Category: Fall 2011

Charlene Able, Karlie Griffith-Solinger & Charolene Somatis

The Effects of Communication Style on Writing Complexity and Length

This study is an investigation of the difference in description complexity while describing a photograph using handwriting and typing techniques. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one will use handwriting and the other will use a computer to type the description of a photograph during a defined time allowance. It is hypothesized that the participants that type a description will have more complex written communications.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Kelsey Atkins, Jordan Buhler & Darrell Risen

The Study of Adolescent Learners and How They Develop

Our project is going to talk about adolescent learners and their development in several categories: cognitive, physical, identity, social, moral, and values. Cognitively we will talk about their development based on Piaget along with what their learning style’s are. We will address their physical development by studying body mass indexes (BMIs). This study will cover three specific individuals we studied but will also include general terms for adolescents in the K-12 spectrum.

EDUC 330/370

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Laynee Bevans, Rose Carrigan, Danielle Nance & Britney Yip

The Effects of Exercise on Stress

NCU athletes will be participating in a study to investigate the effects of exercise on stress. The researches hypothesize that exercise reduces stress. In addition, the researchers are interested in determining whether or not there is a gender difference in stress levels. Johansson, Hassmen, & Jouper (2008) did a study on the effects of Qigong exercise and found that participating in Qigong exercise helps reduce stress.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Kelly Bollenbaugh, Kalyssa Koontz, Patrick Rose, Amanda Vanderhoof & Katlyn Voight

Study Abroad/Away Experience Reflecting on Study Tour of Civil Way Battle Sites (Spring 2011)

This presentation highlights the importance of a study away experience. The panel is composed of students who participated in a summer class that explored several Civil War battle sites on the 150th sesquicentennial of the Civil War’s outbreak. Taking the sites in order, the class studied such places as Harper’s Ferry, Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Monocacy, Petersburg, and Appomattox. Central to the class was an analysis of the political and technological implications of the war.

HIST 407

Mick Bollenbaugh & Steve Goetz

Ross Evans Chapel

9 – 10 AM

Krista Bryson & Jenna Royce

Handling Conflict in the 21st Century

Through this study, we wanted to see how many people prefer communicating and solving conflict through cell phone use, i.e. text messages/phone calls, rather than face-to-face interaction. We asked who they primarily communicate with. The data was gathered at NCU. Participants were handed a self-reported survey with questions about their conflict styles and different scenarios. This study collected data on how much time people spend on their cell phones and how they handled conflict using technology.

COMM 460, Technology, Change and Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Bradley Burns

American Outlaws and the 10th Amendment

This study is a tribute to individual rights and the story of the U.S. Constitution as the nation grew and went West. With expanding federal military power and law, such questions as “If California is not yet part of the U.S., and is debated over colonial powers, what rights do I have?” emerge. In new states and territories, what rights does one have? The many legal questions we still face today are discussed all coming back to the 10th Amendment, such as property law, creation of states, organizations, commerce law, criminal law, and entertainment law.

IDS 499, Senior Capstone

Mick Bollenbaugh

L203

8:30 – 9 AM

Keegan Clark & Christina Salazar

Identity Development and Family Dynamics of Early Childhood Learners

Our research looks at two early childhood students and their personal, physical, cognitive, and identity development. More specifically, we examined identity development in relation to family dynamics. Both subjects come from non-traditional family backgrounds which have impacted their identity development.

EDUC 330/370

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Charles Cox

Revenue Recognition and the International Accounting Standards vs American Accounting Rules

I want to speak on revenue recognition and the difficulties facing American businesses that want to do business on an international level. International standards differ from American standards, but must eventually be merged.

ACTG 499, Senior Capstone

Frank Paliotta

P114

10:30 – 11 AM

Ali Foster

The Chilean Civil War of 1829

I will examine each side of the civil war and the historical actors of the war. I will go into depth on the social and economic characters of each side. I will also examine the same issues that were occurring in the other countries in Latin America during the time of the civil war.

HIST 440

Ron Palmer

A201

10 – 11 AM

Jason Haggard & Rachel Schneider

A Case Study on Pre-Adolescent Boys

In this case study, we examine two pre-adolescent boys, one 9 years-old and one 10 years-old. One is home-schooled, the other goes to public school. The primary focus is on their cognitive, physical, social, identity, and moral development.

EDUC 330/370

Brian Kaelin

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Mark Hamilton & David Vermilyea

Last Beacon Standing: Stand-up Comedy at NCU

In the Fall 2011 term, eight student wrote stand-yup comedy routines and performed for a Beacon Night that coincided with a Preview Day. The audience voted for their favorite, the Last Beacon Standing, and the winner is putting his excellence on display. Also performing as the warm-up act is someone who was unable to compete because of a basketball game.

COMM 207, Humor and Stand Up Comedy

Doyle Srader

Ross Evans Chapel

8:30 – 9 AM

Zachary Harper

Contemporary Christianity in India: Historical Perspective

This paper focuses on Christianity in India during the 20th century in the context of the historical presence since 1900. The growth, decline, and stagnation of Christianity will be evaluated in light of the particular cultural environment in the nation.

HIST 303

Ron Palmer & Chuck Sturms

A201

8:30 – 10 AM

Rebecca Hart

The Role of Communication Technology in Family Conflict

This is an in-depth look into the advantages and disadvantages of communication technology and its effects on the family unit. From smartphones to iPads to social networking, the world we live in is constantly changing and the averse effects can be seen most easily among families who find themselves lost in a sea of technology.

COMM 499, Senior Capstone

Doyle Srader

P003

9 – 9:30 AM

Rebecca Hart & Johnny Mager

Student Athletes on the Road: How Facebook can Help

A research study was conducted in which random student athletes were surveyed from each of the 12 NCU athletic teams, and it was concluded that students feel disconnected from their studies when out of town for away games. Solutions to this problem are provided, including turning the tour bus into a wireless hot spot and creating a NCU Facebook page where students can communicate with professors.

COMM 460, Technology, Change and Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Teresa Harvey

Emotion Regulation: A Mental Health Investigation

This presentation is an exploration of recent literature on the subject of Emotional Regulation (ER). This study will focus on cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, and relational categories such as brooding and rumination. It will explain how emotion regulating skills are developed, what the biological effects are, and most specifically, the relationship between ER and depression vulnerability. It will also examine current cognitive methods utilizing ER skills to reduce the risks of depression as well as generate sound ideas for further research in this area.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

9 – 9:30 AM

Jordan Henderson

Contemporary Christianity in Korea: A Historical Perspective in Modern Day Christian Thought

Taking a look at Christianity in the past 100 years a lot of movement has been coming from Asia. Looking a the past 20 years we will see how Korea has played a role in the Christian faith.

HIST 303

Ron Palmer & Chuck Sturms

A201

8:30 – 10 AM

Kaye January-Pocza

Learned Helplessness: A Literature Review of its Symptoms and Effects on Various Stages of Life

This literature review is an exploration of learned helplessness, the feelings that one does not have the ability to affect life circumstances because of a perceived lack of sense of control. This paper will discuss symptoms, behaviors, and treatment of learned helplessness.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

9:30 – 10 AM

Kalyssa Koontz

The Bible and the Civil Way: the Prostitution of Scripture on both Sides of the War

This presentation will critically analyze the use or misuse of the Bible and the scriptures in both the North and the South during the Civil War. This presentation will consider the cultural, economic, and political factors which drove the understanding of the holy scriptures on both sides of the Civil War.

HIST 207/407

Steve Silver

P103

8:30 – 9:30 AM

Kalyssa Koontz

Contemporary Christianity in China: A Historical Perspective on the Growth of House Churches in China

This presentation will examine and assess the growth of un-registered (house) churches within China during the modern era of history from the beginning of WWI to present. This presentation will critically analyze the growth of these churches in China and the effect thy have on the overall Christian community in China.

HIST 303

Ron Palmer & Chuck Sturms

A201

8:30 – 10 AM

Joshua LaPoint

The Imperfect Pastor

This essay wrestles with the difficulties of simultaneously being an imperfect person and a pastor who must lead others. Christians must be holy. People think that being holy means never messing up or a least coming as close to perfection as possible. Pastors feel the pressure to be perfect. Pastors are not to teach people how to live by a high moral standard but to show them by example how to love, acknowledge faults, and extend grace to others. Only then does the church reflect Christ. Otherwise, Christianity is nothing but a giant incoherency.

CM 499, Senior Capstone

Terry O’Casey

L203

9:30 – 10 AM

Kenneth Latham

A Multicultural Approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD affects 12% of the U.S. civilian population and approximately 14-15% of military personnel returning from combat operations. Current mainstream theories of counseling and psychotherapy do not adequately address the cultural diversity or our civilian and military population. The purpose of this paper is to examine the need for a multicultural approach to cognitive behavioral theory for the treatment of PTSD to properly diagnose and treat our culturally diverse civilian and military populations.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Steve Caloudas

A201

10 – 11 AM

Susan Leip & Charolene Somatis

The Relationship Between Attention Span and YouTube Video Design Preference

This study looked at the relationship between attention spans and the design behind YouTube videos. Subjects were shown two separate videos of the same story, one with minimal editing and the other designed with jump cuts and text overlaid in the style of a YouTube video. It is hypothesized that the participants tested to have a shorter attention span will have greater appreciation for the heavily edited video as opposed to the video with few edits. 

COMM 460, Technology, Change and Communication

Doyle Srader

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Cynthia Lopus

Contemporary Christianity in India: A Historical Perspective 1900-Present

This paper focuses on the impact on India due to current missions and Christianity as well as current information about Christians in India. The conclusion is how the Indian people have made Christianity a part of their society and its overall effect.

HIST 303

Ron Palmer & Chuck Sturms

A201

8:30 – 10 AM

Scott Perkins

Study Habits: Time is Money

This project will be based on a survey of students in several lower-level general education courses. Students will consist mostly of college freshmen and sophomores. The study will include questions concerning age, gender, high school GPA, current GPA (if known), average homework time per week and per class, and a self-evaluation of efficiency as a student overall (scale 1-9). It will seek to confirm (with 95% confidence) the hypothesis that there is a direct correlation between the amount of time a student spends studying outside of class and both their self-efficacy and current (or high school) GPA.

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Crystal Rutherford & Jacob Smyth

Compassion or Sympathy: Do we Have a Negative Bias Against Middle Aged Homeless Male Adults

This study looks to explore if the general public view homeless people with either sympathy or compassion as defined as feeling sorry for a human being under unfortunate circumstances but doing nothing to change it, whereas compassion is feeling sorry for a human being under unfortunate circumstances and doing something to change it. We plan to use pictures of homeless males of varying ages to determine which of these emotions, if any, can be seen in a sample group.

PSY 350

Nani Skaggs

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Charolene Somatis

Resilience in Youth: How At-risk Children Bounce Back

One of the most intriguing and optimistic psychology concepts is that of resiliency, the ability to “bounce back” in the face of adversity. In the past, psychologists have been confounded by how, in a population of at-risk youth, some of them go on to succeed in life in spite of their rough childhood while most of their counterparts struggle. This presentation will describe the theory of resilience in detail, the current body of literature that exists on the subject, and how it specifically applies to at-risk children and adolescents.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Nani Skaggs

P114

8:30 – 9 AM

Robert Tulloch

Short Term Mission Benefits for Pastor, Church, and the World

This project is based on the idea that the effects of short term missions on the pastor, the church, and the world are beneficial to all three. Multiple missionaries have written about the ill effects of a short term mission trips gone wrong. However, this paper will display that the psychological and spiritual effects on pastors, the communal benefits to the church, and God’s plan being turned in actuality, will far out weigh the negative. 

CM 499, Senior Capstone

Terry O’Casey

L203

10 – 10:30 AM

Amanda Vanderhoof

Marcus Aurelius: The Persecution of Christians Under a Stoic Emperor

I am exploring the question of why the persecution of Christians happened during a time when an enlightened emperor would have give peace. An apology for the Roman perspective and Marcus Aurelius’ actions.

HIST 499, Senior Capstone

Steve Goetz

L203

10:30 – 11 AM