2020 SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Journal of Scholarly Endeavor Volume XX 2020 Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity 2020 SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Interim Provost .......................................................................................................................... 4 Independent Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity: Art ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Biology ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Chemistry ............................................................................................................................................................. 14 Computer Science ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Criminology and Criminal Justice .......................................................................................................................... 23 Dance ................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Elementary/Early Childhood Education ................................................................................................................. 28 English ................................................................................................................................................................. 34 Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences ..................................................................................................................... 35 Geography, Geology, and the Environment ........................................................................................................... 41 History ................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Interdisciplinary Programs .................................................................................................................................... 45 Mathematics and Statistics ................................................................................................................................... 48 Music ................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Office for Community-Engaged Learning ............................................................................................................... 50 Parks, Conservation, and Recreational Therapy ..................................................................................................... 53 Philosophy ........................................................................................................................................................... 54 Physical and Health Education .............................................................................................................................. 55 Physical Therapy................................................................................................................................................... 57 Physics and Engineering ....................................................................................................................................... 58 Psychology ........................................................................................................................................................... 67 Public Health and Social Work .............................................................................................................................. 70 Recreational Therapy ........................................................................................................................................... 75 Safety Management ............................................................................................................................................. 77 Secondary Education / Foundations of Education ................................................................................................. 79 Special Education ................................................................................................................................................. 81 Theatre ................................................................................................................................................................ 86 2 2020 SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Classroom-Based Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity: Art ....................................................................................................................................................................... 88 Communication .................................................................................................................................................... 91 Criminology and Criminal Justice .......................................................................................................................... 96 Dance ................................................................................................................................................................... 98 English ............................................................................................................................................................... 106 Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences ................................................................................................................... 108 Geography, Geology, and the Environment ......................................................................................................... 111 History ............................................................................................................................................................... 112 Homeland and Corporate Security Studies .......................................................................................................... 114 Management and Marketing .............................................................................................................................. 122 Mathematics and Statistics ................................................................................................................................. 124 Occupational Therapy......................................................................................................................................... 125 Physical and Health Education ............................................................................................................................ 132 Physics and Engineering ..................................................................................................................................... 133 Political Science .................................................................................................................................................. 134 Psychology ......................................................................................................................................................... 136 Public Health and Social Work ............................................................................................................................ 140 Index.................................................................................................................................................................. 141 3 2020 SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM PROVOST Greetings, Spend some time on our campus and you’ll soon realize that “Experience the Difference” is more than just a tagline. The fundamental educational mission of Slippery Rock University is to transform the intellectual, social, physical, and leadership capacities of students in order to prepare them for life and career success. A complementary mission is to engage in scholarly activity. Around the year 2000, and under a different name, the framework of the Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity was developed. The Symposium was to provide a local forum where our students could share research experiences with peers and fellow collaborators in a supportive, non-competitive, learning and sharing environment. Individual achievements too could be celebrated. The expectation of faculty involvement in collaborative research with undergraduates is not new to our institution nor that of many others. Although the classical definition of undergraduate research best fits historical trends in the natural sciences and social sciences, it was our Institutional intent to create a model that would work well with all disciplines. In truth, our vision has evolved through time and has benefitted because of the support and input of many, including students, faculty, staff, and administrators. That the benefits of undergraduate research extend beyond discovery and dissemination is incontestable. Enhanced writing skills, communication skills,