THE FIRst AnnuAL STUDENT ReseARCH SYMPOSIUM Celebrating the achievements of San Diego State University students in research, scholarship & creative activity February 29 & March 1, 2008 THE FIRst AnnuAL STUDENT ReseARCH SYMPOSIUM Celebrating the achievements of San Diego State University students in research, scholarship & creative activity February 29 & March 1, 2008 STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 2 STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 3 Welcome from the President.........................................................................................................5 Schedule of Events .......................................................................................................................6 Aztec Center Map ........................................................................................................................7 Schedule at a Glance ...................................................................................................................8 Welcome from the Student Research Committee ....................................................................... 10 Keynote Speaker ....................................................................................................................... 11 Awards ......................................................................................................................................12 TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TABLE Luncheon ...................................................................................................................................13 Oral and Poster Presentations ....................................................................................................14 Abstracts ...................................................................................................................................32 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................134 Notes .......................................................................................................................................138 STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 4 STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 5 February 29, 2008 Dear Colleagues and Guests: It is with great pleasure I welcome you to San Diego State Univer- sity’s first annual Student Research Symposium. The symposium is a university-wide event to recognize and celebrate the out- standing research, scholarship, and creative activity of our under- graduate and graduate students. The symposium also identifies our most talented students who will represent SDSU at the an- nual California State University Student Research Competition. More than 300 students will present their original scholarly work in a public forum that introduces community members, part- ners, students and guests to our many outstanding academic programs. Moreover, the symposium provides a venue for sharing academic excellence and discovery and demonstrates SDSU’s commitment to developing innovative solutions for our region, nation, and the world. All of these goals advance the vision of SDSU as a top 10 urban research university. To plan and execute an event of this magnitude required the efforts of dedicated faculty and staff members. In addition, nearly 200 judges have volunteered to share their time and exper- tise evaluating oral and poster presentations. These collective efforts demonstrate our com- mitment to fostering student scholarship and professional development and I am grateful to all who have worked so hard on behalf of our students and the university. WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT THE FROM WELCOME Best wishes for a great symposium. Sincerely, Stephen L. Weber, President San Diego State University STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 6 Friday Morning, February 29, 2008 S T 7:00 am – 4:00 pm Registration N Montezuma Hall Lobby E 8:00 am – 8:30 am SRS Opening Remarks/Welcome Montezuma Hall North 8:45 am – 10:15 am Session A: Oral Presentations Aztec Center 10:30 am – 12:00 am Session A: Oral Presentations Aztec Center 8:45 am – 12:30 pm Session A: Poster Presentations Montezuma Hall South Friday Afternoon, February 29, 2008 1:00 pm – 4:45 pm Session B: Poster Presentations Montezuma Hall South SCHEDULE OF EV OF SCHEDULE 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm Session B: Oral Presentations Aztec Center 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Session B: Oral Presentations Aztec Center 1:00 pm – 4:45 pm Session B: Poster Presentations Montezuma Hall South Saturday Morning, March 1, 2008 7:00 am – 11:00 am Registration Montezuma Hall Lobby 8:45 am – 10:15 am Session C: Oral Presentations Aztec Center 10:15 am – 11:45 am Session C - Oral Presentations Aztec Center 10:45 am Session C - Oral Presentations Aztec Center 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Keynote Address and Luncheon STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 7 AztecAztec CenterCenter Ramp Free Speech Steps Lower Level Patio Starbucks Montezuma Info Hall Center Credit Union Drive Aztec Circle S Montezuma Lounge Montezuma MAP OF VENUE MAP OF Ramp Aztec Center Aztec Patio Stage Market Casa Real Food Service Main Level Aztec Center Patio Loading Dock Loading Ouetzalcoatl A & B Presidential Suite Patio Back Door Rec Center Council Chambers Lower Level Chantico Calmecac Women’s Restroom Gender Neutral Restroom Disabled Access S ATM Men’s Restroom Stairs Phone Elevator STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 8 Friday, February 29 7:00 – 4:00 Registration Montezuma Hall Lounge 8:00 Welcome Montezuma Hall North Time Session Session Session Title Academic Level Room Location Number Type 8:45 – 12:30 A-1 Poster Biological Sciences and Biochemistry All levels Montezuma Hall South Health and Health Behavioral Sciences Humanities, Psychology, and Social Sciences Language and Communications Chemistry Physics 8:45 A-2 Oral Neuroscience Undergraduate and Master’s Calmecac A-3 Oral Social and Gender Issues in the Media Undergraduate and Master’s Casa Real A-4 Oral Philosophical Thoughts Undergraduate and Master’s Chantico A-5 Oral Geological Sciences and Astronomy Master’s Council Chambers A-6 Oral Hydrology and Soil Erosion Master’s Presidential Suite A-7 Oral Chemical Biology Undergraduate Quetzalcoatl A A-8 Oral Physics and Computational Sciences All levels Quetzalcoatl B 10:30 A-9 Oral Student Services in Higher Education Undergraduate and Master’s Calmecac A-10 Oral Cognitive Neurosciences Undergraduate and Master’s Casa Real SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE AT SCHEDULE A-11 Oral Decision Support All levels Chantico A-12 Oral Diversity and Pedagogy in Education Doctoral Council Chambers A-13 Oral Mechanics and Materials All levels Presidential Suite A-14 Oral Cell Biology I Doctoral Quetzalcoatl A A-15 Oral Gender and Status Undergraduate and Master’s Quetzalcoatl B 1:00 – 4:45 B-1 Poster Industrial and Organizational Behavioral Studies All levels Montezuma Hall South Cognition, Cognitive, and Behavioral Sciences Computer Science and Engineering Geological Sciences Mathematics and Computational Sciences 1:15 B-2 Oral Gender and Sexuality Undergraduate and Master’s Backdoor B-3 Oral Language and Linguistics Undergraduate and Master’s Calmecac B-4 Oral Sustainability, Environment, and Conservation Master’s and Doctoral Casa Real B-5 Oral Educational Technology Master’s and Doctoral Chantico B-6 Oral Computer Sciences and Bioinformatics All levels Council Chambers B-7 Oral Chemistry and Biochemistry Master’s and Doctoral Presidential Suite B-8 Oral Cell Biology II Master’s and Doctoral Quetzalcoatl A B-9 Oral Nutrition, Perceptions, and Health Undergraduate and Master’s Quetzalcoatl B 3:00 B-10 Oral Creative Activities and Research in the Arts I Master’s Backdoor B-11 Oral Past and Present Indigenous Communities Undergraduate and Master’s Casa Real in the Californias B-12 Oral Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Master’s Chantico B-13 Oral Political and Ethical Issues Master’s Council Chambers B-14 Oral Migration and Globalization Undergraduate and Master’s Quetzalcoatl A B-15 Oral Health Behaviors I Undergraduate and Master’s Quetzalcoatl B STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 9 Saturday, March 1 7:00 – 11:00 Registration Montezuma Hall Lounge Time Session Session Session Title Academic Level Room Location Number Type 8:30 C-1 Oral Higher Education and Curriculum Master’s Calmecac C-2 Oral MEMS and Electrical Devices Design Master’s Casa Real C-3 Oral Social and Behavioral Health Master’s and Doctoral Council Chambers C-4 Oral Communication Studies Master’s Presidential Suite C-5 Oral Ecology Undergraduate and Master’s Quetzalcoatl A C-6 Oral Literature Through the Ages Undergraduate and Master’s Quetzalcoatl B 10:15 C-7 Oral Creative Activities and Research in the Arts II Undergraduate and Master’s Backdoor C-8 Oral Applied Physiology Master’s and Doctoral Casa Real C-9 Oral Culture, Identity, and Representation Undergraduate and Master’s Chantico C-10 Oral Violence and Relationships Undergraduate Council Chambers C-11 Oral Psycholinguistics and Speech Perception Doctoral Presidential Suite C-12 Oral Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate and Master’s Quetzalcoatl A 10:45 C-13 Oral Health Behaviors II Master’s Quetzalcoatl B 12:00 Luncheon Montezuma Hall SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE AT SCHEDULE STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2008 10 February 29, 2008 Dear SDSU Community and Guests: Welcome to the first annual San Diego State University Student Research Symposium. The Symposium is a celebration of student accomplishments. Through this university-wide forum, students share their research and creative processes with the university and community. The two-day Symposium includes presentations representing more than