Detailed Program - StFXpeople.stfx.ca/akolen/SRD_Summary Booklet_6th.doc · Web viewThree blood samples were taken from each participant on each testing day at t=0 (before caffeine

The Sixth AnnualThe Sixth Annual

STUDENTSTUDENT

RESEARCH DAYRESEARCH DAY

St. Francis Xavier University: MacKay RoomSt. Francis Xavier University: MacKay Room

11:30 – 4:45 p.m., March 20, 200811:30 – 4:45 p.m., March 20, 2008

Sixth Annual Student Research Day, March 20, 2008: 11:30 a.m. 4:45 p.m., MacKay Room 1

Table of Contents Page

Table of Contents 2

Evolution of the Student Research Day 3

Letters of Welcome (not included in on-line version) 4

Thank you to Sponsors/Adjudicators 8

Detailed Program 9

Abstract or Summary of Presentation … listed in alphabetical order, by department

Anthropology 14

Biology 19

Business Administration 25

Economics 28

Human Kinetics 33

Human Nutrition 45

Information Systems 50

Mathematics 51

Nursing 52

Psychology 55

Sociology 75

Angus L. MacDonald Library 83


Evolution of the Student Research Day

The annual Student Research Day at St. Francis Xavier University is the “brain child” of Dr. Angie Thompson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Kinetics. She credits the idea of the Student Research Day to her own graduate student research experiences from which she adapted to suit the students at StFX.

The Student Research Day gives students the opportunity to showcase their research undertaken as part of their upper year classes and advanced majors, honours, or graduate programs. An afternoon is dedicated to displaying the students’ work in a poster format with the presenting students available for a couple of hours to provide other students, faculty, staff, and interested community members with the opportunity to discuss the research presented. In addition to building communication skills, this kind of public recognition and presentation of students’ advanced studies fosters the academic environment at StFX not only for students but for faculty and staff as well.

The first annual Student Research Day at StFX was hosted on March 20, 2003. Twenty-nine students participated in the inaugural Student Research Day representing twelve departments or schools (Adult Education, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Human Kinetics, Human Nutrition, Modern Languages, Nursing, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Women’s Studies). This event has grown in popularity and recognition over the years such that it is now listed as an academic calendar event. There are sixty-nine student presentations expected this year representing a wide number of departments or schools.

Currently, Dr. Thompson coordinates the panning and organizing of the Student Research Day. A number of faculty and staff assist her in the process of adjudicating the students’ presentations. Prizes (gift certificates to the Campus Book Store and Student Union Station) are awarded to “top” presenters.

Thank you to all those who support the annual Student Research Day at StFX!


Welcome letter – Sean Riley, President of St. Francis Xavier University


Welcome letter – John Blackwell, Research Grants Office

Welcome letter – Andrew Kendall, Industry Liaison Office


March 12, 2008

Dear Students,

Our success depends on your success. So we are very focused on providing you with every opportunity for achievement in your University career.

We will greet you at the entrance with a smile & provide you with assistance in your research at the Reference Desk, by phone or our on-line chat.

You are welcome to find a place on the first floor to chat and discussissues or for those days when quiet is needed for study or writing up assignments, there are quiet places for individuals or groups.

We are also available to you via our web site 24/7. See http://library.stfx.ca/ Here we can connect you with the latest peer reviewed article or e-book on almost any topic.

Best wishes for a successful Research Day and academic year.

Sincerely,Lynne F. MurphyUniversity Librarian


http://library.stfx.ca/

Thank you to Sponsors and Adjudicators

Thank you to the following generous sponsors of the Sixth Annual Student Research Day:

NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada)Mr. John Blackwell, Director Research Grants Office

Mr. Andrew Kendall, Industry Liaison OfficeAngus L. MacDonald Library

St. Francis Xavier University BookstoreCRC in Public Policy and Governance

Students’ Union: Union Station Clothing StoreDr. Syed Asadulla

Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation

Thank you to the following for adjudicating the presentations:

Denton AnthonyErin Austen

Angela BrackenburyRandy DeloreyDonna GallantMoira Galway

Tim HynesChristine Johnson

Erika KochChristine LomoreSasho MacKenzieJane MacMillanPatricia MazierJohn McKennaLynne Murphy

James NyanguluRhonda Semple

Tara TaylorNorine Verberg

Charlene Weaving


Detailed Program11:30 a.m. Opening Addresses, Session 1:

Dr. Sean Riley, President of St. Francis Xavier UniversityDr. Mary McGillivray, Academic Vice President and Provost

Ms. Jennifer McNutt, Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation1:30 p.m. Opening Address, Session 2:

Dr. Bill Marshall, Dean of Science 3:00 p.m. Opening Address, Session 3:

Dr. Steve Baldner, Dean of Arts4:30 p.m. Awards Presentation:

Mr. John Blackwell, Director, Research Grants Office

Titles of presentations are numbered and listed in alphabetical order, according to the student’s department or school of study. The number indicates the poster board the presentation will posted. The time the presenter is scheduled to be at his or her presentation follows his or her name in bold font.

Anthropology1. The many of voices of “Acadianness”: multivocality at Grand Pré, Jennifer Arseneau, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

2. Mortuary practices and social complexity at Cerro Juan Diaz, Central Panama, Ashley DeYoung, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

3. Presenting history and garnering revenue – folk ideals and marketing realities in Sherbrooke village’s cultural production, Meghann Jack, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

4. An examination of the balseria and the nature of overproduction in Central American chiefly societies, Kenzie Jessome, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

5. Truth and reconciliation in Canada: a mechanism for healing among the Mi’kmaw in Nova Scotia? Nikki Johnston, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Biology6. Genes for leaf vein patterns also affect root and root hairs, Elham Albahi, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

7. Intertidal barnacles as ecological indicators of the intensity of winter ice scour, Kiva-Marie Belt, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

8. Air bladder repair in the intertidal seaweed, Ascophyllum nodosum, Kelly Clement, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

9. Antigonish dairy farm service learning: Gleann Farm, Edmundo Gurza Fausto, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.


10. Ascophyllum nodosum: an usual case of cell division in the absence of mitosis. Greg Lawson, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

11. Ongoing work in the marine ecology laboratory, Jamie Tam, Stephen Cole, Caroline Longtin, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Business Administration12. Firm-specific stock return variation and corporate governance: evidence from Poland, Karolina Hass, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

13. Print ads preference and colour preference in China and Canada: a cross-national study, Ranran Ju, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

14. Canadian mutual funds – a question of style, Timothy MacDonald, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Economics15. An estimation of preference rankings in two sided matching, Chance Creelman, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

16. The human capital consequence of polygyny in Malaysia, JD Crowe, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

17. An analysis of Ghana’s fiscal sustainability in the Multinational Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) period, Philip Grace, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

18. Fuel efficiency and the effect of fuel prices on the Auto Market, Dave Hamilton, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

19. The impact of deposit insurance on banking system stability, Margaux MacDonald, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Human Kinetics20. The effect of chitosan polymers on blood levels of caffeine, Chris Bourque, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

21. Girls on the run: after school running program for girls, Laura Crossman, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

22. Depth jumps: leap of faith or a leg up on the competition, Danyel Degenhardt, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

23. The power to move you: comparing leg power of competitive dancers, varsity hockey athletes, and sedentary females, Terri Fenton, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

24. High intensity resistance exercise as a method of inducing post-activation potentiation, Michael FitzGerald, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.


25. Effects of a regular physical activity program on cognition in institutionalized Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, Jonathan Harris, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

26. Complexes: A resistance training program to induce fat loss, Tyler Kirby, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Withdrawn Men moving mountains: a philosophical analysis. Elizabeth MacDougall, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

28. The impact of low squat depth coordination training on vertical jump performance, Mike McDonald 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. and Stephanie Mills, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

29. The effect of music loudness on anaerobic and strength performance, Janet McMordie, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

30. Chasing the tiger: challenging female tradition and gaining recognition and Canadian alpine skiing, Rachel Mullenger, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

31. Who Am I? The change in athletic identity between freshman and senior year Human Kinetics students, T. Brendan Smith, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Human Nutrition32. Does a session on nutrition labelling provide greater knowledge compared to print materials in University males? Cortney Best, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

33. Investigating the relationship between calcium intake and resting energy expenditure in undergraduate university students at St. Francis Xavier University, Megan Bouchie, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

34. The phenolic content, antioxidant potential and biological activity of wolfberries, Kristine Wingård Johansen, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

35. Testing the validity and reliability of a tool to assess food insecurity amongst on-campus St. Francis Xavier University Students, Catherine Myette, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

36. The effects of using a problem-based learning activity related to HIV/AIDS in undergraduate clinical nutrition education, Kendra Read, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Information Systems37. Influence of ERP software similarity on business process learning outcomes, Matthew Milne, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Mathematics38. The dilemma of twin primes, Brandon Nunn, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Nursing39. The impacts of self-esteem and health education on student self-care, Jennifer Jackson and Sarah Gaudet, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.


40. Nursing students' understanding of and confidence in their role as patient educator, Claire O’Gorman, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

41. Practicing what you preach: A descriptive study of the health promoting behaviours of senior baccalaureate nursing students, Michele Weir-Cotnoir, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Psychology42. Infants’ response to interruptions in the peek-a-boo game, Caitlin Best, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

43. Coming to understand picture conventions, Erica Coutts, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Withdrawn The onset of imitation, Rachael Currie, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

45. Judging target distances while holding a tool, Craig Farrell, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

46. Sharing a major or minor positive event: Attachment style as a moderator of the association between capitalization and relationship well-being, Andrea Forbes, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

47. Behavioural concerns in Chinese adoptees compared to their Canadian-born peers, Lindsay Gillis, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

48. Potential analgesic effect of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55, 212-22 in the superior colliculus of the rat brain, Erica Lasher, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

49. Infants’ object play with others and imitation of peers, Janea Layes, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

50. The relationship between preschool children’s development of theory of mind and sharing and their link to number of siblings, Ruth-Ann MacDonald, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

51. Cold perception during a finger tapping task, Travis Martin, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

52. The morphological representation of inflected and derived words in l1 and l2 adults, Travis Martin, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

53. Investigating the analgesic effect of microinjection of a cannabinoid drug into the rat basal ganglia, Michelle McAloney, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

54. Improvement of motor imagery through practice, Sarah McInnis, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

55. Vocabulary intervention with grade primary students, Krista Morris, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

56. Adult gaze pattern for displays of human locomotion, Daniel O’Neill, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.


57. An investigation of pain responding and coping in a sample of young adult pain reporters, Sarah Oulton, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

58. Attitudes on faculty unions, Caitlin Sampson, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

59. Indiscriminate friendliness and attachment security in children adopted from orphanages in China and their Canadian-born peers, Rosalind Shelton, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

60. Childhood learning experiences related to pain anxiety in young adult pain reporters, Jenn Threader, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Withdrawn Work-related stress among correctional staff: Any gender difference? Jared Uhlman, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

SociologyWithdrawn The effects of divorce on the family, Lindsey Acorn, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

63. Makeover rescue: making over the makeover literature and saving the audience, Heather Capstick, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

64. Butch in the streets, femme in the sheets: gender roles in lesbian couples, Judy Hines, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

65. The diamond right-hand ring: unearthing the connection between commodities and meaning, Erin Murphy, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

66. Predicting deviant behaviour among university students, Chris Poirier, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

67. The effects of high/low conflict marriage and divorce on young adult offspring, Desiree Russell, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

68. Popular consumption of ablist assumptions: the textual construction of blindness, Erica Ward, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

69. Intergenerational transmission of healthy behaviour in young adults, Erica Ward, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Angus L. MacDonald Library

StFX Service Learning


ANTHROPOLOGY

Presentation time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

1. THE MANY VOICES OF “ACADIANNESS”: MULTIVOCALITY AND IDENTITY AT GRAND PRE. Jennifer Arseneau Department of Anthropology

This study looks at Grand Pré National Historic Park, and the narrative that is woven regarding Acadian Identity through multiple means of presentation. Looking at the recent development of archaeology at the site, compared with the historical records, and the story of Evangeline, I wanted to show if archaeology presented a new understanding of Acadian identity, or if it was an extension of what had already been established at the site. One-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted in person at the site, as well as over the phone with park representatives and experts in the Acadian history at Grand Pre. Literature reviews and descriptive site visits also formed the foundation of the data for this project. From these interviews, literature reviews and site visits, I concluded that there is in fact one narrative being presented at Grand Pre about the Acadian story, but that there are multiple ways to tell this central concept of “Acadianness”. This project reveals the importance of understanding archaeology and its role in the construction of identity, but also the importance of other means of representation, all of which telling the same story of “being Acadian”.


ANTHROPOLOGY


2. MORTUARY PRACTICES AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AT CERRO JUAN DIAZ, PANAMA Ashley L. DeYoung Department of Anthropology

This research focuses on the archaeological site of Cerro Juan Diaz, located in Central Panama, which was occupied continuously for over 2000 years from approximately 400 BC to AD 1600. Archaeological investigations uncovered 115 individual burials at the site that fall into two temporal periods: the Conte Ceramic Phase (700 – 850 A.D.) and the Macaracas Ceramic Phase (900-1100 A.D.). A primary goal of this study is to examine the nature of the site using qualitative and quantitative analyses to expose patterns in the mortuary data. The following key questions are addressed: Who was interred at the site? Was the necropolis similar in nature to other Central Panamanian sites such as Sitio Conte and He-4 in that it was highly selective with restricted elite access? Or did the site serve as a less restricted, commoner burial ground? How did the aspects of deathways and paleodemography at Cerro Juan Diaz change over time? Is there evidence of ascribed or achieved social status? In other words, was the settlement egalitarian in nature, where individuals would gain status through personal accomplishments and leadership abilities? Or was the settlement complexly divided into a range of social hierarchies where positions of status are inherited at birth? The patterns revealed through this work and their subsequent interpretations will serve to provide a better understanding of ancient Panamanian social organization and cultural ideologies.


ANTHROPOLOGY


3. PRESENTING HISTORY AND GARNERING REVENUE – FOLK IDEALS AND MARKETING REALITIES IN SHERBROOKE VILLAGE’S CULTURAL PRODUCTION Meghann Jack Department of Anthropology

In a competitive world of cultural commodization, museums face a conflict between the presentation of historical tradition and the need to garner revenue. My research examines how history and culture are shaped at Sherbrooke Village, a part of the Nova Scotia Museum, in the context of the economic imperative to maintain or increase tourist visits to the site. I argue that, to ensure that tourists visit the site, museum staff present visitors with sanitized Folk and agrarian cultural productions rather than less popular industrial images. I address how the marketing of this rural Folk image for consumer consumption produces subjective historical presentations that jeopardize the integrity of the museum as a legitimate forum for educational programming, conservation, and preservation. I examine this topic using participant observation, museum staff interviews and an analysis of marketing material. I conclude that commodification influences how museum staff understand and present local culture at this site. This study contributes to an understanding of how economic imperatives shape images, presentations and narrations of the past within the Nova Scotia Museum.


ANTHROPOLOGY


4. AN EXAMINATION OF THE BALSERÍA AND THE NATURE OF OVERPRODUCTION IN CENTRAL PANAMANIAN CHIEFLY SOCIETIES Kenzie Jessome Department of Anthropology

The balsería was a game and feasting ritual practiced by the Guaymí of western Panama and ethno-historically it has been suggested to route to social mobility. Prestige in the chiefly societies and egalitarian societies is accomplished differently in central Panama. This work utilizes ethnographic and archaeological lines of evidence to explore the significance of overproduction associated with last known account of this social event and I suggest ritual feasting was central to accomplishing the transition from simple to a complexly organized society in central Panama. Feasting rituals were central socio-political institutions in prehistoric times, thus, I quantify food production for the balsería and compare it to the production of a ‘normal’ or subsistence level household unit of the Guaymí of Western Panama to illustrate the sheer volume of social investment into feasting rituals. I also contend that the balsería is a form of ritualized warfare that has stemmed from the chiefly level councils reported around the coast plains of Panama. The ritual, communal, and political nature of the balsería activities are were a crucial element of early societal development, as the ability to host an event to the scale of a balsería entails immense cooperation alluding to its societal significance and potentiality of mechanism of transition to social complexity.


ANTHROPOLOGY


5. TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN CANADA: A MECHANISM FOR HEALING AMONG THE MI’KMAW IN NOVA SCOTIA? Nikki Johnston Department of Anthropology Program This study examines the response of Aboriginal-affiliated organizations in Nova Scotia to Canada’s upcoming Truth and Reconciliation Commission, from an anthropological perspective. The Commission intends to address the history and the legacy of Residential Schools attended by native children. My research critically considers the process of truth and reconciliation and weighs the merit of the exercise in terms of reconciliation in Aboriginal-non-Aboriginal relations. My multi-faceted methodology includes five one-on-one semi-structured interviews with individuals who work for Mi’kmaq organizations and researchers who work for Indian Residential Schools Resolutions Canada. A media scan and conference field notes were used to complement the interviews. This research found that the TRC is a top-driven process, and although there is a working relationship between the TRC and particular organizations in Nova Scotia to prepare for the TRC, the communities will likely play a leading role in defining their participation in the truth and reconciliation process. As the TRC is still largely in its infancy, strategies for funding, visions for national and community events and methods for collaborating with and supporting communities in this process must still be fleshed out to ensure the safety of those who this process attempts to serve. Ultimately, the TRC should be understood as one of the ways in which reconciliation may be fostered in Aboriginal-non Aboriginal relations, and not as an end in and of itself.


BIOLOGY


6. GENES FOR LEAF VEIN PATTERNS ALSO AFFECT ROOTS AND ROOT HAIRS Elham Albahi*, Elizabeth Schultz⌂ and Moira Galway* *Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University ⌂Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge

PURPOSE: The plant hormone auxin has many effects on growth and development. The localized accumulation of auxin in roots initiates the formation of lateral or secondary roots and high concentrations inhibit root elongation and enhance root hair elongation.The plant genes SFC-40, CVP2, GSY and FKD1 are needed for proper leaf vein patterns and auxin transport. To find out if these genes are needed in roots, we examined the effects of mutations on root growth, root hair pattern, root hair position on root epidermal cells, and root hair length and shape. METHODS: The Columbia ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana was used as a control. Hand sectioning of roots was done to determine the size and pattern of root epidermal cells. Root growth rates, root hair position, shape and length were determined. All sections and intact roots were observed by staining them in a solution of toluidine blue and viewed by light microscopy. RESULTS: CVP2 has no significant effects on root development. Mutations in SFC-40 and GSY result in short roots. Mutations in SFC-40, GSY and FKD1 affect the number of non-hair forming cell files and root diameter. GSY affects root hair position. And finally, FKD1 is the only gene that where mutated affects the shape of the root hairs and alters them from the normal tubular shape to a waving, twisted and branched shape. CONCLUSION: The genes SFC-40, GSY and FKD1 have some effects on the development of roots and root hairs, while CVP2 does not influence the root development.


http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/R/Roots.html

BIOLOGY


7. INTERTIDAL BARNACLES AS ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE INTENSITY OF WINTER ICE SCOUR Kiva-Marie Belt, Ricardo Scrosati, and Stephen Cole Department of Biology

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of winter ice scour on the abundance of the intertidal barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, because of this species’ potential for use as an ecological indicator of ice scour intensity. We hypothesized that S. balanoides would be more abundant in wave-sheltered locations than in wave-exposed locations, and that S. balanoides would be more abundant in the Northumberland Strait than in Cape Breton. METHODS: Adult S. balanoides were counted using 25 x 25 cm quadrats placed at random positions in the upper intertidal zone of eight sampling sites in each region. At each site, S. balanoides were counted in twenty quadrats in exposed habitat and twenty quadrats in sheltered habitat. Data were analyzed with a nested ANOVA. RESULTS: Mean density of adult S. balanoides was significantly greater in the Northumberland Strait than in Cape Breton (p = 1 x 10-5) wave-sheltered than in wave-exposed locations (p = 1 x 10-3). CONCLUSIONS: S. balanoides abundance is sensitive to the severe ice scour experienced in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and could be used both to monitor sites over time for changes in the severity of ice scour, and also to indicate the degree of ice scour at previously unstudied sites.


BIOLOGY


8. AIR BLADDER REPAIR IN THE INTERTIDAL SEAWEED, ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM Kelly Clement Department of Biology

PURPOSE: This study on Ascophyllum nodosum employed scanning electron microscopy to investigate the repair of air bladder tissues following natural and artificial damage. It also examined the types of marine organisms inhabiting damaged air bladders and the conditions necessary for their colonization. METHODS: 168 Ascophyllum air bladders were artificially damaged to varying degrees and inspected once a month for signs of repair. During each inspection, air bladders were assigned a numerical rank for repair progress, and specimens were collected and prepared for SEM and light microscopy. Three populations of naturally damaged air bladders were also collected and the inhabiting fauna were quantified. RESULTS: Only in treatments of bladder wall abrasion, the mildest of the four damage types, was complete repair observed. In all other treatments, where wounds exposed the inner airspace, bladder walls did not re-seal after five months. Instead, medullary cells which line the airspace re-differentiated and formed a new epidermis. Also, at least twenty different animal species were found colonizing damaged air bladders. CONCLUSIONS: Wound closure is not observed following puncture of air bladders, and instead, the newly exposed medullary tissue stabilizes by re-differentiating into a new epidermis. This provides a long-term protective habitat for a variety of small invertebrates, including crustaceans, marine mites, worms, hydroids, gastropods, bivalves, and different types of larvae and eggs.


BIOLOGY


9. ANTIGONISH DAIRY FARM SERVICE LEARNING: Gleann Farm Animal Biology Laboratory Class Section 201:15 Department of Biology

This study is an analysis of different activities that take place in a dairy farm, among all the different activities, the following areas were consider the main focus of this study: Animal welfare, crop production, milking process, an analysis of body condition scores, the general lifestyle of a farmer and it includes a survey among the students of the class which quantifies their previous knowledge about the activities carried out in a dairy farm and the knowledge acquired from the study. The purpose of the study was to expose the class to the dairy farm lifestyle, the numerous processes which have to be carried out and the different factors that have to be taken care of during the manufacture of dairy products.

We appreciate the cooperation of: The StFX Biology Department, Kevin Bekkers, The Service Learning Program and Bruce Thompson


BIOLOGY


10. ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM: AN UNUSUAL CASE OF CELL DIVISION IN THE ABSENCE OF MITOSIS

Greg LawsonDepartment of Biology

PURPOSE: This study examined cellular characteristics of Ascophyllum nodosum, which may contribute to a known tissue sloughing and anti-epiphytic mechanism which has not been characterized cytologically. METHODS: Fluorescence microscopy in conjunction with 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was used to visualize cell nuclei. Measurements were made at 4 h intervals over a 24 h period on 6 replicate plants to calculate a mitotic index that was analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA. Nuclear position was measured as a proportion of cell length from basal to apical walls. Sections of plants and fragments of sloughed cellular material were documented with digital micrographs. RESULTS: No peak period of mitotic activity was identified for this alga. Nuclei were found positioned in the basal portion of the cytoplasm in nearly all cells observed. Visualized sections of plants appeared to show distinct bands of anucleate cellular material at the external surface. Sloughed tissue demonstrated no positive nuclear fluorescence. CONCLUSION: Observations of anucleate cellular material at the external surface suggests a cell division occurred without a mitotic division of the nucleus. The absence of mitotic division is supported by the lack of degrading nuclei in these outermost cells which are destined for sloughing from the surface. Generation of sloughed tissue in the context of nuclear position seems to preserve essential cell components while sloughing a mostly vacuolated external cell along with surface epiphytes. We believe this to be an effective mechanism which A. nodosum uses to inexpensively decrease epiphyte loading at what appears to be a small cost to the plant.


BIOLOGY


11. ONGOING WORK IN THE MARINE ECOLOGY LAB Jamie C. Tam, Stephen W. B. Cole, and Caroline M. Longtin Biology Department

Ecology is the branch of science that investigates the biological and environmental factors that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms in nature. The intertidal zone is a model system in which critical evaluation of ecological theories can be conducted. It is ideal because it is a relatively narrow band of habitat that experiences a wide range of stressors, both abiotic and biotic. Furthermore, the organisms that live there are often sessile or have short generation times. Thus theories can be tested with relative ease, compared with many other habitats and then applied to other systems in the world. Our lab focuses on the rocky intertidal zone of Atlantic Canada and NE United States. Currently, we are conducting empirical research on a number of different fronts:

Jamie Tam is testing a biogeographic paradigm, the Abundant Centre Hypothesis, at regional (latitudinal) and local (wave exposure) scales from Newfoundland to Long Island by applying field and genetic techniques to blue mussel (Mytilus edulis and M. trossulus) populations.

Stephen Cole is determining the spatial scales of variability in population traits of mussels (Mytilus spp.), barnacles (Semibalanus balanoides), fucoid seaweeds (Fucus spp. and Ascophyllum nodosum), and Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. He aims to identify scales appropriate for using these organisms as ecological indicators of coastal ecosystem health.

Caroline Longtin is elucidating patterns of epiphyte (Vertebrata lanosa, Elachista fucicola, and Pylaiella littoralis) distribution across intertidal elevation and along fronds of the host species (A. nodosum). As part of her research, she is performing manipulative experiments testing hypotheses on epiphyte recruitment limitation.

We thank NSERC, CRC, CFI, DFO, Darling Marine Centre and St. Francis Xavier University for their support.


BIOLOGY


11a. THE ROLE OF FOCAL ADHESION KINASE IN REGULATION OF ION TRANSPORT IN THE TELEOST, FUNDULUS HETEROCLITUS Kaitlyn Watters Department of Biology

PURPOSE: Osmoregulatory processes are crucial for survival of the euryhaline fish species, Fundulus heteroclitus. In the gill and opercular epithelia are mitochondria-rich cells that actively transport ions. In particular, the anion channel Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR) is responsible for secretion of Cl- from these cells. Regulation of this anion channel is unclear; however, recent studies have focused on the role of a protein tyrosine kinase, Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK). FAK is phosphorylated in teleost species of fish at specific tyrosines: Y407, Y576/577 and Y861 and, uniquely, FAK pY407 is osmosensitive. We hypothesized that regulation of CFTR is related to phosphorylation of FAK pY407. METHODS: Fundulus heteroclitus opercular epithelial membranes were dissected and treated with antibodies, allowing the use of immunocytochemistry techniques to view fluorescence of CFTR and FAK pY407. Membranes were also mounted in Ussing chambers, enabling electrophysiology techniques to be used to measure chloride currents. Differences in chloride current were compared using t-tests or Bonferroni post-test following one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: We confirmed that hypotonic shock dephosphorylates FAK pY407 and causes chloride secretion to decrease. Following hypotonic shock, membranes were treated with 10 µM forskolin, which increases chloride ion current through CFTR. By immunocytochemistry we observed that application of forskolin to membranes caused rephosphorylation of FAK Y407, coincident with restoration of Cl- current. CONCLUSION: These results are consistent with a model wherein phosphorylation of FAK pY407 may activate FAK, and leading to tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of CFTR in the chloride cells of killifish opercular epithelia.

We would like to acknowledge NSERC for funding this research project.


BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


12. FIRM-SPECIFIC STOCK RETURN VARIATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: EVIDENCE FROM POLAND Karolina Hass Department of Business Administration

PURPOSE: Good corporate governance is associated with better information disclosure by firms. Recently Poland has experienced substantive improvements in corporate governance of publicly traded firms. This study examines level of firm-specific information incorporated into stock prices on the Warsaw Stock Exchange from 2001 to 2005 by using a stock return synchronicity measure. It also investigates the relationship between corporate governance and the incorporation of information into stock prices. METHODS: Stock return synchronicity was measured by regressing firm-specific returns on industry and market-related returns. Regression analysis was also used to examine relationship between synchronicity (Synch measure) and corporate governance level (based on CG ratings) controlling for firm size and growth. RESULTS: It is expected that the mean Synch measure will be lower in 2005 as compared to 2001. Greater firm-specific return variation (less synchronicity) in 2005 will be a sign that the stock returns over time are less explained by market- and industry- related information. It is also expected that high corporate governance should be associated with lower synchronicity. CONCLUSIONS: Less synchronous movement of stocks might be caused by the improvement of outside investor protection and information transparency. In other words, the introduction of corporate governance standards may be a reason for more firm-related information being incorporated in stock prices. Conclusions for the relationship between corporate governance and synchronicity will be forthcoming.




13. A CROSS-NATIONAL STUDY ON PRINT ADVERTISEMENT PREFERENCE AND COLOUR PREFERENCE Ranran Ju Department of Business Administration

PURPOSE: This Study investigated whether color preference has a positive impact on print ad preference within two national groups - Canadian and Chinese in age between18 to 24 (generation Y). METHODS: Preferences on six colours (blue, green, red, yellow, orange and violet), and six print advertisements with those six colours in three different shapes were measured using the Seven-point Scale. Independent and Paired Sample Test, Bivariate Correlation Test and Categorical Principal Components Analysis (CATPCA) were used to estimate the relationship among the variables assessed. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences with respect to the liking of red, violet, green and orange in two countries. Statistically significant differences (p < .05) occurred in terms of liking yellow and blue across two. In both countries, red and yellow colour ads were the least liked ads. There were no statistically significant differences between ads liking on blue, green, violet, orange and red colour ads, but significant difference exist on yellow ads liking rating (sig = .037). Blue ad is most liked colour ad.Chinese people liked yellow ad better than Canadian people. Correlations between some colours and some colour meanings were found using CATPCA in both Canada and China. CONCLUSIONS: Colour preference has positive correlation on certain coloured ads in Canada and China. Shape has positive correlation with green colour ad preference in Canada. Violet is the most liked colour ad in China. No positive correlation was found between colour ad preference and colour preference in China. Yellow and red therefore should be used carefully in Canada and China when advertisements are targeting generation Y.




14. CANADIAN MUTUAL FUNDS- A QUESTION OF STYLE? Timothy MacDonald Department of Business Administration

Investor interest and investment in Canadian mutual funds has dramatically risen in the last decade as evidenced by the increase in the number of funds and the size of those funds. The catalyst for the increase in the use of funds as an investment vehicle is attributed to the diversification of securities, the wide range of product offerings, the low transaction costs and the professional portfolio management. Mutual fund companies have responded to investor interest by increasing the number and type of funds for investor consideration in an attempt to meet investors’ financial requirements. One means used to distinguish mutual funds is investment style; mutual funds mainly use two equity investment styles: value and growth. The impact on fund performance of these two styles is empirically tested in this study over a five year period to determine if investment style matters in mutual fund performance. The net asset value data for Canadian equity mutual funds was gathered from GlobeinvestorGold.com and both abnormal and average monthly normal returns were calculated based on that data. Mutual fund performance was partitioned by market capitalization and analyzed to determine if size has any effect on the performance of Canadian equity mutual funds. The returns were analyzed using two regression models. Results of the analysis indicated that investment style, not market capitalization, has an impact on mutual fund performance within the Canadian context. Further results will follow concerning the comparison between value and growth styles within the Canadian setting.


ECONOMICS


15. A METHOD FOR ESTIMATING PREFERENCE RANKINGS IN THE MARRIAGE MARKET Chance Creelman Department of Economics

PURPOSE: Our research outlines an algorithm designed to back-out the preference rankings of individuals in the marriage market from census data, based on the assumption of revealed preferences. METHODS: Using the equilibrium distribution of matches present in US census data, the Gale-Shapely Algorithm is used (in conjunction with Simulated Annealing) to establish an optimal correspondence with reality across all possible preferences. RESULTS: Preliminary results suggest that significant income-based type densities are found across all types, for both genders. Densities as high as 0.8 have been observed, respective to the optimal correspondence factor of 0.736986 for the year 1960. Noise due to the restrictions of the G-S Algorithm, the small sample size and the finite types has been reduced, but not eliminated. CONCLUSIONS: This research shows the potential ability of our method to reveal the previously unobservable preference densities of various types of individuals. More work remains to be done in order to fine-tune our process, as well as extend our examination to other means of type determination (such as education).

The authors thank the Atlantic Computational Excellence Network (ACEnet) for the use of their high performance computing resources.


ECONOMICS


16. THE HUMAN CAPITAL CONSEQUENCE OF POLYGYNY IN MALAYSIA JD Crowe Department of Economics

My Thesis focuses on marital institutions and the effects they have on the human capital investments in children. More specifically I will be investigating the type of matching which permits polygynous marriage and its consequent effect on human capital. This will generate testable implications.

This will build on the work of Gary Becker and Aloysius Siow, and their work examining the consequence of marital institutions, and matching. It will also draw on the work of Michelle Tertilt who studied the effects of polygyny on physical capital investments, and found that polygyny tends to have a crowding out effect on physical capital investments.

My approach will work on the premise that a woman will enter the marriage which offers her the greatest level of utility. Assuming this is perfectly observable by the parents, their decision to invest in their daughter will be dependent on family income and the sex ratio. The upper bound of this investment is the amount of education after which a wealthy individual would not marry her, or the point at which she would not choose to enter a monogamous marriage. This creates the possibility that lower income families for parents to under invest in their daughters. While sons maybe over invested in, in order to increase their chances of matching with higher type females.


ECONOMICS


17. AN ANALYSIS OF GHANA’S FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE MULTI-NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF INITIATIVE PERIOD Philip Grace Department of Economics

This study examines the fundamentals which will lead to a sustainable economic futurefor Ghana given current and future trends in government budget financing. The accounting approach to total fiscal sustainability reveals that external debt and, subsequently, exchange rate depreciation are key drivers of overall fiscal sustainability. The analysis also takes into account the domestic debt and primary deficit components of fiscal sustainability. Synonymous with a sustainable fiscal situation in the accounting framework is a non-increasing debt-to-GDP ratio. Preliminary results demonstrate that Ghana has been on a sustainable path since successful completion of the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Final results and conclusions are forthcoming.


ECONOMICS


18. FUEL EFFICIENCY AND THE EFFECT OF FUEL PRICES ON THE AUTO MARKET Dave Hamilton Department of Economics

A car does not move if it has no fuel, thus these two products are complimentary in nature and use. However in a world of differentiated products this may not be the case for some individual products, being that as the gasoline price increases the demand for the fuel efficient automobiles increases even though they are complimentary in nature. Given the level of importance and dependence compliments have upon each other, differentiation is a source for competitive advantage.Using and expanding the classic Hotelling model for differentiated products should be possible to analyze the competitive advantage by studying the change in market share as explained by the relative ranking of an automobile’s fuel efficiency compared to its competitors. This may prove to be a little difficult given other factors such as brand strategy, customer loyalty, etc. However it is possible to isolate these effects by simply grouping together similar products, such as SUVs in one group, low priced cars in another, etc. Another method of isolating the certain variables is to focus solely on the purchase of new cars with low prices, thus we will be looking at the most price sensitive segment of the market. Finally using econometrics it is possible to test for and correct heteroskedasticity within the data set should it exist which is likely. Thus it is possible to minimize the effect of variables not being considered such as brand, advertising, etc and allow for an accurate representation of the effect of a gasoline price increase on that market share of vehicles.


ECONOMICS


19. ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF DEPOSIT INSURANCE ON BANKING SYSTEM STABILITY Margaux MacDonald Department of Economics

This study examined the impacts that the presence explicit deposit insurance schemes have on a country’s banking system stability. It was modeled after a study conducted by Demirguc-Kunt and Detragiache (2002, World Bank & IMF), with updated data as well as changes to, and additions of, variables. The base model that was run was one with the explicit deposit insurance as a dummy explanatory variable. Secondary models that were tested were with the deposit insurance dummy replaced by variables indicating the different design features of deposit insurance. Preliminary results show that the presence of explicit deposit insurance has a positive effect on banking crises (ie. explicit deposit insurance increases the likelihood of a banking crisis). Final results and conclusions forthcoming.


HUMAN KINETICS


20. THE EFFECT OF CHITOSAN POLYMERS ON BLOOD LEVELS OF CAFFEINE Chris Bourque Department of Human Kinetics

Chitosan has had much attention in recent years as a potential absorption enhancer for drugs which have difficulty crossing the intestinal epithelia. The purpose of this study was to determine if chitosan supplementation increases the gastrointestinal absorption of caffeine, thereby increasing the overall bioavailability of caffeine. Six male volunteers were tested in a double blind, repeated measures fashion whereby administration of a set amount of caffeine (400 mg) + chitosan (400 mg) in capsule form (Condition A) was followed by administration of an equal amount of caffeine (400 mg) + rice flour (400 mg) the following week (Condition B). Three blood samples were taken from each participant on each testing day at t=0 (before caffeine ingestion), t=30 min., and t=60 min., then analyzed for plasma caffeine concentration using HPLC. Mean plasma caffeine concentration was then compared between each test condition. The results showed a drastic increase in caffeine concentration for t=30 (0.627 ± 0.539 AU, condition A vs 0.112 ± 0.070 AU, condition B; p<0.05), and t=60 (1.745 ± 0.408 AU, condition A vs 0.227 ± 0.081 AU, condition B; p<0.05). These data suggest that chitosan increases the absorption of caffeine into the blood.


HUMAN KINETICS


21. GIRLS ON THE RUN: AN AFTER SCHOOL RUNNING PROGRAM FOR GIRLS Laura Crossman Department of Human Kinetics

PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of a running program on reducing weight and fatness in at risk of overweight (BMI > 85th ≤ 95th age- and sex-matched percentiles, Center for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts) and overweight (BMI > 95th age- and sex- matched percentile) girls in Grade 7 or 8. METHODS: Thirteen females considered at least overweight took part in a six-week running program, held three times per week for an hour each session. During the six-week running program, the female participants ran longer distances and/or increased the pace of their walking/running on a weekly basis. Pre- and post-intervention testing included measurement of height, weight, and waist circumference. Dependent t-tests were used to assess the pre- and post-intervention measurements of waist circumference and weight. RESULTS: The average pre-intervention waist circumference was 75.9 ± 5.6 mm; post-intervention waist circumference was 73.0 ± 4.0. On average, the participants experienced a significant (Student’s t-test p = 0.0006) loss of body fat as noted by an average reduction in waist circumference of – 3.0 ± 2.5 mm, with a range of - 0.6 to - 9.6 mm noted. A significant (Student’s t-test p = 0.002) weight loss, on average of - 1.97 ± 2.00 kg, was experienced by the participants in this study, with an initial weight of 56.0 ± 6.9 kg, and a post-intervention weight of 54.0 ± 5.9 kg. CONCLUSION: Therefore, an after school learn to run program held at least three times per week for six weeks was effective for reducing body fat (as measured by waist circumference) and body weight in young females (Grades 7 or 8) considered at risk of overweight or overweight. Further research and/or interventions of this kind should be put into place to combat the low levels of physical activity in adolescent girls as well as the current obesity epidemic in Canada.


HUMAN KINETICS


22. DEPTH JUMPS: LEAP OF FAITH OR A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION Danyel Degenhardt Department of Human Kinetics

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of a plyometric exercise (depth jump) on acute cycling performance in ten athletic males. METHODS: A counterbalanced design was used with each subject participating in the experimental and control groups and testing occurring one week apart. The control group completed a Wingate Anaerobic Bike test following a standard five minute warm-up on a bike. The experimental group completed a five minute warm-up as well. This warm-up included four minutes on a bike and five depth jumps in one minute. This group also completed the Wingate Anaerobic Bike test. RESULTS: The male subjects (21.2 ± 2.23 yrs) had an average height of 183.1 ± 4.3 cm and a weight of 98.0 ± 14.5 kg. T-test results showed that the participants performed significantly better at their second testing session (1st = 10.68 W/kg, 2nd = 11.28 W/Kg, p < .05). However, no significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups (EXP = 11.19 W/kg, CON = 10.77 W/Kg, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, males improved their depth jump results with practice regardless of the type of warm-up followed. These results show the importance of using a counterbalanced design when investigating the effects of warm up on subsequent performances. Further research should be done using a similar design given the small subject size used in the present investigation.


HUMAN KINETICS


23. THE POWER TO MOVE YOU: COMPARING LEG POWER IN COMPETITIVE DANCERS, VARSITY ATHLETES AND SEDENTARY FEMALES Terri Fenton Department of Human Kinetics

PURPOSE: This study compared the leg power of 10 female competitive dancers (18.7 ± 1.1 yrs), 11 female varsity hockey players (20.1 ± 1.0 yrs), and 7 sedentary females (21.0 ± 0.6yrs). METHODS: Leg power was measured using a Vertex vertical jump stadeometer following the protocol outlined by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. Leg power was calculated using the vertical jump data and the Lewis Power Equation. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the leg power of the three groups. A Tukey’s Post-hoc test was then used to determine the nature of the significant difference. RESULTS: Female hockey players (904.3 ± 58.6 Watts) produced significantly (p = 0.026) more power than the females who were sedentary (795.3 ± 124.5 Watts). Although the female dancers (845.8 ± 57.2 Watts) also produced more power than the sedentary females, this difference was not significant (p = 0.424). Further, there were no significant differences in the power produced by the dancers and hockey players (p = 0.209). CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that females who participate in dance and hockey produce similar leg power. It can be assumed then, that the training involved in preparing females to dance or play hockey is similar in its ability to elicit leg power.


HUMAN KINETICS


24. HIGH INTENSITY RESISTANCE EXERCISE AS A METHOD OF INDUCING POST-ACTIVATION POTENTIATION Michael FitzGerald Department of Human Kinetics

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the efficacy of an active warm-up (WU) utilizing a high intensity leg press exercise in inducing post-activation potentiation (PAP). METHODS: Eleven strength trained males were included as participants. Dependent measures of maximal power output (MPO) and short-term work capacity (STWC) were collected using a stationary start (ST) 10-second sprint cycle test. The control WU consisted of five minutes of pedaling on a Monark cycle ergometer, at a cadence of 70 to 90 rpm. The PAP WU involved performing 7 X 1 repetition at 90% one repetition maximum of the leg press exercise, with three minutes rest between sets. RESULTS: Preliminary data collection revealed reliability for the ST 10-second sprint cycle test (MPO = 0.978, STWC = 0.97), meaning the error associated with the 10-second sprint cycle test was acceptable with ± 0.61 Watts/kg for MPO and ± 0.53 Watts/kg for STWC. Results from dependent t-tests showed the control WU achieved significantly higher values for MPO (p = 0.003) and STWC (p = 0.02) than the PAP WU. CONCLUSION: Muscular fatigue and specificity of WU exercise were thought to be the performance limiting factors for the PAP WU. Muscular fatigue was speculated to have occurred due to low frequency fatigue. The volume, intensity, and specificity of exercise appear to be the most relevant factors to PAP, and therefore also relevant to subsequent performance. In conclusion, the leg press exercise used as part of the PAP WU in this investigation was not effective at acutely improving muscular performance, and should be questioned a method of inducing functional PAP.


HUMAN KINETICS


25. EFFECTS OF A REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM ON COGNITION IN INSTITUTIONALIZED ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA PATIENTS

Jonathan HarrisDepartment of Human Kinetics

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of a regular walking program as a means of maintaining or improving cognitive function in older adults with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Methods: Cognitive level was assessed before and after a six-week walking program using the Folstein Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Five participants were assigned to take part in the walking program and four participants were assigned to a control group with no change in their overall physical activity level. Participants in the walking program engaged in 15 to 30 minutes of walking at least three times per week for six weeks. The change in MSSE from pre- to post-test was analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance for the control and treatment groups. Results: Participants in the treatment group increased their MMSE scores by an average of 0.40 ± 9.63% while the control group experienced an average decrease of 22.50 ± 16.86%. This difference between treatment and control groups in pre and post treatment MMSE scores was significantly different (MSE= 1165.356, F= 6.664, p=0.036). However, it should be pointed out that one individual in the control group experienced a 47% decrease in MMSE scores and may be responsible for this result. Conclusion: A regular walking program shows some promise as a way of maintaining or improving cognition in older adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.


HUMAN KINETICS


26. COMPLEXES: A RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM TO INDUCE FAT LOSSTyler KirbyDepartment of Human Kinetics

PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of two resistance training protocols on body weight (BW), sum of five skinfolds (S5), and waist circumference (WC) in male varsity football players. METHODS: The same researcher measured height, weight, five skinfolds (biceps, triceps, supscapular, iliac crest, and medial calf), and waist circumference according to the protocols outlines by the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology in the 18 participants. The control group (n = 8) performed a six-week traditional resistance training program followed by a ten-minute interval on a stationary bike; this interval was considered equivalent to the “complexes” training program in terms of energy (i.e., calories) required. The training group (n = 10) performed the same six-week traditional resistance training program followed by the “complexes”. Complexes are a series of lifts performed with little rest between. A standard T-test, corrected for multiple use, compared the change scores in weight, sum of skinfolds and waist circumference between the pre and post training measurements. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups’ pre and post training measurements of weight, sum of five skinfolds, or waist circumference. Although both groups on average lost weight and fat (as measured by the sum of skinfolds and waist circumference), the “complexes” training group did not lose more fat as hypothesized. Control group = Weight - 0.11 ± 2.69 kg, SF -5.09 ± 9.00 mm, WC - 0.93 ± 2.83 cm; Training group Weight = - 0.57 ± 2.14 kg, SF -3.77 ± 3.55 mm, WC -0.82 ± 2.16 cm. CONCLUSION: If fat loss is the goal or purpose of exercise, resistance training programs that either incorporate cardiorespiratory training or multiple weight lifting exercises with very short rest intervals (i.e., complexes) are effective.


HUMAN KINETICS


27. MEN MOVING MOUNTAINS: A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS Elizabeth MacDougall Department of Human Kinetics

I approach this study from a North American liberal feminist philosophical perspective. The purpose of the study was to examine and analyze how males with Parkinson’s disease, who were physically active, cope with their preconceived notion of the ideal male. I argue that males with Parkinson’s disease experienced tension with masculinity while exercising. One-one-one, semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with four males with Parkinson’s disease and their spouses. Six interviews were conducted in person and two were conducted over the telephone. Once the transcribed verbatim was coded and analyzed, I applied deductive reasoning and critical thinking to make inferences and divided the material into respective themes; I) Physical Activity experience and Parkinson’s; II) Issues with Parkinson’s while exercising; III) Role of Support Group; IV) Masculinity; V) Femininity VI) Masculine and Feminine Ideals; VII) Masculinity and gym. These seven themes demonstrated and supported my overall argument that men with Parkinson’s disease experience tension with their masculinity while exercising.


HUMAN KINETICS

Presentation time: Mike McDonald 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.; Stephanie Mills 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

28. THE INFLUENCE OF STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT RATIO ON VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE. Mike McDonald Department of Human KineticsPURPOSE: This study examined the effect of the strength-to-weight ratio of female varsity volleyball players on the optimal squat depth from which to perform a vertical jump. METHODS: Strength-to-weight ratio was manipulated using a weighted vest to alter participant’s body weight. Squat jumps were performed from two different squat depths, a “self selected” and a “deep” depth. Jumps were done at three different body weight conditions, 100%, 110% and120% of their body weight respectively. A new preferred depth was selected by the participant for each weight condition, and the “deep” depth used for the 100% condition was kept constant for all three conditions. Squat depth was measured as the distance between the hip and the ankle using Dartfish video analysis software. Jump height was calculated using integrated ground reaction forces and the method proposed by Linthorne (2001). RESULTS: 12 University aged varsity female volleyball players took part in this study. Mean preferred squat depths were calculated to be 61.0 ± 5.6 cm, 62.8± 5.7 cm, and 63.2 ± 5.9 cm for the 100%, 110% and 120% weight conditions respectively. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant differences between the three conditions (p=0.062). A two-way ANOVA was used to compare the jump heights from both squat depths (self-selected, deep), across the three different weight conditions (100%, 110%, 120%). The “deep” squat point was found to become less optimal as the strength-to-weight ratio decreased. (p = 0.44). CONCLUSION: Strength-to-weight ratio was not found to have an impact on preferred squat depth, but the ratio did affect the optimal depth from which to perform a squat jump in female varsity volleyball athletes.

28. THE IMPACT OF LOW SQUAT DEPTH COORDINATION TRAINING ON VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE. Stephanie Mills Department of Human KineticsPURPOSE: The aim was to determine the effect of low-squat depth training on vertical jump performance. It was hypothesized that vertical jump height from low squat depths would improve after a training regime. METHODS: Twelve varsity female volleyball players participated in the study (weight: 692.9 N ± 59.8 N, height: 1.76 m ± 0.06 m). Squat jumps were performed from two depths: a self-selected (SS) depth and a 10 cm-lower-than-self-selected depth. Squat depth was indicated by the vertical position of a reflective marker on the greater trochanter of the hip. The four week training protocol consisted of 3 sets of ten “deep squat” jumps, four times per week. In post-testing, participants jumped from the same self-selected and deep squat depths chosen in the pre-test. A final jump was performed from a participant-chosen “New SS” depth to determine the impact of training on squat depth. Change scores were calculated for the SS and deep conditions by subtracting pre-test VJ heights from post-test VJ heights, and for squat depth by subtracting New SS depth from SS depth. An independent samples t-test with unequal variances was performed to compare changes in conditions. RESULTS: Vertical jump performance decreased significantly for the self-selected squat depth in comparison to the change in deep squat depth (t(11)=2.638, p=.0231). Squat depth significantly decreased from the SS depth to the New SS depth (t(11)=4.352, p=.0012). CONCLUSIONS: Deep-squat training caused a decrease in SS squat depth, but also caused a change in coordination that negatively affected VJ performance from optimal squat depth.


HUMAN KINETICS


29. THE EFFECT OF MUSIC LOUDNESS ON ANAEROBIC AND STRENGTH PERFORMANCE Janet McMordie Department of Human Kinetics

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of music loudness on anaerobic power and bench and leg press strength performance in regularly active females (age 20 to 22 years). METHODS: At each testing session, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 music loudness levels: zero decibels (Db), 20 Db lower than preferred volume, 20 Db higher than preferred volume, and preferred volume. Leg press to fatigue, bench press to fatigue, and average power on a 30 second Wingate bike sprint were measured for each participant at every music loudness level. RESULTS: Wingate data revealed that soft music had significantly higher average power than no music (p = 0.035), preferred music had significantly higher average power than no music (p = 0.009), and loud music had significantly higher average power than no music (p = 0.005). Significance was not found between different loudness levels. Bench press data revealed that preferred music had significantly higher repetitions than no music (p = 0.004), loud music had significantly higher repetitions than no music (p = 0.031), and loud music had significantly higher repetitions than then soft music (p = 0.009). Leg press data revealed that loud music had significantly higher repetitions than no music (p = 0.011), and loud music had significantly higher repetitions than then soft music (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, music had a positive effect on performance; however, the effect of differing loudness levels showed inconclusive results.


HUMAN KINETICS


30. CHASING THE TIGER: CHALLENGING FEMALE TRADITION AND GAINING RECOGNITION IN CANADIAN ALPINE SKIING

Rachel MullengerDepartment of Human Kinetics

This purpose of this study is to examine women’s positioning in alpine skiing, from a North American liberal feminist social historical perspective, I argue that despite being name female athlete of the 20th century, Nancy Greene did not fit the description of the ideal female athlete and challenged the status of women in society in the 1950s and 1960s as well as broke many barriers in sport. Primary and secondary historical sources such as journal articles and media reports were analyzed to observe Nancy Greene Raine’s role in the introduction and advancement of ski racing in Canada. Barriers faced by female ski racers, characteristics of the ideal female athlete, socially constructed views and the exploitation of women in sport through the media were also analyzed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via email with three elite downhill ski racers who all had experience on the Canadian National Ski Team. Material was analyzed and coded according to emerging themes. Inferences were drawn between analysis of the research and interview material in order to establish Nancy Greene’s critical role in Canadian Alpine skiing and breaking down gender ideals.. Emerging themes included femininity and masculinity in sport; media technology and careers in skiing; Greene Raine’s character and skiing style; role models and male tradition in skiing. These themes clearly indicated the lack of recognition given to females in skiing as well as Greene Raine’s important influence on the skiing community. Greene Raine has created a legacy in alpine skiing and can be considered an anomaly. Her success and accomplishments have contributed to the new image of the ideal female athlete. Through Greene Raine’s contribution and involvement in skiing, there has been an increased popularity and awareness for the sport in Canada


HUMAN KINETICS


31. WHO AM I? THE CHANGE IN ATHELTIC INDENTIY BETWEEN FRESHMAN AND SENIOR YEARS HUMAN KINETICS STUDENTS. T. Brendan Smith Department of Human Kinetics

Athletic identity is defined as the degree to which an individual identifies with the athletic role. This study examined the differences in athletic identity between freshman year and senior year human kinetics students who are no longer involved in competitive sport but were during their high school careers. Athletic identity was measured using the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and analyzed under a multidimensional factor as opposed to a single-dimensional factor; data was collected from a freshman (n=35) and senior (n=35) Human Kinetics class. Three members of each sample group were recruited for follow up one-on-one interviews with thematic analysis used to analyze the data. Results indicate a significant difference between subject groups with senior year students recording higher AIMS scores (t(69)=2.05, p= .0442) when analyzed as a single-dimensional factor; only two of the three multidimensional factors recorded significant difference. Interviews with freshman students revealed three themes; a desire to play a varsity sport exists, kinetics professors will serve as role models to maintain a sporting lifestyle and they still consider themselves as athletes. Interviews with senior students revealed four themes; being a kinesiology student has helped to maintain a sporting identity, athletic accomplishments have lost their importance over time, a shift from a competitive to a recreational athlete has occurred and athletics has been replaced with schoolwork, volunteer time and new social events. The themes identified that freshman students maintain a strong sporting identity with a desire for competition while senior students have shifted away from their athletic identity with a focus on school and developing social and career plans while continuing in recreational sports.


HUMAN NUTRITION


32. DOES A SESSION ON NUTRITION LABELING PROVIDE GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF THE LABELS COMPARED TO PRINT MATERIALS IN UNIVERSITY MALES? Cortney Best Department of Human Nutrition

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to increase the knowledge of nutrition food labels in University aged males by using print materials and an education session. The study also determined which of the two methods was a more appropriate and beneficial way to educate this group. METHODS: Analysis of Covariance was performed using the corresponding pre-test score as a covariate to test group differences in knowledge. A paired t test was used to compare groups at post-test. Fisher’s exact test (REF) was used to determine whether any individual questions were more correctly answered after the education session than before. The test was applied only to questions in which a substantial and potentially significant change in correct responses in the post-test was observed. RESULTS: Paired t test revealed no significant difference in knowledge level between groups (p< 0.577). The Analysis of Covariance test also revealed no significant difference (p< 0.947). Fisher’s exact test was used to determine that more subjects answered correctly after receiving education than before in the first question (question # 3) (0.1>p>0.05). The second question, however, was not significant (REF) (question #4 pre-test and # 5 post test). CONCLUSIONS: Third and fourth year University students are knowledgeable on basic nutrition label information. Multiple sessions with more in depth information provided, with a focus on major concern areas such as the % Daily value is needed. First and Second year University males may benefit more and show differences in knowledge levels from this study. Testing should also use short answer questions rather than multiple choice questions to help retain knowledge


HUMAN NUTRITION


33. INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CALCIUM INTAKE AND RESTING ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY Megan Bouchie Department of Human Nutrition

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between calcium intake and resting energy expenditure in 25 undergraduate students at St. Francis Xavier University. METHODS: Calcium intake was measured using a modified food frequency questionnaire. Resting energy expenditure was measured using an indirect handheld calorimeter. Body composition was measured using bioelectric impedance analysis. The relationship between calcium intake and energy expenditure was analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficients. RESULTS: No correlation was found between resting energy expenditure and calcium intake from food (Pearson coefficient = 0.103; p<0.01). No correlation was found between resting energy expenditure and calcium intake from food and supplements combined (Pearson coefficient = -0.017; p<0.01). BMI (Pearson coefficient = 0.027, p>0.01) and body fat percentage (Pearson 0.035; p<0.01) were similarly unaffected by calcium intake.CONCLUSIONS: Calcium intake does not appear to influence resting energy expenditure or body fatness in undergraduate students at St. Francis Xavier University.


HUMAN NUTRITION


34. THE PHENOLIC CONTENT, ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF CHINESE WOLFBERRIES Kristine W. Johansen Department of Human Nutrition

OBJECTIVE: This study has investigated the biological activity of phenolics present in Chinese Wolfberries (Goji berries), based on their antioxidant potential and their ability to interact with proteins. Total phenolic and total tannin content were determined as well as the radical scavenging activity. METHODS: Six samples of wolfberries were obtained from retailers in Canada and the US. Phenolics were extracted from berries with 70% acetone, and then freeze dried. The extracts were analyzed using the Folin- Denis assay as described by Shahidi and Naczk (2003) to determine the phenolic content. The DPPH assay described by Yen and Chen (1995) and the ABTS assay described by Arts et al. (2003) were used to describe the antioxidant properties of the goji berries. Data were analyzed with SPSS and T-test. RESULTS: Goji berries are found to contain small amounts of phenolic compounds(< 10 mg/ 1 g extract). There is however a relationship between phenolic compounds in the goji berries and antioxidant activities. Goji berries do not possess protein precipitating abilities. From the six samples the extracts ranged from 46.6-58.6%, which is very high compared to ie. The mangosteen fruit which only ranges from 4.03-7.89% extract.CONCLUSION: Chinese review papers emphasize the health benefits of consuming goji berries due to the believed antioxidant potential. Goji berries were chosen for this study to investigate the phenolic content, antioxidant potential and biological activity of berries extract. Goji berries show no affinity for unsoluble proteins, however there is still evidence of strong protein interaction. There is not much variation in the total phenolic content between the samples. The values of total phenolics are low, and these results are not in agreement with previously published data.

ReferencesArts, M., Haenen, G., Voss, H.P. & Bast A. (2003) Antioxidant capacity of reaction products limits the applicability of the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 42, 45-59

Naczk, M. & Shahidi, F. (2003) Phenolic compounds in plant foods: Chemistry and health benefits. Neutraceuticals and Functional Foods, 8, 200-218

Yen, G-C. & Chen, H-Y. (1995) Antioxidant activity of various tea extraxts in the relation to their antimutagenity. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 43, 27-37


HUMAN NUTRITION


35. TESTING THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF A TOOL TO ASSESS FOOD INSECURITY AMONGST ON-CAMPUS ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Catherine Myette Department of Human Nutrition

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to create a tool that examined food insecurity in relation to the prevalence and scope, as well as the degree of food access amongst the on-campus student population of St. Francis Xavier University (St. FX) that is both valid and reliable. METHODS: The tool was created by combining two surveys: Canadian Community Health Survey and Access to Food’s in Saskatoon’s Core Neighbourhood. The survey was then adapted for the target population group. The validity was tested through two procedures: expert review and pilot test. The first consisted of four reviewers from Dietitians of Canada Nutrition and Food Security Network and the second involved four representative individuals of the target population (on-campus St. FX University students). The reliability testing consisted of two questionnaire distribution rounds, two weeks a part. Data analysis was conducted through SPSS version 13.0. RESULTS: After a few alterations to the questionnaire the validity testing concluded that the tool is valid. Through the completion of two tests, Kurtosis and Kolmogorov-Smirnov the data was proven to be non-normal. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov revealed p-values < 0.05 with all data. As for the reliability testing, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation exhibited that the tool’s questions are reliable. The majority of the data, 99%, exhibited p-values > 0.05 with the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. With the Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation the greater part of the data, 84%, was largely correlated with r-values ranging 0.50 to 1.0. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, after extensively analyzing the questionnaire it was determined that the tool is both valid and reliable. Therefore, the tool may be implemented to assess food insecurity issues amongst on-campus St. FX University students.


HUMAN NUTRITION


36. THE EFFECTS OF USING A PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITY RELATED TO HIV/AIDS IN UNDERGRADUATE CLINICAL NUTRITION EDUCATION Kendra Read Department of Human Nutrition

The purpose of this study was to determine learning outcomes and student acceptance of a problem-based learning (PBL) activity as compared to lecture-based instruction (LBI) related to HIV/AIDS in undergraduate clinical nutrition. The topic of HIV/AIDS was been chosen for this research because of its increasing prevalence worldwide and the role that nutritional management plays in maintaining health throughout the duration of the infection. The Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research (2004) states that “it is the position of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and Dietitians of Canada (DC) that efforts to optimize nutritional status, including medical nutrition therapy, assurance of food and nutrition security, and nutrition education are essential components throughout the continuum of care available to people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection”. PBL is different from traditional LBI because it involves self-directed learning and allows learners to use their own knowledge and experience to solve ill-structured problems (Heading et al, 2007). This learning method may enhance learning, increase confidence, and prepare students for the professional world after graduation from university. This study was conducted using mixed methodology encompassing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The utilization of a qualitative approach allowed for the collection of students’ attitudes, opinions, and ideas towards problem-based learning while the quantitative aspect measured the relationship between a particular learning method and knowledge gain experienced by the students who were randomly assigned to each learning group (Esterburg, 2002; Baumgartner & Hensley, 2006). The quantitative results of this project revealed that the students who were exposed to the PBL activity achieved a greater knowledge gain than those exposed to the LBI activity. The focus group conducted with the PBL group revealed major themes such as the characteristics of PBL, factors affecting knowledge gain, practical application of knowledge, and the comparison of PBL and LBI instruction methods. The major themes that emerged from the LBI focus group were traditional teaching styles, factors affecting knowledge retention, professor and method of instruction/teaching style, knowledge application, and individual learning styles.


INFORMATION SYSTEMS


37. INFLUENCE OF ERP SOFTWARE PERCEIVED FAMILIARITY ON BUSINESS PROCESS LEARNING OUTCOMES Matthew Milne Department of Information Systems

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are complex, computer-centric systems designed to carry out the most common business functions in an organization. The ability of these systems to better integrate business processes, combined with the best business processes embedded in them, has resulted in ERP systems becoming the technology of choice for organizations undergoing business process improvement and waste reduction activities. Increasingly, business schools have been incorporating ERP theory and systems into their curriculum in order to better align their programs with the demands of today’s technology intensive organizations. Today, business schools have a wide variety of options when considering what ERP software they should adopt in their curriculum, ranging from the more traditional and dominant products (e.g., mySAP ERP), to simpler systems designed for SMEs (e.g., SYSPRO), to open source ERP solutions (e.g., Compriere). Many of these software packages have a different interface design or “feel” that students may not be familiar with. An ERP software package that is familiar in terms of layout and navigation should help students focus less on ERP software navigation and related challenges, and more on the larger issues and concepts being discussed. In addition, a more familiar interface design may also reduce the reliance on lab assistants or the instructor for answers to somewhat basic ERP navigation questions. This research examines, through a quasi-experimental design involving 61 business students, how an ERP’s interface/GUI similarity with common software products (e.g., Microsoft office, XP) influences learning outcomes, such as student understanding of business processes and self-directed learning success.


MATHEMATICS


38. THE DILEMMA OF TWIN PRIMES Brandon Nunn Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Sciences

PURPOSE: This study examines past research that has been done, with revision and criticisms of formal mathematical proofs on the unsolved problem of twin prime pairs, (that is integers with only two divisors that differ by 2, like 5 and 7) and whether they are a finite of infinite occurrence. METHODS: Proofs of an infinite set of twin prime pairs such as There are an Infinite Number of Twin Primes (Harrell, 2004) were examined and flaws that render the proof invalid were highlighted. Proofs, such as Nombres premiers jumeaux sont convergente où finie (Brun, 1919) and other theories that use Brun’s constant to allude that there is some maximum pair of twin prime values , such that there is no twin prime pair greater. While examining these proofs and why they are flawed, the hope is to perhaps combine them into something that is more conclusive one way or the other. These methods were expanded, and applied to primes differing by 3,4, and n to see if there is a pattern to determine whether or not these values converge. RESULTS: The most recent discovery of a twin prime pair was in January 2007. 2003663613 · 2195000±1. The numbers have 58711 decimal digits. The discoverer was the Frnech Eric Vautier.The last time a pair of twin primes was discovered prior to this was in 1984. This shows that this is not a problem that has gone away. All of the proofs including the authors were ambiguous, or contained some flaw. All twin prime pairs which are greater than 3 are of the form 6n +/- 1 and Brun proved in 1919 sum of recipricols of all twin primes converges to a single value, which could suggest that the series of twin prime pairs itself converges. This is not nessicarily the case as recent disproofs of similar therorems has proven. This being said, Paul Stäckel (1919) may very well have been right when he said that there are infinitely many of these pairs. CONCLUSIONS: It is conjectured that there are an infinite number of twin primes, but proving or disproving this remains one of the most elusive open problems in number theory. To date, the dilemma of The Twin Prime Conjecture (Stäckel 1919; Guy 1994) remains unsolved but mathematicians are closer than ever before.


NURSING


39. THE IMPACT OF SELF-ESTEEM ON LEVELS OF SELF-CARE Sarah Gaudet, Jennifer Jackson, Ryan Boyd, and Sarai Levy School of Nursing

This study examines the factors that help to determine levels of self-care in university level students. Self-care has been defined by Dorothea Orem as self initiated activity that leads to optimized levels of health. Student researchers designed a 79 question survey to determine levels of self-care among third year university students. The data is still in the collection phase and thus far 135 surveys have been collected with the end goal to be 200 total surveys. It has been hypothesized that those students who are enrolled in courses with a health education component (i.e. nursing and human kinetics) will have higher levels of self-care due to the increased amount of health education material included in the respective curriculums. Another theory that has been proposed is that self-esteem has a greater impact on levels of self-care then the amount of health education. Currently, results are pending as the data collection is unfinished.


39. THE IMPACT OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ SELF-CARE BEHAVIOURS Jennifer Jackson, Nursing Student Department of Sociology

This study examines the role of health education in student self-care behaviours. Self-care is different from health promotion because of its basis in personal motivation. A questionnaire was derived from Orem’s Universal Self Care Requisites to evaluate the areas of: exercise, sleep patterns, nutrition, stress management, health maintenance, substance use, and high risk behaviour. A convenience sample was used (n=224), with efforts to include upperclassmen from both health based and mainstream programs. SPSS analysis will be used to evaluate the data. The self-care behaviour of students with high levels of health education will be compared to students without a health-based background. Conclusions are forthcoming at this time.


NURSING


40. NURSING STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ROLE AS PATIENT EDUCATOR Claire O’Gorman School of Nursing

PURPOSE: This study examined the level of confidence and understanding that nursing students hold in regards to patient education, and identified contributing variables. METHODS: Descriptive analysis using a quantitative survey design was conducted to test a multivariate causal model. Data was collected from a sample of first year and fourth year nursing students at an undergraduate university in eastern Canada, and statistically analyzed using SPSS 15. Multiple choice and true or false questions measured students’ level of knowledge related to learning theory, and an overall confidence and situational confidence indexes were created from the literature. RESULTS: Although neither sample had high scores in knowledge or confidence, fourth year students had statistically greater knowledge and confidence than first year students. Regression analysis revealed the independent variables of classroom practice and experience providing patient education were the greatest predictors to increased confidence in fourth year students. CONCLUSIONS: More classroom simulation and practice providing patient education are necessary in the preparation of knowledgeable and confident nurse educators.


NURSING


41. PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF THE HEALTH PROMOTING BEHAVIOURS OF SENIOR BACCALAUREATE NURSING STUDENTS Michele Weir-Cotnoir School of Nursing

Problem: The literature suggests that the health behaviour of nurses influence client outcomes. Given this prediction it is therefore important to describe the behaviour of our future nurses to determine if they are ready to assume the responsibility of becoming positive role models. The problem lies in the fact that a gap exists in out knowledge of the health promotion behaviour of baccalaureate nursing students and factors that predict healthy lifestyles. Purpose: To examine the health promoting behaviour of nursing students and to explore the relationships of cognitive perceptual factors to their engagement in a healthy lifestyle.Research questions: 1. What are the health promotion behaviour of baccalaureate nursing students? 2. Are the following factors: perceived barriers to action, perception of competence as a role model, and perceived health status related to health promoting behaviour of baccalaureate nursing students?Data collection: Data were collected from 140 third and fourth year nursing students who completed the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-2), as well as a survey designed by the researcher to obtain demographic data and information about the independent variables. SPSS version 15 was used to analyze the data.Results: The mean score of the HPLP-2 was 2.77. The mean scores of the HPLP-2 subscales ranged from a low mean of 2.36 (physical activity index) to a high mean of 3.30 (interpersonal relationships index). On a 9 point Likert scale, the mean of nursing students who believed they practiced what they preach was 5.96. Lack of time, lack of energy and too much stress were identified as the top three barriers to engagement in health promoting behaviour. Conclusions: In this study, the majority of nursing students believed the role modelling is an effective way of teaching health behaviour; however not all of them reported that they practiced what they were teaching to clients. It is vital that nursing students be healthy enough to be able to care for future clients appropriately.


PSYCHOLOGY


42. INFANTS’ RESPONSE TO INTERRUPTIONS IN THE PEEKABOO GAME Caitlin Best Department of Psychology

This study examined how infants respond to disruptions in the natural pattern of social interaction and social games in which they have developed certain expectations through repeated exposure. The peek-a-boo game and the Still Face Task were two techniques used to assess this phenomenon. Twenty-two infants between the age of 4- and 6-months-old (10 girls, 12 boys) and their mothers participated in this study. Mother-infant pairs interacted with each other while seated on opposite sides of a table. The Still Face Task had five 1-minute phases: normal interactive, still face (mother becomes still and expressionless), normal interactive, still face, normal interactive. Just prior to one still face phase the mother performed three rounds of peek-a-boo (called infant’s name, mother covered her face, pulled the cover down with surprise “peek-a-boo”) and just prior to the other still face phase the mother performed two rounds of complete peek-a-boo and one incomplete round (pulled the cover down to reveal still face). The order of complete and incomplete peek-a-boo was counterbalanced across dyads. Hypotheses were (1) infants would show the still face effect (reduced engagement in the still face phase compared to the interactive phases), (2) infants would show a more pronounced still face effect after the incomplete peek-a-boo than after the complete peek-a-boo. Mothers’ and infants’ behaviour of gaze, facial affect, and vocalizations were scored. Analyses are currently being conducted.


PSYCHOLOGY


43. COMING TO UNDERSTAND PICTURE CONVENTIONSErica Coutts Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate when infants come to understand the functions of pictorial symbols. Since there has been debate over the age of onset of this ability, we have implemented a new measure to assess picture understanding in infants via imitation. METHODS: Participants consisted of 26 infants between the ages of 12-30 months. Depending on the condition that the participant was assigned to, either conventional or non-conventional actions were demonstrated on pictures, and the objects depicted in those pictures. Number of imitated acts and body language (including increase of positive affect and referential/communicative attempts) were coded via ANOVAS and chi square analyses. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that infants in both age groups show suppressed levels of imitation in the non-conventional picture condition, compared to participants in the other experimental groups [F(1,22)=9.75, p<0.05]. Supporting data on body language showed that older infants have a slightly higher tendency to make referential/communicative acts [F(1,22)=2.09, p<0.10] and have a slightly higher tendency to increase their positive affect [F(1,22)=3.27, p<0.10].CONCLUSION: Collectively, the data suggests that infants older than 23 months have a more concrete understanding of picture conventions than infants younger than 23 months. This study also demonstrated that imitation can be a useful measure of picture understanding in infants.


PSYCHOLOGY


44. THE ONSET OF IMITATION Rachael Currie Department of Psychology

Abstract/Summary not available at time of printing.


PSYCHOLOGY


45. JUDGING TARGET DISTANCES WHILE HOLDING A TOOL Craig Farrell Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between a participant’s actions while holding an extended tool and his perception of the distance to objects either within or outside reach of the tool. METHODS: The main task of all participants was to judge the distance between a comparison circle and a target circle. The target circle was presented randomly at one of eight possible distances, three times each, for a total of 24 trials. Before completing the main task, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Participants in the control group passively held the tool, participants in the active group tapped targets with the tool, participants in the view active group watched as a confederate tapped the targets, and participants in the shared active group tapped half the targets and watched the confederate tap half the targets. HYPOTHESIS: Actively tapping targets will decrease the perceived distance of targets within reach of the tool. RESULTS: Data collection is in progress. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions are forthcoming.


PSYCHOLOGY


46. Sharing a major or minor positive event: Attachment style as a moderator of the association between capitalization and relationship well-being Andrea Forbes Department of Psychology

One benefit of close relationships is that they provide people with the opportunity to share positive experiences with their partners. This process is known as capitalization, and has been shown to predict relationship well-being (Gable, Reis, Impett, & Asher, 2004; Langston, 1994). Furthermore, when individuals share positive experiences, they reap additional intrapersonal benefits simply from the act of recalling the experience (Fredrickson, 1998). However, little research has explored individual differences in capitalization. In this study, we sought to examine of the relationship between attachment styles (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) and capitalization. Anxiously attached individuals crave intimacy and fear rejection, while avoidantly attached individuals are motivated to avoid emotional closeness and intimacy (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991). We hypothesized that highly anxious individuals would report higher relationship well-being when sharing a major positive experience. Conversely, we hypothesized that avoidant individuals would report lower relationship well-being when sharing a major positive experience as a result of their fear of intimacy. Capitalization was manipulated by asking some participants to recall sharing a minor positive experience with their romantic partners; whereas, others were asked to recall sharing a major positive experience. Next, participants completed measures of relationship well-being (i.e. optimism and accommodation). Results will be discussed.


PSYCHOLOGY


47. BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS IN CHINESE ADOPTEES COMPARED TO THEIR CANADIAN-BORN PEERS

Lindsay GillisDepartment of Psychology

PURPOSE: This study examined behavior problems in Chinese adoptees compared to their Canadian-born peers. The sample consisted of 50 Nova Scotian families who adopted children from China and 50 Nova Scotian families who have raised their biological children since birth. The sample consisted of females and the Canadian-born children were matched to within two months of the Chinese sample. METHODS: Behavior problems were measured using The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) which consists of 100 items assessing children’s behavior and adaptation. This measure consisted of 18 children as not all the questionnaires were returned. A subset of behavior problems from the interview will be analyzed, including eating problems, sleeping problems, and stereotyped behaviors. This sample consists of 50 children. A one paired samples t-test was used to examine group differences on children’s total scores on the CBCL and their scores on the external and internal scales. A sign test will be used to examine associations between group membership and the frequency of eating problems, sleeping problems, and stereotyped behaviors. RESULTS: A paired samples t-test revealed that there are no significant group differences in Behavior Problems. Also Chinese adoptees did not display more problems on measures of eating problems, sleeping problems, and stereotyped behaviors in comparison to the Canadian-born group. CONCLUSION: The hypotheses in the present study were not supported as Chinese adoptees did not show significantly higher scores on any behavior measures in comparison to the Canadian-born group. While these hypotheses were not supported, this is a positive finding for Chinese adoptive parents. Possible reasons for this finding include:


PSYCHOLOGY


48. POTENTIAL ANALGESIC EFFECT OF THE SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID WIN 55 IN THE SUPERIOR COLIICULUS OF THE RAT BRAIN Erica Lasher Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: Previous research has shown that the drugs known as cannabinoids can act as analgesics; however, the precise sites of action in the mammalian brain have not yet been determined conclusively. In this study, the potential analgesic effect of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN-55 administered to the superior colliculus region of the rat brain was studied. METHODS: Long-Evans rats (n=25) were randomly assigned to the following treatment conditions: WIN-55 treatment (6.0 µg), vehicle treatment, or unoperated controls. Each animal in the drug and vehicle treatment groups had a stainless steel cannula surgically implanted into the cerebral cortex, 2 mm above the right superior colliculus. A 0.6 µl injection of vehicle, or vehicle and drug, was delivered slowly over 60 sec., while subjects were lightly anaesthetized. The orofacial formalin model was used as a model of persistent human pain. The behaviour of each rat was recorded for 50 min. Behavioral differences were analysed among treatment groups. RESULTS and CONCLUSIONS: Final data will be presented and implications will be discussed.


PSYCHOLOGY


49. INFANTS’ OBJECT PLAY WITH OTHERS AND IMITATION OF PEERS Janea Layes Department of Psychology

The relationship between joint attention (JA) and imitation was investigated in 9- to 11-month-old infants. Mother-infant dyads visited an on-campus laboratory where they were observed in a 5 minute free play situation that was scored for JA and contingent responsiveness of each partner to the other. This was followed by a peer model condition in which the infant watched a 3 minute video of an 18-month-old peer model playing with a toy in a distinct manner and simultaneously was presented with two toys, one of which was the same as the toy in the video. The peer model condition was scored for imitation of the peer model, total time spent playing with the target toy out of total time, amount of time spent looking at the peer model, and amount of social bids to the peer model. Four hypotheses were made: (1) contingency will be positively correlated with JA, (2) as JA increases infants will more likely choose the same object that the peer is playing with, (3) as JA increases infants will more likely play with the toy in the same way that the peer does, and (4) as JA increases so will the amount of social bids made to the peer. Analyses are currently being conducted.


PSYCHOLOGY


50. PRESCHOOL CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT OF THEORY OF MIND AND SHARING Ruth-Ann MacDonald Department of Psychology

The relationship between children’s development of theory of mind and their development of sharing was investigated in 35 children from local preschools. Three sets of tasks were administered to participants: Theory of mind tasks, sharing tasks and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-IV. The theory of mind tasks consisted of 7 story completion tasks, which explored the understanding of another person’s mental states, beliefs and thoughts. In the sharing tasks, the children were asked to divide stickers in situations when the child was the recipient vs. when they were not, and when they chose which pile of stickers was theirs vs. when they were not the chooser. The Peabody test controlled for language ability in the children. The hypotheses were that (1) the development of theory of mind and sharing would be correlated, (2) theory of mind and sharing abilities would increase as children age, (3) developments in theory of mind would precede advancements in sharing. Hypotheses 1 and 2 were partially supported. Sharing was correlated with two of the theory of mind tasks. The understanding of theory of mind increased as children aged but sharing did not. Hypothesis 3 was supported. Development of theory of mind preceded advancements in sharing.


PSYCHOLOGY


51. COLD PERCEPTION DURING A FINGER TAPPING TASK Travis Martin Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: This study tested the hypothesis that cold sensations can be transferred from a menthol-cold patch on a participant's right hand to their untreated left hand while both hands are engaged in a synchronous finger-tapping task and while the mirror reflection of their right hand is superimposed over their left. METHODS: Participants were assigned to one of two finger-tapping conditions: synchronous and asynchronous, and experienced each of two lighting conditions: blue and white. A cold patch was placed on the participant’s right hand. Pre- and post-treatment questionnaires assessed changes in temperature perception in both hands. HYPOTHESIS: The researcher predicts that cold sensations will be transferred from the right hand to the left hand in synchronous tapping conditions only, and that the sensation of cold, in general, will be reported as stronger under blue light conditions than white light conditions. RESULTS: Results are pending. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions will be forthcoming.


PSYCHOLOGY


52. MORPHOLOGICAL REPRESENTATION OF INFLECTED AND DERIVED WORDS IN L1 AND L2 ADULTS Travis Martin Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: A critical issue in the study of morphology is distinguishing between words previously learned, and those that can be constructed or deciphered with the rules of language, or through natural deductive processes. Inflectional morphemes do not modify the syntactic category or primary meaning of a given word (e.g., the addition of the suffix -ed to jump to form jumped) while derived morphemes are typified by a change to the syntactic category of a word (e.g., adding of the suffix –ness to numb to form numbness). This study contrasted the lexical representations of morphologically complex words between adult English as a first language (L1) and second language learners (L2). Previous research implies that an awareness of morphological relationships in L1 speakers develops over time and especially in regard to derived forms. METHODS: To assess the hypothesis that a difference exists in the representation of inflected or derived words between English L1 and Chinese L2 learners a semantic priming task was employed. Since Chinese L2 learners are more likely to categorize words based on their semantic meaning relative to their first language, it is hypothesized that they will show a smaller morphological priming effect than L1 participants. RESULTS: Results will be discussed with respect to implications for teaching English to L2 learners. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions will be forthcoming.


PSYCHOLOGY


53. INVESTIGATING THE ANALGESIC EFFECT OF MICROINJECTION OF A CANNABINOID DRUG INTO THE RAT BASAL GANGLIA. Michelle McAloney Department of Psychology

The pain reducing effects of THC, and other cannabinoid agonists, have been demonstrated in many scientific studies; however, the specific brain areas implicated in the analgesic actions of these drugs have not yet been conclusively determined. Many brain areas contain CB1 receptors, which are the main sites of action of cannabinoid agonists such as THC. The basal ganglia of the rodent and human forebrains contain high concentrations of CB1 receptors; however, their function in cannabinoid induced analgesia are undetermined. PURPOSE: The current study assessed the analgesic effect of the synthetic cannabinod agonist WIN-55, when applied directly to an area of the basal ganglia of Long-Evans rats. METHODS: Twenty-four adult male Long-Evans rats were randomly assigned to the following treatment conditions: WIN-55 treatment (6.0 µg), vehicle treatment, or un-operated controls. Each animal in the drug and vehicle treatment groups had a stainless steel cannula surgically implanted into the cerebral cortex, 2 mm above the right caudate nucleus. A 0.6 µl injection of vehicle, or vehicle and drug, was delivered slowly over 60 sec., while subjects were lightly anaesthetized. A 50 µl injection of dilute formalin was administered to the left hind paw immediately after brain injections were complete, as a painful stimulus. Pain behaviour was recorded for the 50 minute trail and the amount of pain-related behaviour was recorded and measured. RESULTS: These data and implications will be discussed.


PSYCHOLOGY


54. IMPROVEMENT OF MOTOR IMAGERY THROUGH PRACTICE Sarah McInnes Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: Research has shown that physical action and motor imagery are linked such that a person imagining themselves performing an action will complete it in the same amount of time physically performing the action. The present study tested whether motor imagery can improve with practice and, if so, whether this improvement has a positive impact on the physical action. METHODS: Participants were shown a model shape and asked to build it at six different orientations (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 or 320 degrees). The control group completed only the building task, the observation group watched a demonstration of the building task before completing it themselves, and the motor imagery group completed a mental rotation task before building the shape. HYPOTHESIS: Compared to the control group and the observation group, the motor imagery group will take less time to build the shape. RESULTS: Data collection in progress. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions will be forthcoming.


PSYCHOLOGY


55. VOCABULARY INTERVENTION WITH GRADE PRIMARY STUDENTSKrista M. Morris

Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of a vocabulary enrichment program for 5- to 6-year-old children. METHODS: Children selected from the English Grade Primary classes at the Antigonish Education Center participated in the experimental enrichment and the control groups. The experimental group participated in an 8-week; 24-session vocabulary enrichment program. The enrichment program was designed so that it could be easily implemented by undergraduate university student as a service learning experience for those studying the development of children. The student went into the Primary classroom read stories and played word games with the children 4 or 5 times a week for the 8 weeks. Storybook reading has been found be an effected method of teaching vocabulary to primary and early elementary school aged children. Pre-test and post-test vocabulary scores from the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test – III and the J. M. Anglin’s Revised Test of Absolute Vocabulary Knowledge which were compared along with the scores from a test of the target words using the J. M. Anglin’s interview style after the intervention. RESULTS: pending analysis. CONCLUSIONS: pending results analysis.


PSYCHOLOGY


56. ADULT GAZE PATTERN FOR DISPLAYS OF HUMAN LOCOMOTION Daniel O’Neill Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: This study examined the visual scanning of various displays of human locomotion by adult participants. METHODS: Participants were shown displays of biological motion on a TOBII eye-tracking monitor. They were shown a pair of stimuli from four possible stimuli used in the study. The four stimuli were upright and inverted versions of a point-light display walker (PLD) and upright and inverted versions of a computer generated avatar walker (CGA). All four stimuli were created using the same original motion capture recording data of an adult male walking. The eye tracker recorded the position of their visual gaze during the presentation of the stimuli. HYPOTHESES: It is predicted that individual scanning patterns for displays of biological motion will differ depending on the type of biological motion display and whether or not they recognize the displays as representations of biological motion. Additionally, following from previous findings, it is expected that recognition will be different for the different stimuli. RESULTS: Data collection is in progress. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions are forthcoming.


PSYCHOLOGY


57. AN INVESTIAGTION OF PAIN RESPONDING AND COPING IN A SAMPLE OF YOUNG ADULT PAIN REPORTERS

Sarah C. OultonDepartment of Psychology

PURPOSE: Men and women tend to respond to pain differently (Keogh, 2006) and adopt different strategies for coping with pain (Unruh, 1996). To date, little is known about the prevalence of pain among undergraduates and how undergraduates who report chronic pain (i.e., pain persisting longer than three months) respond to and cope with pain. METHODS: Mass screening of first-year undergraduates revealed that 30% students (n=199) reported pain persisting longer than three months as measured by a brief Pain History Questionnaire (McWilliams, 2007). A subsample of these pain reporters (25M, 25F) was administered an acute pain induction task (e.g., cold pressor task) and assessed for pain threshold, tolerance, and recovery time. Following the task, participants were queried as to what strategies they employed for coping with the acute pain. Coping with chronic pain was assessed with the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (Geiser, 1992) and Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (Jensen, Turner, Romano, & Strom, 1995). Conclusions will be forthcoming.


PSYCHOLOGY

Presentation time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

58. ATTITUDES OF FACULTY UNIONS Caitlin Sampson Department of Psychology

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of union certification on the attitudes of university faculty members. Methods: The members of a recently certified faculty union in Atlantic Canada were surveyed to assess their attitudes toward unions in general, faculty unions, and their own union. Job related factors of seniority, rank, tenure status, trust in administration and job satisfaction were measured. Social factors of culture, religion, disability or minority status, and parental influence were also measured to see if there was a relationship between these variables and a faculty member’s voting behaviour and union attitudes. Results: As predicted participants who reported more steps within their ranks had more negative attitudes towards unions in general, faculty unions and the St. FXAUT. They also had more positive attitudes towards the administration. Participants with more seniority had more trust in the administration, and more job satisfaction. Members in the Faculty of Science reported more negative attitudes towards unions in general and faculty unions than members of the Faculty of Arts. There was no effect found for participants who report less religious involvement in their lives, parent involvement in or support of unions, or having visible minority status or a disability. A surprising finding was that clinical associates had the most negative attitudes towards unions, compared to full-time faculty, librarians, or Coady staff. Conclusion: In spite of the fact that membership voted to create a Union of University Teachers here at St. FX, there are still members who do not have positive attitudes about union membership.


PSYCHOLOGY


59. INDISCRIMINATE FRIENDLINESS AND ATTACHMENT SECURITY IN CHINESE ADOPTEES COMPARED TO THEIR CANADIAN BORN PEERS Rosalind Shelton Department of Psychology

PURPOSE: This study examined indiscriminate friendliness in a sample of girls internationally adopted from China into Canadian families, as compared to their Canadian-born peers. A second purpose was to examine attachment security in the Chinese adoptees compared to their Canadian born peers, and to examine whether an association was present between children’s displays of indiscriminate friendliness and their attachment security. METHODS: Indiscriminate friendliness was measured using a five-item indiscriminately friendly behavior measure (5IF) and a two-item indiscriminately friendly behavior measure (2IF), comprised of the two most extreme items of the 5-item measure. Attachment security was measured using the 23 items with the highest and lowest loadings on the security scale of the attachment Q-sort. Both measures comprised a larger interview conducted with families. RESULTS: Chinese adoptees and Canadian-born children did not differ significantly on total scores of indiscriminate friendliness. Group differences were found on the two-item indiscriminately friendly behavior measure of extreme indiscriminate friendliness – Canadian-born children scored significantly higher on this measure than Chinese adoptees. Group differences were also found on attachment security. Chinese adoptees had higher scores of attachment security than Canadian-born children. No correlations were found between attachment security scores and indiscriminate friendliness scores in either group, although the relationship was in the predicted direction. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, Chinese adoptees are not more indiscriminately friendly than their Canadian-born peers, and Canadian-born children actually display more of the extreme indiscriminately friendly behaviors than Chinese adoptees. Additionally, Chinese adoptees are more securely attached than their Canadian-born peers.


PSYCHOLOGY


60. CHILDHOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCES REALTED TO PAIN ANXIETY IN ADULT PAIN REPORTERS Jennifer Threader Department of Psychology Chronic pain (pain lasting longer than 3 months), has become an escalating health problem. It is accepted that the sensory experience of chronic pain is subjective and is influenced by early childhood learning experiences. Learning theorists propose three different mechanisms (classical conditioning, operant conditioning and vicarious conditioning) of learning experienced in childhood which heavily influence the onset and maintenance of pain behaviors in adulthood. In addition, it has also been found another factor known to influence the perception of pain is gender; women (vs. men) tend to greater sensitivity to pain and less tolerance for pain in pain induction tasks. The present research project will investigate how at a young age the various modes of learning, affect or influence an individual’s acquisition of pain-anxiety and the fear-avoidance model. Based on previous research, the following hypotheses will be tested: (1) More women (vs. men) will report pain lasting longer than 3 months. (2) Participants will indicate more childhood learning experiences associated with pain in adulthood than a comparison group of non-pain reporters. (3) Women (vs. men) will report more childhood learning experiences related to pain and more pain-related-anxiety (4) Participants will score higher on the avoidance/escape subscale of the PASS-20 than a non-pain reporting comparison group. From a subsample Psychology 100 students who reported pain lasting longer than 3 months on the 6-item pain questionnaire, 102 students (41M, 61F) were recruited to participate. The participants were asked to fill out a series of questionnaires including the LHQ, PASS-20, ASI and the ISI. Results are currently being computed.


PSYCHOLOGY


61. WORK-RELATED STRESS IN CORRECTIONAL STAFF: ANY GENDER DIFFERENCE? Jared Uhlman Department of Psychology

Many studies (Finn, 2000; Fisher, 2000) have demonstrated that staff in correctional settings experience significant amounts of work stress. Few studies, however, have examined how stress may affect staff differently based on gender. This lack of research, combined with the increasing number of women employed by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) highlights the need to investigate this issue further. The present study examined the influence of gender on perception and effect of work-related stress among CSC staff in the Atlantic Region. This research represents an extension of Gal’s (2003) study in the Pacific Region. Given contradictory findings in previous studies, it was not clear if gender would influence the frequency or impact of reported stressors (Beaver, 1995; Dowden & Tellier, 2004; Griffin, 2006). Staff from Atlantic Region institutions and parole offices was invited to complete a series of questionnaires including: Exposure to Stress Questionnaire for Correctional Staff (ESQCS; Gal, 2001) and PENN Inventory for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Hammarberg, 1992). Results are discussed in terms of implications for correctional environments including training and care of staff.


SOCIOLOGY


62. THE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON THE FAMILY Lindsey Acorn Department of Sociology

This study examined the relationship between divorce and the role that divorce plays in the family. A questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected classes on campus at Saint Francis Xavier University, with a total of 146 participants. SPSS was used to compile an analysis of the results. Three themes emerged from the analysis of the questionnaire. Divorce was the main theme. The second theme was the degree of closeness to your parents. Conflict in parental relationships was the last theme. These three themes clearly were contributing factors to the study of divorce and learning about the role that it plays.


SOCIOLOGY


63. MAKEOVER RESCUE! MAKING OVER THE MAKEOVER LITERATURE (AND SAVING THE AUDIENCE) Heather Capstick Department of Sociology

My thesis is an investigation of the structural elements which go to constitute what we have come to know as ‘the makeover’ in popular culture, with a focus on makeover themed television shows. My definition of the makeover includes a wide range of ‘subjects,’ such as the body, the adornments of the body, the home, the personal relationship, the budget, and so on. The sample of data used for my analysis included six episodes of three different makeover programmes (two each of What Not to Wear, The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp, and Til Debt Do Us Part), as well as the websites of a wider variety of shows. The current literature published on the subject has been deemed inadequate in explaining the wide popularity of the makeover as a cultural phenomenon as it heavily relies on a consumerist or materialistic critique of such shows. My sociological critique is grounded in the theories of Max Weber and Emile Durkheim. By exploring the conflicting ideologies and discourses expressed in makeover television, such as that between the scientific and the artistic, or the moral dichotomies of the individual and the collective, a more complex understanding of this phenomenon is revealed, which, unlike the overused consumerist critique, is better able to acknowledge the pleasure derived from the shows that invariably accounts for their continuing popularity.


SOCIOLOGY


64. BUTCH IN THE STREETS, FEMME IN THE SHEETS: GENDER ROLES IN LESBIAN COMMUNITIES Judy Hines Department of Sociology

The purpose of this study is to pry apart the embrace between sex and gender outside of the normative heterosexual context, focusing mainly on gender identity and gender roles in lesbian couples. In doing so, I will identify common stereotypes that exist within the lesbian community, and dispel the myths that are associated with each stereotype. These include stereotypes such as all lesbian relationships have to have one partner acting as “the man” or that all lesbians are sexless women who want to be men. I believe that these stereotypes do exist and that they are projected into the lesbian community through the mediums of film and television. These mediums tend to not only reinforce negative stereotypes within the gay and lesbian communities and in lesbian social circles in particular, but they are also digested by a heterosexual audience that may or may not take what they see on screen to be true, creating a cycle of stereotypes. I have used a social constructionist view and have relied on queer theory to examine the construction of existing gender roles and stereotypes within lesbian social circles. Conclusions will be forthcoming.


SOCIOLOGY


65. THE DIAMOND RIGHT-HAND RING: UNEARTHING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN COMMODITIES AND MEANING Erin Murphy Department of Sociology

This research uses Jean Baudrillard’s theory on commodities and differentiation, and Ferdinand de Saussure’s approach to semiotic analysis to consider the process of attaching meaning to commodities. For the purpose of this analysis, the diamond right-hand ring and its advertising campaign were used. The right-hand ring is a relatively new commodity that is marketed to successful women as a symbol of their independence and empowerment. This research places the right-hand ring in a socio-historical context and looks at demographic trends related to women, such as marriage rates and workforce participation to better understand why and how the right-hand ring was introduced. Baudrillard argued that commodities communicate meaning through their differences from one another. Similarly, semiotics looks at how meaning becomes attached to words or objects through convention. By using semiotics to analyze the advertising campaign, and through that, the right-hand ring itself, it was found that the ring’s meaning is being established by differentiating it from a diamond engagement ring. Diamonds have become the conventional engagement choice and as a result, a diamond ring on a woman’s left hand has become a recognizable symbol of an impending married relationship. This conventional symbol is being used to contrast the right-hand ring as a sign of independence. Essentially, without the already conventionally established meaning of a diamond ring on the left hand, the right-hand ring would not have the meaning the jewellery industry intends it to have.


SOCIOLOGY


66. PREDICTING DEVIANCE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Christopher Poirier Department of Sociology This study describes the many influences that lead to higher levels of deviance among university students. A second purpose of this study beyond evaluating the amount of influence certain factors have on levels of deviance, this study will also attempt to determine each factors ability of predicting future levels of deviance. A survey containing questions which indicate varying levels of deviance, self-control, parental-efficacy, peer pressure and other variables was used to obtain the data. Deviance was studied the dependent variable, using the Normative Deviance Scale. Self-control, parental efficacy, and peer pressure were the key independent factors that were taken from the literature, studied using the Self-Control Scale, Adolescent Family Process Measure, and a peer pressure scale created here respectively. Scholarly influences on deviance were also studied, such as program of study, GPA, level of degree, and university living arrangements. Results and Conclusions are pending quantitative analysis of the data using the SPSS statistical computer program.


SOCIOLOGY


67. THE EFFECTS OF HIGH/LOW CONFLICT MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE ON YOUNG ADULT OFFSPRING Desiree Russell, Lindsey Acorn, Leah Murray, & Julie Petrie Department of Sociology

For the purpose of this study it will examine the effects of the quality of marriage or divorce play on the relationship the offspring have with their parents in their younger adult years. Thus, the dependent variable will be closeness to mother and father and the independent variables will include high conflict marriage, low conflict marriage, divorce, feeling caught between parents, gender of the adult child and finally parental contact. Three hypotheses will be tested; the first is that lower conflict marriage will result in a higher quality relationship between parent and adult children. Secondly that children whose parents are in a low conflict marriage will be less likely to feel caught between thus having a greater quality of relationship with their parents. Thirdly, those children who have a greater amount of contact with their parents within low conflict divorce and marriage will have a greater quality of relationship. Also to note the study will incorporate gender as a intervening as well as a control variable. In the study a survey will be conducted that will compose of scale questions which will gather information about the effects of marital conflict and divorce on the student’s relationships with their parents during their university years. The data collected will be analyzed using the program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequencies will be conducted to analyze the data further and knowing that the variables for this study are under the nominal, ordinal and ratio variable level of measurement we will be carrying out cross-tabulations, means analysis, and correlations when necessary for all the variables and there relationships with the dependant variable.


SOCIOLOGY


68. POPULAR CONSUMPTION OF ABLEIST ASSUMPTIONS: THE TEXTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF BLINDNESS Erica Ward Sociology

This thesis will explore how the meaning of blindness is manufactured through text. The purpose of my research is to re-think the social construction of knowledge; to question "what we know" about blindness. More specifically, my intent is not to eliminate discourse on blindness, but to deconstruct the dominant versions of blindness as necessarily negative. Through mapping an Institutional Ethnography of several texts, I have discovered several consistent themes in terms of understandings of blindness, and it is through these texts that I have explored the meaning of blindness within contemporary society, and the way in which the meaning of blindness is manufactured by “experts” rather than persons with visual impairments themselves. Also, these texts reveal a pattern of permeation, where the ideas of those who produce the majority of our knowledge about blindness, particularly those in the fields of Medicine and Sociology, bleed into popular understandings of both sight and blindness.


SOCIOLOGY


69. INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR IN YOUNG ADULTS (working) Erica Ward Sociology This study is intended to assess the various influences on the healthy behaviour of young adults, as a means to measure the degree to which an intergenrational transmission of healthy behavious occurs between young adults and their parents. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 152 St.F.X University students, with questions pertaining to the healthy behaviour of each individual's parents (separately), peers, and themselves; with an emphasis on healthy behavious promotion. Using SPSS analysis, a multitide of variables will be compared, with the intent of revealing a pattern of parental influence over healthy behaviour, which is likely replaced to some extent by a peer influence upon leaving the family home.


Documents

Detailed Program - StFXpeople.stfx.ca/akolen/SRD_Summary Booklet_6th.doc · Web viewThree blood samples were taken from each participant on each testing day at t=0 (before caffeine