Scholars and their Research Project

Jacqueline Rodriguez

Title:    Educating the Not so Educated

Abstract:    Today, high rates of juvenile crime in the United States are leading the public to have feelings of fear and concern. As a result, many juveniles are institutionalized in the California Youth Authority (CYA) institutions, where they receive education, training, and treatment; however, is there a relationship between incarceration length and educational goals or achievements among these offenders? This study examines the experiences of CYA male parolees from Northern California, where their incarceration lengths and educational goals will be analyzed to determine of offenders who spend longer sentences also complete more educational programs and if they are more likely to pursue a higher education.

Reha Zamani

Title:    Relationship Between Sex, Self-esteem and Self-disclosure

Abstract:    This study predicted that there would be a relationship between sex, self-estee, and self-disclosure. Two hundred participants (100 males and 100 females) completed a survey containing five items from Rosenberg's Self-esteem scale and five items from the Revised Self-disclosure scale. Results tested the proposed hypotheses that (1) female participants would report that they self-disclose more about themselves than male participants, (2) male participants would report having higher levels of self-esteem than female participants, and that (3) self-esteem would be correlated with self-disclosure. A discussion of the implications of these finding along with suggestions for future research is provided.

Marla Atchinson

Title:    People's Attitudes Towards the Homeless

Abstract:    Eighty-four western college students were administered surveys that measured attitudes toward the homeless, demographics, and personality variables. The personality variables that were assessed in this study were self-construal, universal orientation, focus of control and social desirability. A. Pearson's "r" correlation was used to investigate whether these demographic and personality variables were correlated with attitudes toward the homeless in expected directions. This study showed that some of the demographics and personality variables used in this study are related to their attitudes toward the homeless.

Amina Zamani

Title:    The Relationship Between Growing Up without a Father, Self-esteem and the Ability to Communicate with Males among Females

Abstract:    This study hypothesizes that females growin gup in families without a father will have lower self-esteem and less of a ability to communicate with males than females growing uo in intact families. To test theses hypthses, a comparative analysis was conducted on a twelve-tem survey instrument. The analysis assess the differences between females that grew up in a family without a father and females that grew up in a family with a father. Findings discuss how females with absent father families differ from females with intact families on both self-esteem and the ability to communicate with males. Additionally, a discussion of the finding along with a review of the limitations of the research is presented.

Van Vi Vuong

Title:    The Importance of Reading Fluency

Abstract:    Introduction: this study is based on a reading program called REWARDS. The REAEDS program teaches students strategies for decoding long words to increase oral and reading fluency. Students learn how to decode and review prefixes and suffixes in addition to vows. Methodology: Fourteen eighth graders in a program called Summer Bridge in Sacramento are participating in this study and I will be the one instructing the course in a group of two. Data Analysis: survey and observation is being analyze and some interesting trend emerged that suggest that further research is worthwhile.

Brand Candido

Title:    Enhancing Effective Policing: The Interaction of Gender, Support Services Utilization and Indicators of Stress

Abstract:    It is commonplace for law enforcement officers in their culture of machismo to deny that internal and external stressors (i.e. job satisfaction, employment and marital history and challenges of the career) often times trigger job malfunction-conduct unbecoming of an officer, misconduct, and at times corruption. Attempts to understand officer representation in misconduct has been plagued by a tendency to downplay the significance of gender. The goal of this research is to understand officer gender differences in misconduct and usage of support services, and the effect of support service on officer involvement in misconduct based on in depth job satisfaction surveys with active law enforcement officers.

Nina Shoman

Title:    The Relationship Between Race/Ethnicity, Religion and Political Affiliation and the Willingness to Sacrifice Our Civil Liberties to Government Control

Abstract:    Government control over civil liberties has been a debated issue throughout American history. Historical events that demonstrated the increased use of government restraint over American civil liberties include the internment of Japanese Americans, anti-German hysteria during the McCarthy era and the enactment of the Patriot Act of 2001. Little research has been conducted about whether different races/ethnicities have different opinions regarding their willingness to allow the government to impede on their civil liberties. This research examines such a relationship between one's race/ethnicity and their willingness to allow government agencies to interfere with their civil liberties. Religion and political affiliation are also examined in this study.

Apryl Evans

Title:    A Look at a Rigorous Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum as One Solution to Computer Software Errors

Abstract:    This comparative study takes a look at the impact of software errors and its relationship to computer science undergraduate curricula. In particular, it focuses on one mid-size university and its computer science undergraduate curricula and evaluates it in relationship to a nationally recognized and well respect computer science suggested curricula model. The impetus for this study stems from widespread concerns expressed in the computer industry. With the explosion of exponential growth of the computer industry, many studies are focusing on the software engineering methodology taught at the undergraduate level in an effort to deliver high quality software to the consumer (Denning, 1999, Gal-Ezer and Zeldes, 2000). Computer software is embedded in many consumer products today (Hilburn et. al, 1999). This incorporation of software products in everyday products such as medical equipment and aircraft emphasize the seriousness of the need for high quality, working software. The methodology of this study describes the criteria required in determining whether this mid-size university is in fact offering its students the necessary tools they require to enable them to deliver high quality software to the consumer. These finding will be available to the institution used in this study and any other institutions which might be interested in the results of this analysis.

Seweit Hezchias

Title:    Racial Identity and Political Mobilization Among African Brazilians

Abstract:    Despite the fact that Afro-Brazilians-Pretos (blacks) and Pardos (browns) alike- occupy a distinctly subordinate place in society, the state and political system of Brazil continues to perpetuate the myth of "racial democracy"-the idea that Brazil is a land of racial equality. Not only has this myth operated to deny racial difference in Brazil it has suppressed racial mobilization and significantly inhibited the formation of a shared ethnic identity.

Ethnic identity is vitally important in understanding political mobilization because it is the organizing principle of a group. This study examines the construction of ethnic identity among Afro-Brazilians and corresponding levels of political mobilization. On the basis of the most contemporary discussions in English language publications, this study is an effort to determine whether an increase in political mobilization can be linked with a rise of racial consiousness among Afro-Brazilians.

Melissa Beacham

Title:    Computers are they weighting us down: A study on how the number of hours college-aged students spend on the computer affect the number of hours they are engaged in physical activity.

Abstract:    Over time technology has increasingly made our lives easier. Most Americans no longer do or have to exert as much physical energy to achieve the same outcome. The increase use of electronics, such as televisions and more recently the introduction of computers have enabled many to become less active and even sedentary. With technology in the computer industry growing so rapidly we as a country have not stopped to see how this technology will and is affecting our health and overall fitness. In this study The investigator looked at the following question: Do the number of hours college-aged students spend on the computer affect the number of hours they engage in physical activity? The investigator tested the hypothesis that there is no correlation between the amount of hours that 523 people surveyed are engaged in physical activity and the amount of hours they spend using the computer for recreation and/or work related use. From the 523 people surveyed 222 of them are valid. The data will now be analyzed and conclusions will be made.

Melissa Beacham

Title:    Computers are they weighting us down: A study on how the number of hours college-aged students spend on the computer affect the number of hours they are engaged in physical activity.

Abstract:    Over time technology has increasingly made our lives easier. Most Americans no longer do or have to exert as much physical energy to achieve the same outcome. The increase use of electronics, such as televisions and more recently the introduction of computers have enabled many to become less active and even sedentary. With technology in the computer industry growing so rapidly we as a country have not stopped to see how this technology will and is affecting our health and overall fitness. In this study The investigator looked at the following question: Do the number of hours college-aged students spend on the computer affect the number of hours they engage in physical activity? The investigator tested the hypothesis that there is no correlation between the amount of hours that 523 people surveyed are engaged in physical activity and the amount of hours they spend using the computer for recreation and/or work related use. From the 523 people surveyed 222 of them are valid. The data will now be analyzed and conclusions will be made.

Andre Baranov

Abstract:    Case study conducted in Sacramento County, California, to evaluate constraints on Low Impact Development (LID) by site permeability. LID is a concept that attempts to realize Sustainable Development through rainwater runoff control. LID offers a less intrusive alternative to storm water management by implementing on site Integrated Management Practices (IMP). Effectiveness of certain IMP's will be severely diminished if permeability is less than .27 in/hr and in some cases less than .57 in/hr. Permeability will be measured directly on site, via percolation test, and inferences on the applicability of LID in the immediately surrounding region of Orangevale will be made based on gathered permeability data.