17th-Annual Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference

th
17 Annual
Blue Ridge
Undergraduate Research
Conference
March 26-27, 2010

Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, KY
Table of Contents
Welcome and Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................
History of the Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference ………………………………….
Brief Biography of the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Mark Harvey………….……………………………
Conference Schedule .........................................................................................................................
Session Schedule................................................................................................................................
Abstracts ............................................................................................................................................
Welcome and Acknowledgements
I want to extend a warm welcome to all participants in the Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference. The
Conference provides an opportunity for students at colleges and universities in the Appalachian College Association to
present their research in a supportive, open environment. For many students, it is a first conference experience. The
research that will be presented during the next two days represents a significant investment of time and energy by both
students and their faculty advisors. Congratulations to all of you for making the commitment to participate in
undergraduate research initiatives at your campuses.
The 2010 BRURC includes both oral presentations and posters of undergraduate research. The posters will be displayed
on the first floor of Fugitte Science Center. The schedule for presentations is included in the program. Student researchers
will also be asked to go to Fugitte 127 for a brief interview after their presentations. The interviews will be posted on the
conference website. There will also be a conference blog posted on the conference site (www.lindsey.edu, Academics,
BRURC).
We want to express appreciation to Dr. Mark Harvey from UNC-Asheville for agreeing to be the keynote speaker for the
conference
This year’s conference has been made possible by the work of many people. Thanks go to the members of the BRURC
Steering Committee which was formed last year with the support of the ACA. Members include Dr. Melinda Dukes
(Tusculum College), Dr. Brian Pope (Tusculum College), Dr. Tom Harlow (Tusculum College), Dr. Bettie Starr (Lindsey
Wilson College), Dr. Kerry Towler (Tennessee Wesleyan College), and Dr. Rubye W. Beck (Milligan College). Thanks
also to Duane Bonifer and his staff for interviewing conference participants.
Finally, special thanks to Jennifer Cundiff, the administrative assistant and manager of the Academic Affairs Office at
Lindsey Wilson. The conference would not have come together without her hard work and dedication over the past
months.
Please take time at the end of the conference to fill out the conference evaluation. We hope to improve the conference
each year but we need your help to do that.
Again, thanks for being with us at the conference this year. We hope to see you next at year’s conference.
Bettie C. Starr
Vice President for Academic Affairs

History of the Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference
Originally called the Southeastern Undergraduate Research Conference, the Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research
Conference is committed to providing a forum for southern Appalachian students to present the results to their research in
a convenient and interesting setting.
1993, 1994 King College, Bristol, TN
1995 Milligan College, Milligan, TN
1996 Tenth National Conference on Undergraduate Research

University of North Carolina, Asheville, NC
1997 Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, TN
1998 King College, Bristol, TN
1999 Lee University, Cleveland, TN
2000 Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, TN
2001, 2002 Maryville College, Maryville, TN
2003, 2004 Milligan College, Milligan, TN
2005, 2006 King College, Bristol, TN
2007, 2008 Tusculum College, Greeneville, TN
2009, 2010 Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, KY
Lindsey Wilson College, on the behalf of the member colleges, expresses thanks to all of those whose research,
advisement of the student researchers, and academic and structural input have made this conference a permanent part of
the southern Appalachian educational experience.
BRURC, March 26, 2010 at Lindsey Wilson College
Keynote Speaker
Mark Harvey
Dr. Mark Harvey is Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of Undergraduate Research at University of
North Carolina-Asheville. Dr. Harvey earned his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Iowa and his MS
and PhD in Social Psychology from Colorado State University. He has taught a number of courses at UNCA
including General Psychology: Brain & Behavior, Research Methods I & II, Social Psychology, Environmental
Psychology, and Humanities: The Ancient World. Dr. Harvey is on the Board of Directors of the National
Conference on Undergraduate Research and has helped direct the Appalachian College Association-UNC
Asheville Undergraduate Research Partnership to support undergraduate research in the arts and humanities.
His research and professional interests are informal science learning and environmental psychology.
Conference Schedule
Friday, March 26
(All times Central)
11:30 – 2:00pm Registration ...................................................Hodge Discipleship Center Lobby

1:00 – 1:45pm Opening Session....................................................... Hodge Discipleship Center
Welcome ..................................................................Dr. William T. Luckey, Jr.,
President, Lindsey Wilson College
Speaker Introduction............................................................ Dr. Bettie C. Starr,
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Lindsey Wilson College
Keynote Speaker ................................................................... Dr. Mark Harvey,
Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of Undergraduate Research,
University of North Carolina-Asheville (NC)
2:00 – 5:15 pm Registration .................................................................. Fugitte Basement Lobby
2:15 – 3:30 pm Presentation Session I .................................................... Fugitte 131, 118 & 119
3:30 – 3:45 pm Break ............................................................................ Fugitte Basement Lobby
3:45 – 5:00 pm Presentation Session II........................................... Fugitte 106, 118, 119 & 131
5:00 – 6:00 pm Poster Session & Graduate School Fair ....................... Fugitte Basement Lobby
6:00 – 7:30 pm Dinner & Graduate School Panel...................................Cranmer Dining Center
7:30 pm Student Social ................................................ Stir Fry Band, Slider Recital Hall
Saturday, March 27
(All times Central)
7:30 – 10:00 am Registration ..................................................Hodge Discipleship Center Lobby

8:00 – 9:15 am Presentations Session III ................................................ Fugitte 131, 118 & 119
9:30 – 11:00 am Presentation Session IV ......................................... Fugitte 106, 118, 119 & 131
11:15 – 12:00 am Announcement of the BRURC Award for Outstanding Research..........Hodge
Session Schedule at a Glance
Friday, March 26, 2010
Conference Judges: Dr. Mark McKinnon, Lindsey Wilson College

Dr. Greg Phelps, Lindsey Wilson College
Dr. Erin Wais Hennen, Lindsey Wilson College
2:15-3:30 pm Presentation Session I
Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 118

Moderator..................................................... Dr. J. Kevin DeFord, King College
Personality Differences Between Distance Runners and Sprinters

Daniel Hamilton, King College
Dieting and Desire for Weight Loss in Adolescents

Felicia Campbell, King College
As Age Increases, Does the Importance for Looks in a Potential Romantic Partner
Decrease?
Rebekah Davis, King College
English................................................................................................... Fugitte 119

Moderator............................................ Mr. Jared Odd, Lindsey Wilson College
*Presentation Judged for BRURC Award
*Writing Center or Dry Cleaner? Perspectives on Writing Centers

Hannah Ryann Allen, Lindsey Wilson College
*Who’s Got the Beat?

Jeffrey Taylor, Maryville College
*Then You Will Know the Truth, and the Truth Will Set you Free” Blindness and Self-
Protection in the Oedipus, Tragedies and the Self-Protection of the Visually Impaired
Adria Nassim, Brescia University

Moderator..........................................Dr. Brian Hilker, Lindsey Wilson College
Does the Mass Media of Today’s Society Effect How We Perceive Ourselves?
Jena Rickard, King College
Is Life Really Better Blonde?

Kara Proffitt, Lindsey Wilson College
The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Personality

April Williams, King College
3:45-5:00 pm Presentation Session II
History................................................................................................... Fugitte 118

Moderator....................................Dr. Melinda Senters, Lindsey Wilson College
*The Indian Politician: John Ross and His Tactics to Prevent Cherokee Removal
Casey Cannon, Lindsey Wilson College
*Legitimizing Farm Work: The Change in the Definition of Domestic Work

Amber Collins, Tusculum College
*James Madison – Man of the Common Good

Allison Downs, Lindsey Wilson College

Moderator.......................................................Dr. J. Kevin Deford, King College
School Uniforms & Academic Success

Laura Sanders Blevins, King College
Investigating the Correlation Between Body Mass Index, and Self-Esteem, Authentic
Happiness, Satisfaction in Life, Relationships, and Body Esteem
Aubrey Gordon, King College
Measuring the Loss of Touch Sensitivity in Stroke Patients

Lindsey McKay, King College

Moderator..........................................Dr. Brian Hilker, Lindsey Wilson College
Preparation for Family and its Effects on Career

Kaitlyn Musick, King College
Can Music Influence Your Distance Run?

Derek Brown, Lindsey Wilson College
The Effects of Movement on Stress

Victoria Philbeck, King College

Moderator.......................................Dr. Bettie C. Starr, Lindsey Wilson College
Reducing Stress Through Physical Exercise

Amanda Rae Davis, King College
Loneliness and Alcohol Abuse

Ih Jay Shim, King College
Does Author Gender and Topic Affect Perceived Quality of Writing?

Kara Feese, Lindsey Wilson College
5:00 – 6:00 pm Poster Session & Graduate School Fair.................Fugitte Basement Lobby
*Poster Judged for BRURC Award
Benefitting Homeplace on Green River

Jacob Ilg, Lindsey Wilson College
*Colonial America 1607-1750

Shana Bowen and Marcus Caesar, Lindsey Wilson College
*Depression and Avoidance of Positive Stimuli: An Eye-Tracking Study

Marianne Hall, Marilyn Bloodworth, and Esther Jaynese Thornton, Lee University
Saturday, March 27, 2010
8:00 – 9:30am Presentations Session III
Biology................................................................................................... Fugitte 118

Moderator............................... Dr. Melissa P. Clauson, Lindsey Wilson College
*Synthetic Lethal Screen for Interacting Mutants of the SQS1 Gene of Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
Samuel Asante, Aaron Ballou, Tara Bangtson, Megan Huckaby, Brittany Taylor,
*Antibiotic Resistance Analysis as a Method of Tracking Fecal Contamination in Norris

Reservoir, TN
Shelby Kirkpatrick, Lincoln Memorial University
Effects of Low Impact Outdoor Activity on Stress

David Bevins, King College

Moderator........................ Dr. Ronald Thornton, Lincoln Memorial University
The Influence of Spirituality or Religiosity on Death Anxiety in College Students

Kristin Mayes, Lincoln Memorial University
Gender Differences Among Anxiety Sensitivity, Heart Rate, and Coping with Humor
Cayla Lewis, King College
Odor Memory Recall

Amanda Rae Davis, King College

Moderator............................ Dr. Christy Cowan, Lincoln Memorial University
What Color is Taste? Color’s Effect on Taste Perception

Hannah Sergent, Lincoln Memorial University
Gender Differences in Stress and Coping
Emily Light, King College
Effect of Time of the Day on Athletic Performance

Agnieszka Wojtowicz, Lindsey Wilson College
Hostile and Non-hostile Priming

Derek Morrow, Lindsey Wilson College
9:45 – 11:00am Presentation Session IV
Psychology/Natural Sciences............................................................... Fugitte 118

Moderator........................ Dr. Ronald Thornton, Lincoln Memorial University
*The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Perceived Family Support

Brittany Hall, King College
*Sex Differences in Mate Selection Preferences

Craig McCargo, King College
*Who’s Faster? A Study of Reaction Times

Matthew Pennington, King College

Moderator..................................................... Dr. J. Kevin DeFord, King College
Musical Distractions Hindering Memory Recollection

Stephanie Parsley, King College
Actual Helping Behaviors: Women vs. Men

Zandra Nicely, Lincoln Memorial University
Test Anxiety Reduction Through General Education Courses

Shanna Kellum, King College
Psychology/Social Science ................................................................... Fugitte 106

Moderator............................ Dr. Christy Cowan, Lincoln Memorial University
Superstitions of the Appalachian Area

Heather Smith, Lincoln Memorial University
The Impact of Student Engagement & Self-Esteem on Academic Performance: A Look

Into The World of Colleges and Students
Christina Tidman, King College
Music and Grades

Lindsay Delmoral, Tennessee Wesleyan College
Art/Psychology.......................................................................................Fugitte 131
Moderator......................................... Ms. Lori Sargent, Lindsey Wilson College
Research Applications Benefitting Homeplace on Green River

Sandy Moore, Lindsey Wilson College
An Analysis of Purposes for Various Photographic Compositions

Amy Crockett, Lindsey Wilson College
Student Satisfaction with King College and Students Grade Point Averages
Rachael Cook, King College
A Sight Unseen: Perception, Body, Image, and Acuity of Eating Disorders

Jeff Creely and Stephanie Coleman, Lee University
ABSTRACTS
Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference

March 26, 2010
*Abstracts have been reproduced exactly as they were received.

Hannah Ryann Allen

Lindsey Wilson College Faculty Advisor, Dr. Kate Warrington
Writing Center or Dry Cleaner? Perspectives on Writing Centers
While a relatively new introduction to the collegiate world, writing centers are now a part of many
college campuses nationwide. Even so, students, teachers, and tutors all have varying perspectives on
what the purposes of writing centers are. All of these individuals play a huge role in defining the goals of
the writing centers, determining what kind of material is worked on in the writing centers, and
establishing the credibility of the writing centers. When these different perspectives clash, it can cause
communication issues between professors and the writing centers to arise, it can cause the writing centers
to lose credibility, and it can result in mistrust of the writing centers on the student’s part. Working with
so many different perspectives on what a writing center should do and how tutors should conduct
sessions presents many challenges that must be overcome. With improved communication between these
three groups, writing centers can provide better services to students and possibly shed the misconceptions
and preconceived notions that students bring to the writing center, in addition to showing teachers that
writing centers are a useful service to students if utilized in the correct, most beneficial ways.
Samuel Asante
Aaron Ballou
Tara Bangtson
Megan Huckaby
Brittany Taylor
Lindsey Wilson College Faculty Advisor, Dr. Melissa P. Clauson
Synthetic Lethal Screen for Interacting Mutants of the SQS1 Gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
The SQS1 gene (Squelching of Splicing suppression gene) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces a gene
product involved in RNA processing of both rRNA (ribosomal ribonucleic acid) and mRNA (messenger
ribonucleic acid) and is non-essential. mRNA processing involves the removal of introns (intervening
RNA sequences) with the splicing together of exon RNA to produce a mature RNA that once capped and
polyadenylated may be transferred to the cytoplasm of a cell for translation into protein. Splicing of pre-
mRNAs is conducted in a large ribonuclearprotein complex called a splicesome. A synthetic lethal screen
has been undertaken to isolate interacting factors of the Sqs1p polypeptide. A synthetic lethal screen uses
a color sectoring assay to identify interacting factors of known gene products. Currently, isolation of
non-sectoring yeast colonies representing strains containing mutations in genes whose products are
possible RNA processing factors is underway.
David Bevins
King College Faculty Advisor, Dr. J. Kevin Deford
Effects of Low Impact Outdoor Activity on Stress
The effects of low impact, outdoor activity were observed on a sample from the population of King
College undergraduate students. Using a pre and post test design and gathering survey data, heart rate,
and blood pressure, the stress levels of the individuals were measured. Once these measurements were
taken, the pre-activity stress levels were compared with the post-activity stress levels as a means of
evaluating the effect of low impact outdoor activity. The statistical analysis comparing the multiple stress
level measurements showed a significant effect on the levels of physical exertion and consequently stress.
Laura Sanders Blevins

School Uniforms and Academic Achievement
The purpose of this research was to measure how parents feel about the impact of school uniforms upon
their child’s academic achievement. A random sample of parents from local public and private schools
were asked to complete a survey. The survey consisted of 15 questions and encompassed general
demographic information as well as personal opinion questions.
The majority of parents felt that school uniforms are or could be a positive influence on their child’s
academic performance. Many of the public school parents felt that their children spent too much time on
their appearance and less time on their academics. The majority of these parents also felt that school
uniforms would promote a sense of community and pride in their children. Private school parents were
pleased with their children wearing uniforms and felt that the uniforms fostered academic success in
their child. They contributed this to a feeling of community, pride and the self esteem they felt the
uniforms brought to their child. The lack of competition and increased focus on academics was another
positive for those families whose children wore school uniforms. Whether the wearing of uniforms
provides a direct link to better academic achievement is not conclusive, however, previous research
supports that there are fewer discipline problems and higher attendance rates when uniforms policies are
put into place.
Shana Bowen and Marcus Caesar

Lindsey Wilson College Faculty Advisor, Dr. Melinda Senters
Colonial America 1607-1750
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries North America was tri-racial. Natives, European whites,
and Africans co-existed as their cultures clashed and competed for superiority. Women of each culture
held tight to any empowerment or independence that they were able to maintain, while White European
men continued the laws and customs of their patriarchal homeland and emerged as the most dominant.
European women were typically confined to the home and subservient to their families and male counter-
parts, although some found employment outside the home and were active in public life. Although slavery
was an oppressive institution, African women were resilient. They faced a subordinate life of slavery, yet
demonstrated agency by maintaining their names and culture. The Native way of life was by far the most
beneficial for women. Native women had a strong influence within their tribes and families. They
experienced great independence and had multiple responsibilities which were crucial to the survival of
the clan. Although women of each culture shared a common submissiveness to the whims and wishes of
white European males, they were able to persevere through these struggles and thrive in various aspects
of life.
Derek Brown
Lindsey Wilson College Faculty Advisor, Dr. David Ludden
Can Music Influence Your Distance Run?

The Influence of Classical and Rock and Roll Music on Distance Run
In this study, forty men were divided into two groups (Classical and Rock and Roll). Each group was
exposed to either classical music or Rock and Roll music while running for thirty minutes on treadmills.
Although the Rock and Roll group ran further on average than the classical group, the difference was not
statistically significant when the data were subjected to a two-sample t-test. It is possible that the sample
size may have been too small to accurately test this hypothesis.
Felicia Campbell
King College Faculty Advisor, Dr. J. Kevin DeFord
Dieting and Desire for Weight Loss in Adolescents
The prevalence of dieting and desire for weight loss was examined in male and female adolescents. The
participants responded to Stotland & Zuroffs’ Dieting Beliefs scale along with other demographic
questions. Participant’s recorded their daily food intake and physical activities for one week and that was
compared to their basal metabolic rate, the minimum calorific requirement in an individual. The
prevalence of dieting and desire for weight loss was comparable to results in past research showing a
significant difference between males and females. Females were dieting more than males and they also
had a stronger desire for weight loss. Males were found dieting, but dieting in order to gain weight. The
significant findings between the male and females are emphasized and discussed in relation to previous
research.
Casey Cannon
Lindsey Wilson College Faculty Advisor, Dr. David Moore
The Indian Politician: John Ross and His Tactics to Prevent Cherokee Removal
As the leader of the Cherokee Nation in the early nineteenth-century, John Ross faced overwhelming
odds in combating the U.S Government on the issue of Cherokee removal. Ross used his intellect to fight
the U.S government with rational arguments, instead of violence. He was a leader for the Cherokees, but
more importantly, a resourceful politician. In 1838, Cherokee Indians were beginning to realize that a
forced removal from their home in the south east, an area that many white settlers wanted for
themselves, to the west was quickly becoming a reality. Ross used numerous arguments as proof that the
Cherokees had rights to the land, and that they were capable of taking care of it. Ross argued that the
Cherokees were becoming more “civilized” and could assimilate into a white man’s culture. He also
contended that the politicians had a parental obligation and appealed to their democratic sentiments, and
his years in Washington D.C. had given him the skills needed for white politics. Ross and the Cherokees
ultimately lost their battle and were forced out west on the Trail of Tears, but his struggle still remains
important today.
Amber Collins
Tusculum College Faculty Advisor, Dr. Angela Keaton
Legitimizing Farm Work: The Change in the Definition of Domestic Work
Abstract-At the beginning of the twentieth century through the Great Depression, middle-class white
women were reconstructing their identities rooted in the home. Rather than expressing a desire to flee the
sphere of domesticity, these rural women instead sought to identify and validate their domestic work as a
legitimate means of employment. While historiography of women during this time period stresses that
women were eager to leave the home, the private letters, bulletins from federal labor departments, and
surveys from the Department of Agriculture present a story of women who were happy with their lives,
especially their work, in the home. In my research, I explore how rural, middle-class, white women
appealed to federal agriculture and labor programs as a means to achieve legitimacy for traditional,
female work roles in the home. The paper uncovers the efforts of these women to bolster the domestic
work of women and at the same time illustrates the expectations of female citizens in regard to federal
assistance in the pre-New Deal era.
Rachael Cook
Student Satisfaction with King College and Student’s Grade Point Average
The purpose of this study was to investigate how King College students’ satisfaction was related to their
grade point averages (GPA). Student satisfaction was measured in 2 ways: by an overall satisfaction
question and then by averaging a series of questions related to satisfaction with King College. These
questions included topics such as academic issues, campus environment, campus life, communications,
services, safety, and how confident the students are with emergency precautions (bomb threats, fire,
emergency weather precautions, traffic accidents, physical injury) on campus. The students’ gender,
living status (whether they live on campus or off), employment status (whether employed in a job
relevant to their field of study), parents (whether or not their parents went to college), and involvement
with clubs/organizations on campus were also taken into account. Overall, student satisfaction and grade
point averages did not have a significant correlation; however, certain demographics were significantly
related to satisfaction of individual topics.
James E.C. Creely

Stephanie Cole
Lee University Faculty Advisor, Dr. Heather Quagliana
A Sight Unseen:
Perception, Body Image, and the Acuity of Eating Disorders
The goal of this experiment was to study the mechanics of awareness—with special focus on expanding
on the concept of body image, extra-personal perception, and its correlation with increased incidence of
eating disorder. The researchers analyzed the reaction and sight patterns of individuals afflicted with
eating disorders when confronted with images of body flaws. The experiment intended to find significant
visual phenomenon that would account for increased awareness of body flaws in others as a function of
severity. The experiment included __ participants, __ female. Subjects watched 6 randomized images for
2 seconds and completed an eating disorder diagnostic test. Their mean average for duration of time
spent lingering on problem areas was then calculated and compared to reveal if differences in the amount
time spent by the subjects ED positive was more than those not struggling with ED. For our experiment
those participants with ED spent more time observing body flaws than those who did not. Further
research is necessary to determine it such a correlation could be used in the future as a non survey based
diagnostic for those with un-established eating disorders.

Amy Crockett
Lindsey Wilson College Faculty Advisor, Ms. Lori Sargent
An Analysis of Purposes for Various Compositions
Homeplace, a small but historically significant farm that is nestled in the corners of three counties in
south-central Kentucky, was selected as the site where a series of photographs were taken college classes,
seventeen of which were selected for their various approaches to composition, subject matter, mood, light
color, and details. A survey instrument was developed, and 75 college students and 10 community
members surveyed for their reactions to the photographs. This research project analyzed the results of
the survey and indicate that high contrast close-up photos were preferred by college students and
therefore may be more effective in attracting students to learn about and get involved with Homeplace,
and a combination of close-ups and broader, more traditional landscapes may be recommended for
attracting the general public and informing them about the farm.
Amanda Rae Davis

Odor Memory Recall
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if odors aid in memory recall. This research experiment
is exploring whether having an odor present during a study session and during a test session will bring
about more accurate memory recall. King College students were the participants used for the
experiment. The experiment consisted of four different conditions. Two conditions consisted of an odor
being emitted throughout the testing room, while the other two conditions did not have an odor present.
The participants either read or heard a short story as the second independent variable, and then
afterwards they took a multiple choice test to measure their memory recall. Six demographic questions
were asked to the participants to see how each individual preferred to study and how much they studied.
The findings did suggest a difference in memory performance for males and females. These findings will
be further explored in relation to the varied cues and presentation types.
Amanda Rae Davis

Reducing Stress Through Physical Exercise
The purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between the amount of physical
exercise and perceived stress in college students. The study is looking to see if there is a significant
correlation between the amount of physical exercise that college students partake in, and the perceived
stress that they feel. King College students were the participants in the study. The Perceived Stress Scale
was used to measure the participants stress. Eleven demographic questions were asked to differentiate
the athletes from the non-athletes, and to determine the amount of physical exercise each participant
thought they partook in during a week’s time. The findings suggest no significant relationship between
perceived stress and physical exercise. These findings will be discussed in relation to previous research
that explored these variables.
Rebekah Davis
As Age Increases, Does the Importance for Looks in a Potential Romantic Partner Decrease?
When people get older, do they believe physical appearance is less important for a potential romantic
partner than when they were younger? A sample of college students and older adults was taken to assess
the differences in age groups for finding a mate. The participants were asked to fill out a survey to find
out what they believe to be true about traits related to mate preference. They filled out the survey and
handed it back into the researcher. The results found that the participants who were younger found
potential partners through clubs. This was one place the older group did not look for partners. Another
result was that no matter what age, out of the six things that were rated in importance, money tended to
be one of the least important things. Future research that could be done may include finding out the
difference for younger and older gays and lesbians.
Lindsay Delmoral
Tennessee Wesleyan College Faculty Advisor, Dr. Kerry Towler
Music and Grades
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between participation in music lessons
and grade point average. Base on the research, students in music lessons do better in math and reading.
This indicates that there is a strong and reliable association between music education and higher grade
point averages. Participants were college students between the ages of 18-26. A t test was applied to
evaluate the hypothesis: If music lessons do enhance a student’s ability to achieve higher grades, then
grade point averages for students who have taken music lessons will be higher in ACR classes.
Allison Downs
Lindsey Wilson College Faculty Advisor, Dr. Melinda Senters
James Madison and the Common Good
In the 1780s, the Articles of Confederation were rapidly failing. They had only created a “firm league of
friendship” with no central authority to enforce the law. Elected delegates from each colony had met at
two conventions with the hopes of fixing the government yet neither proved successful. At their close,
James Madison called for a new convention, later known as the Constitutional Convention, whose sole
purpose would be to design a new government. James Madison made it clear that he was concerned first
and foremost with the common good. Before the convention Madison made his plans well known to his
acquaintances George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. At the Constitutional Convention Madison
formalized his ideas with the introduction of the Virginia Plan. After the adoption of a new government
James Madison wrote of serious of essays known as the Federalist Papers to defend his plan. Throughout
this process Madison never lost faith that his ideas would promote the common good despite his doubts in
the new constitution, his failure to achieve all of his goals, and strong opposition from those who felt
Madison was only destroying the common good. His talent as a leader and his persistence truly makes
James Madison a man for the common good.
Kara Feese
Does Author Gender and Topic Affect Perceived Quality of Writing?
120 Lindsey Wilson College students participated in this study. The students were given one of four
papers. Two papers were identical and about diesel mechanics but with a male or a female author. The
other two papers were identical and about elementary education but with a male or female author.
Participants then answered ten questions using a 7-point scale about the paper. Only the question, “How
would you grade this paper?” is the target question and graded the author. The data suggests that males
are “graded” higher on diesel mechanics, while females are “graded” higher on elementary education.
Aubrey Gordon
Investigating the correlation between body mass index, and self esteem, authentic happiness, Satisfaction
in life, relationships, and body esteem.
AResearch has shown that body mass index can have a negative effect on a person’s overall life
satisfaction (McCreary & Sadava, 2001). The components of life satisfaction that have been investigated
pertain to the differences in gender and perception of each gender. This research extends into the
different factions of life satisfaction: relationships, body esteem, happiness, and life satisfaction. Data
were attained from King College students. A sample of men and women were surveyed who attend the
institution of King College. Although over weight men tended to have more of a positive relationship to
life satisfaction, happiness, relationships, and body esteem compared to underweight men, underweight
women rated themselves to be happier, have better life satisfaction, better relationships, and greater body
esteem then overweight women. There has been sufficient cause for further exploration into this area
because weight gain can be a cause of serious health problems (Roberts, R. E, Strawbridge, W. J.,
Deleger, S. & Kaplan, G. A., (2002).
Brittany Hall
The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Perceived Family Support
The purpose of the research was to determine the relationship between a college student’s self-esteem and
the amount of support they perceive from their family. Using the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale and the
Perceived Family Support Scale, the student’s level of self-esteem and their perceived level of support
was tested. The results indicated that there is a positive correlation between a student’s self-esteem and
the overall amount of support they perceive from their families. This study’s conclusion showed that as
the perceived amount of support increased, so did the student’s self-esteem. Further studies could be
conducted to see what other variables perceived family support could affect, and what other factors affect
their self-esteem.
Marianne Hall, Marilyn Bloodworth, and Esther Jaynese Thornton

Lee University Faculty Advisor, Dr. Heather Quagliana
Depression and Avoidance of Positive stimuli:

An Eye-Tracking Study
Past research on depression and eye-tracking indicates that depressed individuals selectively attend to
negative visual stimuli. Based on this research, as well as data from exploratory research, this project
further investigated selective avoidance of positive visual stimuli in depressed individuals. Utilizing Tobii
Eye-tracking equipment, we monitored the gazing patterns and visual attention of 58 college students.
The eye-tracking slide show included pictures of groups of individuals with various expressions,
individuals with smiles, and individuals with neutral expressions. The participants also completed the
Beck Depression Inventory II. The relationship between one’s depression score and the time spent gazing
at smiles was investigated and will be evaluated for a correlation. Further research could investigate the
possibility of eye-tracking equipment being utilized as an assessment tool for depression, as well as the
implications for modifying the focus of psychotherapy to include making the client aware of any selective
avoidance and attention to positive or negative stimuli.
David Hamilton
Personality Differences between Distance Runners and Sprinters
The purpose of this research is to evaluate personality differences between distance runners and
sprinters. Before designing the experiment, I interviewed two track coaches to get their opinions on
whether there will be differences between the two groups. Both coaches agreed that there would be
significant differences in the groups on procrastination and personality traits. For this project I
administered surveys on procrastination and personal attributes to 10 distance runners and 10 sprinters.
In the two groups, there were five men and five women in each of the subgroups to keep answers
consistent between sexes. The surveys were handed out to the athletes on a personal basis and returned to
me after they were finished. To test levels of procrastination between the two groups I used the
procrastination lickerd scale (Lay, 1986) for student populations. There was no significant difference
between distance runners and sprinters in the area of procrastination. The rest of the study will address
significant differences between the two groups in other aspects of personality.
Jacob Ilg
Cultivators: Historical Research and Applications Benefitting Homeplace on Green River
Cultivators have been an important implement in the history of farming. This study focused on learning
about the purpose and changes in cultivators and the company that made an example cultivator,
researching contemporary recommendations for restoring farm equipment, completing a restoration,
and developing an informational display. The cultivator is part of the permanent collection of
Homeplace on Green River, an educational farm that is near campus, and will be displayed with the
educational poster in the farm’s implement museum.
Shanna Kellum
Test Anxiety Reduction through General Education Courses
High school students have many decisions to make when choosing their ideal institution for higher
education. Among these choices is whether or not to attend a liberal arts college. Is there justification in
taking many classes unrelated to the major field of study? This research project aims to answer that
question by demonstrating that general education courses reduce the amount of test anxiety experienced
by students. The reduction of test anxiety can improve many students’ grades on those tests by allowing
the student to remember what she studied. The study includes students having completed above 50 hours
of general education courses and students having completed less than 40 hours of general education
courses. The study implements a test anxiety scale and a heart rate monitor as measures of anxiety when
the student is taking an exam. These findings suggest that some liberal arts students experienced a
decrease in test anxiety, while others were unaffected.
Shelby Kirkpatrick
Lincoln Memorial University Faculty Advisor, Dr. Joanna Badara
This study evaluated the presence of E. faecalis in recreational waters and tracked its source using
antibiotic resistance analysis. Enterolert was used to measure levels of E. faecalis in water samples
collected from four marinas. The levels were compared to the EPA standard, among marinas, and
among summer holidays. No statistically significant differences were found. Two libraries of antibiotic
resistance patterns were created employing isolates from human sewage (human library) and cattle
sources (cattle library). Antibiotic resistance patterns from isolates collected from marinas were then
compared to the libraries and classified using discriminant analysis. The major source of fecal bacteria
was determined to be human.
Cayla Lewis
King College Faculty Advisor, Dr. Kevin DeFord
Gender Differences Among Anxiety Sensitivity, Heart Rate, and Coping with Humor
This study investigated anxiety sensitivity and how humor was used to cope in different situations. The
aims were to determine if there was a significant difference between males and females, to establish a
possible correlation between anxiety and humor, and to determine if there was a relationship between
heart rate and a higher level of anxiety sensitivity. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised and the
Situational Humor Response Questionnaire were used to measure the variables along with a measure of
heart rate. Anxiety sensitivity and humor were investigated in 35 individuals, and heart rate was
measured in 10 individuals before and after they completed the survey. The data showed no association
in the anxiety sensitivity levels, humor usage, and heart rates comparing males to females. There are
several reasons that the data did not yield a significant difference. Because of the growing awareness of
this topic, there should be further research conducted pertaining to anxiety sensitivity, heart rate, and
situational humor usage as anxiety is normally present in individuals’ lives.
Emily Light
Gender Differences in Stress and Coping Among College Students
This study was completed to determine if there are gender differences in stress and coping among college
aged students. Two measures were used. The first measure was the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen &
Williamson, 1988) which measured the amount of stress that each participant believed that they had been
under over the past month. The second measure was the Brief COPE model (Carver, 1997) which
determined the coping strategy of each participant. These coping strategies were self-distraction, active
coping, denial, substance use, use of emotional support, use of instrumental support, behavioral
disengagement, venting, positive reframing, planning, humor, acceptance, religion, and self-blame. The
participants in this study were students from King College. More females than males participated in this
study which is typical to the King College population. There was not a significant difference in gender
with perceived stress but there was a significant difference in some coping strategies. Females reported
using more emotional support while males tended to use acceptance as a coping strategy. While I did not
find a significant difference in gender with respect to avoidant coping, a previous study done by
Eschenbeck et al. (2007) found that boys were more likely than girls to participate in avoidant coping.
Kristin Mayes
Lincoln Memorial University Faculty Advisor, Dr. Christy Cowan
“The Influence of Religiosity or Spirituality on Death Anxiety in College Students”
Although past research in death studies and death anxiety is inconclusive, recent research confirms that
death anxiety is negatively correlated with religious worship. The results of this study confirm this
hypothesis (t(88) = -3.99, p = .000). On average men express statistically less death anxiety than women.
Although the majority of the sample was female (N=67 females and N=23 males), men generally reported
having a slightly higher level of death anxiety than women. However, this finding was not statistically
significant. The death anxiety mean for female participants was M = 40.82, SD = 13.88, the death anxiety
mean for male participants was M = 45.78, SD = 20.30. Future research is needed to establish the
relationship between death anxiety and sex and between different religious affiliations and death anxiety
in both men and women.
Craig McCargo
Sex Differences In Mate Selection Preferences
This research of sex differences in mate selection preferences was designed to see what characteristics
males and females find most desirable in choosing a potential mate. Participants in the present study will
be made up of King College students ranging from the ages of 18 to 24. There will be a representative
sample of females and males so that there will be no bias and the best results can be obtained. Many of
the participants will come from psychology courses and receive course credit for the efforts. A 4-point
Likert scale will be used to measure the characteristic traits males and females prefer in a mate. There
are 15 characteristics in which the participants will choose from. The qualities measured by this scale
include traits such as caring, compassion, honest, hardworking and selfish. These results showed that
certain traits were significantly more important for females than males. Additionally, some traits were
more important for males compared to females. The results were very supportive of previous research
done in mate selection.
Lindsey McKay
Measuring Touch Sensitivity
This project is the result of experimentation based on touch sensitivity differences between participants
who have and have not suffered from a stroke. Approximately 30 nursing home patients were asked to
participate in research. The patients were chosen by the medical staff at random with an equal number
of stroke and non-stroke patients.
Touch sensitivity was tested by using a medical swab to stimulate touch sensation receptors on designated
areas of the body. The medical swab was the instrument of choice because one end displays a cotton
texture and the other end is a wooden stem. The difference between the two textures was used as a means
of testing two levels of the participant’s touch sensitivity.
Results were observed and the data analysis supported the hypothesis. Stroke patients were found to
have a greater loss of touch sensitivity than non-stroke patients Some stroke-patients could not even feel
the stimulation with either end of the swab whereas non-stroke patients were not only able to feel the
stimulation; they were also able to differentiate between the two ends of the medical swab. Additional
research may be very useful in further understanding the effects that a stroke has on one’s sensory
activity.
Sandy Moore
Research Applications Benefitting Homeplace on Green River
Homeplace is a farm that is in the early stages of development as an educational facility. This study
involved researching and developing Homeplace informational materials in collaboration with
community members. The result was two projects designed for two very different purposes.
First, a Quest brochure was designed in collaboration with a poet from the community. It will be used to
teach school-age children about the history of farming and guide them through a scavenger hunt to learn
about the purposes of each part of the Homeplace farm. The section of historic information, choice and
development of drawings and the layout of the brochure were collaboratively researched and developed.
The second part of this research project was to develop an instructional poster to inform the public about
the history, construction, restoration and future plans for the use of one of the buildings on Homeplace.
Research involved photographing the bank barn at Homeplace, researching historic information, and
working with Homeplace board members to design a poster that will be used on the farm and website.
This poster serves not only as a model for other posters now under development that will inform the
people about the buildings they are visiting, but also to assist the board of directors in attracting
community members to volunteer and donate funds for the restoration of the farm facilities.
Derek Morrow
Hostile and Non-hostile Priming
There are many words used and events that happen in a day that can influence individuals, changing
their aspect on subjects, life in general, and their moral beliefs. On a daily basis, most individuals will
watch something on TV, or witness an event with their own eyes that will change their views or how they
look at things. Priming individuals to do certain actions or believe certain things is used everyday with
advertisements. Individuals can also be primed to show hostility. The purpose of this experiment is to test
hostile priming. Thirty-six students at Lindsey Wilson College were recruited for this experiment.
Participants randomly received either hostile scrambled sentences or non-hostile scrambled sentences.
Both groups of participants read the same character story. Then, participants were instructed to rate the
character from the story using a 7-point trait scale. Based on the data, it cannot be inferred that
participants primed to hostility would display more hostility than those not primed to hostility.
Kaitlyn Musick
Preparation For Family And Its Effects On Career
Are women’s career decisions being influenced by their anticipation of their future family more so than
men? This study will search for the differences in men and women with regard to how they prepare for
family and career differently. In addition, this study will also look at similarities between gender roles
and the pursuit of family and career. Forty King College students, both male and female, participated in
this study where they were asked to complete three surveys. These three survey measures were used to
evaluate gender role ideas, traditional or non-traditional roles in marriage, and how realistic one is about
future multiple roles (Wietzman, 1996; Battle & Wigfield, 2003; Mason, 1975). It is hypothesized that
women are preparing for family and it is affecting their career decisions more so than men. A strong
correlation was also found between the Career and Family Scale and the Multiple Roles Scale r (40) =
.725, and thus there is a significant correlation. An r=.634 indicates a strong correlation between Family
and Career Scale and the Traditional versus Non-Traditional scale. In addition, a two-tailed
independence samples t-test was conducted to test the following hypotheses. There is a significant
difference between men and women with regard to preparing for multiple roles. There is not a significant
difference between men and women with regard to preparing for multiple roles. I found my t- value to be
greater than my r-critical of 0.304. Thus I must reject my null hypothesis and accept my hypothesis that
there is a significant difference between men and women with regard to preparing for multiple roles.
Adria Nassim
Brescia University Faculty Advisor, Dr. Ellen Dugan-Barrette
Then You Will Know the Truth, and the Truth Won’t Set You Free:
Blindness and Self-Perception in the Oedipus Tragedies and the Self-Perception of the Visually Impaired
This paper examines Oedipus’ self-perception in relation to his blindness as depicted in Sophocles’
Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus and the self-perception of today’s individuals with visual
impairment. I examine how hubris, self-confidence, and the time of the onset of Oedipus’ blindness a role
for both Oedipus and the visually impaired in becoming accustomed to their disabilities. I also consult
recent psychological studies regarding the self-perception of the visually impaired as compared to
Sophocles’ depiction of Oedipus and attempt to determine whether Sophocles’ characterization of
Oedipus’ personality accurately fits that of an individual who experiences sudden vision loss.
Critical sources have consistently demonstrated that Oedipus does not have a literal disability so much as
he does a figurative one. He is not necessarily blind to the physical appearance of his environment, but he
is blind to the implications of his fate. As his blindness illustrates, Oedipus must be humbled by loss in
order to actually begin to experience life as one is sincerely meant to experience it. This paper illustrates
that Sophocles’ depiction of Oedipus--his mannerism, depression, and temper--is consistent with an
individual who has experienced sudden vision loss.
Zandra Nicely
Actual Helping Behaviors: Women vs. Men
Helping behavior of participants was recorded in a natural setting. Past research shows helping behavior
strongly related to one's mood, bystanders, and how familiar the participants are to those seeking help.
The components studied in this research were: Gender (women vs. men), Type (individuals vs. groups),
Helped (help vs. no help), and Burdened (participants having bags or books of their own affecting
helping). This was to observe different populations to see what participants helped and did not help the
confederate. Those burdened helped less than those who were free to help. Participants helped more
when they are alone rather than in groups. Men help more than Women. The hypotheses were
confirmed. Social psychologists continue to study helping behaviors of people.
Stephanie Parsley
Musical Distractions Hindering Memory Recollection
In this experiment, participants were tested on their short-term memory. With a 5 minute time period,
participants were asked to study two lists of words, “relax”, and recall what they studied. Participants
were not subjected to music while they study one list; however, they may study and recall the second
comparable list with the presence of either “Mmmbop” by Hanson or “Hallelujah” by Kate Voegele. The
majority of the participants used serial recall by remembering the words in pairs or three’s; however,
since there was not a requirement to remember record the words in order, free recall was also used.
Preliminary results show that without the presence of music, participants are recalling 100% of the
words. Consequently with the presence of music, participants’ recollection is down to 80-90%.
Matthew Pennington
Who is Faster, Athletes or Video Gamers? A Study of Reaction Times
The present study examined the possibility that participation in a collegiate level organized athletic
activity has a positive effect on decreasing reaction times over individuals whose only activity was playing
video games. College students, athletes and non-athletes participated in the experiment. The experiment
used the Donders reaction-time paradigm to test each individual in three areas: simple (yes or no
stimulus), recognition (correct/incorrect stimulus), and choice (picking a stimulus from a field) reaction
time. Overall, athletes had significantly faster reaction times versus the non-athletes; with each sport
having widely varied times when compared to each other. This data seems to suggest that participation
in a collegiate level athletic activity can help improve cognitive function with respect to reaction time.
There is also data done that is supported by previous research that would suggest that long-term
participation would decrease the amount of time need for a reaction.
Victoria Philbeck
The Effects of Movement on Stress
The purpose of the following study is to explore the effects of motion on anxiety levels in the human body.
The following experiment was done using the King College Dance Team, Corps for Christ ministry dance
team, and the King College Cheerleading Team. The age ranges of these groups were from 18-23 years
old, consisting of all females. The following populations were mixed and randomly selected and put into
two groups. Group One was given direction to stretch and dance for twenty-five minutes prior to filling
out the anxiety index questionnaire. Group two, which served as the control group, was given no
direction and was asked to not participate in any movement exercises for twenty-five minutes. The
groups were compared to determine the difference in anxiety levels between the two groups. 1.) There
was a significant difference in anxiety levels found between groups one and two. 2.) There was not a
significant difference in anxiety levels between groups one and two.
Kara Proffitt
Is Life Really Better Blonde?
The present study investigated the relationship of women’s hair color on life satisfaction, self-esteem,
interpersonal interaction anxiety, and social physique anxiety. Approximately 50 college-aged women
were put into two groups, brunette and dark headed women and blonde headed women. These women
were put into the groups by self-report. They all took the same four surveys depicting the four qualities
being measured. The purpose was to see if either hair color dominated positively or negatively in any of
the four fields. With extensive findings, the research showed no difference among the hair colors on any
of the four attributes. In the first test on life satisfaction, there was no significant difference between the
two groups, p>.05. In the second test on self-esteem, there was no significant difference between the two
groups, p>.05. In the social physique anxiety scale, p>.05, concluding that there is no significant
difference. In the last test on interpersonal interaction anxiety, it also showed no significant difference,
p>.05. Contrary to popular media expectations women with blonde hair did not significantly differ in any
of the four measures compared to brunettes or dark headed women. Popular media suggests that life was
better for women with blonde hair in different ways, but in this study blonde headed women scored the
same as the women with brunette or dark hair.
Jena Rickard
Does the Mass Media of Today’s Society Effect How We Perceive Ourselves?
The purpose of this research is to investigate how the media that our society views each day can have an
effect on the self-esteem and body image of women. The main types of media that expose such pressures
are television shows and movies, commercial advertisements, and fashion magazines. College-aged
women were put into two groups, one group was given a magazine article that’s main focus was thinness,
while the second group was given a neutral article. After reading the articles, the participants were given
four surveys depicting the four qualities being measured. These included: the Body Esteem Scale
(Franzoi, 1994), Measure of Body Apperception (Antoni & Carver & Petronis & Weiss, 2003), the
Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (Rosenberg & Wylie, 1974), and The Dieting Beliefs Scale (Scotland &
Zuroff, 1990). The culmination of facts obtained by my research suggests there is no significant difference
between the attitudes of young college women in relation to the two types of magazine articles that the
participants viewed. I believe there was no effect with the different magazine articles because magazines
are not the society’s most popular type of mass media and a lot of the attitudes of women are influenced
by their environment and the people in which they surround themselves.
Hannah Sergent
What Color is Taste?: Color’s Effect on Taste Perception
Olfaction has often been researched in association with gustation. But, what about the impact color has
on gustation? The researcher has sought to identify the relationship, if one exists, between color and
taste perception. Jell-O was used as the medium for this experiment. The control group received five
samples of regularly colored Jell-O; the experimental group received the same five flavor samples of
color altered Jell-O. The sequence the Jell-O flavors were presented for both groups, with their color
pattern: lime (green, blue), cherry (red, purple), pineapple (yellow, orange ), orange (orange, red), and
blueberry (blue, green). The researcher hypothesized that those in the experimental group would have a
more difficult time identifying the true flavor of the Jell-O than did those in the control group; thus color
does effect taste perception. The research was statistically significant, particularly for the blueberry and
lime flavors. Further investigation is needed in this area to determine exactly what role color plays in
taste perception.
Ih Jay Shim
Loneliness and Alcohol Abuse
Why do people drink alcohol? Some people drink less and others drink moderate amount which they can
handle. When people drink less or the amount that they are able to handle, there is no problem. However,
people sometimes drink too much for some reasons. One reason why people drink too much is when they
are in bad moods (Kehoe, 1986). Another reason would be that people only drink for social occasions
(Peplau & Perlman [Eds.], 1982). I wanted to figure out which reasons lead people to drink. The purpose
of this project is to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and loneliness. For loneliness,
it was divided into four types; sexual, friendships, family, and larger groups. To evaluate this
relationship, I collected data using the Differential Loneliness Scale from participants, who were over 21.
The relationship between the loneliness and alcohol abuse was not significantly correlated. For alcohol
related questions, depression was frequently chosen as a reason for those participants who drink. Also,
females tended to be more careful in drinking less than males. The results from the loneliness scale
suggest that most people reported that they feel lonely in at least one area in four relationships, which are
sexual, friendships, family, or larger groups in society. The results from my experiment and the results
from previous research had similarities, but differences, also.
Heather Smith
Superstitions of the Appalachian Area
The effects of gender and age on the level of superstitious beliefs were investigated. A sample of 30
participants from the Appalachian area (15 females and 15 males) was recruited that were split into three
age groups (18-35, 36-60, and 61 plus). The participants were given a survey that contained 48 common
superstitions that were compiled from the internet. They were asked to state if they believe in them, alter
their behavior for them, and rate how superstitious they perceive themselves to be. The hypotheses were
that females would be more superstitious than males and that superstitious beliefs increase with age.
Although the hypotheses were disconfirmed, one significant effect was found between the youngest group
and the oldest group. The oldest group had the highest amount of superstitious beliefs, the youngest
group had the second highest amount, and the middle age group had the lowest amount. The results of
this research indicate that age does have an effect on superstitious beliefs while gender does not.
Jeff Taylor
Maryville College Faculty Advisor, Dr. William Phillips
Who’s Got the Beat?
This argument is a condensed version of my Maryville College senior thesis, approved and recommended
as exemplary by Dr. William Phillips, my faculty advisor. “Who’s Got the Beat” addresses the current
difficulties in Beat Scholarship revolving around confusion over such basic issues as membership,
purpose, and aesthetics. The purpose is to address and restructure the current understandings of Beat
Literature through the aforementioned three basic issues. The membership of the movement is limited to
those coming into adulthood at the end of the Second World War with a further cap restricting
membership to those beginning their literary career before 1958. Members of the Beat Generation must,
also, have had a native, first-hand experience of post-War America to unify the Beat response to
American culture. The American response within a specific time period is what led the Beat Generation
to pursue a means of discovery and transmission of new values that are valid for a new American
counterculture. The factors indicative of Beat Literature are an anti-academic literature, bop-inspired
(spontaneous) composition, and non-Western spirituality. These three elements provide a dynamic
spectrum within which the career of a Beat writer may be gauged. Assessments of Jack Kerouac and
Allen Ginsberg display the validity of this framework, while Gary Snyder is presented as the fulfillment
of the Beat ideal.
Christina Tidman
The Impact of Student Engagement and Self-esteem on Academic Performance: A Look Into the World
of College Students
This study explored the correlation between academic performance, student involvement, and self-
esteem. Previous research has pointed to positive correlations between two of the three variables, but no
recent research has tried to correlate all three together in college age students. It is hypothesized that all
three variables are positively correlated to each other: academic performance to student involvement,
student involvement to self-esteem, and self-esteem to academic performance. Each participant
participated in a survey of forty-two questions. The questions consisted of four demographic questions,
two questions concerning academic achievement, sixteen questions concerning student involvement on
campus, and twenty questions related to self-esteem. The implications of the research were that on
average academic performance, student involvement, and self-esteem were unrelated. However, when
comparing student involvement with the second test of self-esteem, there was a significant negative
correlation.
April Williams
The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Personality
The purpose of this research was to identity what traits were related to low self-esteem and what traits
were characteristic of high self-esteem. The five traits looked at were extraversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Current
Thoughts Scale, and a Five-Factor Personality Inventory were administered to 30 King College students.
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Current Thoughts Scale were used to determine whether
participants were classified as having low or high self-esteem, and the Five-Factor Personality Inventory
was used to identify the personality traits exhibited by each of the participants. Based on the data
collected, participants with low self-esteem are more introverted, conscientious, and neurotic whereas
participants classified as having high self-esteem are more extraverted and open to experience. These
findings are important because they are similar to the results from previous research. The results also
show that there is a relationship between self-esteem and personality.
Agnieszka Wojtowicz
Effect of Time of the Day on Athletic Performance
The purpose of this experiment is to examine whether the running performance of Lindsey Wilson
athletes is better in the morning or in the afternoon. In this experiment, 20 Lindsey Wilson student
athletes run 1400 meters distance at 8 am in the morning and at 5 pm in the afternoon on the next day.
The results showed that athletes from Lindsey Wilson College performed better in the afternoon but
there were no significant results.

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th

March 26-27, 2010

Welcome and Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................

History of the Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference ………………………………….

Brief Biography of the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Mark Harvey………….……………………………

Conference Schedule .........................................................................................................................

1993, 1994 King College, Bristol, TN

1995 Milligan College, Milligan, TN

1996 Tenth National Conference on Undergraduate Research

1997 Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, TN

1998 King College, Bristol, TN

1999 Lee University, Cleveland, TN

2000 Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, TN

2001, 2002 Maryville College, Maryville, TN

2003, 2004 Milligan College, Milligan, TN

2005, 2006 King College, Bristol, TN

2007, 2008 Tusculum College, Greeneville, TN

2009, 2010 Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, KY

11:30 – 2:00pm Registration ...................................................Hodge Discipleship Center Lobby

7:30 – 10:00 am Registration ..................................................Hodge Discipleship Center Lobby

Conference Judges: Dr. Mark McKinnon, Lindsey Wilson College

2:15-3:30 pm Presentation Session I

Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 118

Personality Differences Between Distance Runners and Sprinters

Dieting and Desire for Weight Loss in Adolescents

English................................................................................................... Fugitte 119

*Writing Center or Dry Cleaner? Perspectives on Writing Centers

*Who’s Got the Beat?

Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 131

Is Life Really Better Blonde?

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Personality

History................................................................................................... Fugitte 118

*Legitimizing Farm Work: The Change in the Definition of Domestic Work

*James Madison – Man of the Common Good

Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 119

School Uniforms & Academic Success

Measuring the Loss of Touch Sensitivity in Stroke Patients

Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 106

Preparation for Family and its Effects on Career

Can Music Influence Your Distance Run?

The Effects of Movement on Stress

Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 131

Reducing Stress Through Physical Exercise

Loneliness and Alcohol Abuse

Does Author Gender and Topic Affect Perceived Quality of Writing?

Benefitting Homeplace on Green River

*Colonial America 1607-1750

*Depression and Avoidance of Positive Stimuli: An Eye-Tracking Study

Saturday, March 27, 2010

8:00 – 9:30am Presentations Session III

Biology................................................................................................... Fugitte 118

*Antibiotic Resistance Analysis as a Method of Tracking Fecal Contamination in Norris

Effects of Low Impact Outdoor Activity on Stress

Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 119

The Influence of Spirituality or Religiosity on Death Anxiety in College Students

Odor Memory Recall

Psychology ............................................................................................ Fugitte 131

What Color is Taste? Color’s Effect on Taste Perception

Effect of Time of the Day on Athletic Performance

Hostile and Non-hostile Priming

9:45 – 11:00am Presentation Session IV

Psychology/Natural Sciences............................................................... Fugitte 118

*The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Perceived Family Support

*Sex Differences in Mate Selection Preferences