Volume 2: 2021
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Editor's Introduction: At The University of Tampa, it is our mission to give students the opportunity to actively participate in scholarly work through structured courses that may spark the process of exploration and experimentation. We believe that incorporating inquiry-based education into our curriculum will provide students with meaningful learning experiences and a deeper appreciation for their discipline. This was especially true during the Spring of 2021, when students enrolled in WRI 376: Advanced Publication Practicum came together to manifest our mission and create the journal you are reading today.
In our second volume of Q, we are proud to be able to highlight exemplary student inquiry-based scholarship being produced in our courses. Our subject matter ranges from compelling research proposals, to scientific manuscripts, to art and media analysis, to research presented and completed in Spanish. What brings our journal together is far greater than merely exceeding expectations on an assignment, but rather knowing that your contribution if of value to and beyond the UT community. We celebrate the accomplishments of these students while wishing them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Q would also like to thank the professors who continue to implement our mission every day, and the students who helped bring this edition together.
Dimitra Theodosiadis
Editor in Chief
B.S. Biology
The University of Tampa
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Recent Submissions
Item Front Matter for Q: Journal of Undergraduate Research & Inquiry, Volume 2, Spring 2021(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Theodosiadis, Dimitra, Editor in Chief; Borjas, Iovanna, Student Editorial Staff; Landau, Taylor, Student Editorial Staff; Lazansky, Rebecca, Student Editorial Staff; Miranda, Tatiana, Student Editorial Staff; Rodriguez Rivera, Celina, Student Editorial Staff; Sabol, Katherine, Student Editorial Staff; Sperry, Maggie, Student Editorial StaffItem Editor's Introduction(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Theodosiadis, DimitraItem Research Proposal: Effects of Maternal Cortisol on Embryonic Neural Development(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Strzelinski, Hannah; Osovitz, Dr. MichelleExpectant mothers who experience periods of increased stress exhibit elevated expression of cortisol, a hormone that binds to glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus. Excessive exposure to cortisol can cause damage to glucocorticoid receptors and signal for the downregulation of glucocorticoid receptors – a process which handicaps future recognition of cortisol concentrations as well as the negative feedback loop responsible for regulating cortisol production. Placental transmission of maternal cortisol results in embryonic abnormalities pertaining to brain morphology, psychology, and various cardiovascular and metabolic functions. In this research proposal the expectant model organisms, rats, are given daily injections of 0 (saline), 0.5, or 1.0 mg of hydrocortisone acetate during days 15-19 of embryonic development to mimic periods of increased maternal stress and induce decreased glucocorticoid receptor density in the offspring. Following birthing, the pups are fixed and samples of hippocampal tissue are harvested for the application of a fluorescent antibody that facilitates visualization of glucocorticoid receptors and the subsequent quantification of optical density – a value that is predicted to be inversely proportional to the concentration of hydrocortisone acetate treatments. This essay was written in Dr. Osovitz class.Item The Effects of Voice Familiarity on Attention and Memory During the Dichotic Listening Test(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) England, Marina; Blessing, Dr. StephenThis research proposal investigates the effect of the presence of a familiar voice on memory in the context of a dichotic listening test. In this proposed study, 10 undergraduate students attending The University of Tampa will be instructed to recall phrases spoken by either an arbitrary speaker or a familiar celebrity. The number of words recalled between conditions will be compared using a paired-samples t-test. If the results support my hypothesis, the t-test will show a significant difference between the means of each condition. This will provide evidence towards the claim that an increased familiarity of voice may lead to higher auditory memory recall. If the results do not support my hypothesis, the t-test will not show a significant difference between words recalled in either condition. Overall, the study will provide more insight on the relationship between celebrity voice familiarity and performance on a recall task in young adults. This essay was written in Dr. Blessing’s PSY 425 class.Item Prevalence of Concussions in Student Athletes During Contact Sports(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Naegle, Sydney; Cassidy, Hailey; Wahba, Sam; Benrey, Samantha; Loi, Dr. AguadoConcussions are a concern among athletes as research continues to surface about negative health impacts. Collegiate athletes have a high prevalence of concussions due to the nature of their respective sports. The aim of this study was to understand the prevalence of concussions among The University of Tampa (UT) athletes. A cross-sectional survey was sent to UT student athletes regarding their concussion history. The results were analyzed in SPSS, a statistical analysis software program. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to determine the prevalence rate of concussions and other relationships including health of diet, severity of symptoms, gender, rehabilitation habits, and sleep. Data from 22 UT student athletes was collected. Analysis identified a 22.7% prevalence rate of concussions in UT athletes. Men’s lacrosse had a 69% prevalence rate whereas women’s soccer had a 30% prevalence rate. This study showed prevalence rate of concussions among student athletes at UT. Several findings coincide with previous literature about the role of gender in concussion reporting. Some limitations did affect this study such as unequal variation in the gender responses. Understanding how mTBI affects collegiate athletes will aid in future preventative measures and help decrease further debilitating injury in those affected by concussions. A larger sample population should be studied to further increase the validity of results. This essay was written in Dr. Aguado Loi’s HSC 360 class.Item The Role of Personality Traits in Predicting Intimate Partner Aggression within Romantic Relationships(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Mandatori, Flavia; Hardin, Dr. DelethaThe purpose of this literature review was to examine the relationship between personality traits and intimate partner aggression within romantic relationships. Specifically, this study focused on the role of the Big Five, borderline personality traits, and psychopathic traits to explain aggressive behavior within romantic relationships. Extant scholarships emphasize the significant relationship between personality traits and intimate partner aggression. In particular, neuroticism was strongly correlated with psychological aggression for both men and women. Furthermore, borderline personality features, especially the trait anger, played a significant role in predicting intimate partner aggression. Psychopathic traits were also strong predictors of violent and aggressive behavior towards an intimate partner. The current findings highlight the importance of gaining a better understanding of the role of personality traits on individual behavior, as to identify the etiologies of aggressive behaviors and develop effective treatment and prevention strategies. This essay was written in Dr. Deletha Hardin’s PSY 319 class.Item El Impacto de Machismo en la Voluntad de Aceptar Tratamiento(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Bernabe, Alyssa; Bryant, Jasmine; Giordano, Brianna; Owens, Arianna; Miller, Dr. AlyssiaThis study examined the relationship of machismo scores and the willingness of people in Hispanic/Latino communities to accept medical treatment. Participants were asked to complete a survey asking them many questions about cultural ideals and medical-care habits to assign them a machismo score. Ethnicity was not related to higher machismo scores. Men across all cultures had higher machismo scores than women across all cultures. A relationship was found between machismo score and pain threshold necessary to take medication, but could not be correlated with any specific ethnicity. The results of this study are likely a result of the fact that many of the participants were born in America or lived in the United States for many years and had adapted to the culture to a point where machismo wasn’t a major factor. This essay was written for Prof. Miller’s SPA 251 class.Item Las Influencias Culturales de los Hábitos de Fumar(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Manno, Sarah; Miller, Jarred; DePamphilis, Gian; Miller, Dr. AlyssiaThe sudden emergence of vaping has recently revived a safety outreach to further expand knowledge of how detrimental such products can be to one’s health. Both cigarette smoking and vaping are activities that continue to bolster the argument against tobacco products. While tobacco preference around the world is varied, it is important to examine this habit from culture to culture. The prevalence of tobacco use at a young age is one of the parallels between American and Hispanic culture. Vaping products are often utilized by the American youth, while cigarette smoking is an ordinary activity for young Hispanics and Latinos. This raises a question in regard to what factors may influence the willingness of young Latinos to vape. To investigate this further, the research team conducted a Qualtrics survey (offered in both Spanish and English), aimed at people 18 to 25 years old of Latino, Hispanic, or Caucasian descent. Participants were asked a multitude of questions surrounding vaping, which were modeled from the NHIS questionnaire. Following data collection, the statistics were computed and analyzed through ANOVA and t-testing software. The tests did not exhibit any correlation between American acculturation and the likelihood of vaping; however, a correlation was found between one’s probability of vaping and social use. The most influential factor was deemed to be familial influences, represented with the most statistically significant p-value. No correlation was found between the level of American acculturation and the level of development within a country. This essay was written in Professor Miller’s SPA 251 class.Item Los Efectos del Machismo en la Salud Mental(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Bono, Jaclyn; Goldizen, Miranda; Miller, Dr. AlyssiaMachismo is the general term used by Latin American cultures to describe the expectation for masculinity in men. Some characteristics of a traditional man include reserved emotions, an active sexual life, and portraying dominance over women. This meta-analysis explores the relationship between machismo and mental health in men. We found that the majority of studies support that machismo has a negative effect on mental health. The negative effects include stress, depression, anxiety, violence, self-esteem issues, substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, aggression, and decreased sexual comfort. The studies did not conclude that there was a relationship between the level of machismo and nationality. It is important to know everyone’s culture, beliefs, and background because it affects their physical and mental health. This essay was written in Professor Miller’s SPA 251 class.Item The Impact of Remote Learning on Higher Education Spanish Students and their Motivation to Learn at The University of Tampa(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Counahan, Ashley; DeMil, Dr. AndrewThis study seeks to investigate the impact of remote learning on higher education Spanish students and their motivation to learn at The University of Tampa. Its focus is to determine how a sudden increase in virtual-learning environments affected language learners at a collegiate level during the global pandemic. Previous studies have shown that the use of technology in language classes has been viewed as both positive and negative, depending upon the learning environment and delivery method of course content (González-Carriedo & Esprívalo Harrell, 2018). This study also examines how course content can be adjusted with the use of technology in future semesters to benefit students’ motivation and progress with the Spanish language and culture. This essay was written in Dr. DeMil’s SPA 499 class.Item Musician Merchandise in the Age of Digital Music(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Nallan, Kaylee; Hovanec, Dr. CarolineThis research acknowledges the shift in music sales from physical CDs and records to online digital streaming that resulted in a loss of sales for musicians. Merchandise has become a lucrative option for musicians to replace revenue lost from physical music sales. This paper asks if it is necessary for musicians to act as entrepreneurs in order to be successful in the modern music industry, with an emphasis on merchandise. To answer this question, the paper analyzes what merchandise is; how it is sold, such as pop-up shops and online distributors; merchandise’s appeal to fans; revenue generated from merchandise; issues with merchandise; and successful artists who have used the entrepreneurial method of selling merchandise to increase success and popularity. This paper shows that our culture is used to thinking of musicians as artists who are separate from the world of business. However, in the age of digital streaming, social media, and merchandise pop-up shops, musicians must now be entrepreneurs as well, if they are going to be successful. When musicians adapt to the model of entrepreneurship for musical success, they can effectively create a brand for themselves, connect and expand fan bases, and use merchandise bundling techniques to help with charting success. This essay was written in Dr. Hovanec’s AWR 201 class.Item Pulling the Tag Off of “One Size Fit All”(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Christopher, Meghan; Li, Dr. MinjieThis research paper analyzes the current branding of the clothing company Brandy Melville. Brandy Melville clothing utilizes the concept of “One Size Fit All” which can be damaging to the mental health of the target audience of young women. This research paper delves into the possible ways Brandy Melville could rebrand and become body positive to be more inclusive to all sizes. This paper was written for Dr. Minjie’s COM 388 class.Item The Study of Feminist Approach: Degas’s Depiction of the Dark and Daunting Life of Ballet Dancers(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Kleinknecht, Grace; Trentinella, Dr. RosemarieThis essay, written in Methodology of Art Historical Research led by Professor Trentinella, examines the profound artist Edgar Degas. Degas was most known for his artwork involving ballet dancers. His art not only highlights the beauty and grace these dancers encompass but also subtly brings awareness and understanding of the horrid lives many of these dancers faced. My essay examines the feminist theory through a female-dominated workforce and male-dominated consumers, while also studying Marxist ideas between the different classes present during this time and how the distinction between classes that were on stage or in the audience contributed to exploitation and prostitution.Item Applying a Marxist Perspective to Giotto(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Novakovic, Daniella; Trentinella, Dr. RosemarieThe following research exploration investigates the relationship between Giotto’s work in the heart of the Arena Chapel and the individual who commissioned it, Enrico Scrovegni. Accused of being a usurer, Scrovegni commissioned the Arena Chapel in the hopes of gaining clemency for his dubiously acquired wealth, as usury had been a sin commensurate with the betrayal of Christ in medieval Europe. This is emphasized in the depiction of Scrovegni in Last Judgment, where Scrovegni emblematically presents a miniature of the Chapel to the Virgin Mary, who is regarded as the intercessor of forgiveness through her son Jesus Christ in Catholic Mariology. By using his wealth to influence the intent of Giotto’s artwork – not only to inspire respect amongst his peers, but for the purpose of salvation through the Virgin Mother – Scrovegni has licensed art historians to study his involvement in the Arena Chapel through the retroactive lens of Marxism, a concept chiefly concerned with monetary and social principles. This essay was written in Dr. Rosemarie Trentinella’s ART 225 class.Item Everyday Nationalism: The Easter Rising of 1916 and the Making of Modern Irish Independence(Keyhole Press, The University of Tampa, 2021) Ingram, Julia; Palmer, Dr. AshleyIn 1916, a group of Irish nationalists known as the Irish Volunteers rose up against British rule in a weeklong rebellion that became known as the Easter Rising. The Irish Volunteers were ultimately crushed by the British military and failed to establish an independent Irish republican government. However, the Easter Rising encouraged a heightened sense of nationalism among everyday people which led to the popularization of the Irish independence movement culminating in the Irish Free State in 1922. This paper addresses how the nationalist organizations and the Catholic Church strategically framed the Easter Rising to garner public support and consequently, how the public internalized the nationalistic fervor in their personal letters and diaries. This essay was written in Dr. Palmer’s HIS 400 class.