Danielle Smith, Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Paul Whitney, Psychology
Assessment of Risky Decision Making
Decisions
about risk are influenced by framing effects in which people will tend to take
risks when choices are presented in the context of losses (negative frame), but
if the choice is worded in terms of gains, the person is less likely to gamble
and will instead take a "sure thing." (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979). The research is designed to test whether risk seeking and susceptibility to framing effects are related to established measures of the cognitive trait of impulsivity. The
procedure is a battery of both self-report and objective impulsivity measures
to examine if framing is found within the risky decision making task (RDMT) between
high and low impulsive individuals.
Johnathan Broady, Biology
Mentor: Dr. Derek McLean, Animal Science
Spermatogonial Stem Cells: Transfection via Electroporation
Spermatogenesis is the process by which undifferentiated
germ cells become sperm capable of fertilizing an oocyte.
Sperm provide half of the genetic material for the new offspring
at fertilization. This function suggests these cells are
good vectors to transmit new genes to an organism, thereby
creating a transgenic animal. In addition, germ cell differentiation
can occur outside of the testis in ectopic tissue grafts.
Therefore, we hypothesized that genetic manipulation of the
spermatogonial stem cell prior to grafting will generate
genetically modified sperm. To test this hypothesis, neonatal
mouse testis were artificially digested to develop a single
cell suspension. The suspension was then electroporated with
pUSCV-bgalactosidase plasmid. The communal donor tissue pellet
was then subcutaneously grafted onto immunodeficient mice
and analyzed for germ cell differentiation. This method of
genetically modified sperm could potentially be used as a
mechanism for the production of transgenic animals.
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Citadel Cabasag, Genetics and Cell Biology
Mentor: Eric Shelden, Microbiology
Evaluating Morphological Defects and Oxidative Stress in An Experimental Model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Individuals with FAS share common features such as small eyes, heart abnormalities and mental retardation. The mechanism that causes these effects is not well understood. A widely accepted view is that ethanol is reduced to metabolites including acetaldehyde, a known toxin that can generate chemical radicals and oxidative stress. This may damage cells critical to normal development. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and morphological defects during embryogenesis. We exposed zebrafish embryos to different concentrations of ethanol, acetaldehyde or paraquat, an unrelated agent capable of causing oxidative stress. Our results show that all of these agents cause stress in zebrafish embryos, but only ethanol caused developmental defects resembling those seen in human FAS. Therefore, we conclude that morphological defects are induced by ethanol through a mechanism that is independent of cell stress.
Malinda Lattin , Anthropology
Mentor: Dr. William Andrefsky, Anthropology
Raw Materials and Projectile Points from the Birch Creek Archeological Site in Eastern Oregon
This study examines a biface population from the Interior Pacific Northwest in an attempt to understand how raw material and type may relate to functional differences in bifaces. My research project will seek to determine whether certain styles of stone bifaces work better for certain tasks, and additionally whether the raw material influences tool performance on certain tasks. I will examine a collection of hafted bifaces from the Birch Creek Archaeological site in Oregon. My hypothesis is that raw materials such as chert are better for scraping and sawing tasks while more brittle materials such as obsidian are better for piercing sort of tasks, and that this is why hafted bifaces made from obsidian were probably used as projectiles and those made from chert were probably used as sawing and cutting tools.
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Andrea Charette-Bluff, Architecture, Music
Mentor: Ken Carper, Architecture
The Effect of Structure and Technology on Concert Hall Acoustics
Historically, concert spaces had to be designed accurately
to produce a high level of acoustical qualities. The concert spaces that were designed specifically as opera halls or symphonic orchestra halls were extremely expensive. Today’s economic situation does not allow most places to build specialized concert spaces for a certain genre of music. Instead, multipurpose concert halls are built. New advancements in technology have made it possible to achieve good acoustics for any genre of music in the box-shaped concert hall. The purpose of this study is to look at technologies presence in concert spaces and question whether the balance between architecture and music is important for the art and overall acoustics. The study focuses on certain concert halls where both concert-goers and performers were asked to take a survey. Historical
precedents were also considered in this study.
Monica Castro, Communication, Spanish
Mentor: Dr. Mary Meares, Communication
How do Latino students perceive study abroad experiences
as changing their sense of voice & identity?
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Jason Dunbar, Political Science
Mentor: Dr. Martha Cottam, Political Science
Military Industrial Complex
The military industrial complex is a theory
that was first idealized by President Eisenhower. World War II created an arms race that put every nation with a huge military budget the means and need to arm themselves heavily. The menu of armament included nuclear warheads, tanks, jets, ships, ammunition, and many more weapons. The possibility of World War III and any nation weak or powerful being invaded and taken over by a super army, such as the previous Nazi regime put many superpowers into a state of alert and the only way to provide security to one’s nation from such threats was through arming oneself with the hugest arsenal to win in the last World War. The purpose of this research is to inform us of the history of the military industrial complex. The research will show us the technology that is produced by the ever changing and upgraded every second. The theory of military, government, and business all working as one entity to produce profit will be explained in this research. Identifying current trends with the Iraq War, the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and the correlations to World War II. The
research is done in hopes to understand the
military industrial complex and see if the
military industrial complex is real, if it
is real is the military industrial complex
performing in an ethical or unethical manner.
Jayme Crumpton, Comparative Ethnic Studies
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Hentges, Comparative Ethnic Studies
It’s Time to Start Pointing
the Finger at the Problem and Not Each Other:
The Future of Coalition Building Between African
American and Latino/a Students at Washington
State University
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Jaimee Mayfield, Communication
Mentor: Dr. Stacey Hust, Communication
Romance or Violence: Sexual Messages in Music Lyrics Popular Among African American Youth
The purpose of this study is to examine popular music
content African American youth are exposed to. The two genres of music that are going to be analyzed are R&B and Hip-Hop. The analysis will concentrate on common themes of violence (sexual, physical, & emotional), sexual content and racial identity. A
total of 100 songs were randomly selected and used from Billboard's
top music charts between the months of January to May of 2008.
Julie Russell, History
Mentor: Dr. David Coon, History
A Historical Survey of History and Social Studies Secondary Education and its Intersection with Recent Assessment Initiatives, with Special Emphasis on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning
The purpose of this study is to determine what effects, if any, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) have
had on trends in history and social studies education in Washington
State. As a historical study, the research and narrative
focus on how history and social studies education evolved through
the twentieth century and how recent assessment initiatives
have given a new direction to basic education.
The study includes a survey of education reforms from the
1890s to the 1990s to demonstrate the cycles of curriculum
modifications that have impacted history and social studies
education. It also lays bare the ways in which recent
assessment initiatives, with their focus on reading, writing,
and mathematics, have given rise to concerns about the place
of non-focus subjects, such as the arts and social studies,
within secondary education.
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Misty Green, Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Michael Steele, Psychology
Examining the Relationship between Pet Ownership and Human Health
This study examined the relationship between pet ownership in childhood and/or adolescence and the physical health and psychological well-being in young adulthood. Fifty undergraduate students at Washington State University provided information related to demographics, pet ownership, pet anthropomorphism, and physical and psychological functioning. Findings in this study were analyzed using Pearson correlations and Regression analyses. Of the four variables ran (pet attachment, pet anthropomorphism, physical health, and emotional well-being); pet attachment and physical functioning were found to be statistically significant. The relationships in this study could not be fully measured due to the small number of participants and the lack of diverse data giving low and high ranges in each variable being measured. Further research must be conducted to clarify the relationships between pet attachment, pet anthropomorphism, physical health, and psychological well-being.
Reneé Steppe,
Sociology
Mentor: Dr. Carol Salusso, Apparel, Merchandising, Design, and Textiles
The Relationship and Gender Differences between Body Satisfaction and Exercise
The purpose of this study was to compare gender responses to body satisfaction relative to their efforts to achieve a desired level of fitness. A quasi–experimental design with nonrandom sampling was used for this study. The subjects studied included 63 men and 157 women who were students and members of the Student Recreational Center (SRC) at a major Northwestern university. Students ranged in age from 18 to 25 years. Subjects completed a short version of the Body-Cathexis Scale developed by Secord and Jourard (1953). Items included a wide range of body parts plus global concepts such as body build, and appearance. Additional measures were added to relate body satisfaction to fitness and exercise involvement. These included five additional questions that examined aspects of physical fitness as well as overall self-satisfaction, social life and overall health measures that had been added to the survey by Salusso-Deonier and Schwarzkopf (1991). Results showed a tendency for this age group to see regular exercise as a way to make ongoing progress toward fitness and thereby do something for their body that helped contributed to body satisfaction. While their emphasis was on fitness and weight management, most subjects also appreciated the socializing opportunities that contributed to exercise as a positive component of lifestyle. Overall, men had higher levels of satisfaction with their body as well with their level fitness than did female peers. Both genders had positive perceptions of self-satisfaction, social life, and overall health. It seems like weight management is less of a focus than overall fitness. Thus exercise helps people take the opportunity to value their body as a tool for achieving ever greater self-efficacy.
Ciera Graham, Sociology
Mentor: Dr. Julie Kmec, Sociology
Attitudes and Perceptions of College Students towards African American Single Mothers
A self administered vignette study was distributed to
college students at a public university. The vignette depicts a
single mother working two dead end jobs and raising her three children
by herself. The race of the women portrayed in each vignette was
altered and participants answered a series of questions. The primary
goal was to see whether responses of participants aligned with
the three stereotypical images of African American women found
in the media: “Over sexual,” “Welfare Queen” and “Single Mother”. The study demonstrated that the most dominant stereotype for single black and white women across students of all gender and race groups was that of the “welfare queen”. White students were more likely than non-white students to use the stereotype of the “Over-Sexual black women” and the “Welfare Queen”. However, White students and non-white students were equally likely to link black and white mothers with the single mother stereotype. Regardless of race, Female students were more likely than their male counterparts to use the “Over sexual black women” and “Welfare Queen” stereotype
to describe black mothers. Male students were more likely to use
to the stereotype of the single mother to describe black women.
Overall, white students were more likely to express more negative
sentiments towards the situation Black mothers. This study demonstrates
that college students, regardless of race or gender, are more likely
to associate Black motherhood with some of the most common stereotypes
shown in the media. Implications for future studies are also discussed.
Alyssa Hesselroth, Education
Mentor: Dr. Patricia Mainella, Education
Access and Success for All: An Analysis of Access to Print in Schools of Varying Socioeconomic Status
Kendra Henry, Political Science
Mentor: Dr. Pamela Bettis, Cultural Studies and Social Thought
Biracial Students’ Understandings of Their Lives in a Predominantly White Institution
Since the inception of the one drop rule in the US (1910), which deemed black and white biracial persons black, there has been a push from activists for the acknowledgement of mixed racial identity. This study examines black/white biracial college students and their understandings and experiences at a predominately white institution in the Northwest. The primary theme found was the respondent’s
battle between their own perceptions of racial identity and those held by dominant
society. Examining the variation in answers based on the gender of the participants,
there were differences in the influence of their families, opinions in dating,
and the way they identify with race. Close attention was paid to the contradictions
these students used in discussing their need to be racially defined as more than
African American, however, their answers were framed to support the idea that
they identify as one race.
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