499 Mentored Research

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https://mcstor.library.milligan.edu/handle/11558/39

Milligan’s RISE Above (Research Increases Student Engagement) program provides opportunities for students to participate in experiences of faculty-mentored research and creative expression. Many Milligan students already conduct research, perform on stage, exhibit original artwork, present at conferences, and publish written works. Milligan’s RISE Above program provides more opportunities for students to participate in these experiences of research and creative expression.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 59

Attitudes Towards Psilocybin: A General Population's Opinions on Psilocybin and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapies
(2024-06-24) Simounet, Madison McKenzie Huff
In recent years, psilocybin-assisted therapies (PAT) have displayed positive effects as a treatment for several different issues including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), smoking addiction, and anxiety. As more positive benefits of psilocybin are discovered, it’s becoming more likely that psilocybin could be utilized as a treatment option. Due to this possibility, it is important to understand what people think about psilocybin and PAT. The current qualitative and descriptive study set out with the intention of understanding the relationship demographic characteristics and attitudes towards psilocybin and psilocybin-assisted therapies. An anonymous Qualtrics survey was utilized to collect the data of 198 participants. Participants filled out various survey items inquiring about demographics, knowledge about psilocybin, previous experience with psychedelics, and attitudes towards PAT. Participants with prior knowledge about psilocybin and prior experience with psychedelics had more positive attitudes towards PAT. Males, democrats, atheists, those who are not disabled had more positive attitudes towards PAT as well. Participants that were sourced from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTURK) described more positive opinions of PAT as opposed to other sourcing cites. Attitudes towards PAT were relatively positive across the overall data set. These findings provide relevant information as to the groups that may benefit from further education on PAT and it’s benefits.
Effects of Childhood Emotional Maltreatment on Adulthood Relationships of Minority Women: A Qualitative Study
(2024-04-26) Aguirre, Suzanne; Browning, Christine
Childhood Emotional Maltreatment (CEM) , which encompasses both childhood abuse and childhood neglect, exerts various adverse effects on brain development and response to diverse situations, particularly in relationships. Drawing from Bowlby’s attachment theory, this study investigated how relationships may be jeopardized for individuals who endured maltreatment in childhood. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of CEM on adulthood relationships, specifically parental and romantic relationships. Through interviews, the emotion regulation and attachment patterns of four racial/ethnic minority women aged 20 to 27 in Appalachia were explored–all of whom experienced emotional maltreatment during childhood–to discern the roles these components play in their parental and romantic relationships. On average, participants scored 6 out of 10 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale. Qualitative research methods were utilized employing one-on-one, in-person, semi-structured interviews to collect data. Each interview lasted between 16 to 35 minutes, exploring how participants’ experiences of CEM have impacted or are impacting their parental and romantic relationships over their lifetimes. Six prominent themes emerged from the data: Inconsistent Parenting, Disconnect, Behaviors, Fears, Relationships, and Multiple ACEs. The data partially supported the prediction that participants who had experienced CEM may tend to remain in unhealthy relationships, exhibiting insecure attachment styles within relationships. Furthermore, the findings underscore the necessity for further research investigating the intersectional effects of trauma on minority women who were displaced from their home countries during childhood.
Planetary Music: The Depiction of the Cosmos in Concert and Film Repertoire
(2024-04-24) Kavanaugh, Esther; Brown, Dr. Kellie
Since ancient times, certain philosophers, scientists, and musicians have sought to unravel the mysterious relationship between music and the cosmos. This research paper presents a selected chronological survey of the relationship between music and celestial, interstellar, and otherworldly themes. It examines the many ways that composers depict these themes through their choices of instrumentation, harmonic structure, and symbolism. The Ancient Greeks explored a theory called musica mundana, which held that the mathematical relationship between celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars could create harmony. During the Middle Ages, Boethius and Hildegard von Bingen also examined this theory and further expanded ideas about music, science, and the cosmos. Later, the experimental spirit of the Twentieth Century fostered an exponential growth in composers depicting celestial themes through music in new and unique ways. The Planets, a multi-movement programmatic work written between 1914-1917 by Gustav Holst, serves as a quintessential example of a musical work in the concert repertoire that draws direct inspiration from space. The popularity of science fiction films throughout the Twentieth Century also presented exciting opportunities for composers to create scores to accompany stories of strange encounters with extraterrestrial life and space exploration. The musical language of three films are examined in detail: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951); 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). The film score analysis demonstrates that music plays a crucial role in the storytelling of these films through use of unique instrumentation, chromatic and dissonant harmonic tension, and as metaphor.
The Effects of Postpartum PTSD on Mother-Infant Bonding
(2024-04) Kelly, Madelyn; Browning, Christine
Bonding between mother and child is a key component of the first year of a child’s life. This is a sensitive period to develop a healthy attachment style. Mothers suffering from depression can struggle to regulate their emotions, which may have an impact on their child. A traumatic birth and post-partum depression can make mothers more withdrawn, stressed, and at risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during post-partum. While preventive measures are possible, many women still suffer from some PTSD symptoms after a highly stressful birth. . Three women were interviewed and asked to give their birth narrative with some including traumatic births. Women were interviewed and asked about their birth experience. Themes identified were high expectations regarding birth, strong external support from partner and family, difficulty bonding after difficult deliveries, negative experience with medical staff, and education and agency. The pregnancies were often anxiety-provoking as women had concern for their child’s well-being. Preparation and education were also a helpful tool to minimize negative emotions. A main deterrent of negative effects of traumatic births is external support. A strong support system may minimize the effects of post-partum depression and PTSD, which will support healthy bonding between mother and child.
Flying High: Water Rocket Telemetry
(2023-04) Kelly, Brandon; Cutshall, Daniel
Milligan Engineering utilizes water rockets at summer camps and for certain mechanical engineering classes to illustrate key principles of aerodynamics and get students excited about engineering. While the rockets perform admirably as a tool to drive interest and encourage further learning, there are two major pitfalls. The first is the lack of hard data available from launches, and the second is the lack of post-launch control. The current method of determining peak altitude consists of measuring the angle of the apotheosis (the highest point) of the launch from the roof of Emmanuel. This allows the manual calculation of the data using trigonometry. While acceptable for a rough estimate, this data is imprecise and limited in usefulness. Out-of-control launches also have the possibility to harm individuals or damage property. In order to solve these problems, a telemetry system has been devised. A pair of ESP32 microcontrollers are linked with a peer-to-peer network which allows for two-way communication. One of the ESP32 boards is placed inside the rocket along with an accelerometer and a barometric sensor, while the other ESP32 remains on the ground. The onboard ESP32 sends back the acceleration and altitude data, which is saved onto an SD card. This data link can also be used to deploy landing aids, such as a parachute, or recovery devices, such as a speaker. The data delivered by the telemetry system allows students to optimize their designs post-launch with brand-new information. Students can prepare for future launches by optimizing aerodynamics to reduce horizontal acceleration, adjusting the water load to balance initial mass and “burn time,” and varying nozzle diameter to change the thrust characteristics. This telemetry system provides students the ability to monitor rocket performance and learn how revisions made to the rocket can affect flight characteristics. This telemetry hardware provides the Engineering Department a powerful tool to teach iterative design and generate engineering enthusiasm.
Correlation Between Role Perception and Motivation in Team Athletics
(2022-11) Wright, Seth; Mills, Lori
The increase in the importance of sports and success has been widespread across the globe. A high value on performance and the role an individual plays has positively grown along with the importance of sports. This growth of sports has been even more profound at universities. Individuals are now at the center of attention for the success and performance of the team. This can create a difficult or anxious environment for athletes. Athletes can define themselves by their roles and positions on the team which can influence their performance negatively or positively. This research investigates an athlete's self-perceived level of motivation and role to determine an effect, if any, between role perception and motivation. A secondary investigation within the survey will examine if there is any interaction between the amount of play time (starter, impact player, or bench) and a self-reported desire to advance their role. A survey was created and distributed to Milligan University, Eastern Tennessee State University, and Tennessee Wesleyan University student-athletes.
The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Autonomy Support, and Academic Motivation among Students at Milligan University
(2023-04-13) Kennedy, Ashlynn; Abner, John Paul
There are many different factors that all coincide in their effects on students’ academic success. These factors include a student’s academic motivation, personal self-efficacy, as well as the autonomy support they receive from parents or guardians. These factors, as well as others, have been proven to have individual effects on students, but have yet to be correlated with one another. A survey was distributed amongst students at Milligan University, which included Vallerand’s Academic Motivation Scale (1992, 28 questions), the P-PASS, or Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale (2015, 24 questions), and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (2001, 8 questions). 67 students completed the survey, with 56 containing usable data. All data was organized under a 2-tailed T-test, and each scale was correlated with the others at the P < 0.01 level. This information grants a greater understanding of the effects of outside factors on the motivation behind a college student’s academic success, and will hopefully allow for further research on better ways to support students in their academic endeavors.
How Music Can Support Refugee Children During Resettlement
(2023-04) Mabus, Rebekah; Brown, Kellie
As of 2021, over 30 million people worldwide lived as refugees or asylum seekers having been torn away from their homes and normal lives by war, violence, natural disasters, or persecution. Upon arriving in a host country, these individuals face various resettlement challenges including a lack of resources, language barriers, and cultural disparities. Rather than giving in to despair, activists, educators, and refugees themselves can employ a critical hope framework to imagine a brighter future and to work towards its fulfillment. One way of building this new reality is through music. For young refugee students, music can not only provide a catalyst to education and language learning but may also aid in community formation by transcending barriers between them. For some students, music can also become an avenue through which they maintain complicated identities, build self-esteem, and release distressing emotions. These effects may be observed in various music classes around the world including at the Global Village Project where the author observed refugee minors from across Asia and Africa making music together. While group music sessions like these present a multitude of challenges, they also support young students through an often disorienting and painful migration experience.
Jesus Is a Black Woman: The Implications of Intersectionality on Christology
(2023-04) Mahaffey, Susan E.; Hoover, Heather M.
Oppressive Christologies have historically pervaded the Church, and even progressive ones, such as feminist and Black Christologies, have still furthered the exclusion and oppression of Black women. This research critically analyzes these oppressive perspectives and their history of the oppression of Black women. It also examines the more constructive Womanist Christology and the concept of intersectionality through contemporary writings from these perspectives. The research reveals that most Christological perspectives exclude the experiences of Black women, while Womanist Christology and intersectionality center Black women’s experiences. Overall, the latter perspectives provide a more holistic perspective on the person of Jesus by asserting that Jesus himself identifies with the most oppressed (i.e., Black women), which offers hope for the future of Jesus’ ideal justice and liberation. The research suggests that those who are privileged can adopt these perspectives by, like Jesus, identifying with the oppressed and working toward their liberation.
Perceptions of Law Enforcement According to Age, Race, and Gender
(2023-03) Griffin, Kelli; Abner, John Paul
In recent years, the public has become increasingly concerned with interactions regarding law enforcement. This growing concern has fostered the development of various studies in which participants provide their sentiments pertaining to police officers. The current study aimed to analyze the perspectives of both college students and the general public by utilizing an identical survey in two separate pools. Participants were tasked with selecting adjectives they believed best represented their perceptions of law enforcement. In addition to this, participants were also asked to provide a percentage of officers they believed represented a single adjective presented. In general, Milligan students viewed officers more positively as opposed to the general public. A significant difference was found between political party and perception of officers. The current study elucidates the attitudes of individuals from multiple backgrounds in an attempt to encourage empathy from the perspectives of civilians and law enforcement alike.
One Neighborhood: Unity and the Character of God in the Intercultural Churches of Baltimore, Maryland
(2023-02-15) Manear, Madeline; Hunt, Nikki
Baltimore is filled with racial and socioeconomic segregation that goes all the way back to the late 1800s. While the laws that previously allowed segregation have changed, the scars and pain they produce still negatively affect the city to this day. Intercultural churches in Baltimore were created to bring together diverse people groups in a place where unity could prevail. Through interviews, readings, and visits, I researched intercultural churches in Baltimore to prove that, while sometimes challenging to create and maintain, they ultimately express God’s ideal creation and provide unity in a city with powerful division. This research does not argue that every church in Baltimore should become an intercultural church; instead, this research emphasizes that intercultural churches must be more prevalent in the city, so that people can have the opportunity to experience intercultural ministry and the richness that flows from it. Through establishing a common memory and relationship building, the increased presence of intercultural churches in Baltimore City will uphold biblical expectations to promote personal growth and city-wide impact, and reveal a more complete image of the nature and character of God.
Addressing Post Secondary Mathematics Remediation: How to Encourage Students to Persist Despite Mathematical Deficiencies
(2022-12-07) Johnson, Alexandra; Dula, Mark
The United States job market is experiencing a shortage of mathematically qualified individuals to fill the gaps within the STEM job market. Without these individuals, the U.S. will not be able to support and keep up with the fast-paced technological advancements that have been displayed during the 21st century. The problem with the lack of mathematically inclined individuals displays its one of its root issues at the college level. There are not enough students in college taking mathematics courses at the postsecondary level, and therefore, there are not enough students earning mathematics degrees or being trained in mathematics skills. There can be many reasons for students not engaging in higher-level mathematics, ranging from mathematics anxiety to negative mathematics experiences. One of the reasons that affect students at the collegiate level is the nature of remedial mathematics courses that they are required to take. These courses can be demoralizing for students, and students have a difficult time connecting the mathematics that they are learning with their future careers. Students exit these courses discouraged and disinterested in mathematics. It is difficult to rewrite the mathematics history of students before they choose their major, and it is impossible to change the content that students are presented in remedial mathematics classes. What educators can do is determine how to motivate and encourage persistence among students inside of the remedial mathematics courses and instill an appreciation for the mathematics that they are being taught. This research is aimed at identifying factors inside of the classroom that affects the persistence and engagement of students in remedial mathematics classes. The questions that will be addressed in this study are: What factors inside the remedial mathematics classroom influence the engagement of students in the mathematics content? What factors inside the remedial mathematics classroom influence the persistence of students through remedial classes and onto more challenging mathematics courses?
Influence of Divine Images on Patriarchal Leadership in the Church
(2022-04) Dycus, Molly; Miller, Jeff
Patriarchal hierarchies hold a long history dating back to the earliest of biblical texts as the authors and biblical figures were influenced by the cultures around them. The foundations of Judaism and Christianity built on these oppressive ideals granted men the favor of power and control. Therefore, when describing the Deity who possesses omnipresent capabilities and reigns over all of creation, the images used typically were masculine ones. Furthermore, as the leadership for structures and institutions of Christianity have been developed, they continue to mirror the male God described. A broad view of leadership from Judaic rabbis to Catholic popes to evangelical pastors reveals that a large majority of those in positions of authority are male. My research focused on the central idea as articulated by Mary Daly that “if God is male, then male is God.” To expand on this idea, I reflected on questions about the origin of patriarchy in Christianity, and whether there are facets of the images unexplained due to language barriers as well as questions about how this has manifested into the religion of modern Western Christianity. Through the use of several pieces of literature researching similar questions, I discovered that without deconstructing colonized, Western Christianity, white men will continue to be the face of Christianity and will further pursue uplifting masculine divine images as a means of propagating that men are ordained to be leaders. The circulation of patriarchal theology continues to keep women out of leadership, which does not allow them to have a voice to seek change. Though modifications need to be made on the individual level about attitudes regarding women in leadership, the issue contains systemic roots.
Lay Down your Stones: A look into why Christians support the Death Penalty and the justifications for being against it.
(2022-04) Greene, Mary Elise; Miller, Jeff
This project explored the issue of the Death Penalty in America. Particularly, this study focused on why Christians are some of the largest proponents for the Death Penalty despite the foundations of our beliefs resting on the execution of our savior under the government. In this study, I looked at passages in the Bible that deal specifically with issues of capital punishment, such as the gospel texts about the woman in John 8, Pontius Pilate and Barabbas, and the crucifixion of Jesus. I looked at these passages through the lens of commentaries specifically from Christian church/Church of Christ publishing houses, to see what the Church, and specifically the movement that is my own heritage, has to say about capital punishment. In addition to this research, I also studied how the early church in Acts and the leaders of the Stone-Campbell movement approached the issue of state executions in contention with their faith. The foundational beliefs that Christians hold is that we have been saved through grace from death, though being guilty of sin and undeserving of life. However, that belief does not seem to stand true when it comes to extending the same grace and forgiveness towards others who sinned just like us. All throughout the Bible is a story of grace and forgiveness, a story that we as Christians should extend and share with others, even those who seem the most unlikely.
Origen: Platonism and the Preexistence of Souls in the Gospel of John
(2022) Konstantopoulos, Anna; Blackburn, Lee
Philosophy and religion have been at odds nearly as long as both have existed. There is a never ending tension between philosophy and religion, reason and faith. Many believe these categories are completely separated, with no need to use one with the other. Others believe reason is essential to faith, otherwise it is impossible to know what one really believes. Origen of Alexandria was one of these people. An early church father who was considered the father of biblical scholasticism, he is the perfect example of what it means to integrate philosophy with theology. But Origen was not a true Platonist, as many believe. He simply used Platonism as a means to interpret scripture more accurately, which can be seen in his Commentary on the Gospel according to John. This paper looks at both the historical and literary contexts and Origen’s Commentary on the Gospel of John to show that he was first and foremost a Christian who used his philosophical knowledge to find scriptural truths. It specifically focuses on the doctrine of the preexistence of souls and how his language surrounding it is misused as evidence of Platonism.
The Emotional Implications of Adopting a Drug Exposed Child
(2021-03-22) Gamble, Caroline; Abner, John Paul
Adopting children who were prenatally drug exposed may lead to stresses and concerns for adoptive parents. This qualitative research study examined the emotional implications of adopting a drug exposed child. This is a vastly under studied area. This study sought to create awareness of the emotional challenges of parenting drug exposed children. The study was conducted through semi-structured interview of three adoptive mothers. Analysis of the data revealed four overarching themes: developmental concerns for the child; change in home life and family relationships; the importance of resources; and the overall emotional impact of raising a drug exposed child. This research examines the role that each of these themes play in the emotional implications of adopting a drug exposed child. Findings may aid in the creation of appropriate training and interventions to promote emotionally healthy adoptive families of children who were prenatally drug exposed.
Effects of game-based learning on improvement of cognitive skills in elementary-aged children
(2021-04) Guerrero, Jasmine; Abner, John
The purpose of this study is to look at the impact of educational games upon children and how it affects their information retention and cognitive skills such as long-term memory as opposed to traditional lecture methods. The researcher devised two lessons that were equivalent (one through a game-method, one through the traditional learning method. There were two groups of students with two participants in each group.The groups proceeded to take a quiz immediately after the lessons were given and then again one week later. It was hypothesized that there would be a higher improvement of information retention when kids were given the game-based approach. There were no significant findings due to lack of sufficient resources.
Does This Bumper Sticker Make Me Look Reckless? Stereotypes About Driving Ability Based on Perceived Gender
(2021-04-28) Helton, Lydia; Drinnon, Joy
Driving has traditionally been viewed as a masculine activity, producing gender stereotypes in driving. Pravossoudovitch et al. (2015) found males were rated higher in driving skills, but females were rated higher in courtesy, risk avoidance, and law compliance. The present study attempted to analyze implicit stereotypes by examining participants’ perceptions of drivers based on gendered bumper stickers. Two hundred Amazon Mechanical Turk workers viewed a car with masculine, feminine, or neutral bumper stickers and rated the driver on law compliance, courtesy, risk avoidance, and driving skills. We hypothesized that participants would be more likely to perceive drivers with masculine bumper stickers as more reckless than drivers with feminine bumper stickers. We found significant differences between male and female drivers in risk avoidance, t(198) = -2.64, p = .009, with female drivers (M = 20.31, SD = 4.07) rated higher than males (M = 18.84, SD = 3.54). Significant interactions were found between the participants’ gender and the driver’s perceived gender in law compliance (p = .02), risk avoidance (p = .04), and courtesy (p = .05). Perceptions of drivers were also affected by participants’ reported number of traffic violations, suggesting gender stereotypes are not the only factor in risk perceptions.
College Student Peer Perceptions of Alcohol Use Amid Alcohol Use Policy Changes
(2021-05-01) Terrell, Alexis; Drinnon, Joy
Many colleges, particularly religious-affiliated institutions, establish alcohol policies in order to protect students from the negative effects and consequences of alcohol use. Milligan University is a small CCCU* affiliated university in the Southern United States. In 2020, the school decided to change their student alcohol policy. The original policy ensured that Milligan students did not drink regardless of their age, while they were enrolled at Milligan. The new policy allowed students of legal drinking age to drink when they were off-campus. Using an anonymous survey of 207 students enrolled in Milligan’s undergraduate or graduate programs, this study sought to answer the question, “Has this change in alcohol policy had an effect on the use of alcohol by Milligan students?” It was hypothesized that a more permissible alcohol policy would be correlated with an increased peer perception of alcohol use associated with increased drinking among Milligan students. While students did not perceive any increases in their own drinking or those of their peers at a significant level, the relationships between student drinking and peer (friend/roommate) drinking was found to be significant for the Milligan students.
Comercios entre los Estados Unidos y países qué hablan espanõl
(2021-04) Corcoran, Austin; Martin, Allysha
El comercio es una parte importante a economía de un país. Representa y demuestra la compatibilidad y las relaciones entre países, lo que cambia, lo que es intercambio primerio de bienes y el impacto que tiene para el producto interior bruto entre los países. Voy a investigar a los Estados Unidos que tiene relaciones comerciales con muchos países de diferentes continentes como Bolivia en América del Sur, el Caribe, la República Dominicana, en Europa, España y su país limítrofe de México. Cada país tiene un fuerza y debilidad diferente. Tiene que haber una indicación de ventaja comparativa presente entre los países y Estados Unidos para tener un comercio efectivo. Ventaja comparativa explica que un país que tienen más recursos y las provisiones, pero necesita un pequeño país ser más eficiente.

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