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The Impact of Social Media and Influencers on Consumer Behavior
No full textOBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research study was to explore the influence of social media influencers on consumer purchase intent and brand loyalty. METHODOLOGY: We collected survey data using the Qualtrics online survey tool. Participants were recruited through our network of family, friends, and social media connections. SAMPLE: We received completed surveys from 245 respondents. The majority of respondents (approximately 70%) were between the ages of 18–24, with an overall age range from 18 to 65+. The average reported income was between 40,000. Most respondents were either full-time students or employed full-time, with a wide variety of weekly work hours reported. Education levels varied, but the majority had completed at least some college, with a significant number indicating completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher. ANALYSIS: We analyzed the data using SPSS statistical software and conducted descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests. KEY FINDINGS: The pattern of our results suggests that social media influencers significantly impact both purchase intent and brand loyalty. A total of 77% of respondents indicated they had purchased a product because of an influencer’s recommendation, with 66% saying they had done so once or twice and 11% frequently. Nearly half of respondents (48%) agreed or strongly agreed that they prefer brands that collaborate with influencers they trust. Additionally, 37% reported continuing to use brands introduced to them by influencers. About 21% agreed or strongly agreed that they had switched brands based on an influencer’s negative review. Finally, 55% said they would unfollow influencers who misled them with promotions. T-test results showed statistically significant differences across some demographic groups, such as age and gender, particularly in how frequently respondents made purchases based on influencer content. All relationships reported were statistically significant
Repeatable System to Pre-Bend Blades for Accurate Cutting of Dumbbell-Shaped Specimens for Tensile Testing
No full textMechanical properties of soft tissues can be determined by performing uniaxial tensile tests on small specimens (i.e. test coupons). The ideal geometry for tensile testing is a dumbbell shape, but manufacturing a custom steel punch is costly and time intensive thus preventing the widespread adoption of dumbbell shaped coupons. The Print-A-Punch device, a 3D-printed cutting device assembled with standard fasteners and razors, was developed as an economical and reliable alternative. However, the use of straight blades in the device introduced dimensional errors in the gauge length of test coupons resulting in the need to pre-bend the blades to improve gauge length accuracy. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a device and method to pre-bend blades. The Bend-A-Blade system was developed to rapidly and accurately bend razor blades into a shape more consistent with dumbbell coupons. This system consists of 3D-printed plates and paddles for quick and economical fabrication. Validation using a custom MATLAB code found the use of pre-bent blades reduced error in the test coupon’s gauge length by 31% compared to straight blades. The use of bent blades allows for the Print-A-Punch device to fully provide an accurate and cost-effective solution to cut dumbbell coupons
Development of an Infant Head-Neck Musculoskeletal Model to Elucidate Asphyxia Risk
No full textSudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), often associated with asphyxia, may be linked to infant postures such as head-neck flexion. This study presents a novel infant head-neck musculoskeletal model developed in OpenSim to quantify muscle forces required during chin-to-chest motion. Using motion capture data from a surrogate doll and scaled anatomical data from infant CT scans, the model simulates head-neck flexion and extension. Static optimization reveals higher-than-expected muscle forces, emphasizing the need for accurate scaling to infant morphology. The validated model aims to inform safer infant product designs and posture management to reduce asphyxia risk
Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: The Dixie Valley Geothermal Plant and the Endangered Dixie Toad
No full textThis report will look at the Dixie Valley Nevada geothermal plant and how it impacts the Dixie toad, the surrounding environment, local community members, and the local indigenous tribes in the area. Ormat, a Canadian mining company, has proposed significant economic and development growth at one of Nevada\u27s hottest geothermal sources in Dixie Valley. We will look at socioeconomic factors such as where the geothermal site is located compared to indigenous land and local towns and communities. We will also examine local government, private sectors, and local organizations and their responses to the Ormat\u27s plan to open the Geothermal site. Other environmental aspects discussed in the paper will be public and private land and the environmental impact statement from Nepa documents produced by the Bureau of Land Management. I will incorporate how the geothermal plant has impacted the ecosystems and landscapes of the Dixie Valley toad. The Timbisha Shoshone and Southern Paiute Tribes and the Center for Biological Diversity have filed a lawsuit against Ormat due to the risks posed by sustainable development and the Dixie Valley toad. Lastly, our research will look at the economic and working opportunities for people working at the Geothermal site and how this may influence policy decision making
Social Media and Distraction
No full textObjective: The purpose of this research study was to see the impacts of social media and its distraction on two different age groups.
Methodology: We collected survey data using the Qualtrics online survey tool from our network of family, friends, and colleagues. This allowed us to efficiently design, distribute, and collect responses. Our sampling method was based on convenience sampling, leveraging our personal networks as the primary source of participants. To broaden the reach and enhance the diversity of our sample, we also promoted the survey through social media platforms such as Instagram.
Sample: We received completed surveys from 235 respondents. Out of the 235, 140 respondents are 18-23 years old. The average age of respondents in our sample was 23 and varied from 18+. 121 respondents have an education level of some college or lower, and 59 have a bachelor\u27s degree or higher.
Analysis: We analyzed the data using SPSS statistical software and its descriptive statistics tool to categorize data in order to run t-tests.
Key Findings: The pattern of our results suggests that respondents aged 18-22 years old are experiencing more distractions from social media than those aged 23 and up. From our data, we found that the relationship between the amount of distraction social media users experience and their ages was statistically significant
Analysis and Characterization of Farmland Loss in Idaho
No full textAgriculture in the United States will face novel difficulties from many human pressures, including climate change, soil quality decline, overuse of water resources, and conversion to residential and commercial development. There is overlap between the best farmland and the best places for urban development, so we are at risk of losing agricultural lands that will be most resilient to climate change and its effects. However, farmland loss is not an isolated issue, and it could lead to more immediate, systemic issues like rising food costs, dependence on imported food and loss of livelihoods in rural communities, which could then lead to rising poverty and political instability especially if environmental pressures such as droughts are mismanaged, all of which need their own resources to address as problems of their own. Because of this, it is critical to make the rural communities where agriculture is socially and economically important more resilient and adaptive to these issues. In Idaho, there has been a significant increase in the population during the past couple of decades, which has caused shifts in the economies of rural communities and land use change of cropland.
To determine which counties are experiencing the most agricultural land loss and what socioeconomic factors they have in common, we used US Census data of demographics and jobs, and annual maps of land from 2011-2021 to characterize counties in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Then, we used K-means clustering to find which counties are most similar to each other, identifying common socioeconomic factors in counties that are experiencing the most agricultural land loss. Our goal is to find which socioeconomic factors are associated with agricultural land loss in the United States so that farmland protection strategies that are successful in one county may be replicated in similar counties, and so that the counties most in need of those protection strategies can be identified
The Impact of Perfectionism on Satisfaction in Division 1 Athletes: Examining Gender Differences and Environmental Influences
No full textPerfectionism can be a powerful motivator driving athletes to achieve extraordinary feats, but it also has the potential to create cycles of stress, dissatisfaction, and emotional distress undermining the very satisfaction it seeks to enhance. Understanding how Division 1 athletes experience perfectionism and how that relates to satisfaction can help us create better support systems that promote both success and happiness and sports. Thus, this project had three distinct research questions: 1. What levels of perfectionism and satisfaction with sport do Division 1 athletes hold for their sport, 2. Do levels of perfectionism and satisfaction with sport differ by gender, and 3. What is the relationship between an athlete’s perfectionism and their satisfaction in sport? Researchers analyzed responses from 264 athletes (73 males, 189 females) who completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2 and the Satisfaction in Sports Scale.
Examination of the data indicated that student athletes held high levels of adaptive perfectionism and satisfaction in sport and lower levels of maladaptive perfectionism. In terms of correlations, female athletes reported satisfaction in sport was negatively related to perceived coach pressure, concern over mistakes, and doubts about actions while no levels of perfectionism were related to satisfaction in sport for male athletes. For females, higher levels of self-doubt, and pressure from others impacted their sport satisfaction, while male athletes’ satisfaction was unrelated to these concepts. The study highlights the importance of gender-specific support in sports psychology and the need for tailored interventions that address the unique differences in genders. By understanding how perfectionism affects male and female athletes differently, coaches and sports professionals can create better strategies for resilience, satisfaction, and long-term engagement in sports
Syntax and Sentience: The Linguistics of Machine Intelligence
Get PDFThis ethnographic capstone project explores the linguistic nuances of intelligence in human-machine discourse within an interdisciplinary classroom setting. With artificial intelligence becoming ubiquitous in our daily lives, this research seeks to uncover how individuals refer to and conceptualize machine intelligence. Conducted through participant observation in a Special Topics course titled Human and Machine Intelligence, this study examines the terminology and conceptual framings in regards to non-human intelligence. Common terminology used by computer science and philosophy students includes artificial intelligence, emergent intelligence, and machine intelligence . Initial findings indicate a divergence in how students conceptualize key terms, with emerging patterns in word choice and discourse shaping broader discussions on the nature of intelligence. Data collection involves field notes, Canvas discussion analysis, and audio recordings, with ethical considerations for student consent guiding methodological decisions. By mapping classroom interactions and linguistic preferences, this research aims to identify shifts in discourse and engagement with evolving artificial intelligence narratives. This study contributes to linguistic ethnography by demonstrating how disciplinary perspectives shape language usage in discussions of machine intelligence. Findings will inform debates on human-machine interactions and the evolving semantics of intelligence. Future work will incorporate data to assess shifts in discourse over time
Rooted Resilience: Global Gardens and Sustainable Agriculture
Get PDFWhile small-scale agriculture can provide diverse benefits, producers are often disadvantaged in these agrifood systems. Climate change, globalization, and other forces exacerbate local challenges. Here, we discuss preliminary findings of an ongoing project focused on challenges to sustainable agriculture facing farmers from refugee backgrounds in Boise, Idaho. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, we aim to illuminate sources of vulnerability and adaptive capacity for farmers producing food for markets and home consumption. We co-developed this research with multiple community partners, who are helping us connect with and support a historically excluded group, while fostering pathways for knowledge co-production and action
Speaking Faith: Communication, Identity, and Community in a Campus Ministry
Get PDFThis ethnographic study examines the role of communication in shaping identity and fostering a sense of belonging within InterVarsity, a Christian campus ministry. By employing participant observations, field notes, and interviews, the research evaluates how faith-oriented discussions influence group dynamics, leadership structures, and the integration of new members. While linguistic studies typically focus on the structural and functional dimensions of language, they often overlook the profound personal and communal experiences that inform discourse in faith-based communities. Moreover, there is a notable scarcity of ethnographic research on religious communities, which creates gaps in our understanding of how religious language cultivates connection and a shared sense of identity. Drawing from my own experiences in these communities, this research aims to investigate how communication influences both individual and collective faith journeys. Initial findings suggest that communication styles vary significantly between small, private Bible study groups and larger public gatherings, with more intimate conversations occurring in smaller settings, while formal and structured dialogues dominate larger events. Additionally, the use of ritualized language and informal leadership frameworks appears to enhance a collective group identity. Through continued observations and interviews, this study aspires to uncover how these communication practices contribute to participants\u27 spiritual development and community ties. The findings will provide important insights into the interplay between faith, language, and identity within student-led religious organizations, enriching broader discussions on social cohesion and religious expression in academic contexts