ABSTRACTS
2019 National McNair Scholars Conference at UCLA
Researcher: Danielle Ananea
Presentation Title: Comparing Embodiment Experiences Using Mindfulness Meditation Body- Scanning Technique
Research Focus: Will there be a change in proprioceptive drift after exposure to a body- scanning condition?
School: University of Northern Colorado
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Mindfulness meditation may impact self-awareness; however, the types of practices and extent of their effects needs further investigation. This study analyzed if a specific type of contemplative mindfulness practice known as body-scanning impacted a well-established measure of self-awareness known as the rubber hand illusion (RHI). To assess the effects of body-scanning on embodiment of the rubber hand, one group of participants experienced the RHI before and after following directions on a body-scanning audio recording, whereas another group experienced the RHI before and after listening to the same audio recording while being distracted. Results are discussed in terms of the effect of body-scanning experience during the experiment and the effect of prior experience on the embodiment of the rubber hand. These findings could have clinical implications as self-awareness and embodiment have been related to a number of neurological pathologies such as mental illness and phantom limb pain.
Researcher: Ariana Jimenez Borroto
Presentation Title: Sexuality and Professionalism: How Evolutionary Psychology, Power, and Sex Differences Influence Perceptions of Women’s Behavior
Research Focus: Psychology
School: University of Northern Colorado
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
This study examined sex biases as they exist in the workplace and relate to subscriptions of traditional gender role beliefs (GRB), sex role spill-over phenomenon, the sexual over- perception bias and error management theory. In this experiment, participants’ GRB and their perceptions of an office hour visit were measured to investigate how power and an individual’s sex may influence student’s perceptions of friendly, flirtatious, and professional behaviors. The data revealed notable sex differences in participants’ perceptions of these behaviors and have serious implications for women in the workplace.
Researcher: Torrence Brown-Smith
Presentation Title: It gets tiring. It affects different parts of your life: Examining Racial Battle Fatigue among Black College Students at a Historically White University
Research Focus: Black college students and Racial Battle fatigue
School: University of Northern Colorado
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Black students are prone to face perpetual racial discrimination while attending historically White campuses and universities. These continuous racial encounters may lead students to feel mentally and physically drained, thus negatively affecting their path to collegiate success.
Through the theoretical lens of Critical Race Theory, this study used semi-structured focus group interviews to examine the experiences of 12 self-identifying Black students attending an historically White Research III institution that is located in a rural part of a western state, with a combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment of 13,399. Of the undergraduate students enrolled at this institution, 345 (4%) are Black, 5,273 (61.3%) are White, and the remaining 2,388 (27.7%) identify differently than Black or White (Latinx, Asian or other racial/ethnic category). Four themes emerged: (a) Racial microaggressions within academic spaces, (b) double-consciousness, and (c) institutional macroaggressions. Participants reported stereotyping and negative racial encounters with faculty and peers on and off campus. They also reported feeling out of place and feeling like their university didn’t, “-like Black people.” As a result, students reported psychological stress responses symptomatic of racial battle fatigue (e.g. frustration, shock, anger, disappointment, resentment, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness, and fear). This study seeks to identify the ways in which institutional racism affects Black students who attend HWCUs in order to begin to address the ways in which institutions can create environments that are more inclusive for all students.
Researcher: Jordan Fuselier
Presentation Title: Initiating a New Perspective: The Prevalence, Perceptions, & Attitudes Towards Hazing Across Student Organizations on a College Campus
Research Focus: Criminal Justice & Hazing Practices School: The University of Northern Colorado Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Hazing is a widespread problem occurring on college campuses across the United States. This current study explored the prevalence, perceptions, and attitudes towards hazing at medium-sized mid-west university. Specifically, the researchers were interested in undergraduate students’ involvement, attitudes toward hazing, and identification within student groups at the medium- size university. Notably, though hazing is defined, it has been seen that students’ often do not identify the behaviors as such. Using a web-based questionnaire, a random sample of 1,300 undergraduate students at the participating university were asked questions regarding their participation and victimization of hazing behaviors. Results revealed that 53.8% of college students have a clear understanding of the hazing policy at their university. Sleep deprivation and associating with specific people and not others are hazing practices commonly reported. To date, hazing research on college campuses has focused on Greek life and sports while examining a generalized portion of demographic factors. Findings from this current study will target and identify hazing behaviors within a larger-scale of student groups and identify demographical differences. Further, these quantitative results can be used for hazing prevention measures across college/universities.
Researcher: Cody Salazar
Presentation Title: Influences That May Affect Flow Among Division I Collegiate Wrestlers
Researcher Focus: Flow, Wrestling School: University of Northern Colorado Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
The purpose of this study was to discover and categorize contributors to, and inhibitors of, flow among collegiate wrestlers. Researchers have found that being in a flow state relates to higher level of performance. Csikszentmihalyi described flow as a state of concentration on an activity at hand in which individuals are so immersed in the activity that nothing else seems to matter. This study uses a mixed method research design that includes semi-structured interviews to gather qualitative data as well as the Flow State Scale-Short (FS-S) to gather quantitative data. Collegiate wrestlers were questioned about their all-time best and worst collegiate matches as well as an additional match they competed in. Participants watched a videotape of a match, and were interviewed regarding the match and completed the FS-S. Inductive analytical process were used to identify themes within the set of responses. The data analysis revealed 11 themes, six of which were themes about the wrestlers worst matches, including Anxious/Overthinking, Not having fun/excited to wrestle, Opponent was better, Injuries, Watching teammates lose, and Weight cut. The remaining five themes were regarding the wrestlers best matches, including Having a game plan, Confident, Feeling good, Mental attitude, Good warm up. Additionally, the study revealed that over half of the wrestlers thought they could control these factors affecting their flow states. These findings supported previous literature, and may merit further investigation. Coaches and athletes may benefit from this knowledge to better prepare for competitive matches.
Researcher: Liad Sherer
Presentation Title: The Quest for Restorative Justice; American Law and Native Voices: 1831- 1934
Research Focus: Native American Sovereignty
School: University of Northern Colorado
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
We entrust politicians to intentionally leverage their rhetoric to advocate for justice. However, historically, injustice is a deeply entrenched part of US American culture, history, and political rhetoric. This research focuses on the 1830 Indian Removal Act and the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act by analyzing the rhetoric of politicians, members of the Native American Nations, and government publications, in comparison to the notion of restorative justice. From this research, two main questions emerge: what was the standard of justice that was attempted to be restored?; and does the rhetoric surrounding these acts align with the modern views of restorative justice? Our findings conclude: US Americans have departed from a strict adherence to the US Constitution as a moral authority when evaluating the rights of marginalized groups and instead exhibits a desire to right the injustices of past administrations through processes such as cultural relativism.