Full Paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/gotkin.html
"This is our world now . . . the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud." -The Mentor
Introduction: Shortly after his arrest in 1986, "The Mentor" wrote a short piece for the American hacker e-zine, Phrack, entitled "The Conscience of a Hacker." We can only assume the writer is a man because his penname masks everything about his true identity, including the arrest that apparently led him to write the article. In the piece, he tells stories of his childhood, of discovering the computer, and of reading newspaper articles about amateur hackers getting arrested. The piece is very short with only a handful of paragraphs that barely stretch to a second printed page, but at the end of each paragraph he repeats five words taken from the admonishing voices he hears all around: "Damn kids. They're all alike" (1). Through his piece, The Mentor allows us a glimpse into some of the most personal parts of a hacker's mind.
]]> Yet his article illustrates some of the most complex external factors about the life of a hacker, too. It shows us the subcultural relationship to the perceived authoritative normal, the strong bonds between hackers via their e-zine medium, and the interplay of identity and anonymity that define the hacker scene. On a grander scale, the genre of hacker e-zines can teach us about the significance of the subculture historically and today. This paper examines the e-zines of hackers in another place and time: those of France in the 1990s. Via a close reading and critical contextual analysis of these e-zines, we find that the early French hackers developed their scene in ways both very similar and very different from those around the globe.Read the full Paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/gotkin.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/cole.html
Abstract In the present study, participants from 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade completed two simple science activities. A researcher instructed each participant to remember one of the activities and forget the other. Children's memory for both activities was assessed after a two-week delay. Data analyses yielded a slight age-related increase in directed forgetting (DF) of the two activities, but overall levels of DF were low. In contrast, the trend for word list DF established in the literature was replicated. This pattern of results is interpreted as a reflection of the context sensitivity of cognitive processes in children.
]]> Introduction: Directed forgetting is impaired memory following an instruction to forget certain information. In adults, directed forgetting has been reliably produced in numerous laboratory experiments (e.g., Sahakyan & Goodmon, 2007; Sheard & MacLeod, 2005; Sahakyan & Kelley, 2002). Developmental research has shown that directed forgetting increases with age. Harnishfeger and Pope (1996), for example, instructed groups of 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders and college students to remember a set of words for a later recall test. After the first ten words of a 20-item list had been presented, however, the experimenter informed the participant that the words presented thus far had been for practice only, and that they should forget them and focus on the next set of words instead. When comparing recall of words from the to-be-remembered (TBR) and to-be-forgotten (TBF) lists, 1st graders showed low levels of directed forgetting (2.50 TBR versus 1.25 TBF words, on average), compared to 3rd graders (3.13 versus 1.75), 5th graders (2.71 versus .86), and especially college students (6.25 versus 2.50).Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/cole.html
]]>Full Paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/batten.html
Abstract: Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is the study of how psychological factors such as stress and depression can affect the immune system through the nervous system. This review examines PNI in relation to HIV/AIDS and cancer. It discusses the possible mechanisms through which these diseases are affected by stress and depression as well as known PNI treatments. It concludes by discussing limitations of the research as well as where PNI may go in the future.
]]> Introduction: The brain is a powerful organ and it essentially controls all functions in the body. Considering this, it is not outlandish to think that factors that affect the brain, whether they are social, physical, or biological, could affect the rest of the body. Furthermore, these factors could affect one's brain in such a way that they weaken the immune system, thus making one susceptible to disease or worsening an already existing disease. This is the basis for psychoneuroimmunology.Read the full Paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/batten.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/duncan.html
Abstract Interviews in Utah and Ecuador explored the perceptions of simulation and critical thinking. Three themes emerged during analysis. High fidelity simulation can be used to develop critical thinking and is used in many Utah nursing education programs, whereas in Ecuador simulation use is in the early stages.
]]> Introduction The world of health care is becoming increasingly complex as new treatments, medications, technology, and a greater understanding of conditions evolve by the moment. In both developing and industrialized countries, the nurse fits into this world with a more challenging role than in the past, one requiring a higher level of critical thinking and clinical judgment. New nursing graduates entering the field must, therefore, be better prepared to assume these responsibilities (Lasater, 2007a). The worsening worldwide nursing shortage coupled with the migration trend of nurses, especially in Latin America, coincides with the advancing role of the nurse, augmenting pressure on both nurses and nurse educators. Thus, the use of simulation, specifically to encourage critical thinking, has become a significant aspect in current nursing education in the United States and is in the early stages of development in Latin America.Confucius said, "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." He recognized that hands-on experience is usually the most effective learning method. Simulation is founded on this idea of doing and practicing. In a variety of disciplines all over the world, simulation has been used for years as pedagogy along with lectures and texts, and the field of nursing is no exception. In nursing, the acquisition of knowledge is not enough; it is the application of knowledge that determines ability and success. Research shows that simulation allows students to retain more knowledge for a longer period of time because they engage in an interactive role that fosters skill acquisition, critical thinking, and confidence (Childs & Sepples, 2006). The purpose of this study was to explore and compare perceptions of the use of simulation in nursing education in an industrialized nation and a developing South American country. Specifically, the study addressed two research questions: (a) what is the role of simulation in nursing education in programs in Utah and Ecuador? and (b) what is the perception of nursing students and new graduates regarding simulation use to improve critical thinking and clinical judgment?
Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/duncan.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/holt.html
Abstract: This study compared Apgar scores and oxygenation levels of well infants born by Cesarean section (c-section) to those delivered vaginally. T-tests in a sample of 321 well infants (17.1% c-section deliveries and 82.2% vaginal deliveries) revealed no statistically significant difference between c-section and vaginal births for Apgar scores and oxygenation.
Every year in the United States over four million babies are born. In recent years, Cesarean Sections have increased with rates surging from less than 7 percent in 1970 to 30.2 percent in 2005 (Hamilton, Martin, & Ventura, 2006). Although Cesarean section (c-section) births are medically indicated for some individuals, information regarding the effect a vaginal or c-section birth may have on an infant would be essential for those mothers considering a c-section for non-medical reasons. As a nursing student, instructors at times promote natural birth methods. This led me to question what effect different modes of birth have on the baby.
]]> Brief literature review. The increasing rate of c-section births in the United States has caused concern and led to extensive research. In 2006, MacDorman found the rate of infant mortality to be 2.9 times higher in c-section than vaginal births. Complications such as respiratory failure and cerebral disorders may have a high rate of incidence in infants born by c-section (Kolas, Saugstad, Daltveit, Nilsen, & Oian, 2007). Respiratory Distress Syndrome, for example, is five times more likely to occur in infants born by c-section than those born by vaginal delivery (Levine, Ghai, Barton, & Strom, 2001). These complications may be due to increased fluid in the infant's lungs after a c-section birth.Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/holt.html
]]>Full paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/groat.html
Abstract Our nation's modern media acts as a devastating destructive force to the family unit in America, and its effects are felt worldwide. The rearing of children has been taken from the hands of parents into grips of mass media. Producers of mass communications render inaccurate societal depictions, and individuals respond in active accordance with what is portrayed. Media embeds messages of violence, body image, and teen sexuality, all of which encourage single parent and/or cohabitating homes out of wedlock and destroys marriages through pornography. Continuation of this family degradation cycle will result in the collapse of the family as a social function and force for stability in communities as well as on a worldwide scale.
]]> Introduction "Families are the cells which make up the body of society, if the cells are unhealthy and undernourished, or at worse cancerous and growing haphazard and out of control, in the end the body succumbs" (Doughty, 2008, p. 1), says Justice Coleridge, senior judge in charge of family courts across South-West England for the past eight years. Coleridge, who has been presiding over cases of divorce, children in care, and family break-up, has also determined that "the collapse of the family unit is a threat to the nation as bad as terrorism, crime, drugs or global warming" (Doughty, 2008, p. 1). Surprise should not come from this declaration itself, but in the fact that the members of today's society have become so numbed that readers are likely to mistakenly disregard this statement as the product of an outlandish theorist. Americans are seemingly oblivious to the devastating crumble of the family unit despite witnessing failure of half of all marriages, rampant teen pregnancies, and single-parent, cohabitating, and broken families to such a prominent extent that an American family today who meets the profile of a traditional family is labeled as "abnormal." In America's past, the family unit formed the core of society; however, with the advent of reckless mass communication, there has been a breakup of this key moral determinant.Read the full paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/groat.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/mahulawde.html
Abstract The Time-Oriented Quality of Life Scale (TOQLS) was developed to measure one's present quality of life in relationship to one's desired future quality of life. The ten items were economics, housing, family life, education, social life, neighborhood, transportation, desired career, mental health, and physical health. The population for this study consisted of 12 elementary, 14 middle school, 13 high school, and 15 college students. Results indicated that African Americans and Caucasians did not differ in reports of present or future quality of life but that elementary students had a lower future quality compared to the other age groups. The racial differences of quality of life are discussed.
]]> Introduction: Quality of life is defined by Myers (2008) as one's perceptions of his/her environment and health. There has not been extensive research conducted on racial differences in quality of life nor comparing quality of life developmentally. The Time-Oriented Quality of Life Scale (TOQLS) was used to assess those perceptions and racial differences that may exist among elementary, middle school, high school, and college students. It was hypothesized that black students would have a lower quality of life when compared to white students. It was also hypothesized that elementary students would perceive a higher future quality of life compared to college students.Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/mahulawde.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/highschool/thakur.html
Abstract This study investigates the presence of a correlation between women’s medial arch heights and actual heights. The human body is known to possess several different types of symmetries and proportional correlations; however, no studies have been conducted to determine the possibility of a relation between women’s medial arch heights and actual heights. The existence of such a relation could prove to be a valuable tool for scientists, especially those involved in forensics. In this study, medial arch heights and actual heights of 126 women were taken and regression analyses were performed on the data to determine significance. The results indicate no significant correlation between the foot arch height and actual height of a woman.]]> Introduction There are several factors that affect human height. These factors include: an individual’s exposure to diseases, the nutrition an individual receives, the amount of exercise an individual does, the biological genes an individual possesses, the environment an individual grows up in, and the amount of stress undergone by an individual. These factors affect the strength and health of an individual, thereby determining the height of that person (Hueso, 2007; Lai, 2006).Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/highschool/thakur.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/hannah.html
Abstract The present study examined the relationship between lifetime trauma, trauma symptoms, and substance use among female prescription drug misusers enrolled in a court supervised substance abuse treatment program. Participants were sixteen women enrolled in the Pinellas County Adult Drug Court WeCan outpatient rehabilitation program. Results indicated that lifetime exposure to trauma was associated with trauma symptoms, and trauma symptoms were in turn related to continued substance use. Implications for trauma-informed substance abuse treatment practices and future research are discussed.
]]> IntroductionIn recent years the number of substance users in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. In 2007 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that an estimated 22.3 million adults used illicit drugs within the past year (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMSHA], 2008). This report further adumbrates the emergence of two dangerous trends. First, rates of nonmedical use of pharmaceutical drugs have exceeded that of all other drugs combined except marijuana. Second, for the first time data indicate that the incidence of prescription drug misuse is greater than the incidence of any other illicit drug use, including marijuana; there were 2.5 million persons initiating prescription drug misuse in 2007, compared to 2.1 million persons initiating marijuana use (SAMSHA, 2008). Clearly, nonmedical use of prescription drugs has become an increasingly exigent matter.
Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/hannah.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/goossen.html
Abstract According to research conducted by Nielsen, “fathers generally have as much or more influence than mothers on many aspects of their daughters’ lives. For example, the father has the greater impact on the daughter’s ability to trust, enjoy and relate well to the males in her life …well-fathered daughters are usually more self-confident, more self-reliant, and more successful in school and in their careers than poorly-fathered daughters …Daughters with good relationships with their father are also less likely to develop eating disorders” . The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, influence a father has on his daughter’s development. The survey instrument requested demographic data in addition to seven Likert-type scale questions and was distributed to the students enrolled in The Master’s College during the spring 2009 semester. STATPAK was used to examine the data collected, and the One-Dimensional Chi-square test used to interpret the data. All responses were significant at the .05 significance level. The conclusions of this research indicate that a father does have influence over his daughter in many areas, including body image and sexuality.
]]> Introduction Is a father a key figure in his daughter’s development? “The role of a father’s absence on the reproductive and psychological behavior of their daughters has been a subject of considerable interest from a developmental, psychological, sociological and evolutionary perspective” (Comings, Muhleman, Johnson, & MacMurry, 2002, p. 1046). It seems for many girls that “inevitably our fathers determine how we view the opposite sex, the outside world and ourselves” (Krohn & Bogan, 2001, Conclusion section, ¶ 1). Further, “the bond between father and daughter is one of the strongest in the world...[and] if the father and mother are the right role models, the daughter will grow into an independent young woman” (Norment & Chappell, 2003).Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/goossen.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/zambrano.html
Abstract We report a new method to estimate suicide rates in nations that do not collect or report suicide statistics. Using indicators of suicide rates in a sample of 73 nations and standard regression techniques, we identified four predictors—divorce rate, locus of control, per capita GDP, and fertility rate—and generated different regression equations. These equations appear to produce reasonably valid estimates of national suicide rates.
]]> Introduction What is the suicide rate in Bolivia? Indonesia? Kenya or Taiwan? No one knows because government officials in these countries either do not collect or do not report official suicide statistics. Indeed, there are more than 100 nations that do not report suicide statistics to international organizations such as the World Health Organization.This lack of reporting is unfortunate, as suicidal behavior is a public health problem in some countries (Platt, Bille-Brahe, Kerkhof, Schmidtke, Bjerke, Crepet et al., 1992), and statistics are useful to government planners, public health officials, medical researchers, and social scientists. When official statistics are unavailable, estimates can be used in their place. But how can we estimate suicide rates?
Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/zambrano.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/scacciaferro.html
Abstract The photovoice method allowed the youth participants (females attending programs at a Latino/Hispanic Center), as ‘experts’ on their own lives, to freely display their thoughts, needs, and concerns in an artistic manner. Through photography, this project not only promoted creativity but also offered a non-threatening platform for participants to convey true emotion and information about difficult subjects. After comparative analysis between all four participants’ pictures and responses, three common themes arose: the importance of family in their lives, the importance of technology in their lives, and the importance of the Center in their lives.
]]> Introduction The photovoice process, as a community-based, participatory needs assessment technique, lets community members document their community’s needs and assets, discuss the importance of those issues, and communicate concerns to those in power. Participants are assigned cameras to record visual images of what they perceive as their community’s strengths and weaknesses. The use of cameras can be empowering and exciting and does not require participants to be able to read or write. Discussion and explanation of the pictures within the group of participants and then with those in power may bring about concrete solutions or action (Wang & Burris, 1997).Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/scacciaferro.html
]]>Full paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/wilkins.html
Abstract The purpose of this research paper is to analyze shamanism and schizophrenia, eventually coming to the conclusion that they are one and the same. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is the physiological link between the two, while culture is the psychological link between them. This paper goes on to suggest that the shaman is a schizophrenic.
]]> Introduction There are quite a few similarities that exist between the shaman and the schizophrenic. This paper seeks to truly captivate the significance of these similarities, while drawing the conclusion that there is one quality that sets the two apart. It is this quality that determines whether a person becomes a shaman or a schizophrenic. Human life and cultural phenomena are examined through rational means derived from both sensory and psychological experiences. The overall goal is to enlarge knowledge of human existence.Read the full paper: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/wilkins.html
]]>Full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/attal.html
Abstract The effect of sorority affiliation on artificial tanning frequencies was investigated. Variables were measured using an artificial tanning survey developed for this research. The results indicated that while the proportion of participants that had used a tanning bed at least once was higher for the sample of sorority members than for the sample of non-sorority members, there appears to be no connection between sorority affiliation and frequency of tanning bed use over the past month and past six months. That is, on a monthly and semi-annual basis, sorority members are not more likely to use a tanning bed more frequently than non-sorority members. The findings are consistent with theories of the effects of peer crowd identification and appearance motivation on artificial tanning habits.
]]> Introduction Each year, over 1 million cases of skin cancer occur worldwide. The most deadly form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, continues to increase at a rate of 3 percent per year. (American Cancer Society, 2005). In the two decades between 1960 and 1980, the incidence of skin cancer quadrupled (Fears & Scotto, 1982). This increasing occurrence coincides with the introduction of the first tanning salon in 1978 (Fleischer, Lee, Adams, & Zanolli, 1993), leading to the inference that artificial tanning is actually more harmful than natural sun tanning due to the more intense, concentrated UV exposure. Westerdahl, Olsson, Masback, Ingvar, Jonsson, Brandt, Jonsson and Moller (1994) found that individuals under the age of 30 years who artificially tanned 10 or more times per year had an almost 8 times increased risk of developing cancerous melanoma. Skin cancer is not the only risk of tanning; eye problems, including cataracts and eye burns, also occur. Evidence links the occurrence of these ailments to excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation leading healthcare authorities, such as the World Health Organization (2009), to recommend limited exposure to these harmful rays (Elwood, Whitehead, & Gallagher, 1989). Extensive research is now being conducted to determine why people continue to use tanning beds in spite of the many risks in order to find the most effective preventative measures.Read the full manuscript: http://www.kon.org/urc/v8/attal.html
]]>Runner-Up Manuscripts
Congratulations to all authors!
]]> The Undergraduate Research Community is pleased to announce that awards for Volume 8 (2009) manuscripts in the Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences will be examined by a panel of judges in January, and awards will be announced in February.]]>