52
The Undergraduate Research Review Committee
Honors Program Director
Erin Sadlack, Ph.D.
Honors Program Assistant Director
Brian Monahan, Ph.D.
College of Health and Human Services
Judith Williams, Ph.D.
Munley College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Michael Kiel, Ph.D.
Insalaco College of Creative and Performing Arts
Christa Irwin, Ph.D.
Reap College of Education and Human Development
Vijayachandra Ramachandra, Ph.D.
School of Architecture
Margaret McManus, M.Arch.
The Committee gives deepest thanks to
Mrs. Cheryl Cali and Mr. Michael Smith
for all their work in helping to organize this forum.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
The Rotunda
Undergraduate Research Forum
2017
Table of Contents
Research Project Titles By Department ………...2 Project Abstracts……………..…………………6-51 Organizers……………………………………...…52
2
Research Project Titles By Department
School of Architecture (page 6)
Sophia Assaf-Bautista
The Aesthetics in Adaptive Reuse
Athletic Training and Exercise Science (pages 7-10)
Emily Gerbehy
Female Collegiate Soccer Player With Spinal Injury
Taylor Ott and Michael Joyce
Acute Exercise Response to Hypoxia via Hypoxicator or Training Mask
Adam Larsen
Celiac Disease and the Athlete
Meghan Weeks
Type III Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in a Collegiate Volleyball Player with a
Torn ACL
Communication Arts (page 11)
Kyle Clouse, Rachel Looker, Kristen Pietryka, and Alex Weidner
College Media Association
English (pages 12-15)
Thomas Collins
The Hare Apparent: Exploring the Leadership Models, Heroism, and Idealism in
Watership Down
Amanda Duncklee
Who Saw the Monsters?: An Analysis of Perspective in Victorian Horror Novels
Sally Jellock
Harry’s Heroines: How the Female Characters in the Harry Potter Series Nurture
and Shape His Identity
Maria Lawrence
The Superhuman Power of the Written Word in Watchmen
51
Nicole Tanana
Sponsored by Samantha Christiansen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
“It’s a Rumor that’s Part of Our History:” Examining the Cultural
Influences of Russia’s Last Grand Duchess
Before 1918 Anastasia Romanov did not play a significant role in Rus-
sian history, let alone world history. However, in July 17, 1918, the
day of her death, she would take on a new role in the world. While An-
astasia was killed with the rest of her family by revolutionaries in the
overthrow of the Russian Tsarist political system in 1918, almost im-
mediately there were rumors of her survival. This rumor was initially
endorsed by the Soviet Government and was heightened by numerous
imposters who claimed to be Anastasia. From 1918 until 2016, the fig-
ure, and idea, of Anastasia has gone through many public manifesta-
tions. This paper will examine the cultural significance of the “idea” of
Anastasia. Why has this myth of her survival sustained such a long and
global interest? In what ways does the idea of Anastasia’s survival
serve a political or social currency in the almost 100 years since death?
I will explore popular and historical representations of Anastasia and
the meanings they may express from a historical, gendered, and cultural
angle. I will particularly focus on Western uses of the Anastasia story,
and the particular context in which they occur. Using examples such as
the Fox animated movie Anastasia (1997) and the March of 2017 forth-
coming Broadway preview of Anastasia: A New Musical, as well as
literature and popular media stories, I will evaluate these instances and
consider the situations that may have influenced her reoccurrences
throughout history. My research will provide a cultural explanation for
the endurance of Anastasia in the popular imagination sine her death,
and shed light on the role of historical figures and myths in collective
memories of the past.
50
Tanya Harty
Sponsored by Patrick Seffrin, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Drug Use among Adolescents: The Effects of Education
Poor general and mental health are associated with drug use among ad-
olescents, however effects may vary on education. The current study
investigates the relationship between mental health and drug use among
adolescents to determine the impact of education. Data from the Na-
tional Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add
Health) are used in this study. The public-use version of the wave 1
data (N = 6,504) are analyzed using SPSS software. Preliminary anal-
yses from this database indicate that adolescents with poorer mental
health, as determined by a variety of variables, are at higher risk of us-
ing drugs when compared to adolescents who are of a better mental
health. Of these results, it is notable that those at high risk for drug us-
age include individuals who come from broken relationships, frequent-
ly believe that life is a failure, and frequently experience troubles in
their attempts to relax. This study also explores the extent to which ed-
ucation accounts for the effects of drug use on those with a poor mental
health status.
3
Psychology and Counseling (pages 16-35)
Justin Allen, Abigail Brown, and Heather Carr
Effect of colored paper on heart rate and self reported affect during the house tree
person activity
Emily Banfield
Working Memory Processing with Unpleasant, Neutral, and Pleasant Stimuli
Considering Anxiety Levels
Christopher Best
The Association Between Music Preferences and Personality
Abigail Brown
Effect of blue and red background color on speed of facial expression recognition
in sad and angry faces
Tiffany Carpenter
Music's Effect on One’s Ability to Retain Material and Complete Cognitive
Joseph Ducas
Effects of Social Media Usage On Sustained Attention
LeahBeth Evans
The Effect of Music Preference on Cognitive Performance
Shayna Finn and Theresa Longstreet
The Influence of Music Genres on Memory Recall
Clarissa Fischer
The Effects of Idealistic Advertisements on Self-Esteem in Young Adult Male
and Females
Tawny Husosky, Courtney Capwell, and Megan Refice
Narcissism, Impulsivity, and Sex Differences
Patricia Ingulli and Shelby Ohotnicky
The Impact of Positive and Negative Emotionally Stimulating Images on
Memory Recall
Jeffrey Kelly
A study on the perception of time and how it relates to difficulty of task
Emma Ledden, Courtnie Perri, and Ashley Caldaro
Morbid Curiosity and the Media: a Determination of Empathy in Individuals
4
Psychology and Counseling (Continued) (pages 16-35)
Andrew Murray and Laura McNamara
On Examining the Correlative Natures between Parental Influence and College
Major of Choice and Personality Traits and College Major, and the Expected
Differences in Levels of Satisfaction
Tara O'Neil, Anna Balanovich, and Amanda McNamara
Anxiety in Undergraduate Students in Relation to Extroversion and Trust
Nicole Rabecs
Differences in Memory in Regards to Gender
Jenna Santarsiero and Victoria Hunsinger
The Effects of Music on Memory
Heather Schultz, Sean Gaughran, and Breanna Latourette
Addictive Social Media, Self-Esteem, and Narcissism in College Students
Erica Viola
The Role of Learned Helpless and Anxiety in Test Taking and Learning
Stacey Watkins
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and the Reduction of Anxiety
Science (pages 36-48)
Bridget Barnic
An Investigation of the Antimicrobial Properties of Traditional Home Remedies
Shanna Carwell
Characterization of Phthalates as Contaminants in Unscheduled Alcohol Samples
from the Baltic Region
Justine Chanthachackvong, Angela Ngo, Marlee Holleran, and Patricia Lee
SEA-PHAGES: Roy17, Gotta Catch em' All!
Kaleb Davis
Double-stranded RNA klf-2 microinjected into Caenorhabditis elegans klf-3 mu-
tant: effects on morphology and fecundity
Jenna Fallone, Thomas Christopher
Potential Treatment of Acne Using Antimicrobial Compounds Found in
Essential Oils
Trevor Flynn and Abigail Hein
SEA-PHAGES Roy17 Research Project
49
Maryrose Evanella
Sponsored by Patrick Seffrin, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The Influence of Depression and Family Bonds on Variation in
Adolescent Drug Use
Depression, family bonds, and problem behavior are associated with
drug use among adolescents, but affects may vary based on race and
personal choices. The current study investigates the relationship be-
tween depression and drug use among adolescents with weak family
bonds. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and
Adult Health (Add Health) are used in this study. The public-use ver-
sion of the wave 1 data (N = 6,504) are analyzed using SPSS software.
Preliminary analyses suggest that adolescents with strong family bonds
are at lower risk of using drugs and experiencing depression as com-
pared to adolescents with weak family bonds. People who are de-
pressed a lot of the time are more likely to use drugs than those who are
never depressed. Also, those who lie to their parents about their where-
abouts 5 or more times are 98% more likely to use drugs. Further anal-
yses will explore the extent to which family bonds, depression, and
problem behavior accounts for an adolescents drug use.
48
Dekonti Sayeh, Emily Onyshczak, Alyssa Tirella, Ama
Gajanayake, Julianna Turnbach, Logan Brighton, Mariah Casey,
Emily Medwid, John Shebby, Angelo Brutico, Toni Shipman,
Chris McCann
Sponsored By Christopher Brey, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Soil Isolation and Genome Annotation of Bacteriophage Faze9
A select group of science majors at Marywood University were given
the opportunity to participate in the Sea-Phages Program, sponsored by
the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. This was the first time Mary-
wood partnered with the University of Pittsburgh which was the host
school of the project. Marywood is one of 97 schools participating in
this course. The Sea-Phages program is a two semester course that in-
volves collecting soil samples to extract viruses (bacteriophages) that
attack bacteria. The bacteriophages were isolated from Mycobacterium
smegmatis. The phage we are currently annotating is Faze9 draft. In
the first semester, students performed multiple experiments to isolate
the bacteriophage such as, enriched isolation, plaque assay, spot assay,
serial dilutions, DNA isolation, and restriction digest. In the second se-
mester, students annotated genes (phages from cluster B2) using DNA
master. The function found by blasting the gene were done in phamera-
tor, ncbi blast, and phages db, HHpred; these databases compared
Faze9 draft to other genes in the B2 cluster. Faze9 draft contains a to-
tal of 67,503 base pairs and 92 genes. It also has a GC content of
68.9%. The wet lab gave the students an insight on what research in the
field would look like. Overall, this was an enjoyable experience for
those involved getting to participate in research.
5
Hannah Gobble, Courtney Paulus, and Sienna Senn
Phages… The Antibiotics of the Future
Sara Goodson
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ellagitannins
John Grossi
The End to Antibiotic Resistance
Christina Kazanas, Noah Karasik-Tiewski, and Christopher Cariffe
Digging up Diamonds with Newly Found Bacteriophages: Mycobacterium
phage Roy17
Camille Kotcho, Amanda Lisi, and Emma Moser
SEA-PHAGES Cleaned Up From the Dirt
Paul Kraycer
Caenorhabditis elegans Krüppel-like Transcription Factor Family Genetic Analy-
sis: Examining klf-2 and klf-3 Interaction
Caitlin Kurey, Kuntal Patel, and Jordan Vossler
Enhanced Luminol Chemiluminescence with Silver and Gold Nanoparticles
Rebecca Lukasak
Genome-Wide Expression Analysis of 3 Mutant Yeast Strains
Sarah Rotell and Victoria Grugnale
Novel Methods for Antibiotic Susceptibility Using Traditional Remedies
Dekonti Sayeh, Emily Onyshczak, Alyssa Tirella, Ama Gajanayake, Julianna
Turnbach, Logan Brighton, Mariah Casey, Emily Medwid, John Shebby, Angelo
Brutico, Toni Shipman, Chris McCann
Soil Isolation and Genome Annotation of Bacteriophage Faze9
Social Sciences (pages 49-51)
Maryrose Evanella
The Influence of Depression and Family Bonds on Variation in Adolescent
Drug Use
Tanya Harty
Drug Use among Adolescents: The Effects of Education
Nicole Tanana
“It’s a Rumor that’s Part of Our History:” Examining the Cultural Influences of
Russia’s Last Grand Duchess
6
Sophia Assaf-Bautista
Sponsored by Jayashree Shamanna, Clinical Instructor
The Aesthetics in Adaptive Reuse
There is currently a loss of identity in architecture due to globalization.
While the world has become more diverse, it has also become much
more homogenized. This has lead to a lack of place in the urban context,
where there is a need for architecture that establishes a genius loci while
simultaneously relating to the contemporary world. This thesis will ar-
gue for the aesthetics of adaptive reuse and establish how this approach
contains beauty in its method of preserving the past while continuing a
sense of place into the future. This research will additionally showcase
these ideas by using Scranton, Pennsylvania as a platform to apply this
thesis. Major projects from around the world will also be cited as case
studies. Additionally, this research will draw upon academic evidence
from architectural and philosophical movements that are pertinent to
adaptive reuse and preservation. Theoretical themes of nostalgia, identi-
ty, genuineness, and place all will be explored as further evidence.
These examples will serve to explain the aesthetics of architecture in
adaptive reuse as a means to substantiate genius loci. Design proposals
will support this thesis in the context of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
47
Sarah Rotell and Victoria Grugnale
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith, M. A., Instructor
Novel Methods for Antibiotic Susceptibility Using
Traditional Remedies
Antibiotic resistance is the process of bacteria adapting to an antibiotic
over time, so the pharmaceutical no longer has the ability to attack the
bacteria. The World Health Organization (WHO) publicly announced
that antibiotic resistance will sweep the nation as top health concern by
2020. The problem is that there is not enough of a variety of classes of
antibiotics. Without being treated, antibiotics infections can spread. If
researchers do not come up with other mechanisms to treat bacteria, the
human population will eventually become resistant to all antibiotics
and lack proper treatment for infections. Antimicrobial resistance was
tested in this research by creating Mueller-Hinton and plate count agar
which were infused with traditional herbs, such as cinnamon and grown
basil. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and
Bacillus cereus were grown and plated among several different condi-
tions in which controls were kept for comparison. The idea is that natu-
ral herbs and spices can have antimicrobial properties that can aid in
the fight against bacteria. These novel methods were used and results
were recorded in hopes to find a correlation between traditional reme-
dies and antibiotic susceptibility.
46
Rebecca Lukasak
Sponsored by Lisa Antoniacci, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Genome-Wide Expression Analysis of 3 Mutant Yeast Strains
The yeast nuclear envelope protein Mps3 functions in several aspects
of chromosome metabolism such as sister chromatid cohesion, telo-
mere clustering, and DNA damage repair. In addition, Mps3 physically
and functionally interacts with the histone variant Htz1. Htz1 was pre-
viously identified as a histone variant that prevents DNA from forming
silent heterochromatin as a way to regulate transcription. Because of
the involvement of both of these genes in chromosome metabolism, it
is hypothesized that both of these genes may also function in regulating
gene expression. In order to assess genome expression wild type yeast,
2 Mps3 mutants (mps3-3 and mps3-5) and an htz1∆ strain were exam-
ined for genome wide expression levels in asynchronously growing
cells. The data generated will be analyzed for both up-regulation and
down-regulation of gene expression in comparison to the wild type
strain. Identification of expression differences between the wild type
and mutant strains would suggest a function for Mps3 and Htz1 in
gene expression.
7
Emily Gerbehy
Sponsored by Jason Edsall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Female Collegiate Soccer Player With Spinal Injury
A 22 year old female collegiate soccer player with no previous medical
history of spinal pathology struck by opponents kneed in the lower
back during a contest. Patient complained of pain and inability to move
from quadruped position. Pain was reported by the athlete as sharp and
shooting and pain scale immediately post injury nine out of ten. Patient
was removed from the field via utility vehicle. Patient was referred to
the local medical facility via ambulance for evaluation. For this case
the initial radiography read as normal. Additional diagnostic testing
performed included: MRI, a CT scan, diagnostic ultrasound and addi-
tional radiographs. Testing revealed lumbar vertebrae transverse pro-
cesses fractures of L2-L5, spinous process fracture of L3, left partial
atelectasis and left meralgia paresthetica. Patient was non ambulatory
and in manual wheelchair for 5 months. The Initial treatment involved
one week inpatient neurotrauma unit at regional medical center
followed by 6 week inpatient rehabilitation in neurotrauma unit at reha-
bilitation hospital. Multiple lumbar fractures combine with lung and
neural conditions presented in this case are common in motor vehicle
accidents or falls from heights in osteoporotic individuals and are rare
in non-collision female sports. At 52 weeks post injury the athlete re-
turned to full participation in women's soccer. This case presents signif-
icant trauma sustained while participating in regular sport where person
to person contact resulted in potentially life altering injury. The patient
underwent one year of intense treatment in order to return
to participation.
8
Adam Larsen
Sponsored by Jason Edsall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Celiac Disease and the Athlete
Current research indicates that prevalence of Celiac Disease diagnosis
is on the rise and estimated as high as 1 in every 133 adults in the Unit-
ed States and 1 in 100 worldwide. This increase in recent years high-
lights the importance to increase understanding and awareness in Ath-
letic Training professionals. Celiac Disease is a genetic autoimmune
disorder characterized by an intolerance to Gluten. Gluten is a sub-
strate; comprised of a mixture of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin, and
can be found in many different foods that include wheat, barley and
rye. Celiac Disease is characterized by an increased lymphatic response
in the small intestine can lead to intestinal villi atrophy. This damage to
intestinal villi results in malabsorption issues leading to additional ane-
mia or lactose intolerance. Neurological and behavioral issues, includ-
ing neuropathy and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, are addi-
tionally associated with this disorder. Celiac Disease is difficult to di-
agnose and generally includes an exclusion diet and Tissue Transglu-
taminase Antibodies blood test. Symptoms and manifestations that ac-
company this disorder including over 200 possible signs and symptoms
commonly including abdominal discomfort, failure to thrive, and mal-
absorption issues. It is imperative for athletic trainers to be aware of
this condition and identify individuals with possible Celiac Disease and
the fundamental concept of establishing and educating an athlete in a
gluten free diet.
45
Caitlin Kurey, Kuntal Patel, and Jordan Vossler
Sponsored by Mary Lynn Grayeski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Enhanced Luminol Chemiluminescence with Silver and
Gold Nanoparticles
The effect of silver and gold nanoparticles on the chemiluminescent
reaction of oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide is evaluated for
potential development of improved analytical measurements. Both gold
and silver strongly enhance the chemiluminescence with as much as
10% increase in intensity observed with both types of nanoparticles.
Addition of gold nanoparticles results in higher relative light emission.
This enhancement can be explained due to a catalytic effect. This effect
is examined in the presence of various metal ions for changes in chemi-
luminescence intensity and kinetics. Enhancement is observed in the
presence of cobalt, iron, and copper. The highest intensity is obtained
with cobalt. Kinetic characteristics will be discussed as they relate to
analytical measurement implications.
44
Paul Kraycer
Sponsored by Christopher Brey, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Caenorhabditis elegans Krüppel-like Transcription Factor Family
Genetic Analysis: Examining klf-2 and klf-3 Interaction
Caenorhabditis elegans Krüppel-like Transcription Factor Family Ge-
netic Analysis: Examining klf-2 and klf-3 Interaction. The free-living
nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a model organism that contain
genes in the Krüppel-like Transcription Factor family (klf) that are
homologues to klfs found in humans. klfs are important in the storage
of lipids in the intestines of C. elegans and play a major part in the for-
mation of adipose cells. Their control over adipose cells causes them to
be linked to predisposition to obesity and type-2 diabetes in humans.
Studies have shown that the klf-2 and klf-3 genes are both important in
the storage and utilization of fatty acids within the intestine by promot-
ing fatty acid ß-oxidation, however little research has been done exam-
ining the interaction between these two transcription factors. Prelimi-
nary tests suggests that klf-3(RB1603) mutants mate at an inefficient
rate. Thus, In order to study the interaction between these gene we per-
formed RNA interference via microinjection on klf-3(RB1603) mutants
in order to knock out the klf-2 gene. The F1 generation of these worms
will be visibly screened using light microscopy for any changes in mor-
phology. Similarly, they will screened for the amount of progeny pro-
duced for the extent of sterility. Finally the worms will be stained with
Oil Red O-stain to examine any differences in fat accumulation.
9
Taylor Ott and Michael Joyce
Sponsored by Angela Hillman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Acute Exercise Response to Hypoxia via Hypoxicator or
Training Mask
The Training Mask 2.0™, an increasingly popular hands-free respirato-
ry muscle training modality, proposes to mimic high altitude via re-
striction of inspirable oxygen; however recent research has called into
question the degree to which The Training Mask 2.0™ is able induce
hypoxic conditions. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to inves-
tigate the efficacy of this RMT modality in comparison using a hypoxi-
cator during acute aerobic exercise. METHODS: In this study, eight
apparently healthy, regularly active participants were recruited (Age:
25 + 8 years; Height: 166 + 12 cm; Weight 64 + 10 kg; VO2max: 46 +
6 ml/kg/min). Participants completed three trials, each including resting
metabolic rate measurement, pulmonary function tests and 13 sprint
intervals at 90% VO2max using either the hypoxicator (6,000 ft.), The
Training Mask 2.0™ (6,000 ft.), or control condition. RESULTS:
There was no significant difference in metabolism (F = 0.03, p = 0.97)
or heart rate (F = 0.09, p = 0.91) between conditions. Only fraction of
expired air in the first second (FEV1.0) was significantly greater post
exercise with the hypoxicator (F = 6.97, p = 0.02), while oxygen satu-
ration was significantly lower during exercise with the hypoxicator (p <
0.001). CONCLUSION: The Training Mask 2.0™ does not appear
to change acute pulmonary function following high intensity exercise
as measured by forced inspired and expired air. It also does not change
metabolism, heart rate or oxygen saturation, indicating it likely does
not create a hypoxic environment and or
mimic altitude.
10
Meghan Weeks
Sponsored by Jason Edsall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Type III Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in a Collegiate Volleyball Player
with a Torn ACL
Background: 19 year old patient presents with a history fracture
4th and 5th metatarsal, right grade III anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
sprain, bilateral glenohumeral subluxation, bilateral inversion ankle
sprains. Patient presented with hyperextensibility, chronic pain, signifi-
cant bruising during regular practices and competitions. Patient pre-
sented with left grade III ACL tear. Differential Diagnosis: Along with
a possible ACL tear there were signs presenting towards; Hypermobili-
ty Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, anemia, Eh-
lers-Danlos Syndrome. After extensive test there was a sign in her gene
system that pointed to a deformity and a unique chain that causes hyper
laxity and hyper extensibility. Treatment: Subject underwent autograft
ACL reconstruction harvesting portions of the semitendinosus and gra-
cilis tendons. No adaptations were installed into the surgical or rehabil-
itation protocol by the physician to accommodate her diagnosed genetic
disorder. Uniqueness: This patient presented with a previously undoc-
umented mutation within a specific strand of DNA making her the only
diagnosed case worldwide. Patient demonstrates characteristics and
symptoms of all 6 types Ehlers-Danlos syndromes she was diagnosed
with type III as it most closely aligns with her clinical manifestation
although the patient additionally presents with symptoms from many
different types. Conclusions: The manifestation and clinical presenta-
tion of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Post diagnosis, the patient was highly
recommended not to compete in athletics though continues to partici-
pate at the collegiate level. Athletic Trainers should be aware of the
risks that can take place and did take place to better inform themselves
of risk bearing disorders such as this. Relevant Evidence: Ehlers-
Danlos diagnosis of all 6 types is prevalent in 1 out of every 5000 peo-
ple. Type 3 involving hypermobility is prevalent in 1 in every 20,000
people. There is limited evidence concerning ligamentous damage for
patients with this should be aware of the risks that can take place and
did take place to better inform themselves of risk bearing disorders
43
Camille Kotcho, Amanda Lisi, and Emma Moser
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith, M. A., Instructor
SEA-PHAGES Cleaned Up From the Dirt
SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing
Genomics and Evolutionary Science) is a research program that begins
with digging up soil samples to find bacteriophages, which are viruses
that infect bacteria. The specific bacteria used in this lab is Mycobacte-
rium smegmatis, also known as Smeg, which is closely related to Myco-
bacterium tuberculosis, the cause of the respiratory infection tubercu-
losis. The soil samples collected were then isolated and purified in at-
tempt to discover phages. Within the SEA-PHAGES program at Mary-
wood University, two phages were discovered that were able to be am-
plified. These phages were named Faze9 and Roy17. From these phag-
es, DNA samples were extracted and sent to the University of Pitts-
burgh to obtain a complex genome annotation. When the sequences
were sent back to Marywood, the students of the SEA-PHAGES lab
examined the sequences and analyzed each gene with precision. Work-
ing to discover bacteriophages is an important process that will be very
beneficial in the near future. It is estimated that in 2020, most antibiot-
ics will stop being effective throughout the medical world. With this
being said, a new method of treatment must be created and prepared
before this issue arises. It is in great hope that phages will be an im-
portant aspect of these new treatments. This poster will better examine
the discovery and analysis of Roy17, a phage discovered my students
of Marywood University.
42
Christina Kazanas, Noah Karasik-Tiewski, and
Christopher Cariffe
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith, M. A., Instructor
Digging up Diamonds with Newly Found Bacteriophages:
Mycobacterium phage Roy17
The use of Phage’s biological properties is a surfacing topic due to the
increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Founded by Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, one specific program focuses on the importance of
this topic. SEA-PHAGES, or Scientific Educational Alliance - Phage
Hunting Advancing Genomic and Evolutionary Science, utilizes col-
lege undergraduates to partake in discovery-based research. Methods:
Roy17 was extracted from soil of Marywood University campus
grounds; the phage was brought back to the lab to be isolated, purified,
amplified, extracted, characterized, put under a microscope in that or-
der, and had its genome annotated. Gene annotation included the use
of Phamerator, ncbi blast, protein blast, Starterator, and DNA Mas-
ter. Phage Roy17 was characterized and had its genome sequence an-
notated with analyzation of genes. Results: Phage Roy17 was classi-
fied among the Siphoviridae family based on its morphology, defining
the family based off of observation under the Transmission Electron
Microscopy (TEM). Siphoviridae family is a double stranded DNA
virus that infects bacteria to replicate and lyse the bacteria. Phage
Roy17 is marked in its lytic cycle. The complete genome size is
68,056 bp with 104 genes, making Phage Roy17 one of the larger
phages in the Siphoviridae family. Roy17 was able to lyse all if not
every Mycobacterium smegmatis. Conclusions: The results may show
potential in lysing M.smegmatis and its cousin Tuberculosis.
11
Kyle Clouse, Rachel Looker, Kristen Pietryka, and Alex Weidner
Sponsored by Lindsey Wotanis, Ph.D., Associate Professor
College Media Association
Members of the Marywood Media Group, a newly formed group within
the Communication Arts Department, traveled to Atlanta in the Fall
2016 semester to attend College Media Association’s Fall National
College Media Convention.
The College Media Association serves student media and works with
professional media organizations on national levels. The organization
holds two conferences each year.
During the trip, the media group also attended the Society for Colle-
giate Journalists’ (SCJ) Biennial Conference. SCJ is a national society
with one hundred national chapters. The media group worked on revis-
ing changes to the SCJ constitution and heard from keynote speaker
Mary Beth Tinker, who is known for the Tinker v. Des Moines Su-
preme Court case.
The group presented two sessions at the College Media Association
Convention. The first, “From Green to Golden: How Training Retreats
Can Shine Up Your Staff,” focused on training new staff members
within a media organization, specifically within a newspaper staff. The
second presentation was called “It Doesn’t have to be Lonely at the
Top” and explained the importance of sharing responsibilities between
an editor-in-chief and managing editor in a college media news organi-
zation.
Members of the media group attended other sessions throughout the
three day convention and learned about different types of media and
communication tools and techniques for podcasts, television program-
ming, film, and journalism.
12
Thomas Collins
Sponsored by Erin Sadlack, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The Hare Apparent: Exploring the Leadership Models, Heroism,
and Idealism in Watership Down
Far away from the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of Anytown,
U.S.A., just beyond the pastures of quaint English farms, there exists a
wilderness of wonder. This marvelous place created by author Richard
Adams, invites us into a fantasy world where rabbits display human-
istic traits. Throughout the novel, Adams presents the reader with four
different leadership models. Each model will be compared and con-
trasted to determine which one exemplifies an example of great leader-
ship. Heroism is an important theme consistently showcased within the
novel and examples of this will be presented. The rabbits of the story
each live in a warren community. The leaders of each warren rule over
their communities in vastly different ways. The main group of rabbits
led by Hazel set out to find a place where they can establish their own
ideal warren. Along the way, Hazel and the others learn valuable les-
sons about leadership which helps them create the type of society
they’ve always wanted.
My poster will show the four different leadership models residing in
the novel. Each model will include the positive and negative attributes
associated with that type of leadership structure. It will also include a
breakdown of the heroism and idealism themes present in the novel.
This project is important to me because it examines leadership in a
unique way by utilizing nature and the environment as vessels of edu-
cation and prosperity.
41
John Grossi
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith, M. A., Instructor
The End to Antibiotic Resistance
SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance- Phage Hunters Advanc-
ing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) is a program where students
search for bacteriophages in their nearby environment to use for further
research in antibiotics. In modem medicine, viruses are becoming re-
sistant to antibiotics that doctors use to treat lethal diseases. Because of
the overuse of these types of medicines, there must be a new type of
medicine to the cure diseases we already found the cure of. This pro-
gram allows students to use their bacteriophages on Mycobacterium
smegmatis, which is a common relative to the disease that is commonly
known as tuberculosis. The finding of Faze9 can further help research-
ers in finding new ways to cure tuberculosis. Faze9 can be a new way
to stop the ongoing crisis of antibiotic resistant. The SEA-PHAGE pro-
gram worldwide will find millions of new bacteriophages to allow re-
searchers to have an endless source of different types of treatment to
stop the bacterial resistance to antibiotics in tuberculosis.
40
Hannah Gobble, Courtney Paulus, and Sienna Senn
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith , Instructor
Phages… The Antibiotics of the Future
By 2020, most if not all of the antibiotics currently being prescribed
today will no longer exist, or will not be effective. Antibiotic resistance
is a growing concern around the world, but the question is what comes
next? Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that can attack and destroy
specific harmful bacteria cells. By simply digging in the dirt and then
through a series of filtrations, plating, and serial dilutions, student re-
searchers discovered different phages from the Marywood campus, that
joined a long list of phages discovered though the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance – Phage Hunters Ad-
vancing Genomic and Evolutionary Sciences (SEA-PHAGES) Pro-
gram. The researchers encountered several obstacles including an ini-
tial lack of phage, severe contaminations amongst their bacteria, and
technical difficulties. Through some trial and error, Roy17 was finally
discovered, one of several Marywood Phages. After being sequenced at
the University of Pittsburgh, the students used the software, DNA Mas-
ter, to code and call the different genes. The hope is that the phages
found can undergo more extensive research in the future and one day
be used to treat different infections, such as tuberculosis.
13
Amanda Duncklee
Sponsored by Helen Bittel, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and Erin
Sadlack, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Who Saw the Monsters?: An Analysis of Perspective in Victorian
Horror Novels
If seeing is believing, what happens when we cannot see, yet are ex-
pected to believe? In Victorian horror/gothic novels Dracula by Bram
Stoker and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis
Stevenson, there is no omniscient third person narrator who tells us ex-
actly what is happening in the works; instead, multiple characters with-
in the texts give their accounts of the action. The characters experience
evil firsthand and embark on tremendous adventures to combat horror
while we sit outside the pages, anxiously reading the lines from the
characters’ perspectives. We read chilling accounts of the supernatural
Dracula’s plans to create more vampires and unsettling observations of
Dr. Jekyll’s duality of character; yet, due to the lack of omniscience,
we readers are removed from the stories and must challenge ourselves
to seek truth within the narratives.
Only through letters, telegrams, diary entries, and oral storytelling do
the characters in these novels give their versions of what occurs in their
respective worlds. The multiple communication media and the lack of
omniscience resulting from the various narrators adds another layer of
mystery to these works. Readers can read the story, but they are re-
moved from the events due to the shifting perspectives and must con-
stantly question the accounts they are given. In this paper, I will exam-
ine how this unorthodox use of perspective in Dracula and Strange
Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde challenges the readers to pay close
attention to the text in order to determine the truth of the action as well
as how the authors’ use of perspective contributes to the horror and
mystery of these works.
14
Sally Jellock
Sponsored by Helen Bittel, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and Erin
Sadlack, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Harry’s Heroines: How the Female Characters
in the Harry Potter Series Nurture and Shape His Identity
The story of Harry Potter depicts the harrowing journey of a child on
his discovery to find out who he is and where he belongs. Throughout
seven novels, readers of all ages can experience the happiness, the sad-
ness, and the terror surrounding the life of Harry Potter. Along with
Harry, readers can attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizard-
ry; they can communicate spells and interact with fantastic beasts.
Readers must be reliant upon their imagination to even begin to per-
ceive these stories as anything more than a story. However, Harry
would not have been able to succeed if it was not for the role of women
throughout these novels. In a story about a motherless male hero, I will
explore how women in his life shaped this main character’s identity.
39
Trevor Flynn and Abigail Hein
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith, M. A., Instructor
SEA-PHAGES Roy17 Research Project
The SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Ad-
vancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) project is a discovery-
based undergraduate research course that investigates bacteriophages.
The program started by digging and collecting soil sample in the at-
tempt to find new viruses. These sample collections were used for di-
rect and enriched isolation techniques that aimed to isolate the phages
from the bacteria. After a phage population was isolated, the processes
of serial dilutions, plaque assay/spot plating, titer calculations and other
techniques were performed. The phages were sent to be archived and
the genome sequences of the phage Roy 17 was sent back to be ana-
lyzed. DNA master was used to identify characteristics of the genes in
its frames window as well as allow for the products of each of 104
genes were protein blasted using NCBI Blast and Phagesdb Blast to
find already sequenced matching genes and their functions. The im-
portance of this research is internally that it provides an insight into the
research aspects of analyzing an undiscovered phage and enriches the
knowledge of certain laboratory techniques and sequencing of ge-
nomes. Externally the importance is that every new phage discovered is
valuable for quickly understanding what the phage is capable of doing.
This experience helped construct an understanding of research proce-
dures, aseptic technique, extraction and isolation processes, the ability
to properly plate both through spot plates and plaque assay, DNA Mas-
ter, the blasting process, and overall of bacteriophages and the scien-
tific process of research.
38
Kaleb Davis
Sponsored by Christopher Brey, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Double-stranded RNA klf-2 microinjected into Caenorhabditis
elegans klf-3 mutant: effects on morphology and fecundity
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a model organism used to
study gene interactions. Krüppel-like Factors (klf) are transcription fac-
tors that are important in fat regulation. Deregulation of klf’s results in
abnormal fat accumulation that can result in obesity and diabetes in hu-
mans. C. elegans is an ideal model to study klf’s because while
humans have 17 klf genes, C. elegans have only 3. The purpose of this
study was to examine the interaction between klf-2 and klf-3 in the
form of a double mutant. These double mutants were created by mi-
croinjecting klf-2 dsRNA into a klf-3 (ok1975) mutant. Progeny at the
L4 stage of microinjected worms were individually transferred to plates
to be examined for fecundity and morphological differences. Fecundity
was studied by counting eggs laid by progeny and returning after 24
hours to count how many eggs had hatched. Morphological studies
were performed by examining double mutant progeny under a com-
pound light microscope with focus on the reproductive region. Results
will be presented at the meeting.
15
Maria Lawrence
Sponsored by Erin Sadlack, Ph.D., Associate Professor
The Superhuman Power of the Written Word in Watchmen
Allow me to take you back to the year 1985: to an alternate world
where Richard Nixon has remained president, tensions between the
United States and Russia are at an all-time high, and superheroes are
real. This fictional universe, portrayed in Alan Moore’s comic book
series Watchmen, is filled with crime and corruption and its people full
of fear and frustration—not so unlike our own. For my research, I will
be presenting the impact literature and media has on society in Watch-
men, and how chillingly relevant it is to our society today. In Watch-
men, we are continually reading newspaper headlines and watching
news segments, as well as reading one character’s journal entries and
another’s autobiography. These are just a few examples of the various
media in which Moore immerses us. I will argue that by giving us in-
sights into all of these different forms of media, Moore shows us how
much control the written word has over our thoughts and how many
decisions we make are based on our exposure to these works.
16
Justin Allen, Abigail Brown, and Heather Carr
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Effect of colored paper on heart rate and self reported affect
during the house tree person activity
Findings have indicated that colors affect both physiological and emo-
tional functioning. Several investigations have taken place in the realm
of psychology, but another field has taken interest in the effects of col-
ors, namely the effect of product and advertising colors. Marketing has
worked on understanding the different attitudes associated with each
color. (Shi, 2013 p. 2). Research has also shown that color can affect
heart rate variability, and more sympathetic responses, but findings
have often been inconclusive (Birren, 1950). The proposed experiment
will measure changes in heart rate as well as positive and negative af-
fect, under three differing conditions for each individual. The house
tree person exercise will be conducted on three separate pieces of pa-
per; white, blue, and red. It will measure any changes between the trials
by self-report, using the PANAS and a heart rate monitor. The partici-
pants in this experiment will be college students from Marywood Uni-
versity, in accordance with the IRB application standards. It is expected
that the results will indicate that heart rate increases with the red col-
ored paper and decreases with the blue. The results of this study could
aid in the field of color psychology by adding on how color changes
specifically positive or negative affect instead of overall mood.
37
Patricia Lee, Justine Chanthachackvong, Angela Ngo, and
Marlee Holleran
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith, M. A., Instructor
SEA-PHAGES: Roy17, Gotta Catch em' All!
SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing
Genomics and Evolutionary Science) is a national project that research-
es mycobacterium phages. The purpose of the SEA-PHAGES research
is to find bacteria to help prevent further antibiotic resistance from oc-
curring, especially in Mycobacterium sp. The course has the goal of
discovery and understanding microbiological techniques, complex ge-
nome annotation, and bioinformatics analysis. Soil was extracted from
a location on the Marywood University campus and filtrated. Through
varied microbiology techniques, DNA was able to be extracted from
the filtrate and sent to the University of Pittsburgh, who then sequenced
and documented the genome. The phage Roy17, has been documented
on phagesdb.org as four different phages named Roy17, Hazard4,
Mulch63 and Peac17. Roy17 has been placed in the sub-cluster B1,
composed of phages with the host mycobacterium. The 104 gene-
encoded proteins of Roy17, a mycobacteriophage, were analyzed and
recorded by student researchers. Software programs, such as DNA
Master, Starterator, GeneMark, and others, were used to help determine
the information including the gene’s coding potential and function.
Throughout this experiment, it was learned that not all of Roy17’s
genes were called, some genes were actually deleted (numbers 3 and
55). Researchers were also able to make note of each gene’s coding
potential, which accounts for the protein’s interaction between the
phage and bacteria. The phage, as well as the data annotated will be
added to the phagebank at the University of Pittsburgh to be used as a
host for further research with antibiotic resistance.
36
Bridget Barnic
Sponsored by Mary Ann Smith, M. A., Instructor
An Investigation of the Antimicrobial Properties of Traditional
Home Remedies
Common household spices such as cinnamon, paprika, oregano, cumin,
and nutmeg possess properties that, when consumed, have medicinal
effects in the body. Some act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory
agents, others treat diseases and conditions such as diabetes and gastro-
intestinal disorders. In this study, the aforementioned spices will be
tested against different bacteria in order to discover if they exhibit anti-
microbial effects. With these results, further investigation can then be
pursued to identify the exact properties within the spices responsible
for the antimicrobial effects. The information gathered can then be used
to develop alternative and natural ways to treat bacterial infections, as
opposed to the regularly prescribed antibiotics. The need for this type
of research is of particular importance today due to the increasing con-
cern surrounding the antibiotic resistance of bacteria. According to the
CDC (2014), “Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people
become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at
least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections.”
The answer to this dire situation may not have to be accompanied by
panic and an investment of billions of dollars in the research labs, but
perhaps a look on the kitchen spice rack will do.
17
Emily Banfield
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Working Memory Processing with Unpleasant, Neutral, and
Pleasant Stimuli Considering Anxiety Levels
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between
working memory processing and anxiety levels for unpleasant, neutral,
and pleasant affective stimuli. Research suggests that anxiety may af-
fect working memory processing because anxiety occupies attentional
resources by focusing on anxiety provoking stimuli which leaves less
attentional resources to attune to a task. It is still questioned whether
this bias towards threat in individuals with anxiety will then leave anx-
ious individuals with an advantage and increased working memory per-
formance with unpleasant stimuli because they already are attuned to
this type of information. It is also questioned then if anxious individu-
als would be at a disadvantage with pleasant stimuli due to their bias
towards threat. The rationale for this study was to examine the relation-
ship between anxiety and working memory processing of neutral,
pleasant, and unpleasant stimuli to see if a relationship exists and to
what extent they are correlated. Participants took the State–Trait Anxie-
ty Inventory for Adults measure to indicate anxiety levels. Neutral, un-
pleasant, and pleasant words and pictures were shown to participants
followed by a complex OSPAN task involving simple math equations.
Participants then indicated which stimuli they had previously seen.
18
Christopher Best
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
The Association Between Music Preferences and Personality
The Big 5 personality test has been used for years in studies as a frame-
work to help map the relationship between personality and music pref-
erences. There are 4 dimensions of music that were consistent when
comparing them against the Big 5 factors of personality. These dimen-
sions consist of the reflective and complex dimension, which was de-
fined by the genres blues, jazz, classical and folk music; The intense
and rebellious dimension, which was defined by rock, alternative and
heavy metal music; The upbeat and conventional dimension, which was
defined by country, sound track, religious and pop music; The energetic
and rhythmic dimension, which was defined by rap/hip-hop, soul/funk
and electronica/dance music. The STOMP, or Short Test Of Music
Preference, was used to determine which categories participants fell
into. Previous studies have revealed that Extraversion and Openness are
among the personality factors with the strongest ties to music prefer-
ences. After replicating these studies, it is expected that the relationship
of music/music preference and personality traits will be confirmed. It is
also expected that the results can then be used to help determine the
relationship of other factors such as Academic performance.
35
Stacey Watkins
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and the Reduction
of Anxiety
Recent research, scientific speculation, and anecdotal evidence have
suggested there may be a causal relationship between the ability to ex-
perience Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) and the
ability to experience a reduction in anxiety. This current study attempts
to explore this relationship through five hypotheses: 1) people who ex-
perience ASMR show greater reduced anxiety levels than people who
do not experience ASMR; 2) people who experience tingling and/or
euphoric sensations while experiencing ASMR show greater reduced
anxiety levels than people who do not experience those sensations; 3)
the ability to cope with one’s anxiety increases after experiencing
ASMR; 4) people who view ASMR-related media for the purpose of
reducing their anxiety show greater reduced anxiety levels than people
who view ASMR-related media for other purposes; and 5) people with
higher anxiety levels consume more ASMR-related media than people
with lower anxiety levels. Subjects will be given a series of question-
naires that will measure demographics, current anxiety levels, and the
ability to experience ASMR. Subjects will also be shown an ASMR
video via YouTube while wearing binaural headphones. Subjects will
complete the demographic and two anxiety questionnaires, view the
ASMR video, complete the two anxiety questionnaires again, and lastly
complete the ASMR questionnaire. This current study is important be-
cause the findings, if significant, can contribute to the realm of alterna-
tive treatments to reduce anxiety in those that suffer from the disorder’s
symptoms, along with validating the consensus from those of the
ASMR community that experiencing ASMR helps to reduce their
anxiety.
34
Erica Viola
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
The Role of Learned Helpless and Anxiety in Test Taking
and Learning
The purpose of this study was to explore the idea and theory of
learned helplessness and how it affects people in their daily lives
through simple tasks or test taking. This study involved three surveys
analyzing learned helplessness and anxiety. The participant first took
an anxiety screening survey followed by the learned helplessness sur-
vey. The next part of the study had the participant look at an index card
with three words on it and their goal was to unscramble each word and
make it into a new word. An example of this is the word “dog” and
how it can be unscrambled into the word “God”. The next index card
had three more words, except the first word is impossible to unscram-
ble and the last word is difficult. I learned from this study that many
participants have low levels of anxiety if any and that the people with
the low levels of anxiety had more difficulty moving past the first
word, which was impossible and did not get to solve the second and
third word which was possible to be unscrambled. This experiment
shows the effect of how anxiety plays a role in any task that requires
cognitive skills and how failing at these tasks can result in a feeling of
helplessness in future tasks. This study shows that in even simple cog-
nitive tasks a feeling of helplessness can cause impairment to finish a
task and could also greatly increase someone’s anxiety especially if the
task is left unresolved.
19
Abigail Brown
Sponsored by Edward Crawley, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Effect of blue and red background color on speed of facial
expression recognition in sad and angry faces.
Previous research has illustrated that context clues such as background
color can alter the speed of emotional recognition. Red, specifically has
been proven to increase the speed by which individuals recognize angry
faces as opposed to other facial expressions such as happiness and fear
(Young et. al 2013). This study will expand upon this research by repli-
cating the red trial contrasting red and gray backgrounds with happy
and angry expressions, as well as using blue backgrounds to explore
the connection between sad and happy facial expressions. The purpose
of this study is to discover whether or not background color affects the
speed of facial expression recognition; specifically questioning if red
increases the speed when identifying angry faces and if blue increases
the speed of recognizing sad expressions. This will be done by catego-
rize facial expressions as efficiently as possible by using keys that cor-
respond to the three listed emotion labels; anger, happiness, and sad-
ness.These images will be assigned to a gray, blue, or red background.
The results of this study could aid in the field of color psychology by
adding onto how color changes affect the ability of individuals to rec-
ognize facial expressions. If significant, the results could inform thera-
pists and researchers of how colors can influence their clients and par-
ticipants, which would help them to cognitively choose materials
knowing the effect of that color on expressions.
20
Tiffany Carpenter
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Music's Effect on One’s Ability to Retain Material and
Complete Cognitive
The purpose of this study is to explore the difference between consum-
ing music while reading and completing a task versus completing a task
or reading independently. Participant will be briefed on general proce-
dures for the study. (a) Participants will be asked to complete two ques-
tionnaires to assess the relationship between genres listened to and per-
sonal retention. (b) Depending on the participant’s answer to the ques-
tion on the survey that states “do you listen to shuffle while reading or
a particular genre” will determine what they will play on the provided
iPod. (c) While listening to this particular genre or shuffle music they
will be asked to read a list of eight words that vary in complexity. This
task is estimated at two minutes. (d) Once the task above is complete
the participant will be asked to detach a simple pen while listening to
music. (e) Than reassemble the same pen they detached. This task is
estimated at eight to eleven minutes. In total the study will take be-
tween ten to fifteen minutes. When both questionnaires are complete,
as well as the two cognitive task’s participants will be thanked for their
participation and will be given credit for their participation through the
SONA system. I purpose that music has an effect on one’s ability to
multitask effectively.
33
Heather Schultz, Sean Gaughran, and Breanna Latourette
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Addictive Social Media, Self-Esteem, and Narcissism in
College Students
As social media in our society has increased its popularity and in-
creased its influence in today’s world, the need to examine what traits
are most easily influenced or affected by social media is crucial, as is
evaluating how much of an effect it has on people’s daily life and their
own perceptions of themselves. A main goal of our research is to close-
ly examine the ability for social media addiction to be used as a psy-
chological predictor of narcissism and self-esteem. Specifically, we
will be examining these three variables among Marywood University
college students; our participants will be selected using convenience
sampling through an online survey that will be accessible to the Mary-
wood student body. The assessments will be completed online using
three different assessments to measure each variable, the Bergen Social
Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the Rosenberg self-esteem Scale,
and the Narcissistic Personality Inventory 16. At the end of the assess-
ments, we will include a section for demographics in order to analyze
whether or not characteristics such as gender, race, or age plays a role
in the correlation between social media usage, narcissism, or self-
esteem. We predict that based on our data, we will find a positive cor-
relation between social media usage and narcissism, and a negative cor-
relation between social media usage and self-esteem.
32
Jenna Santarsiero and Victoria Hunsinger
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
The Effects of Music on Memory
The purpose of this study was to determine whether music influenced
learning concentration and to see which kind of music influenced con-
centration the most. Previous studies have shown that classical music
can help concentration in work areas. This study attempted to see how
music influenced concentration in a more academic environment. Par-
ticipants underwent three different experimental conditions. Two con-
ditions had participants listen to dub-step and classical music while
reading a passage and the third condition had no music while they read.
After each passage was read the participants answered questions that
corresponded to the readings. The findings of this proposed study will
determine the influence certain music has on concentration. The study
can also show how previous findings in work areas can be applied to an
academic environment. Also, the findings can help improve memory
for students by finding out which music works best for them while
completing a certain task for school related things such as studying or
doing homework. Last, results can help advance how people learn and
retain new information.
21
Joseph Ducas
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Effects of Social Media Usage On Sustained Attention
Social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter are accessed by
millions of people on a daily basis. Our technological-driven society is
constantly changing the way we learn, prioritize, and communicate
with one another. The purpose of this study is to: establish a relation-
ship between heavy use of social media outlets and the effect on one’s
ability to sustain attention. It can be predicted that prolonged activity
on social media sites can have consequences on one’s ability to focus
attention, which can lead to cognitive deficiencies. The Sustained At-
tention to Response Task will be administered where participants will
be presented with a series of numbers on a computer screen and asked
to press the spacebar each time a number appears, aside from the num-
ber 3. When 3 appears, they are asked not to press the space bar. If they
do, it will be counted as an error and indicate a lack of focus. Partici-
pants in this study will also be asked to complete a questionnaire relat-
ing to his/her social media usage (how many hours on average per day
does he/her spend on social media, how many social media accounts
does his/her have). The participant’s social media questionnaire will be
recorded and associated with the Number of Errors and Average Re-
sponse time recorded on the Sustained Attention to Response Task. I
propose that participants who report high usage of social media sites
will perform more poorly on the Sustained Attention to Response task
then participants who report a lower usage.
22
LeahBeth Evans
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
The Effect of Music Preference on Cognitive Performance
Music is known to stimulate various regions of the brain. Previous re-
search regarding the effects of music on cognitive performance have
focused on utilizing specific genres, or various levels of sound intensi-
ty. Furthermore, prior studies relating music to cognitive performance
have focused on basic memory recall, or on mathematical computation.
The current study allows subjects to select music which they perceive
as enjoyable, and makes no prior presumptions about an individual’s
perceptions of various genres. Subjects’ cognitive performance is as-
sessed through reading comprehension, and recall of pertinent
information.
Subjects were asked to complete an initial survey listing their most fa-
vorite and least favorite songs. Each individual read two different read-
ing passages; one while listening to a favorite song, and one while lis-
tening to a least favorite song. Comprehension questions were present-
ed after each reading, relating to the passage. Cognitive performance
was measured by the ability to successfully answer the comprehension
questions. Subjects also completed a final questionnaire evaluating the
performance task. It is hypothesized that subjects will demonstrate bet-
ter cognitive performance while listening to a favorite musical selec-
tion, rather than when listening to an unfavorable musical selection.
This research is intended to show whether music preference has an ef-
fect on cognitive performance, and may also provide further evidence
as to ways in which students may enhance and improve learning tasks
to promote more positive cognitive performance outcomes.
31
Nicole Rabecs
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Differences in Memory in Regards to Gender
Are there differences in the memories of females and males? Evidence
from various studies suggests that the answer to this question varies
across many factors, such as age, as well as location, level of education,
income, etc. The purpose of this specific study is to examine the age
differences within the gender differences of individuals’ memories. In
the cases of the older individuals, the information gathered from the
studies I referenced indicated that although there were not specific
memory performance differences by gender, the women did perform
better than the men on tests of auditory memory, while the men per-
formed better than the women on tests of visual memory. In the cases
of young adults, the study I referenced indicated that in regards to fac-
es, females tended to remember happy faces better than men remem-
bered happy faces, but, on the other hand, there didn’t seem to be a dif-
ference between males and females in regards to their memories of an-
gry faces. Finally, in a general study I found consisting of women and
men aged between 16 and 69 years, the results indicated that the wom-
en performed better on tests of auditory memory while the men per-
formed better on tests of visual memory, which was consistent with the
results of the study of the older adults.
30
Tara O'Neil, Anna Balanovich, and Amanda McNamara
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Anxiety in Undergraduate Students in Relation to
Extroversion and Trust
The objective of this study is to perform correlational research of re-
ported anxiety in relation to levels of extroversion and trust in under-
graduate students. As undergraduates are emerging into adulthood, ad-
ditional responsibilities can impact the anxiety levels of these individu-
als. The purpose of examining individual’s internal processes is to
identify if a score in one variable can predict a score in the others. A
survey consisting of three parts was distributed to participants in order
for them to self-report their levels of anxiety, extroversion and trusting
tendencies. The hypothesis of this study is participants that report the
highest levels of anxiety will also score the lowest in the extroversion
and trust survey portions. The examination of undergraduate’s scores
will provide insight into how personality and internal processes are po-
tentially connected. If the hypothesis is supported by the data, future
research could examine the different anxiety coping mechanisms used
by extroverts may be the cause the correlation of the lesser anxiety
levels.
23
Shayna Finn and Theresa Longstreet
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
The Influence of Music Genres on Memory Recall
The purpose of this study was to identify a relationship between vari-
ous music genres and how they impact a person’s memory recall abil-
ity. Participants were asked to study a list of 10 words while music
played for 30 seconds. They were then asked to complete a question-
naire consisting of 5 multiple choice questions pertaining to their famil-
iarity of the song and their mood while listening and studying. After the
questionnaire was completed, they were asked to write as many of the
words that they could recall on the back of the questionnaire. They did
this sequence with different lists of words and different songs four
more times for a total of 5 attempts. The genres included; rock, pop,
classical, acoustic, and country music. The intended results that the re-
searchers expect are that the classical and acoustic songs will produce a
better word recall since these songs are easier to listen to while study-
ing as compared to rock songs which can be overwhelming and
distracting.
24
Clarissa Fischer
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
The Effects of Idealistic Advertisements on Self-Esteem in Young
Adult Male and Females
Low Self-esteem has many influences, one of the largest being from
advertisements. Idealistic Advertising of the body influences and cre-
ates western cultural ideals that companies exploit to target self-esteem
and to promote customer company loyalty and business revenue. Ideal-
istic advertising refers to the considered apex of beauty or masculinity
supported through company advertisement. Low elf-esteem manifests
itself in different ways, resulting in health problems such as eating dis-
orders and depression in both men and women. Although, when ad-
dressing the implications of advertisement and its connections to self-
esteem, most studies have focused more on women than men. There is
very little research done regarding the influence on men from idealistic
advertisements regarding their self-esteem. Therefore the purpose of
this study was to take into account that men are just as likely as women
to be influenced by idealistic body advertisements. The Research in-
cluded two groups male and female. Both groups were separated and
each individual was shown a slide show containing same-gender mod-
els found within company advertisements. The participants were pre-
sented with a pretest-posttest survey that will measure their self-esteem
before and after the treatment procedure as well as memory tests that
regarded the slideshow advertisement pictures. The results gathered
were used to correlate male self-esteem and female self-esteem to find
that men may be just as likely as women to be influenced by idealistic
body advertisements and therefore would merit that men should be just
as recognized within low self-esteem research in this field.
29
Andrew Murray and Laura McNamara
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
On Examining the Correlative Natures between Parental Influence
and College Major of Choice and Personality Traits and College
Major, and the Expected Differences in Levels of Satisfaction
This study will accumulate data that attempts to examine the correlative
nature of a student’s choice in major and their satisfaction with the cho-
sen major. The study will use the “Big 5” personality traits to specify
particular personality types and see if there is a correlation between
personality and choice of college major. Once a correlative nature has
been established, then students whose personalities match with the ex-
pected college major will be asked to rate their satisfaction with that
major on a scale of 1-10. This set of data will be compared to another
set which will contain data retrieved from students whose choice of
major co—aligns with the college major/career path of their parents.
These students, too, will be asked to rate their satisfaction with their
current major of choice on a scale of 1-10.
28
Emma Ledden, Courtnie Perri, and Ashley Caldaro
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Morbid Curiosity and the Media: a Determination of Empathy
in Individuals
Evidence from several research studies suggest that there is a relation-
ship between levels of morbid curiosity and levels of empathy in indi-
viduals. Morbid curiosity is considered to be a neurotic response that is
formed from constant exposure to morbid events. Studies have suggest-
ed that curiosity about morbid events is a form of sensation-seeking,
which is unique to various personality factors in individuals. Morbid
curiosity has also been considered to be a safe and normal outlet for the
expression of destructive impulses. The purpose of this study is to test
the correlation of the relationship between levels of morbid curiosity
and levels of empathy through the use of various surveys. We first de-
termined which individuals are morbidly curious, and then measured
their levels of empathy. We predict that there will be a negative corre-
lation, meaning that those who have higher levels of morbid curiosity
will have lower levels of empathy.
25
Tawny Husosky, Courtney Capwell, Megan Refice
Sponsored by Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Narcissism, Impulsivity, and Sex Differences
The purpose of this experiment is to better understand whether or not
impulsivity is related to subclinical narcissism, and whether or not
these traits are more prevalent in either of the sexes. We hypothesize,
based on the limited findings of past research on this topic, that sub-
clinical narcissism and impulsivity will be positively related to one an-
other and that both traits will be more prevalent in males than in fe-
males. Two instruments have been selected to measure narcissism: the
Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), and the Narcissistic Admira-
tion and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ). The Barratt Impulsivity Scale
(BIS-11) will be administered to measure impulsivity. Participants will
complete these questionnaires on Marywood’s SONA System in the
following order: demographic survey, NPI, BIS-11, NARQ. Based on
the data attained from the completion of these instruments, we will
evaluate whether or not these traits are related, and if they are more
prevalent in males or females.
26
Patricia Ingulli and Shelby Ohotnicky
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
The Impact of Positive and Negative Emotionally Stimulating
Images on Memory Recall
The working memory is part of the short-term memory in charge of
quick recall of temporary information to complete simple tasks. It has
been demonstrated that emotions affect our memory of happy, sad, or
traumatic life events but there is conflicted research on whether or not
emotionally valenced stimuli has an impact on our working memory.
Inconsistent findings within the literature prompted our research to de-
termine whether or not associating positive and negative emotions with
images will result in more accuracy during short-term recall. Partici-
pants are first shown a series of images showing positively and nega-
tively valenced stimuli including 4 positive and 4 negative categories of
stimuli, each containing 5 images. They are then shown the same series
containing replaced images and asked to record whether they have al-
ready seen the pictures. Data is analyzed by determining the percent-
ages of participants’ correct and incorrect responses as well as the va-
lence of stimuli which yields incorrect responses. Our hypothesis is that
participants will record more inaccurate responses when the stimuli are
negatively valenced.
27
Jeffrey Kelly
Sponsored By Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
A study on the perception of time and how it relates to difficulty
of task
My project looked at how a person perceives the flow of time while
trying to accomplish a difficult task whether it would seem to speed up,
slow down or flow at the normal rate. In regards to my poster I have
explained what took place during each part of the experimental period
by including the tasks my subjects were asked to complete, as well as
give the perceived times the subjects believed it took to complete each
individual tasks. I have also included an analysis of the results of each
task that has led my to conclude that my hypothesis was correct in as-
suming that the more difficult the task, the faster time is perceived to be
moving. At the end of my poster I have also included some thoughts on
how to make the experiment more thorough if another person or group
would like to expand on the work. I have also included some confound-
ing variables that could skew the data being collected by the research-
ers as well.