2013 IUSB Undergraduate Research Conference

Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2022/20113

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The Education of Parents on Proper Bedsharing Techniques for Reduction of the Risk of SIDS
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-01-13) Carapia, Jennifer
Evidence based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach to delivering quality healthcare. Integration of best evidence from well-designed studies, patient care data and research combined with clinical expertise and patient values can improve the quality of care as well as patient outcomes. EBP begins with an inquiry that is either problem focused or knowledge focused. The PICOT question formulated focuses on the etiology of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and asks “Are babies who properly bedshare at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than those who do not?” The controversy over this debate is both delicate and multifaceted, making this a difficult topic to research and discuss. It requires an understanding of correct terminology, basic biologic necessities and cultural appreciation. The problem posed from my PICOT question stems from the concern that providers are not accurately assessing babies sleep habits and therefore not accurately providing important and essential education in order to promote a healthy sleep environment. Bedsharing is an important component from a biological standpoint. However the fear of SIDS and the recommendations regarding safe sleep from the AAP have had a damaging impact on proper bedsharing practices. Science has already determined that breastfeeding is protective against SIDS. Bottle fed babies are twice as likely to die of SIDS compared with breastfed babies. The “collective wisdom” surrounding this controversial topic remains conflicted due to the current AAP recommendations, however, best evidence illustrates that proper bedsharing is not a risk factor for SIDS, and may potentially decrease the risk of SIDS. Proper bedsharing promotes maternal/infant bonding which can lay a solid foundation for a healthy child. Educating parents on proper bedsharing in order to create a safe sleep environment and reducing the risk of SIDS without sacrificing maternal/child bonding must be executed and may be potentially lifesaving.
How teachers of an urban school corporation in the Midwest approach teaching multicultural democracy education in U.S. History classes
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-01-13) Ojutalayo, Ayo
Teaching history in the traditional way has always been criticized as making history boring and not challenging students’ critical thinking ability. Using the multicultural democracy model makes history more interesting to students. Students also graduate being more aware of their responsibilities in the society. Multicultural democracy is not the same thing as multicultural education. Multicultural education concerns itself with students knowing, appreciating and respecting the diverse cultures in our society, and their respective contributions to the society. Unlike multicultural education, multicultural democracy incorporates other forms of diversity in addition, including religious diversity, gender diversity, diversity in sexual orientation, and diversity in socioeconomic class. Available literatures indicate that teachers that use multicultural democracy model are motivated by personal interest in and history in activism. It is not common to see all the elements of multicultural democracy in a class. However, turning politically disengaged students into socially active citizens is an essential element that must be present in a multicultural democracy education. Qualitative methods were used to collect data separately from four (two male and two female) teachers using semi-structured interviews. Analysis of responses was done by coding the interview data. The following themes emerged during coding: there are time constraints in U.S. History classes therefore it is difficult to teach multicultural democracy education; multicultural democracy education is best taught in government classes and not in history classes; and when the school corporation does not dictate what is taught in the classroom, there is academic freedom. Even though some elements of multicultural democracy education takes place in all the four teachers’ classes, there was no indication of deliberative and critical pedagogies in the classrooms nor students’ social activism.
Disproportionate Representation of African Americans with Exceptionalities
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-01-13) Dixon, Lisa
The majority of school corporations across the nation have a disproportionate number of African American students with exceptionalities. Disproportionality means that a group within a category is being represented more or less than what would be expected from the proportions in the general population. Disproportionate in this case means there is a higher proportion of African American students in Special Education than there is in the general student population. The purpose of this study is to determine whether teacher attitudes or student self-sabotage play a role in the underrepresentation of African American students in Gifted/Talented programs and the overrepresentation of African American students in Special Education. Teachers completed surveys via Survey Monkey. The survey was not able to answer the question of why African Americans are overrepresented in Special Education and underrepresented in Gifted and Talented programs locally or nationally. This survey does not show a definitive answer to the question of whether African American students or their parents are choosing to not be included in Gifted and Talented programs or whether African American students are knowingly neglecting their education, however based on the teacher’s answers it appears that teachers feel that some students are choosing to avoid the G/T classes/curriculum/label. Also it appears many teachers feel G/T classes are not equally accessible to African American students and it seems that most teachers feel that attitude is crucial in both students and teachers in determining either G/T or special education.
Elementary Retention: Elementary Educators' Perception and Experience
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-01-13) Bisnauth, Angie; Cassella, Deborah; Schoof, Jennifer
Over the last century and a half, grade retention, a controversial intervention, has been used as a strategy to improve academic achievement with at-risk students. This study sought to learn about educators’ perceptions of grade retention and how different variables affect faculty members decisions in the retention process. In addition, it sought to find interventions used with at-risk students throughout the academic process. The design used for this research was non-experimental using both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. The data collection instrument was an on-line survey created by the research team using SurveyMonkey. The quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed that elementary educators employed in Northern Indiana public schools supported the use of student grade retention. The findings were in disagreement with results of previous studies.
DNAV: A WebGL Based Tool for Visualizing the Twists and Turns in the Human Genome
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-10) LeClair, Alexander; Wells, Jonathan; Nair, T. Murlidharan
The human genome is tightly folded to fit within the restricted space of the nucleus. One of the key goals in understanding the folding principles of DNA is to unravel the mysteries of how functional elements that are separated from each other are brought together. Long-range interactions between folded segments of chromosomes form complex three-dimensional networks and are fundamental in controlling gene expression. These long-range interactions have been observed using chromosome conformation capture (3C). This Hi-C data contains a wealth of information on the nearest-neighbor influence on the deviation of the DNA axis that can be modeled theoretically. We have developed a tool using WebGL to visualize the modeled structures.
To SAFMEDS or not to SAFMEDS? A student comapres two methods to learn vocabulary terms in an undergraduate course in applied behavior analysis
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-10-09) Baird, Joseph; Stein, Sorah
Key aspects of learning are acquisition and retention. Speed and accuracy, or together, fluency - the term used in Precision Teaching, can be measured as evidence of learning. (Stockwell& Eshleman, 2010). Say All Fast a Minute Every Day Shuffling (SAFMEDS) is a Precision Teaching tool especially used for behavioral fluency, in use since the 1970s when it was developed by Ogden Lindsley (Stockwell& Eshelman, 2010). SAFMEDS is used similarly to traditional flashcards. However, with SAFMEDS, unlike traditional flashcards, speed and accuracy are taken into account with a singular daily one-minute timing period rather than packing hours of study within varied intervals before test taking. These timings allow us to view the data in a methodical way. Precision Teaching is present in some of the empirical literature but there is not a large amount specifically on the effects of SAFMEDS (Fodrocy, Frieder, & Quigley 2013). Research shows there is a difference between groups using SAFMEDS cards and groups that are taught in a control, or “treatment-as-usual” category (Beverly, Hughes, & Hastings, 2009; Hughes, Beverly, & Whitehead, 2007). Other research shows general but significant trends in the positive effects of precision teaching techniques (Casey, McLaughlin, & Weber, 2003; Stump, Lovitt, & Fister, 1992). Some research considered the effects of different stimuli on the effectiveness of SAFMEDS, including but not limited to altering the look or style of the writing on SAFMEDS cards. Fodrocy (2013) studied the difference in fluency during the tests with the SAFMEDS cards between handwritten and pre-printed cards. Results demonstrated that changing the type of stimulus (handwritten vs. printed) initially decreased fluency, but fluent responding recovered and the decreasing effects lessened after multiple changes took place.
Arsenite Oxidase Genes from Alcaligenes faecalis to E.coli: Gateway Cloning
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-04-19) Compton, Ashley; Moseng, Mitchell; Mecklenburg, Kirk; Anderson, Gretchen L.
Using a Task Analysis to Increase Self-Monitoring of Academic Tasks in a Student With Autism
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-10-09) Barkes, Delainey; Stein, Sorah
Self-monitoring is defined as the observation of one’s behavior (Newman et al., 1997) and applying operant techniques to modify that behavior (Malott, 1989). The skill of self-monitoring is acquired and perfected with daily practice. One of the educational goals for individuals with autism is learning skills that will promote independence (Lovett & Haring, 1989; Rhode, Morgan, & Young 1983; Shreibman, 1988). A task analysis can be used to teach self-management and self-monitoring to the individual with autism by giving a set of steps to follow in order to complete an academic assignment. While a task analysis can be used in settings other than academics, for example laundry skills, using the task analysis for academic tasks such as reading comprehension for an online class can be a helpful reference point to learn the steps necessary to complete the online assignments correctly and successfully. In this study, a thirteen-year-old boy diagnosed with Autism learned to use a task analysis for completing his online reading comprehension assignments. Due to clicking to access the next part of the assignment without completing the reading selection and reading his answer choices, his scores for assignments were low and did not reflect his academic ability.
Alternate Means of Functional Assessment for Sexually Inappropriate Behavior
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-10-09) DePoy, Miranda; Stein, Sorah
Aside from traditional functional analysis methods (Iwata et al., 1994), antecedent analysis is a viable means of assessing the function of behavior (Carr & Durand, 1985; Stichter et al., 2009), especially when consequence-based assessment is not ideal. In these cases, antecedent analysis, assessing any reliable precursor or co-varying behaviors, and examining the environmental context in which the behavior occurs can provide the information needed to facilitate effective intervention. One method of assessing situations in which a behavior reliably occurs is antecedent analysis (Carr & Durand, 1985; Stichter et al., 2009). For example, Meyer (1999) conducted functional assessment of antecedent events, specifically looking at attention and difficulty of presented tasks as probable antecedents to target behavior. In another study, both descriptive and functional analyses were completed. Examining antecedent events suggested demand and attention as reliable antecedent events, while experimental functional analysis confirmed escape as the function (Mace & Belfiore, 1990). In the present study, the participant was fourteen- year old boy, with an Autism diagnosis exhibiting inappropriate sexual behavior. Antecedent analysis indicated two distinct topographies of sexual behavior, with distinct antecedents, and likely two distinct functions.
Generalization of Fine Motor Skills Developed via Precision Teaching
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-10-09) Moore, Jessi; Stein, Sorah
When working with children with autism, it is essential to teach the daily living skills necessary to help them achieve independence (Pierce & Schreibman, 1994). The "Big 6+6" are "basic fine motor movements that all individuals must have at regular performance rates if they are to be proficient at... self-help skills," (Desjardins, 1980, p2). Additionally, generalization provides natural maintaining contingencies for fine motor programs, though also requires active programing and effective techniques (Stokes and Baer, 1977). Considering this research, do fine motor skills learned via precision teaching spontaneously generalize into adaptive living skills?
Communication in a More Diverse Social Club: Organizational Analysis
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-04-19) Sheridan, Shelia C.
This paper is an organizational analysis of a non-profit social club in a suburban area of northern Indiana.
Effects of Cognition on Emotion Detection
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-04-19) Burkus, Stephanie
Test the hypothesis that those who are primed with a coherent pattern of the seasons will be better able to detect emotions, specifically, negative emotions.
Using Digital Evidence to Assess the Risk of Sexual Offending Against a Child
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-04-19) Kajzer, Mitchell D.
This study sought to expand on the relationship between the computer activities of contact child sexual offenders as opposed to non-contact child sexual offenders, seeking distinguishing characteristics between the two groups.
Interpreting Text Knowledge
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-04-19) Anastasio, Michelle
Report of a research project using interpretation of text messages to determine why differences exist in the methods in which Traditional and Non-Traditional students learn.
Elementary School Teachers Use of the iPad Across the Curriculum - Factors Influencing Utilization
(Indiana University South Bend, 2013-04-19) Timm, Sara
This study aims to describe how iPads are being used in elementary school classrooms and what factors, in terms of comfort level with technology and availability, influence the use of these devices.

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