Architecture

Authors: Vanessa Tuttle. Mentors: Liz McGuire. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Despite significant strides in global gender equality, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, prompting investigation into public perceptions of women’s leadership. Our research delves into the often-overlooked aspect of female-to-female interactions and their impact on women's self-perception as leaders. We aim to identify the voices that most influence women's beliefs about their leadership abilities, contributing to the broader discourse on gender parity in leadership. Drawing on historical and cross-cultural perspectives, we theorize that women, historically designated as primary caregivers and reproducers of society, play a pivotal role in shaping individuals' beliefs. This designated role may lead women to internalize societal norms that undervalue their leadership capabilities outside the home. We examine the potential impact of empowered female role models on women's confidence in leadership roles. We employ a lab-in-field experiment conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Arusha and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants are assigned to groups with varying gender compositions, engaging in a task where success is dependent upon the leader, followed by a post-treatment survey evaluating their experience, leader, and perceptions of female leadership. Through this experiment, we contribute empirical evidence to the ongoing discussion on gender disparities in leadership and challenge existing theories, providing valuable insights into the complex dynamics that contribute to the confidence gap between men and women in leadership roles. Our preliminary findings from our ongoing research may have implications for strategies aimed at fostering gender equality in leadership, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of the factors influencing women as leaders.

Authors: Tzu Yu Weng, Isaac Teuscher. Mentors: Xinru Page. Insitution: Brigham Young University. While online technology connects people around the world, norms around privacy, appropriate interactions, and information sharing vary significantly from culture to culture. Thus, we investigate potential issues that can happen when individuals from different cultural backgrounds interact through online platforms such as social media or texting. Our study consists of interviewing participants who have recently relocated to another country. Participants were invited to share instances of how their technology usage differs from that in their country of origin. Through inductive coding, we identified patterns in how cultural differences influence technology interactions. In this presentation, we will discuss the results from the analysis including recommendations for developing tools to enhance intercultural interactions online and reduce barriers in cross-cultural exchanges.

Authors: Soren Pearce. Mentors: Jacob Hickman. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Conversations about conspiracy theories have become prevalent in contemporary Western society, reaching through all levels of private, academic, and governmental discourse. Part of this discourse revolves around the question of what exactly conspiracy theories are and how they occur within a population; much of the recent academic treatment of conspiracy theories identifies them as a kind of propaganda whose purpose is to promote particular political agendas, especially those with apocalyptic concerns (Cassam 2019). While conspiracy theories certainly have been and continue to be used to further certain political aims, this understanding of them as totally propaganda provides only a narrow insight that fails to capture the scope of how conspiracy theories occur in the real world and how they are experienced by the people who believe in them. Philosophy and political theory can only be so informative, and they lack an ethnographic perspective to instruct on the lived reality of conspiracy theories (Hickman & Webster 2018). During my fieldwork in Belfast, Northern Ireland, I conducted ethnographic research with a group of people who could easily and accurately be labeled conspiracy theorists; my experiences with them provide insight into how conspiracy theories actually operate in the lives of living people. Contrary to popular claims, conspiracy theories—especially those that deal with the end of the world as we know it—are not experienced as primarily political phenomena. Instead, they are experienced as religious truths, and the millenarian activism that often surrounds them is enacted because of a conviction of personal obligation to the truth. Framing conspiracy theories as mere propaganda or dismissing them as the effects of cognitive dissonance incorrectly discounts the empirical reality of these beliefs for the people who have them.

Authors: Danielle Black. Mentors: Chris Anderson. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder diagnosed in children, characterized by impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. It is frequently co-morbid with eating disorders, primarily bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge-eating disorder (BED). Impulsivity is an important factor in increasing the risk of binge-eating and subsequent feelings of guilt, which may prompt purging behaviors. This often manifests early in childhood as loss of control while eating and can indicate future development of an eating disorder. The current project aimed to assess the link between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating in Utah Valley University alumni. After obtaining IRB approval, 265 alumni responded to an email survey containing nineteen questions regarding ADHD symptoms and three items related to disordered eating. Pearson correlations revealed a significant association between ADHD symptoms and binging (r=.22, p <.01) as well as guilt about eating (r=.17, p <.01). Limitations of the study include the absence of a clinical ADHD diagnoses, relying instead on self-report, and the homogeneous sample, restricting its generalizability. The study was bolstered by its comprehensive coverage of ADHD symptoms and an adequately large sample size to detect statistical significance. This study provides valuable information for those suffering from eating disorders and the clinicians that treat them. Future research could assess the interplay between treating ADHD and reducing the risk of eating disorders. Notably, purging and ADHD symptoms were not significantly correlated, and future research could further explore that relationship. In conclusion, the relationship between binge eating and ADHD symptoms should be acknowledged by clinicians.

Authors: Cari Monson, Julie Pynn. Mentors: Julie Pynn. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Background music refers to music that is played while the listener’s attention is focused on another task (Radocy & Boyle, 1988). Research suggests that the effect of background music on performance during a cognitive task showed improvements in episodic memory. Music activates the limbic system which is involved in controlling memory(e.g., Blood et al., 1999). The purpose of this study is to predict the relationship between music and performance on a cognitive task. It is hypothesized that students who listen to white noise while studying a text will recall more information, than those listening to classical music or pop music. In particular, the lyrics in pop music will be especially distracting(Cheah, 2022). Studying the relationship between music and performance on a cognitive task has implications for understanding memory. Results are forth coming

Authors: Ivelynn Noel. Mentors: Julie Johnson Pynn. Insitution: Southern Utah University. High levels of sexual satisfaction have been correlated with higher levels of marriage satisfaction (Litzinger & Gordon, 2005), relationship satisfaction (Santilla et al., 2008), and mental health and general well-being (Brody & Costa, 2009). While we know that sex frequency and frequency of orgasm affect sexual satisfaction (Barrientos & Paez, 2006), we also need to explore nonsexual factors that affect sexual satisfaction. The existing literature of the effects of religiosity on sexual satisfaction is contradictory, and may have mediating factors such as sex guilt or marital status (Hackathorn et al., 2016). The proposed study aims to examine the effects of religious identity and marital status on sexual satisfaction by measuring sexual-spiritual integration. We predict that unmarried individuals will score higher than married individuals, which indicates a lower sexual-spiritual integration. The findings of this study will add clarity to the convoluted findings in the existing literature , and will help identify nonsexual factors that affect sexual satisfaction. The findings of the study will also provide insight that may help healthcare workers, pastoral counselors , and therapists to better service their clients. Results are forthcoming.

Authors: Vanessa Lozano. Mentors: April Reber. Insitution: Brigham Young University. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, “the total foreign-born or immigrant population in the U.S. hit 47.9 million in September 2022- a record high in American history. When non-English immigrant families arrive in the United States they face the challenges of new customs, rights, and practices in their new home. In the United States various NGOs, government aids, and non-profit organizations are available to immigrants to help them navigate these challenges. Evaluations about the efficacy of these resources should be considered with the increasing number of immigrants in the United States. In this research, we focus on one of these resources, a mental well-being support group geared to immigrants but attended mostly by Latina women. The support group is currently held at a non-profit community center the South Franklin Community Center (SFCC) in Provo, UT, and sponsored by the organization Inciativa Latina para el Bienestar Emocional [Latino Initiative for Emotional Well-being]. To consider the efficacy of this support group in this research we explore the following questions 1) How does support get produced in the context of this support group at the SFCC? 2) Does (and if so, how does) participating in these support groups expand the agency of participants? (By agency, I refer to the capacity or condition of someone to have control or power to act).

Authors: Kira Swann, Cody Dirks. Mentors: Joshua Price. Insitution: Southern Utah University. As students, we have personally noticed that when we had a long-term substitute in the classroom, we didn't learn as much compared to our peers in other classrooms. It has been found in California as well as other states that a teacher’s absence, leaving a substitute in place, leads to worse off standardized scores for students. This paper tests the impact of long-term substitutes on the STAR/CAASPP scores of students. The purpose of this study is to see if there is a detrimental effect on student scores and if long-term subs should be something addressed by the state. Using testing and demographic data from the California Department of Education, we use a fixed effects regression to test the true impact of the impact of long-term substitute teachers. Our results show that there is a small, but statistically significant impact on student performance.

Authors: Kelsey Grimshaw. Mentors: Joshua Price. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Job satisfaction is a multidimensional state resulting from one’s job and their responses to it. Job satisfaction contains eight facets: recognition, working conditions, management, pay, promotions, coworkers, supervision, and the job itself. The concept of economic sectors was first introduced by economist Colin Clark. He suggested industries could be separated into categories. These categories would be determined based on significantly different characteristics of industries. There are currently five economic sectors: primary (raw materials), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (service), quaternary (information services), and quinary (public service). Data on occupation and job satisfaction from the General Social Survey were used to build a multivariate linear regression. Results are forthcoming.

Authors: Beckham Trigo. Mentors: Johnathan Chidester. Insitution: Southern Utah University. The lack of resources, funding, and federal recognition is leading to the deficit in K-12 Education around the United States compared to other first world countries with developed education systems. For years the United States has been hammered on the fact that the country doesn't provide every child with bilingual study opportunities. European countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, and France all offer bilingual studies and are making them required for students to take. These are key elements in a successful education system and offer so many more opportunities and benefits than the standard single language system we have placed in our K-12 Schools. Statistically the change to a new bilingual research would greatly benefit our country and would help decrease political divisiveness and bring an extent of unity among several ethnic groups in the country. The country continues to grow through immigration where the United States is projected to become the top Spanish speaking country in the world with 140 million speakers. However, the United States is not preparing for this and investing in its future students and citizens. Research has proven time and time again that there are so many benefits to a bilingual education, some of these including an increase in brain activity, and power in children, an academic advantage, and competition in the job market. The United States has deeply oppressed this system due to systematic racism, and political motivation. However, the United States has no established language in which it defines itself even though the majority speak English. The United States is also a world power with a lot of interaction with foreign countries. This in itself is going to be very problematic for the future of the United States as the world climate changes. It needs leaders to represent itself in many other languages, not just in the English language. The contrary to this research is that the language is ineffective to learning, makes it harder for students to assimilate into the United States culture, and spend too much time learning the second language. However, none of these statements can be statistically backed and solely based on a few percent of people's personal experience. Overall the research time and time again directs the United States to the bilingual education system, but when will it be adopted?

Authors: Lauren Howell. Mentors: Joshua Price. Insitution: Southern Utah University. This paper empirically assesses the relationship between state abortion policies and birth control consumption per state in the United States. The intention is not to advocate for or against abortion, but to explore how abortion policy influences the usage of contraceptives per state. The surveillance of contraceptive use holds paramount importance in preventing unintended pregnancies, with 95% of these occurrences attributed to inconsistent or incorrect contraceptive use or the absence of any method. Understanding how behaviors and contraceptive practices change over time in response to state policy alterations is crucial for evaluating the health implications of healthcare access regulations. Contraception stands among the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, significantly reducing maternal mortality, benefiting pregnancy spacing for both maternal and child health, enhancing female participation in the workforce, and fostering women’s self-sufficiency. Utilizing data from sources such as the American Community Survey (ACS), the Abortion Patient Survey (APS), the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), and the Natality Detail File, this study delves into a comprehensive analysis of contraceptive use in relation to state abortion policy. Through statistical analysis using Stata 18 and ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression, this research aims to build on prior studies and ascertain the relationship between strict state abortion laws and birth control consumption. It hypothesizes that restrictive policies, such as increasing the cost and difficulty of accessing abortion, might incentivize women to adopt more effective contraceptive methods to avert the consequences of unintended pregnancies. The study also references prior research that suggests changes in contraceptive use, notably an increased reliance on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), and how it has contributed to a decline in abortion rates, particularly among adolescents. The results of this study hold the potential to advocate for an increased educational focus on safe sex practices and to increase the accessibility of family planning resources based on state policies. It aims to shed light on the potential impact of restrictive abortion laws on birth control consumption and encourages informed policy decisions for public health and family planning.

Authors: Jens Watts. Mentors: Brian Harker. Insitution: Brigham Young University. What is a standard at its essence? Wren 2022 suggests that in jazz scholarship, undue emphasis has been placed on the analysis of the standard as a work. Instead, the standard should be understood as an archive: the sum of all relationships between different iterations of the work. I posit that further work in this mode will help to correct an antiquated philosophy of music existing on a page and direct further attention to the act of ‘musicking,’ as promoted by Christopher Small in his 1998 book.This article examines three jazz standards: “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” “Autumn Leaves,” and “On Green Dolphin Street.” These standards were chosen because of their varying interpretations in harmony and melody. My analysis of these standards is threefold: theoretical, historical, and ethnographic. I begin with an analysis of the published sheet music for each of these standards, examining unique features of their pitch content. From there, I depart to a historical analysis, examining changes in the performance of the tune over time.The bulk of my research reports on an ethnography of jazz musicians on the Utah scene. My interlocutors were asked to play the standards in question, which I recorded. I examine common features of their interpretations, as well as salient differences. Some of their thoughts on these standards in particular and the practice of learning standards in general are also presented. The resulting collection of information on my multidisciplinary approach to analyzing standards reveals important aspects of the epistemology of jazz music and the ontology of standards themselves.

Authors: Jessica Anderson. Mentors: Jennifer Kohler. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Social media, television, and Cinema all play key roles in shaping our perception of reality. This study examines stigmas and stereotypes of disabilities that are perpetuated through the media specifically through these three sources. It also examines the presence of inspiration porn and the proper representation of physical disabilities in these media sources.

Authors: Samuel Zenteno. Mentors: Brandon Ro. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Evolution of Elementary School Architecture:Elementary school architecture has evolved significantly, reflecting shifts in educational philosophies, technological advancements, and societal priorities. From humble one-room schoolhouses to technologically advanced, sustainable, and inclusive learning spaces, the architectural form mirrors broader changes in education and society. What architectural form best reflects the ideal elementary school learning environment? Studying the evolution of elementary school architecture offers society several advantages:• Informed Design: By understanding the historical context and design trends, architects and educators can create more effective, engaging, and sustainable learning spaces.• Educational Enhancement: Insights from past designs can lead to environments that support modern teaching methods and foster improved student outcomes.• Equity in Education: Recognizing disparities in school facilities informs efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality educational spaces.Research Methods:This research employs a comprehensive approach, combining historical analysis, architectural documentation, case studies, and conducting surveys with community members. Comparative studies of architectural styles, education methods, and pedagogical influences will shed light on ideal architectural forms for learning environments.Expected Results:Anticipated outcomes include a nuanced historical narrative of elementary school architecture, identification of pivotal design trends, insights into the societal forces that shaped these changes, and a repository of best practices. Ultimately, this research aims to empower architects, educators, policymakers, and communities to collaboratively shape the future of elementary school architecture, fostering equitable, innovative, and sustainable educational environments.An elementary school is the first public building that a child is called to regularly experience, be educated, find a playground, and socialize. In that sense, it is about to become a second home. By understanding the past, we can better prepare for the future of elementary school design.

Authors: Angela Gomez. Mentors: Chizu Matsubara. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Once students know their letter names and sounds, educators have them begin to learn irregular words, commonly known as sight words. These words are irregular due to them not following common patterns that make up a word. Typically, teaching irregular words is done by having students learn a set number of words through flashcards or reading them off a list. However, students who learn irregular words with flashcards or lists struggle and need help when reading those same words in a text. Action research will be used to study the hypothesis: “Will direct phonics literacy instruction help students learn and retain irregular words?” The research is being conducted in a kindergarten classroom by a preservice teacher in her practicum placement. The focus students for the research will be working with the preservice teacher in a small group setting where they will be reading decodable texts that contain irregular words within the text. The students will be able to decode the regular words they come across using their knowledge of alphabet letters and sounds. Students will be learning the irregular words of the text through direct phonics instruction to help them learn and retain their knowledge of irregular words. By using direct phonics instruction within a text, students can learn how to successfully read the irregular word while simultaneously applying it to a text. The other approach to learning irregular words is reading them on flashcards or a list and then having students transfer their knowledge of these words from a list to reading them in a text, which can become problematic for students as they cannot do so. By having students learn irregular words through direct phonics instruction, the expected result is to have students know around 50 irregular words by the deadline required by the local school district.

Authors: Derek Wolfgramm. Mentors: Kaicee Postler. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Since 2008, Utah Valley University has taught community classes through the Family Life Education curriculum called the "Stronger Families Project". Previous research has demonstrated the importance of evidence-based family life education (FLE) programs in strengthening families (e.g., Myers-Walls et al, 2011). This study investigates the efficacy of the Stronger Families Project (SFP) by employing a pre- and post-test analysis of change for participants enrolled in the program in Spring 2023 and analyzing qualitative satisfaction data.

Authors: Emma Parry, Nikki Trush, Christina Pondell. Mentors: Christina Pondell. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Rivers in arid environments provide extremely important sources of freshwater for local ecosystems and communities. These regions are highly vulnerable to climate change and are seeing high rates of human population growth. This leads to unsustainable demand on progressively more threatened freshwater resources. Despite the importance of these water resources for residential, agricultural, and environmental needs, there is little information available to describe long term changes to water quality in response to human and climate change. The Santa Clara River in southern Utah is one prime example of a threatened arid river system that serves as an important drinking water source to a rapidly growing human population. This 52-mile-long river flows from the Pine Valley Mountains and past the cities of Ivins, Santa Clara, and St. George before meeting with the Virgin River. This research discusses results from a water quality monitoring program initiated in February 2023. Our sampling efforts focused on the lower Santa Clara River between Gunlock Reservoir and the Virgin River confluence. We selected four sites to monitor the impacts of changes in land use and restoration efforts on the river’s water quality. In this presentation we discuss results from time series analysis and correlations between water quality, flow rates, and land use to describe how water quality responds to human and climate impacts on this arid freshwater resource. This research underscores the importance of establishing long-term monitoring capabilities for critical water quality parameters and provides valuable insights for sustainable water management and environmental conservation in southern Utah.

Authors: Savanna Greer. Mentors: Zhenyu Jin. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a crucial role in predicting avalanches by enabling the analysis, visualization, and modeling of various spatial data that contribute to understanding avalanche risk. Here's how GIS can assist in predicting avalanches:* Terrain Analysis: GIS allows experts to analyze terrain features such as slope, aspect, elevation, and curvature, which are critical factors in determining avalanche-prone areas. Steep slopes, specific aspects, and changes in elevation are indicative of higher avalanche risk. GIS software can create detailed elevation models and analyze slope angles to identify potential avalanche zones.
* Snowpack Analysis: By integrating data from snow telemetry stations, weather stations, and remote sensing technologies, GIS can help monitor snow depth, density, temperature, and moisture content. These factors are critical in assessing the stability of the snowpack. GIS can create maps showing the distribution of snow depth and snow water equivalent, aiding in the assessment of avalanche risk.
* Historical Data Integration: GIS enables the integration of historical avalanche data and events into mapping systems. Analyzing past avalanche occurrences can help identify patterns, understand triggers, and determine high-risk areas. This data can be used to create predictive models.
* Weather and Climate Data: GIS allows the integration of real-time and historical weather data into avalanche prediction models. Changes in temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and direction greatly impact snow stability and can trigger avalanches. GIS can overlay weather data onto terrain and snowpack information to create comprehensive predictive models.
* Risk Zoning and Modeling: Using the spatial analysis capabilities of GIS, experts can create risk zones and models that categorize areas based on their susceptibility to avalanches. These zones help in urban planning, land-use management, and emergency response planning. GIS can also simulate and model potential avalanche paths, allowing for the visualization of potential avalanche runout zones.
* Decision Support Systems: GIS-based decision support systems provide valuable tools for avalanche forecasters and emergency management personnel. These systems integrate various data sources, allowing for real-time monitoring, risk assessment, and decision-making to mitigate potential avalanche threats.
* Communication and Public Awareness: GIS can be used to create maps and visualizations that communicate avalanche risk to the public, backcountry enthusiasts, and local authorities. This can aid in raising awareness and promoting safety measures in avalanche-prone areas.
By leveraging GIS, avalanche forecasters, researchers, and land management agencies can significantly improve their understanding of avalanche dynamics, develop more accurate predictive models, and take proactive measures to mitigate risks and enhance safety in avalanche-prone areas.