The Office of Student Research funded 12 student-faculty projects during the 2015-16 academic year.
Belize Entomological SurveySTUDENT: David Cool FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Luke Jacobus ABSTRACT: David’s project is part of an entomological survey of Belize that is being hosted by The University of California-Davis. His plan is to travel to Belize to join in group bio-blitzes of two different areas: low lying land and upslope forest. These should produce different types of species of Ephemeroptera, the insect group known as mayflies. David’s background research, documenting the current state of knowledge of Belize mayflies, has been presented at the Indiana Academy of Science meeting in March. |  |
Cost of Capital; Offering a New Method of Calculating the Cost of CapitalSTUDENT: Ashley Dieter FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Ryan Brewer ABSTRACT: Estimation of the cost-of-capital is vital to understand investment values. To date, published, accepted methods of assessing the cost-of-capital are either complex or arbitrary, leaving financial analysts without a consistent technique for conducting intrinsic valuations. Our new method of COC would impact and affect anyone working in some capacity within the business sector. |  |
Rusev! Crush!: American Nationalism, Russian Antagonism, and the WWESTUDENT: Michael Foist FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Ryan Neville-Shepard ABSTRACT: This project explores the evolution of foreign villains in media, specifically in professional wrestling. As wrestling characters become more three-dimensional, foreign characters are framed as villains despite illustrating heroic characteristics, but their American opposition is cheered, despite becoming villainous, one-dimensional portrayals of American xenophobia. |  |
Conservation Status of Siphloplecton Mayflies in Northern North AmericaSTUDENT: Tania Herbert STUDENT: Sabrina Schipper STUDENT: Jenna Wells FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Luke Jacobus ABSTRACT: Three species from the genus Siphloplecton have been found in northern North America, with two of these three occurring in Indiana; these species are seldom encountered, and so it is thought they require conservation protection. What little we know of their biological requirements is based mainly on studies from Florida and the Southeast. We will study these species in the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers in Indiana to assess their current conservation status and to learn about their biological needs here. |  |
A Phenomenological Study of the Impact of FASB/PCC Changes on Small and medium Private CompaniesSTUDENT: Swarooparani Hurli STUDENT: Yibing Wang FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Larita Killian ABSTRACT:Both public and private businesses follow the same set of accounting standards. However, for small private businesses, these accounting standards are perceived as complex and burdensome. To simplify financial statement preparation and alleviate perceived financial burden for small private businesses the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) brought several changes to the accounting standards. The purpose of this research is to evaluate these new initiatives in relation to the perceived needs of small and medium, private companies in a Midwestern region. |  |
Assessing the Needs of People Living With HIV and AIDS in Rural IndianaSTUDENT:Brandon Million FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Joan Poulsen ABSTRACT: When southern Indiana experienced the outbreak of HIV in early 2015, through which over 170 people were infected, it became apparent that this topic demands research aimed specifically at local and regional impact. The objectives of Brandon’s research were targeted specifically for persons who are HIV‐positive or have AIDS in rural Indiana. For example: 1. Determining the current social, financial, medical, and emotional support systems currently available. |  |
Anomie in The Bell Jar: The Sociology of the Literature by Sylvia PlathSTUDENT: Emily Pedigo FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick ABSTRACT: Emily’s thesis statement for this project was: The sociological imagination and sociology theories will further enhance the study of suicide in the novel The Bell Jar. Her project used the sociological imagination in order to sociologically analyze Sylvia Plath’s work. |  |
Daily Habits and Overall HealthSTUDENT: Makaili Shoultz FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Kimdy Le ABSTRACT: This project was based on an online survey examining how exercise was related to increased self-regulation. Makaili found that individuals who engaged in exercise over long periods of time were also higher on self-regulation than those who didn’t. This could potentially impact interventions to help individuals delay short-term gains for long-term goals. |  |
Naturally Observed Behaviors and OstracismSTUDENT:Samantha Skirvin STUDENT: Carissa Walls Faculty mentor: Dr. Joan Poulsen and Dr. Kimdy Le ABSTRACT: This research project gathered data on public observable behaviors from children ages 5-11 years in their natural formed play groups. The goal was to find an association between certain behaviors and ostracism within this age group. |  |
Does Diversion Therapy as a Non-Pharmacologic Intervention Reduce Pain in Children?STUDENT: Mindy Talkington FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Cheryl Crisp ABSTRACT: Mindy studied the effects of play on children’s pain levels after they endure a painful procedure in the hospital setting. Children are often vulnerable in these high-stress settings and experience heightened fear and anxiety, which can increase pain perception. Mindy’s hope from this study is that healthcare workers would be more aware of children in these situations and would take charge to help reduce their pain and anxiety during those stressful times. |  |
Recognition of First-Person Action in Children II: Exploring Early Knowledge of Optic Flow with Body MovementSTUDENT: Megan Taylor FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Mark Jaime ABSTRACT: The objective of this ongoing research project was to learn more about how children perceive and recognize their own movements. A small chest-mounted action camera was utilized to record and then present a first-person perspective video of participant’s actions. Participants were shown two videos and asked to judge which one belongs to them. |  |
Assessing Media as a Gateway to Information for Young People Regarding HIV/AIDSSTUDENT:Brandon Million STUDENT: Emily Pedigo STUDENT: Nick VanBurkleo FACULTY MENTOR Aimee Zoeller ABSTRACT: Through qualitative and quantitative research of college students, our research team intends to identify how college students access information about the prevalence, transmission, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. We intend to compile data, discover and analyze relationships between the data, and deliver the information to Positive Link so that they can use the information to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people. |  |
