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Tattoo Stereotypes In The Workplace: Can Being A Tattooed Female Increase Perceptions of Hireability?
Get PDFThere is ample research supporting that having a visible tattoo can hinder one’s chances of being hired because of the application of negative stereotypes typically associated with being tattooed. However, recent evidence has demonstrated that tattooed individuals can be positively stereotyped, and that job context can influence customer attitudes and behaviors towards them, suggesting that tattoos can benefit employees in certain job types (Ruggs & Hebl, 2022; Timming, 2017). Gender differences in this body of literature have not been thoroughly explored, but interestingly, there is conflicting evidence on the perceptions of visibly tattooed women. Across two experimental studies and a pilot investigation, participants evaluated a female job applicant, with and without visible tattoos, for roles characterized as requiring varying levels of toughness. Study 1 explored whether tattoos influenced perceptions of hireability and toughness. Study 2 introduced job context (tough job vs. non-tough job) as a moderator, examining whether toughness stereotypes mediated the relationship between tattoos and hireability. Results indicated that while toughness stereotypes positively influenced hireability in tough job contexts (e.g., firefighter), the presence of tattoos did not significantly activate toughness perceptions. Additionally, there were inconsistent findings regarding the direct impact of tattoos on hireability, suggesting that tattoo-related biases may be diminishing. These findings support theories of stereotype activation, social role expectations, and trait-job fit, highlighting the role of job context in shaping hiring decisions. The study contributes to the evolving discourse on workplace appearance biases and underscores the importance of evaluating candidates based on job-relevant traits rather than superficial characteristics. Future research should explore diverse tattoo representations, real-world hiring processes, and intersectional factors to deepen understanding of appearance-based biases in the workplace
Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation as a Non-chemical Management Option Against Fungi and Heterotrophic Bacteria in Organic Sweetpotato Production
No full textNorth Carolina is the largest producer of sweetpotatoes in the United States, with South Carolina increasing farming acreage to 2,501 in 2022 compared to 1,300 in 2017. Growers producing conventional and organic sweetpotatoes are equally challenged with managing fungal pathogens due to fungicide resistance or fungicides being unavailable due to environmental regulations, leading many to shift to growing organic crops. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a non-chemical pre-plant management option that uses a carbon amendment, irrigation, and plasticulture to establish an anaerobic environment in soils, killing soil microbes. A greenhouse study was conducted to assess ASD on fungal pathogens and heterotrophic bacteria in organic soils. This study tested an antimicrobial protocol using a combination of cotton seed meal, black plasticulture, and irrigation to create an ASD system for organic farmers to utilize. Soils from four organic farms in and around Charleston, South Carolina were tested. Soil samples were taken before and after ASD treatment (3 weeks), heterotrophic bacteria and fungi were quantified, and fungal colonies were subcultured to create pure cultures. The pure cultures were identified using DNA barcoding. Data show ASD decreased bacterial and fungal abundance specific to location. Fungal diversity was recorded and similarities among locations are reported. The results of this research provide information towards the goal of creating an effective organic farming application that could promote healthy soils, significantly decrease fungal pathogens, and provide insight on what fungi are present at these locations
Privacy Implications of Data Collection in Android Automotive OS
Get PDFModern vehicles have become sophisticated computational and sensor systems, as evidenced by advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), in-car infotainment, and autonomous driving capabilities. They collect and process vast amounts of data through various onboard subsystems. One significant player in this landscape is Android Automotive OS (AAOS), which has been integrated into over 100 million vehicles and has become a dominant force in the in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) market. With this extensive data collection, privacy concerns have become increasingly crucial. The volume of data gathered by these systems raises questions about how this information is stored, used, and protected, making privacy a critical issue for manufacturers and consumers. However, very little has been done on vehicle data privacy. This paper focuses on the privacy implications of AAOS by examining the exact nature and scope of its data collection. It also presents a novel automotive privacy analysis tool called PriDrive, which employs three methodological approaches: network traffic inspection, and both static and dynamic analyses of Android images using rooted emulators from various OEMs. Finally, the evaluation on three different OEM platforms reveals that some OEMs collect much more data than others. OEM A collects vehicle speed at a sampling rate of roughly 25 Hz. Meanwhile, other properties such as model info, climate and AC, seat data, and others are collected in a batch 30 seconds into vehicle startup
Grief is Isolating. The Elegy is Not: An Exploration of Loss and Grief in Poems
Get PDFGrief is a messy, complicated process, one that can be all-consuming and isolating after a loss. Victoria Chang’s poetry in Obit and Ada Limón’s Bright Dead Things both explore loss and grief by using forms and free verse to characterize the stakes that come with a loved one’s decline and the aftermath of death. Michelle Zauner’s memoir, Crying in H Mart does similar work through the use of poetic elements in the memoir form. In my collection, Elegies of Home, I encounter the same struggles like the loss of identity, loss of a parent, and use the elegy as a way to showcase how grief can take multiple shapes. Critical texts about the elegy provide background and historical significance to my research and writing process. Studies on trauma and the psychological effects of grief provide evidence of claims that grief is not simplistic but instead has to be handled with the utmost care
Industrialization and Immigration: Latino and Hispanic Immigrants in the South Carolina Upstate
Get PDFEuropean investment in the South Carolina Upstate created favorable conditions for Latino immigration. French tire manufacturer Michelin came to the region in the 1970s, and the construction of the largest BMW plant in the world in the 1990s greatly impacted the local economy. The Upstate had a history of outside investment, beginning with Northern industrialists in the textile industry and later European companies that provided equipment for textile mills. The automotive industry did not necessarily employ Latinos, but the money generated by the sector created booming construction and service industries. Latinos built a community in western Greenville County and established businesses and institutions that support their needs. This growth is tracked through the SC Department of Education student headcounts. Latino immigrants chose to relocate to the area because of opportunity and security. Yet, the growth of the Latino community in the Upstate coincided with a national increase of Latino immigrants. This growth of the population was driven by trade deals like NAFTA that devalued labor in Mexico and an increasingly militarized border that trapped migrants in the United States. Politicians in the South Carolina political structure claimed that Latinos threaten local employment and security of the state and use the growth of the Latino population to polarize their voting bases. This work seeks to tell a human story and includes three interviews with Latino residents of the Upstate with varying backgrounds
Assessing the Viability of a Proposed Third-Party Reusable Foodware System: An Environmental and Economic Comparison
Get PDFThe United States generates 73 million tons of plastic waste annually, with over 6% attributed to the restaurant industry. The EPA recommends that restaurants reduce their plastic waste by transitioning to reusable foodware items. Previous studies have shown that using a single reusable foodware item, such as a cup, can result in lower environmental impacts and greater economic benefits compared to single-use plastic alternatives. However, the upfront costs of purchasing reusables, commercial dishwashers, and other associated expenses remain significant barriers for restaurants, leading many to continue using single-use plastic foodware. This study aims to analyze and compare the environmental impacts and economic feasibility of a proposed foodware reuse system versus single-use plastic cutlery and plates in restaurants. A life cycle assessment (LCA) will evaluate the environmental impacts of both foodware options in the following impact categories: fossil (non-renewable energy demand), climate change, fossil depletion, freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity, marine ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, ozone depletion, and water depletion. The results of the Life Cycle Analysis revealed that the reusable foodware must be reused at least 25 times within the proposed system before having less environmental impacts in every category. The economic analysis concluded that if at least 1,248 reusable place settings are leased per day by participating food service providers, the reusable foodware system could generate a profit of 0.07 per place setting. Ultimately, the third-party reusable foodware system could be an environmentally and economically favorable alternative to single-use plastic foodware
Crisis Calling: Fan Relationships With Athletes
Get PDFThis study identifies the importance and complexities of parasocial relationships, as well as looks at the effects these relationships have on NFL sport consumers in our society. Sport fandom, specifically high-level fandom attachments such as parasocial relationships (PSR), have called for a need to examine what occurs for both athletes and fans when a parasocial relationship is jeopardized in times of inevitable athlete or league crisis. This study applies Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and Turning Point Approach to examine these complex parasocial relationships. Due to gaps in literature looking at parasocial breakup (PSB) and relationship turbulence through public relations crises for athletes and sport organizations, this study takes the opportunity to examine limits of crises that may cause practitioners to need to act. Three research questions about this offer several key findings about perception ties between team and athlete, public perceptions of athletes and teams after crisis events, and parasocial breakups following crisis events. Using a pre-test/post-test survey research design, participants were exposed to one of three crisis situations that their selected favorite athlete and team was involved in. Results showed as PSR increases in strength so does fan identification with both athlete and team. Additionally, results highlighted that crisis scenario type had no effect on public perception of athletes or team organizations. However, when participants were directly asked about PSB, those included in the highest crisis severity cluster, were more likely to initiate a PSB than those in the accidental and victim
Becoming A Computer Scientist: Multimethods To Make Sense Of Professional Computer Scientist Identity Development
Get PDFProfessional identity development is both a powerful pedagogical tool and an excellent indicator of overall life satisfaction for students.
This work investigates the experience of undergraduate students as they develop their professional identities into computer scientists. A multimethod research plan makes use of quantitative ethnography (QE) and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to understand the lived experiences of eight undergraduate computer science students professional computer scientist identity development and the messages social media presents about that professional identity.
First, a quantitative ethnography is conducted to investigate the expression of professional computer scientist identity in relevant online communities. This investigation into the discourse about computer scientists provides insight into the broader culture that students are joining, outside of the college experience. The found separation of discussion about professional values from other identity subconstructs indicates that students using social media as a source of identity knowledge may not connect the computer scientist identity to professional values and responsibilities.
Second, the qualitative research methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis is conducted to facilitate rich elicitation and systematic analysis of the experiences that participants describe as forming their identities. The eight students who graciously shared their journeys to becoming computer scientists have had their experiences analyzed and interpreted with commitment to quality and validity outlined by both interpretative and phenomenological frameworks. The five emergent themes from their stories describe their integration into the computer science culture, finding their niche, optimizing their learning of computer science, compromising between professional and personal desires, and maintaining interdisciplinary interests as new computer scientists. These themes show lived experiences of developing professional computer scientist identity in balance between social, personal, and non-computing contexts
Operationalizing Quality Youth Leadership Programs Within the Context of Summer Camps
Get PDFPositive youth development (PYD) exists in a variety of out-of-school time settings. Research has demonstrated that PYD occurs when there is an alignment between ecological assets and individual capabilities (Lerner et al., 2005). Participation in youth programs can be a successful strategy for promoting PYD because they can offer youth relationships with supportive adults (Henderson, 2007) who provide opportunities for skill building and community connection (Lerner, 2004). More specifically, the camp setting has been shown to offer a variety of positive outcomes for youth by providing developmental opportunities across social, physical, cognitive, and spiritual domains of adolescent development (Garst et al., 2011).
Additionally, camp settings often offer a role between counselor and camper to encourage young people to gradually progress into staff roles by completing specific training requirements (Riley et al., 2021). These roles are often labeled as a “counselor-in-training” (CIT). CIT programs often target participants who are interested in becoming future camp counselors, and they provide opportunities for youth to develop their skills for both the camp setting and the general workforce (Kendellen et al., 2016). Despite the popularity of CIT programs, research related to youth leadership development programs in the camp space is sparse.
This dissertation aims to further understand the CIT program experience by investigating the qualities that make up successful programs and their relationships to developmental outcomes. Starting with a Delphi approach, camp industry experts developed a list of criteria necessary for top-tier CIT programs. These characteristics were then explored for potential scale development via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Five major themes that support CIT program outcomes were developed as a result of these research studies: (1) staff expectations, (2) staff behaviors, (3) program structure, (4) supportive camp culture, and (5) developmental objectives. CFA did not produce a verifiable scale. However, it did indicate that there may be some support that the proposed theoretical model created from the Delphi process and cognitive interviews aligns with the data.
This dissertation also explores the creation of a conceptual model to highlight the theoretical pathways that may contribute to positive youth outcomes within CIT programs. This conceptual model is informed by previously collected data from the Delphi study and CFA, providing empirical support for its proposed pathways. Additionally, this conceptual model reflects the underlying perspective of PYD: with the right conditions, CIT programs can support youth as they mature into adults.
Lastly, this dissertation hopes to facilitate a theoretical and data-driven exploration of CIT programs. The study findings outline strategies to assist camp provides with the facilitation of their CIT program and create a more intentional opportunity for PYD within the camp settings. Camp professionals should think critically about how they implement CIT programs and consider all factors that contribute to desired program outcomes. This dissertation also highlights the need to diversify camp spaces, conduct longitudinal research on CIT outcomes, and explore the creation of national policies for CIT program structure and standards
“It’s What Scares Me to Death in the Industry Right Now:” Contextualizing the Impacts of Climate Change on Out-Of-School Time Programs
No full textThis dissertation examines the impacts of climate change on out-of-school time (OST) programs in the U.S., focusing on summer camps. As climate change poses increasing risks to these programs, many OST settings lack the resources or preparedness to address them. This dissertation is structured into three studies, each contributing to an understanding of how climate change affects OST programs and informing strategies for adaptation. The first study explores the portrayal of climate change and related events in the media, analyzing over 14,000 news articles published between 2022 and 2024. Through the identification of three core themes: Crisis & Response, Pop Culture & Public Opinion, and Economic & Financial Issues: this article underscores the need for nuanced, context-specific climate communication within OST settings. Study 2, in collaboration with the American Camp Association (ACA), maps U.S. camps and utilizes data from the 5th National Climate Assessment to assess climate risks across regions. This study highlights how days of extreme heat and precipitation affect different camp locations and provides visualizations to initiate critical conversations on climate preparedness and adaptation, across different climate scenarios. The third and final study presents findings from semi-structured interviews with camp directors from both the West and East coasts. This article delves into how these directors conceptualize the impact of climate change on their programs, examining their approaches to stewardship across three key contexts: program, finances, and environment. Together, these studies offer a comprehensive analysis of climate change impacts on OST programs, providing actionable insights for stakeholders and laying the foundation for future research on climate adaptation within youth development contexts