader: Jeffrey Mock
Thesis Reader: Jason Labbe
The 40 poems in this collection cover a wide range of subjects—including loneliness, paranoia,
the psychological and physical influences of mass media, growing up, and religion. However, the
subjects are held together by a consistency of setting, a “nightmare kingdom” that blends the
mundane with the surreal and allows each poem to maintain footing in reality even during the
most bizarre circumstances. In “Family,” the speaker relates conflicted feelings about his
upbringing by cannibal parents. “Thawed” presents a scientist’s attempted reeducation of a
defrosted caveman. A teenager’s dissatisfaction with her set role as a slasher movie trope is
examined in “Final Girl.” The speaker of “Smart” loses connection to everything around him
when his hand turns into a smart phone. Such juxtaposition of the realistic with the uncanny
incorporates decidedly human—and relatable—speakers, ideas, and emotions in dreamlike
situations, worlds where some of our basic assumptions have gone terribly askew.
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A STUDY OF DIFFUSION ON SMALL ORDER GRAPHS
Department of Mathematics
Stephen Gueble
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Aaron Clark
University Reader: Jeffrey Mock
Thesis Reader: Jason Labbe
The purpose of this thesis project is to explore the fundamentals of multi random walks, which
model diffusion patterns, on small order graphs. Through the use of Markov chains and infinite
series the step time expectations are calculated for systems with varying orientations, properties,
and topological features. The effect that increasing the particles in a system has on expectation
and distinct states is analyzed at length. Computer programs, written in JAVA and Octave, are
employed to substantiate the calculated data as well as provide simpler methods for constructing
large dimension matrices. Specific tridiagonal matrices germane to this problem are also looked
at and a universal proof for n balls on a two vertex graph is attempted. Challenges encountered
and future avenues of research is discussed as well.
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UNDERGRADUATE HONORS COLLEGE AND NURSING STUDENTS: A COMPARISON
OF KNOWLEDGE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES RISK FACTORS
Department of Nursing and Honors College
Sadie Hartell
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Bernadette Madara
University Reader: Dr. Maryanne Davidson
Thesis Reader: Dr. Alan Friedlander
In recent years, the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United States has skyrocketed to
epidemic proportions. The goal of early interventions is to prevent the onset of obesity and
promote healthful lifestyle practices that reduce type 2 diabetes risk. In order to implement
educational practices to reduce risk for the development of type 2 diabetes, it is imperative to
first identify the diabetes risk factor knowledge base of young adults. Using the Risk Perception
Survey for Developing Diabetes (RPS-DD), this thesis identified, compared, and contrasted the
knowledge of risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus between cohorts of freshmen
Honors College students, generic junior and senior nursing students, and accelerated career entry
(ACE) nursing students during the fall 2013 semester. The results of this study showed that
race-related risk factors were the area of greatest knowledge deficit across the four cohorts.
Recommendations for future research include determining the knowledge of risk factors for
developing type 2 diabetes with the self-identified race of participants included. Future research
may serve to identify specific races associated with a knowledge deficit in terms of developing
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GENDER BIAS IN CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS: TODAY’S USE OF
FEMALE AND MALE STEREOTYPES IN CALDECOTT BOOKS
Department of Information and Library Science and Honors College
Jennifer-Rose Hebert
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Mary E. Brown
University Reader: Alba Reynaga
Thesis Reader: Dr. Rosalyn Amenta
According to previous studies, children’s picture books published in the past decades were
documented to contain instances of gender stereotypes. Since most studies were completed
before 2000, I examined the children’s picture books that won the Caldecott Medal from the last
decade and looked for instances of gender stereotyping. By looking at male, female, and neutral
characters, I identified the gender roles, gender behaviors, clothing types, and locations of the
characters in each picture in order to track the trends of gender stereotyping. After looking at the
characters, it appears that male characters and traditions have a tight grip on picture books as
both genders are presented in traditional manners with males leading in sheer numbers. Since
male characters are more prevalent, the argument can be made that the picture books are geared
to boys, rather than girls. While previous Caldecott Medal books seem to encourage children to
mold themselves into society’s traditional views of their gender, future medal winners should
include characters with nontraditional aspects to teach children to seize all opportunities.
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FUNDAMENTAL ALGEBRA FOR ABECEDARIANS: THE EFFECT OF THE
CURRICULUM ON A STUDENT: HOW MUCH DOES PEDAGOGY PLAY IN
EDUCATION
Interdisciplinary Studies and Honors College
James Henderson
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Klay Kruczek
University Reader: Dr. Joseph Fields
Thesis Reader: Renee Harlow
It is evident that there is a trepidation that surrounds students as they enter their first Algebra
course. Curriculum developers need to be mindful of the approach that is taken when developing
a standard with which to convey messages to best educate students, especially as it relates to the
STEM fields. This project looked at various methods of instruction in addition to best practices
in curriculum styles to develop a curriculum that modeled the techniques found in the research.
The research and best practices were synthesized into a sample unit plan. From the unit plan
derived student and instructor textbooks, sample lesson plans, worksheets, quiz and test masters,
an instructor’s pacing guide, and solution manuals for the various assignments.
19
PREDICTING RATES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE USING STATE- LEVEL
RISK FACTORS
Department of Psychology and Honors College
Erin Elizabeth Hoffman
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Kenneth Walters
University Reader: Dr. Kevin Buterbaugh
Second Reader: Dr. Katherine Marsland
The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of various societal factors in predicting rates
of rape and other sexual offenses among the 50 states. Sets of predictor variables were chosen
based on prior research, as well as conceptual logic. Predictors of state-level sexual violence
were organized into five different models based on conceptual similarities. Those included
models based on: state demographic characteristics, state fiscal resources, state criminal climate,
state legal structure and strictness toward sexual offenses, and state political orientation. For each
model yielding at least two significant correlations, three simultaneous linear regression
equations were calculated with rates of sexual violence (i.e., reports of rape, and arrests for rape
and other sexual offenses) as the three criterion variables. For the models yielding a significant
prediction of sexual violence, the unique contribution of individual predictors as risk factors
were examined using standardized regression coefficients (i.e., beta weights and associated ttests). Results suggest the need for more precise measurements of sexual violence rates. Most
importantly, results suggest the need for states to (a) consider implementing sentencing
guidelines for rape, and (b) recruit more female law enforcement officers, as both factors may
help states lessen the incidence of sexual violence.
20
SOUND BOUND: A ROCK OPERA
Department of Music and Honors College
Samuel Hollings
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Mark Kuss
University Reader: Dr. Jonathan Irving
Second Reader: Dr. Raymond Mugno
For my Honors Thesis, I composed the music to a rock opera entitled Sound Bound. A story of
loss and redemption, Sound Bound details the story of a man on a bus running away from his
past and explores the natural human expectations and desires of life. This creative project
consists entirely of original music, and is presented in twenty-one separate sound recordings.
These songs are a grouped collection that create a narrative plot. My primary goal was to use
leitmotifs as a musical tool to make connections between events, actions, and characters within
the opera. Written documentation of my use of leitmotifs has been included in this project. In
addition, I have included brief research on the definition of rock opera itself and the history of
successful past rock operas that I looked to for inspiration.
21
STAIRWAY TO PLATO’S HEAVEN: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH
IN MATHEMATICS
Department of Philosophy and Honors College
Samuel Hylwa
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Heidi Howkins Lockwood
University Reader: Dr. Joseph Fields
Thesis Reader: Dr. Ken Gatzke
This project comprises the initial chapters of a planned book that will tell the story of how some
of the critical concepts of modern mathematics evolved, from the first intuitions of number in our
mammalian ancestors to the aftermath of Gödel’s incompleteness theorems. In particular, the
work draws on developments from the history of mathematics to illustrate questions and
perspectives in the philosophy of mathematics. Written in an informal and non-technical style,
the work can serve as an introduction for readers to both the history of mathematics and its
philosophical interpretations. It is of a piece with eclectic popular science texts like Douglas
Hofstadter’s Gödel, Escher, Bach, stitching together dialogues, stories, and exposition into a
singular fabric encompassing a multitude of topics. Excerpted within the thesis itself are the
book’s first three chapters, starting with the prehistory of mathematics and proceeding to the fall
of Ancient Greece. Topics covered include: the cognitive roots of numerical and geometric
concepts, the mathematics of Egypt and Mesopotamia, Thales’ introduction of the methodology
of proof, the Pythagorean understanding of number, a dialogue illustrating Plato’s philosophy of
mathematics and the epistemic puzzles it entails, another dramatizing the Pythagorean discovery
of incommensurable magnitudes and its troubling consequences, Zeno’s paradoxes and
Aristotle’s reply, the difficulty of infinity, the tension between discrete and continuous
conceptions of reality, and a dialogue over the reality of the number zero. The text from the book
is prefaced by an introduction to the project, a detailed overview of the book’s prospective
contents, and a discussion of the philosophical themes and theses that motivate the work as a
whole.
22
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE MARKETING EFFORTS IN OLYMPIC SPONSORSHIP
Department of Marketing and Honors College
Emily Killilea
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Robert Forbus
University Reader: Dr. Gregory Robbins
Thesis Reader: Renee Harlow
For my Honors Thesis, I conducted an experiment (posttest only with control group) to measure
individual consumers’ beliefs relative to corporate social responsibility and Olympics
advertising. Particularly, I was interested in how those values, which constitute a lifestyle, affect
consumers’ purchase decisions. A convenience sample of SCSU and CCSU students were the
participants in the study, and a Web-based data collection tool assigned the participants to either
the control or the experimental condition. Stimuli were one actual and one altered television
commercial from Olympics sponsor McDonald’s. The actual commercial aired during the
London 2012 Summer Olympics.
23
A STUDY EXAMINING PARENTING BEHAVIORS RELATED TO SOCIOECONOMIC
BACKGROUND AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR CHILD’S FUTURE JOB
Department of Psychology and Honors College
Brittnee Kindzierski
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Patricia Kahlbaugh
University Reader: Dr. Kristine Anthis
Thesis Reader: Dr. Katherine Marsland
This study tested Ogbu’s ghetto theory of success in the context of student career commitment,
exploration, and reconsideration. The study was a 2 (high or low socioeconomic status) by 4
(authoritative or authoritarian or permissive or rejecting neglectful parenting style) factorial
design. Eighty-seven college students completed questionnaires about socioeconomic status,
family satisfaction, career identity, and parenting styles. Overall, results showed no interactions
of socioeconomic status and parenting styles on career identity or on satisfaction with family.
Further research needs to be done on a more diverse population in order to test this theory
thoroughly.
24
HEROES, VICTIMS AND MURDERERS: COLLECTIVE MEMORY OF WORLD WAR II IN
POLISH LANGUAGE SOURCES
Department of History and Honors College
Patricia Kraszewska
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Troy Paddock
University Reader: Dr. Nikolas Chrissidis
Thesis Reader: Dr. Alan Friedlander
World War II is a modern history event which has had an effect on a majority of the world. One
of the first countries affected by World War II was Poland; with the Nazi invaders from the West
and Soviet invaders from the east. During World War II, Poles did not only experience the
genocide lead by the Nazis, but also brutalities carried out by the Soviets; these were the
victimized Poles. At other times, Poles found themselves in the role of the victimizers,
sometimes being traitorous, other times greedy. Then there were those who were the heroes—
the Poles who fought for their country. Sixty years later, Poles continue to write about the war
and about their roles in the war. Writing for the public about the war sometimes seems to
emphasis more the view of Poles as heroes and Poles as victims, thus a memory gap is formed.
This thesis examined Polish popular history magazines and compares which topics each of the
magazines, Uwazam Rze Historia, Focus Historia, Mowia Wieki and Historia Do Rzeczy, choose
to publish on. Magazines choose to emphasize different topics because of their political
affiliation and contemporary domestic events. Images published by the magazines were also
included in this study to provide a more detailed analysis of the magazines. The collective
memory gap explained in the beginning of the thesis has started to close up since the year 2000.
25
MECHANISMS OF GENETIC DISEASE: CONTEXTUALIZING GENETIC DISEASE
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EVOLUTION AND NATURE
Department of Anthropology and Honors College
Alexis LaRowe
Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Valerie Andrushko
University Reader: Dr. Kenneth McGill
Thesis Reader: Dr. John Charpie
Each year, hundreds of thousands of individuals suffer the consequences of genetic disease.
These diseases are often caused by a single mutant allele or gene, resulting in detrimentally
manipulated phenotypes. Despite the theory of evolution by natural selection implying that such
detrimental mutations should not remain prevalent in our species, these alleles continue to
proliferate. This literature review attempted to explain the continued existence of mutations
causing sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, and Huntington's chorea. Several
mechanisms of proliferation were assessed for each disease: differential fertility or fitness of the
heterozygote; population dynamics, which encompass genetic drift, migration patterns, and
differential breeding patterns; or any combination of the above. The abnormal HbS allele
responsible for sickle-cell anemia was found to be a strong example for differential fertility or
fitness of the heterozygote, while the mutations causing the remaining diseases appeared to be
the result of population dynamics. Future studies should investigate possible mechanisms for
sex-linked and polygenic diseases as their etiologies and continued proliferation may differ from
the strictly Mendelian diseases assessed in this study.
26
PUBLIC POLICY WTHOUT A FOUNDATION: CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
BARRIERS TO COSMETIC REGULARION REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES
Department of Political Science and Honors College
Natalie Laven
Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Theresa Marchant-Shapiro
University Reader: Dr. Kevin Buterbaugh
Thesis Reader: Dr. John Critzer
Thesis Reader: Dr. Michael Shea
Despite a push by both the cosmetics industry and health advocacy groups for cosmetic
regulation reform, recent legislation proposing stricter regulatory standards for cosmetic products
in the United States have failed. Previous studies have identified several cultural and institutional
factors that affect the development and passage of legislation. This study examines the reasons
for the failure of cosmetic regulation reform bills introduced between the 109th and 113th
Congressional sessions. Public opinion, interest group involvement and divided government
were found to influence the success of legislation.
27
MOVING FORWARD: THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS IN
CONNECTICUT ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS
Department of Elementary Education and Honors College
Zachary LeClair
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Joel Meisel
University Reader: Dr. Steven Greengross
Thesis Reader: Dr. J. Phillip Smith
The Next Generation Science Standards were introduced in 2007 by Carnegie Corporation and
the National Research Council (NRC) as a framework of grade level expectations ranging from
K-12. NGSS provides educators with guidance for what students should be able to know and do,
as well as bridging theory to real world application. This study examined past educational
reforms and their issues with implementation as well as identified two potential problems, the
length of the school day and teacher training, Connecticut school districts face as the State
Department of Education considers adopting NGSS in 2014. By performing a content analysis of
the two potential issues, it was found that there is mixed support for extending the school day
while a great deal of support for increased teacher training, both necessary adjustments needed if
NGSS is to be successful in Connecticut. Further research is necessary on the direct effects of
NGSS on Connecticut classrooms.
28
ASSESSING MATERNAL ATTITUDES TOWARD BREASTFEEDING PATTERNS IN
RURAL JAMAICA
Department of Public Health and Honors College
Shani Legore
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Michele Vancour
University Reader: Dr. Deborah Carroll
Thesis Reader: Dr. Marian Evans
Thesis Reader: Dr. Stanley Bernard
Knowledge of recent mothers’ attitudes toward breastfeeding in rural Jamaica has not gained
much research momentum. Even more so, the attitudes of the male partner, which are intricately
significant to a woman’s baby feeding decision, are still poorly understood. Thus, the objective
of this study was to evaluate the attitudinal variations of recent mothers and their perception of
their male partner’s attitudes toward breastfeeding. Ninety recent mothers from the maternity
ward and those attending the outpatient and pediatric clinics at the St. Ann’s Bay Hospital
completed questionnaires regarding their baby feeding options and their perception of their male
partner’s attitudes toward breastfeeding. Mothers were assigned to three groups: exclusively
breastfeeding, complimentary feeding, and formula feeding. The prevalence of recent mothers
practicing exclusive breastfeeding was approximately 57.7%, while complimentary feeding was
34.4%, and formula feeding only, 7.7%. No statistical significance in attitude was observed
among recent mothers in the three feeding groups. Neither was the mother’s perception of the
father’s attitude statistically significant. However, the participants in this study overall did not
have a very positive attitude toward breastfeeding to formally obtain statistical significance. At
this study site, the majority of the mothers were practicing exclusive breastfeeding; however,
their attitudes toward breastfeeding were low. Future studies should take a longitudinal approach
to examine mother’s duration and attitudes toward breastfeeding post-hospital stay.
29
FACES OF THE FESTIVAL: A NARRATIVE EXPLORATION OF TRADITIONAL SEA
MUSIC IN A MODERN AGE
Department of Art and Honors College
Jennifer Leno
Thesis Advisor: Camille Serchuk
University Reader: Wiley Carr
Thesis Reader: Jeremy Chandler
Every summer, Mystic Seaport houses the annual Sea Music Festival, a celebration and
performance of traditional sea songs and shanties, going on its thirty-fifth year this summer. The
festival draws people from all over the world to experience the lost culture of America’s Age of
Sail in a place immune to the many oppressive aspects our modern lives. An active member of
the festival for the past five years, I became thoroughly inspired by the subculture of people that
continue to breathe vitality into the relatively lost art of sea music. This thesis takes the faces of
the sea music community, and transports them into the narrative atmospheres of sea shanty
lyrics. Each image is created using watercolors, gouache, India ink, and white acrylic paint. I
chose water media for its conceptual connection to the sea, as well as the very distinct palette it
produces. I took a plethora of photographs at the 2013 Festival to use as reference images for this
thesis. Six of those photographs became an integral part of my exhibition to offer the viewer an
honest look at the landscape, community, and atmosphere the festival houses. The majority of
sea music enthusiasts are members of older generations, causing a tangible worry for the
festival’s future. Ideally, people want the tradition to exist as vibrantly in twenty years as it does
now; however, the generational gap between the seasoned attendees of the festival and the small
group of younger people showing enthusiasm causes some concern. The ultimate goal of this
thesis is to showcase the passion, dedication, and vibrancy of the sea music community to inspire
the preservation of this art and culture.
30
A SUMMATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS OF TWO DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY
MATHEMATICS CURRICULA
Department of Mathematics and Honors College
Sarah Lewis
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Therese Bennett
University Reader: Dr. Martin Hartog
Thesis Reader: Dr. Adam Goldberg
The purpose of this study is to perform a summative content analysis of two different elementary
mathematics curricula, Math in Focus and Everyday Math, in order to determine which student
workbooks instill a deeper conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts in students. This
research focuses specifically on the topics of fractions, decimals, and proportions for fourth
grade students. The problems in each of the student workbooks are classified as either conceptual
or procedural (skill and drill) using a coding chart that is adapted from Bloom’s Taxonomy. The
depth versus breadth of the workbooks, the number of problems that pertain to fifth grade
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM), and the content of the problems in
the additional practice sections of each workbook are other factors that are accounted for when
analyzing the two curricula. The conclusion of the research is that the student workbooks for
Math in Focus are more successful at instilling a deeper conceptual understanding of
mathematics in elementary students.
31
A STUDY EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF NATIONALISM AND GERMAN
NATIONALISM ON NAZI PROPAGANDA
Department of History
Tyler J. Meccariello
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Troy Paddock
University Reader: Dr. Polly Beals
Thesis Reader: Dr. Richard Gerber
Various aspects of nationalism and different techniques of propaganda can be seen in many
nations, present and in the past. Nationalistic themed propaganda is just one specific style of
propaganda that is influential in uniting a mass of people. The debate over which factors create
nationalism is still relevant and ongoing today. There are two dominant theories of nationalism.
Either nationalism is created by a shared ethnicity or by the political unit. In addition, it is vital to
understand how nationalistic principles affected Germany before the Great War and after. It is
necessary to understand what nationalism is and even what German nationalism is to explain
how the Nazi Party gained power after World War I. Adolf Hitler was able to create common
bonds between his fellow Germans and achieve power after World War I in Germany because of
his effective use of propaganda. In the various styles of propaganda he used, nationalistic ideas
were used often. This presents the idea that nationalism could help explain why so many
ordinary Germans would allow their government to attempt the genocide of the Jewish
population and even some Germans partaking in the process themselves. Many Germans have
desired to be the dominant race in the world and to have a pure culture. After World War I, many
Germans were distraught and this desire was dimmed. However, Adolf Hitler understood the
effectiveness of German nationalism and propaganda and was able to use various styles such as,
visual and oral to persuade to his fellow Germans ideas of hope and progress. These German
nationalistic ideas were used in different speeches Hitler would give and in some architecture
that the Nazis would build.
32
REACHING P.O.: FEEDING OUTCOMES FOLLOWING MANDIBULAR DISTRACTION
OSTEOGENESIS FOR PATIENTS WITH PIERRE ROBIN SEQUENCE
Department of Communication Disorders and Honors College
Mary K. Mohyde
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Kelly Mabry
University Reader: Dr. Jonathan Preston
Thesis Reader: Dr. Sue Ellen Holbrook
OBJECTIVES: This study analyzes the effects of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis on the
feeding capabilities of infants with PRS. VARIABLES: The average time (in number of days
since MDO and first P.O. feed) for the patient to reach full P.O.; a relationship between
distraction and feeding, examining distraction length and duration; and a relationship between
age at time of MDO surgery and days to full P.O. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings may be
used to create a post-surgery feeding protocol. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was
performed of 10 non-syndromic infants undergoing correction of PRS by MDO. Descriptive
statistics and correlations between distraction variables and PO outcomes are presented.
RESULTS: On average, patients came to 100% P.O. around 10-12 days after MDO; 75% P.O.
around 9-11 days after MDO; 50% P.O. an average of 9.8 days after MDO; and 25% P.O. an
average of 8.1 days after MDO. Distraction length (in mm) relates positively to the amount of
time (in days) to P.O. feeding goals since first P.O. feed post-surgery. CONCLUSIONS: P.O.
feeding outcomes following MDO should be analyzed from the time of the first post-surgical
P.O. feed. In general, the shorter the distraction length (in mm), the quicker the time (in days) to
reach full P.O. KEY WORDS: Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS), Mandibular Distraction
Osteogensis (MDO), feeding
33
COMBATTING NATIVE AMERICAN OPPRESSION: LITERARY FUNCTION AND
FIGURATIVE FORMS WITHIN THE WORKS OF ZITKALA-ŠA
Department of English and Honors College
Alexandra Murray
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Scott Ellis
University Reader: Dr. Rosalyn Amenta
Thesis Reader: Dr. Stephen Amerman
This thesis brings necessary analysis to five short stories that have been largely ignored for
nearly a century of critical scholarship. Found within the work of Yankton/Lakota-Sioux author
Zitkala-Ša, “A Warrior’s Daughter,” “The Soft-Hearted Sioux,” “The Widespread Enigma
Concerning Blue-Star Woman,” “When the Buffalo Herd Went West,” and “Buzzard Skin and
the Sea Monsters” transcend socio-political, cultural, and gender-normative boundaries through
the author’s use and subversion of various figurative forms (i.e. figurative language, diction,
character function and placement, imagery, and symbolism). Although most scholars place heavy
emphasis on the personal life of Zitkala-Ša, this thesis analyzes five of her works based solely
upon their literary merit and power in advocating for grand social change within a post-colonial
landscape. To this regard, this thesis explores the ways in which Zitkala-Ša is able to combat
gross patriarchal and colonial intrusion by placing each story within varying contexts – the
feministic, the ecofeministic, and the historical Native American/colonial conflict – in order to
reveal the inherent and transcendent power of the prose itself. Despite their little-studied status,
each story proves masterful in promoting grand socio-political change through Zitkala-Ša’s
deliberate use of literary form to legitimate the experiences of Native American (and female)
characters. This thesis therefore explores the ways in which Zitkala-Ša uses these literary forms
to dismantle western conceptions of power and custom, promoting a deeper understanding of the
dangerous effects of colonial rhetoric and custom upon the cultural sovereignty of the Native
American individual in the process.
34
STEREOTYPE THREAT: DOES EGO DEPRETION MODERATE THE EFFECTS ON
MATH PERFORMANCE?
Department of Psychology and Honors College
Melissa Mushala
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Katherine Marsland
University Reader: Dr. Patricia Kahlbaugh
Thesis Reader: Dr. Gayle Bessenoff
This study examined whether ego depletion moderates the effects of stereotype threat on math
performance. The study was a 2 (Ego Depletion or Not Ego depleted) x 2(Stereotype threat or
not Stereotype threat) factorial design. Fifty-one female undergraduates were randomly assigned
to one of four condition: 1) ego depletion and stereotype threat present, 2) ego depletion without
stereotype threat present, 3) stereotype threat without ego depletion present, and 4) neither ego
depletion nor stereotype present. The ego depletion manipulation was completed using an
activity in which participants crossed out all the e’s and a’s within a page and a half long-article.
Stereotype threat was activated by a researcher announcing “This is a test of your math ability. In
previous analysis of this test, males are known to score higher than females”. One dependent
measure was the participant’s percentage of items correct on the math test. The other measure
was the number of math test items completed by the participant. The results did not support the
hypothesis. However, there was a pattern that showed participants performing slightly better in
the depleted conditions, particularly when stereotype threat was present. Results are discussed
with respect to the preventative focus.
35
A STUDY COMPARING WITHIN SESSION PERFORMANCE DURING ULTRASOUND
AND NO-ULTRASOUND TREATMENT FOR SPEECH AND SOUND DISORDERS
Department of Communication Disorders and Honors College
Laura O’Brien
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Preston
University Reader: Dr. Glenda DeJarnette
Thesis Reader: Dr. Deborah Weiss
PURPOSE: The tongue is one of the most important articulators for speech because it is involved
in the production of most phonemes in English. Utilizing an ultrasound during the evaluation and
treatment of an /r/ misarticulation allows clinicians and their clients to view tongue placements
from angles that are not usually visible. This thesis explores existing data from school age
children with a misarticulated /r/ (and, in some cases, other lingual speech sounds), who have
undergone speech therapy with ultrasound biofeedback. The goal is to compare within-session
performance during ultrasound and no-ultrasound treatment for speech sound disorders.
METHODS: Data from eight children with /r/ impairments who attended speech therapy were
analyzed. Therapy sessions included an equivalent amount of ultrasound and no-ultrasound
treatment time. Children progressed to higher levels of target complexity (syllables,
monosyllabic words, multisyllabic words, phrases, open phrases) only when successful at
previous levels. A paired t-test was used to compare the highest level that each client reached per
session for each period of treatment with the ultrasound and without the ultrasound.
Additionally, a paired t-test was used to compare the average accuracy for each level of therapy
for each treatment condition to evaluate the hypothesis that biofeedback during articulation
therapy for /r/ helps a client to achieve greater within-session accuracy than non-biofeedback
treatment. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in target complexity
within therapy sessions using ultrasound compared to sessions not using ultrasound. Similarly,
there was no statistically significant difference in percent of targets accurate when comparing
therapy with and without ultrasound within the same session. However, data collected from
probes administered once before therapy and once after 14 sessions showed significant progress
in accuracy over time. CONCLUSIONS: The average target complexity reached and the average
percent accuracy within a session were similar for trials with and without ultrasound during
articulation therapy. However, from beginning to end of the 14 therapy sessions, the participants
increased their accuracy on the treated sound targets on the probes (by about 35% over pretreatment levels); thus, the treatment program on the whole facilitated improved accuracy.
Therefore, ultrasound during therapy may benefit individuals with speech sound disorders by
facilitating learning and memory of correct articulation for the production of certain phonemes.
36
NURSING STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD OBESE PATIENTS
Interdisciplinary Studies and Honors College
Ellen Ormond
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Cheryl Resha
University Reader: Dr. Bernadette Madara
Thesis Reader: Dr. Elizabeth Ercolano
Obesity is a worldwide health issue and with its increasing prevalence, virtually all nurses will be
taking care of this population at some point in their career. There is negative stigma attached
with obese individuals both in the general society and in the health care environment. The
negative stereotype of obesity affects both the physical and psychological health of patients.
These negative attitudes act as a barrier to safe and effective health care. While there is research
citing nurses’ attitudes towards obese patients, there is a gap in the literature on nursing students’
attitudes toward obese patients. The present study investigates nursing students’ attitudes of
obese individuals by comparing the attitudes of junior, senior and Accelerated Career Entry
(ACE) students about obesity and comparing attitudes based on the students’ BMIs. Research
was conducted using a survey of senior, junior and ACE classes of nursing students. The results
of the study demonstrated that nursing students do exhibit negative attitudes towards obese
patients. However, there was no significant difference based on respondents’ grade or weight,
however. In the future, a longitudinal study that examined the nursing students’ attitudes over
time would allow for insight on how attitudes toward obese patients may change when the
nursing students become registered nurses.
37
CLONING, SEQUENCING, AND ANALYSIS OF THE GENES FOR (+)-6AHYDROXYMAACKIAIN-3-O-METHYLTRANSFERASE IN SHELLING PEA, SNAP PEA,
SNOW PEA, SWEET PEA, AND EVERLASTING PEA
Department of Chemistry and Honors College
Akilah A. Plair
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jiong Dong Pang
University Reader: Dr. James Tait
Thesis Reader: Dr. Adiel Coca
The garden pea is commercially important because it is the fourth most produced legume in the
world, but successful agriculture is hindered by its susceptibility to diseases caused by several
pathogens. Fortunately, peas can synthesize a special isoflavonoid phytoalexin called pisatin,
which functions to defend the plants against diseases. The goal of this research was to
investigate the hmm6 genes in shelling pea (Pisum sativum), snap pea (Pisum sativum var.
macrocarpon), snow pea (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum), sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), and
everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius) and establish a genetic reference to explain the higher
resistance to fungal pathogens in wild peas compared with higher susceptibility in domestic peas.
PCR was used to amplify the DNA samples and the products were cloned, sequenced, and
analyzed. The partial sequences of the hmm6 genes that code for the enzyme (+)-6ahydroxymaackiain-3-O-methyltransferase, which is known to catalyze the methylation of (+)-6ahydroxymaackiain to (+)-pisatin in the common pea, were cloned and determined, and homology
was investigated. The nucleotide sequences were identical by 80% to 87%, the predicted amino
acid sequence from the 1st reading frame of the shelling pea nucleotide sequence was 36%
identical to L-seryl-tRNA selenium transferase from the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and the
predicted amino acid sequence from the 3rd reading frame of the snap pea nucleotide sequence
was 59% identical to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase from the promotor probe vector
pEvoGlowRed, suggesting that the deduced protein may be involved in transferase function in
the pisatin biosynthesis pathway.
38
CARTOON CONSTRUCTIONS OF GENDER BEYOND TELEVISION: A CASE STUDY
AND COMPARISON OF NICK.COM’S SANJAY AND CRAIG AND WINX CLUB
Department of Media Studies and Honors College
Laura Richard
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Rosemarie Conforti
University Reader: Dr. Tricia Lin
Thesis Reader: Dr. Wes O’Brien
The division of gender is obvious in the social world and as such, society holds differing
expectations about each gender. The divide is evident in the media, which often constructs and
reinforces the gender divide using representations that may or may not be accurate. This study
explores how gender roles are constructed according to the content’s gender-targeted audience.
Nick.com’s webpages for Sanjay and Craig and Winx Club were chosen for analysis because
they represent the stark gender divide. Analysis involved a thorough qualitative examination of
each webpages’ games, videos, photo albums, and other interactive activities. The data collected
was organized into five sub-questions in order to draw interpretive conclusions. The results
found that each show does indeed present each gender in oppositions regarding their
appearances, their settings, their interests, their behaviors, and their relationships. Sanjay and
Craig presents males as free, independent, destructive, and disgusting and females are presented
as individuals who value but do not take part in these male behaviors. Winx Club presents males
as defenders of and accessories to the females and females are presented as righteous yet passive
members of cooperative groups. It is important to analyze the construction of gender through
children’s media because according to the gender with which they identify, children use the
gender divide as a model that guides their actions and expectations of others’ actions. Thus, with
gender as a model, the constructed differences between males and females limit the opportunities
accessible to each gender.
39
IDENTIFYING THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IDENTITY ON BILINGUAL
STUDENTS’ SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: A STUDY ON BILINGUAL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
Department of Anthropology and Honors College
Meghan Ritt
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Kenneth McGill
University Reader: Dr. Elena Schmitt
Thesis Reader: Dr. Joseph Manzella
The purpose of this research was to identify the correlation of bilingual students’ cultural and
social identity with their academic achievement in learning a second language. The study was
done by analyzing literature written about bilingualism and identity, as well as a thorough
investigation on bilingual programs. I also observed a transitional bilingual second-grade
classroom and assessed how they the use of students native language impacted their second
language acquisition. A further investigation of two students was performed in order to see the
direct affects that a transitional bilingual program has in preparing students for mainstream
classrooms. The goal of this research was to link identity and language learning, and to discover
the importance of preserving a child’s native language and culture in the process of learning a
second language.
40
ASSIMILATION AND EDUCATION: AMERICAN INDIANS AND THE BOARDING
SCHOOLS, 1879-1918
Department of History and Honors College
Thomas (TJ) Rooney
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Stephen Amerman
University Reader: Dr. Virginia Metaxas
Thesis Reader: Dr. Rosalyn Amenta
American Indians have long struggled to preserve their cultural and tribal identities in the face of
direct assaults on their heritage by government officials and mainstream society. This Thesis
seeks to investigate one instrument used by American to attempt to force “civilization” upon
American Indians: boarding schools. From the 1870s to the 1930s, government agents removed
Native children from their homes and families, often by force, and placed them in these boarding
schools where they attempted to destroy their culture and replace it with values consistent with
American society and economics. The goal of this study is to use a select set of texts and
accounts from some of those involved in the schools: students, administrators, teachers, and
parents, to determine the effectiveness of these assimilationist polices and to discover the ways
in which American Indian people resisted the attempted assimilation.
41
THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION: AN EXAMINATION OF STUDENT
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES AS A RESULT OF
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FROM PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Department of Exercise Science and Honors College
Eric W. Rothbart
Thesis Advisor: Dr. James Rauschenbach
University Reader: Dr. Dan Swartz
Thesis Reader: Dr. Mike Shea
This study investigated exercise and how it affected student learning. Physical Education is a
field that needs validation and this study was undertaken in an attempt to rationalize one way that
it can be considered as a vital factor of a student’s education. The study focused on trending
research that connects exercise to factors that affect learning and also higher student
achievement. In this study the exercise came from elementary-aged physical education classes,
and reports on three different types of exercise – aerobic fitness, muscular strength training, and
yoga training. For each type of exercise students of a high, middle, and low physical proficiency
level were monitored through class observation and activity logs. A single application of the
study required only one class for each type of exercise. To begin and end each class the students
attempted to answer a compilation of age-appropriate questions from preparatory standardized
tests. The students had 5 minutes to answer as many questions correctly as possible. The design
was to measure whether or not the exercise from Physical Education had an effect on their test
grades. After the Physical Education period, the teacher of the following class completed a
behavioral assessment survey to make note of any differences in classroom behavior for that day,
as it relates to readiness to learn.
42
THE VOICE WITHIN: A ONE ACT PLAY EXAMINING THE HUMAN PSYCHE AND ITS
ROLE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES
Department of Theatre
Georgia Russell
Thesis Advisor: Larry Nye
University Reader: Dr. Joel Dodson
Thesis Reader: Professor Kaia Monroe-Rarick
The human psyche is a very complex entity and force that people regularly wrestle with. The
Voice Within explores what a struggle with this force would look like if the psyche took on a
physical form and how people can perpetuate a constant sense of being a victim in order to avoid
the acceptance of responsibility.
43
SPATIAL TRENDS IN SEDIMENT METAL CONTAMINATION IN STAMFORD, COS
COB, AND GREENWICH HARBORS IN COMPARISON TO HARBORS IN EASTERN
LONG ISLAND SOUND
Department of Science Education and Environmental Studies and Honors College
Kristin Russo
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Vincent Breslin
University Reader: Dr. James Tait
Thesis Reader: Dr. Sean Grace
Previous studies of sediment metal contamination in Long Island Sound and Connecticut coastal
harbors show a trend of increasing sediment metal contamination in western portions of Long
Island Sound. The objective of this study was to perform a high spatial resolution sampling of
Greenwich, Cos Cob, and Stamford Harbors to determine the extent of sediment metal
contamination in these three far western LIS harbors. Sediment samples were collected from
aboard the R/V Oceanic in June 2013 from pre-determined locations within Stamford (n=18),
Greenwich (n=7), and Cos Cob Harbors (n=6). The sediment samples were digested using US
EPA method 3050B and analyzed for copper, iron, and zinc using a PerkinElmer Zeeman 800
atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Physical characteristics of the sediment, grain-size and
loss on ignition (LOI), were also determined for each location sampled. Sediment metal
concentrations were then compared to their respective crustal abundances and to the NOAA
Sediment Quality Guidelines to determine the extent of anthropogenic contamination within each
harbor and the possible harm to organisms due to elevated metal concentrations. Results showed
that Stamford, Cos Cob, and Greenwich inner harbor stations were composed of fine-grained
sediment with correspondingly high LOI values in comparison to the outer harbor and LIS
stations of the harbors. In Stamford, Cos Cob, and Greenwich Harbors, sediment copper
concentrations ranged from 0.3-313 mg/kg, 33.2-104 mg/kg, and 33.4-159 mg/kg, respectively.
Sediment zinc concentrations in Stamford, Cos Cob, and Greenwich Harbors ranged from 14.3712 mg/kg, 88-202 mg/kg, and 90-308 mg/kg, respectively. Copper and zinc concentrations
show a clear north-south trend in the harbor with copper and zinc concentrations highest in the
inner harbor stations and decreasing out into LIS. Only two stations within the eastern arm of
Stamford harbor located near the wastewater treatment plant exceeded NOAA Effects Range
Median thresholds indicating likely harm to organisms living in those locations. Sediment
copper concentrations in the three harbors directly co-vary with sediment LOI values and with
sediment zinc concentrations. Previous studies have shown an east to west trend for increasing
sediment metal concentrations in LIS. However, no clear east-west trend is apparent for
sediment metal contaminations in CT coastal harbors. Rather, the extent of sediment copper and
zinc contamination in harbor sediment was related to the extent of urbanization and
industrialization of the harbors along the coast.
44
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF IMPROVISATIONAL MUSIC ON
ATTENTION IN AT-RISK PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
Department of Psychology and Honors College
Sarah Santora
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Deborah Carroll
University Reader: Dr. Deborah Kraemer
Thesis Reader: Dr. Cheryl Durwin
I investigated the impact of music on attention in preschool-aged children with a wide variety of
emotional and psychological problems as a result of prior abuse and neglect. I hypothesized that
music would increase the length of time spent attending to the teacher during group activities.
Children’s attention was recorded during a group activity over a span of nine days. The within
participants’ independent variable was music condition with two levels: interactive music and an
interactive speaking control condition. There were three sets of three trials each as follows:
baseline control condition, interactive music intervention, and post-intervention control
condition. The proportion of time the children spent attending to the teacher was significantly
higher during the music intervention period than during either of the control periods. Attention
decreased significantly during the post-intervention control trials, however attention was
significantly higher during the post-intervention period than it had been during the baseline.
Therefore, participation in an interactive music intervention significantly increased attention in
this ‘at-risk’ group of children. Limitations of the study and ideas for future research are
discussed.
45
CHRISTIAN YOUNG EARTH CREATIONISM IN THE MODERN DAY: AN ANALYSIS
OF SELECTED ISSUES
Department of Philosophy and Honors College
Joseph J. Schifferdecker
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Krystyna Gorniak-Kocikowska
University Reader: Dr. Terrell W. Bynum
Thesis Reader: Dr. Rosalyn Amenta
Ever since the Theory of Evolution had been discovered and accepted by the scientific
community at large, there have been various opposition movements, which have shown signs of
revitalization in the past few years. At the forefront of these protests are apologists of Young
Earth Creationism (YEC), who suggest that only their literal interpretation of Genesis is valid.
They believe in a false dichotomy about the Origins of everything from the universe to life,
which must either conform to their restricted views of Creation or to naturalistic Atheism. This
fallacy, along with Argumentum ab auctoritate and Argumentum ad populum, construct the
backbone of the YEC debate platform. Even though these tactics are faulty they could be
effective for proselytizing. In the age of quick and widespread sharing of information,
propaganda often becomes more difficult to combat, especially for those in scientific academia
who are confronted by a real dichotomy: either directly engage the issue and risk generating
fabricated legitimacy for YEC, or refuse to acknowledge the issue and risk tolerating the
indoctrination of a marginalized audience into believing evident falsehoods. This Thesis takes
the former approach by closely examining the implications of so-called “historical science,”
which supporters of YEC, like Ken Ham primarily, postulate is another definition of science for
phenomena that are unable to be repeatedly observed. This scrutiny delves into various
objections to the idea that “historical science” could co-exist with “observational science”
because it could only reflect a conviction of God’s existence, which is based on faith alone. Even
though this analysis might not sway many people, it will put into perspective how YEC would
have to advertise itself honestly to a target audience.
46
THE WEST ROCK NATURE CENTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE: ITS PLACE IN
CONNECTICUT’S LATE ARCHAIC
Department of Anthropology and Honors College
Colleen K. Swift
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Michael Rogers
University Reader: Dr. Thomas Fleming
Thesis Reader: Frank Crohn
The West Rock Nature Center archaeological site (WRNC-1) is immediately adjacent to West
Rock Ridge State Park near the New Haven- Hamden border. Located near the campus of
Southern Connecticut State University, it has been excavated sporadically for the last decade by
SCSU students under the direction of Dr. Michael Rogers, professor in the Anthropology
Department, yielding thousands of lithic artifacts. An analysis of the tools found at the site can
shed light on how and when the site may have been used. Currently dated to the Late to Terminal
Archaic period (approximately 2,000 to 6,000 years ago), based on point style, the site is part of
the larger picture of the past of the New Haven area and Connecticut as a whole. Throughout the
various field seasons, and excavations carried out for this thesis project, over 4,500 artifacts
measuring more than two centimeters have been cataloged. The majority of the collection, is
comprised of thousands of pieces of quartz debitage and waste flakes, products from the
manufacture of stone tools. One category of tool can be particularly informative of site use:
bifaces. Although the sample size is small, the bifaces found at the site mainly represent early
stages of bifaces reduction, suggesting that they were made at the site with nearby sources of
stone. This thesis utilizes a technological analysis of the bifaces found at the site, the existing
archaeological record in the area, and climatic data to provide a better understanding of what
purpose the site may have served during the Late Archaic. The site’s location is in close
proximity to several other sites, including the Wintergreen Notch hunting blind site, the BurwellKarako camp occupied from the Middle Archaic to the Woodland period, and the Pine Rock
Cave Shelter. These and others suggest there was a considerable amount of activity in the area
during the Late/Terminal Archaic. Through analysis of the West Rock Nature Center lithic
assemblage we can come to a better, more complete understanding of prehistoric lifeways in the
area.
47
PERCEPTION OF EXERCISE AND ELECTRICAL STIMULATION IN MANAGING
SPEECH AND SWALLOWING SYMPTOMS IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
Department of Communication Disorders and Honors College
Danielle Szymaszek
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Mary Purdy
University Reader: Dr. Glenda DeJarnette
Thesis Reader: Dr. Richard Zipoli
ALS is a motor neuron disease that is extremely debilitating and neurodegenerative in nature. It
affects the upper and lower motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. ALS affects
as many as 30,000 Americans at any given time and patients usually only survive three to five
years post diagnosis. The origin of the disease is unknown and there is no cure. A literature
review was completed using scholarly journals and articles found on medical databases to gain
knowledge on ALS. Personal interviews were then conducted with five participants who have
ALS in an attempt to learn what types of treatments are currently being used to manage ALS
symptoms. An online survey for ASHA certified SLPs was conducted to learn about what types
of management therapies SLPs are using with their patients to manage the disease. Data was also
obtained on how SLPs view exercise and electrical stimulation in their current clinical work.
Analysis of the data from the interviews and the survey revealed that participants typically
follow a traditional energy conservation approach when managing ALS symptoms, while SLPs
typically use compensatory strategies, education, and some amount of exercise for managing
ALS symptoms. Analysis of the data from the surveys further revealed that SLPs typically do not
use electrical stimulation for ALS management.
48
BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY: A MEMOIR
OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
Department of English
Michael W. Tenney
Thesis Advisor: Ms. Robin Troy MFA
University Reader: Timothy L. Parrish
Thesis Reader: Dr. Steven Larocco
My memoir is a work of non-fiction that records and explores my use of psychotropic
medication since I was fourteen years old. This will be a Medicinal Memoir. At doctors’
promptings, I have taken numerous psychotropic medications that have radically changed my life
in unforeseen ways. Both the primary effects and the side effects have helped and hurt me to the
point where it is impossible to separate the drug from the man. This self-investigation yields a
personal study that will help myself and others to understand the tremendous import of
psychotropic medication that is such a popular resort to treat mental illness. I address several
themes in the work including: 1) My protestant, Catholic, and puritanical backgrounds and ethics
2) My family’s background in chemistry 3) My own psychosis and mood lability 4) My
adolescent sexuality 5) My physical disabilities that resulted from ingesting psychotropic
medications. I wish for writing to serve as a warning to myself and others of the dangers of
psychotropic medications.
49
PATTERNS OF GAZE TO FACE AND NON-FACE STIMULI IN
CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Department of Psychology
Jacqueline Turcios
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Julia Irwin
University Reader: Dr. Lawrence Brancazio
Thesis Reader: Dr. Deborah Carroll
Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by deficits in reciprocal social interactions and
communicative impairments, as well as restricted or repetitive stereotyped behaviors. A number
of studies have found anomalies in gaze patterns displayed by children with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD) when viewing faces. When presented with audiovisual speech, children with
ASD have been reported to look away from face more than their typically developing controls.
Furthermore, children with ASD look more on the non-focal features of a speaking face. Given
these previous findings, the current study examined gaze to speaking faces that vary in both
facial features and visual-linguistic information. Participants were a group of 14 typically
developing (TD) controls (10 boys; 4 girls) and 14 children with ASD (10 boys; 4 girls).
Utilizing eye-tracking methodology, gaze patterns were examined in three different audiovisual
tasks: a speaking face, a non-social face (showing lips only), and a chewing face (gurn). No
significant differences were found in overall looking times to the face, in all conditions. Children
with ASD were not significantly different from their TD controls in looking times to nose and
eyes. However, children with ASD looked less on the mouth face in the lips only condition. The
present study gives further evidence of reduced gaze to the mouth in children with ASD. By
gazing less to the mouth children with ASD may be missing crucial information that could aid
language development.
50
SYNTHESIS OF 5-SUBSTITUTED 1H-TETRAZOLES CATALYZED BY YTTERBIUM
TRIFLATE HYDRATE
Department of Chemistry
Evan Turek
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Adiel Coca
University Reader: Dr. Andrew Karatjas
Thesis Reader: Dr. Greg Kowalczyk
The tetrazole ring has become the target of many synthetic organic chemists. This is due to the
fact that tetrazoles have found many applications including use in explosives, anti-foggers in
photographic materials, and in many pharmaceuticals (such as in antibacterial, anticancer, and
hypertension drugs) serving as a bioisostere of carboxylic acids and cis-amide bonds. For these
reasons, a fast, economical, and efficient synthesis of tetrazole derivatives was the focus of this
project. Ytterbium triflate hydrate was used as the catalyst, as it is affordable and a strong Lewis
acid in water. Ytterbium triflate hydrate in water provides an inexpensive and non-toxic
alternative to current methods that use organic solvents and expensive, toxic metal catalysts.
Additionally, microwave assisted synthesis, along with conventional heating, was utilized in this
project. Under conventional heating in DMF, many substrates were fully converted to the
tetrazole product in 16 hours at 110 ⁰C, and only using 0.1 equivalents of the catalyst. Under
microwave heating, these reaction times were reduced to only an hour for full conversion of the
nitrile substrate in an isopropanol/water mixture.
51
ASSESSING SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FOOD PRODUCTION POTENTIAL IN
Seyðisfjörður ICELAND: FOCUS ON CARBOHYDRATE PRODUCTION
Department of Psychology Geography
Anthony Vignola
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Ezgi Akpinar Ferrand
Co-Thesis Advisor: Dr. Patrick Heidkamp
Thesis Reader: Dr. Scott Graves
Iceland has the potential to increase its food production due to climate change and resulting
average temperature increases. A case study in regards to Iceland’s changing climate could help
to promote the application of sustainable agricultural practices and the cultivation of the most
resilient, nutritionally abundant crops. Iceland warmed up by around 1.2°C between the years of
1975 to 2008 and this is expected to continue to rise. These predicted conditions are expected to
enhance the productivity of plants that currently struggle to grow, thus reducing the risk of crop
failure, and permitting the cultivation of new crops. There are already some areas in Iceland that
have productive farmland and greenhouses, such as Valanes and Hveragerði, but further research
will assist in expanding this relatively untapped economic sector. The purpose of this thesis is to
assess the carbohydrate production potential in the town of Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, through a
Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) that utilizes geographic information systems (GIS). The thesis
will examine how future conditions in Seyðisfjörður may contribute to increased productivity
and sustainability with a specific emphasis on potato and barley production. This will require the
analysis of current climate trends and socioeconomic conditions as well as the examination of
agricultural practices over the past few decades. The project will combine remote sensing with
the implementation of GIS in order to create a spatially sensitive site suitability model for potato
and barley production. The specific aim is to delineate ideal locations for cultivating crops.
52
THE INFLUENCE OF ART ON SHORT-TERM MOOD REPAIR: ACTIVE VERSUS
PASSIVE PARTICIPATION IN ART
Department of Psychology and Honors College
Lakshmi Prayosha Villa
Thesis Advisor: Dr. James E. Mazur
University Reader: Dr. Julia Irwin-Harris
Thesis Reader: Dr. Deborah Carroll
This study investigated the effects of art on short-term mood repair after an induced negative
mood. Previous studies have found that art decreases negative mood and increases positive
mood both short-term and long-term. Studies have also investigated strategies used in alleviating
mood through art (venting or distracting from negative mood). There is a lack of comparison in
the current literature between different types of art. The present study aimed to examine whether
there was a difference in effectiveness of various art media in improving mood. We
hypothesized that more active forms of art such as drawing and constructing three-dimensional
structures would be more effective in improving mood than passive art intake. We also
hypothesized that those that used art to distract from negative mood than to vent negative mood
would show a greater improvement in mood. College students (N=88, F=66) were shown a short
movie clip to induce negative mood and participated in one of four activities (control, Legos,
drawing, and art-viewing) for a duration of 5 minutes. Mood was assessed before and after
participation in the activity using the Profile of Mood States 2 Adult short form (POMS-2A). All
groups improved in mood, and groups did not differ in amount of mood change. Those who
used art to distract showed greater improvement in the depression-dejection subscale of the
POMS-2A, but not in the overall total mood disturbance score or other subscales. Although
groups did not differ in mood improvement, mood did improve suggesting that art has an effect
on mood. We concluded that 5 minutes is not enough time to see differences in effects between
activities. Further study needs to be done investigating the effects of art over time in order to
better understand how art consolidates mood.
53