MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Escape Theory and Materialism: An Experimental Paradigm for Self-Blame
No full textEscape theory, as proposed by Donnelly and colleagues, identifies six steps that contribute to materialistic behaviour supported by research. Self-blame, the second step, is the most novel component and thus least investigated. In addition, research in materialism is primarily correlational. The present study investigates the second step, self-blame, with an experimental design. A materialist university sample (N = 56) was randomly assigned to a control or self-blame vignette. The self-blame vignette was novel in nature, utilizing the illusion of a choice-based narrative. Participants then engaged in a shopping simulator comprised of products ranging in materialistic value. A subsequent questionnaire then assessed materialistic behaviours and associated cognitions of interest. ANOVAs were then conducted to test between-group differences in behaviour and cognitions, while bivariate analyses tested correlations between such variables. ANOVAs revealed that inducing self-blame caused materialists to be happier with their purchases after a shopping experience than control materialists. Meanwhile, the bivariate analyses extend literature by providing experimental evidence for materialistic behaviour and associated cognitions, including materialists experiencing greater guilt after purchasing more products and spending more money than non-materialists. Future research can continue to enhance the overall effectiveness of self-blame induction methods. Moreover, researchers can also investigate the effect that reducing self-blame has on halting the progression through the six steps of materialistic behaviour proposed in Escape theory. This, in turn, can enhance materialists’ wellbeing.
Discipline: Psychology (Honours)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Watso
An analysis of Edmonton\u27s Homicides using Spatial Statistics
No full textPrior to 2011, Edmonton had never experienced 40 homicides in a single year. Since then, there have been three separate years to experience 40 or more murders. With this knowledge, it seems prudent to explore any relationships that may exist regarding homicide events. While there has been research done into what types of people are involved in such events, little research can be found on spatial trends associated with homicide locations. Using spatial statistics, it is my goal to explore the possible existence of a spatial relationship between homicide events. More specifically, point pattern analysis will be used to investigate possible clustering of events and areal analysis will be used to check for spatial autocorrelation. If possible, these analyses will be followed by attempts to model measurable covariates that may share a similar spatial relationship with the hopes of determining at risk areas.
Discipline: Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rui H
Sexual Violence Policy in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions
No full textPost-secondary institutions are high-risk communities for sexual violence. While sexual violence has always been present within these institutions, it is only more recently that the crime of sexual violence and its concerning physical and psychological impacts have merited closer attention from media. This media attention has resulted in a public outcry, and, in response to this outcry, many post-secondary institutions have been pressured to create and implement stand-alone sexual violence policies. However, other existing post-secondary policies already state that different forms of sexual violence are unacceptable forms of behaviour. In other words, these stand-alone policies do not address any type of new or different prohibited conduct.This presentation discusses a proposal for a research study and thesis project that will examine why resources, such as time and funding, are being used to create stand-alone sexual violence policies. The overall goal of this study is to determine the extent to which these policies add or contribute to the policy and legislative context.
Discipline: Sociology (Honours)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amanda Nelun
tDCS Effects on Motion Perception
No full textWhen we move, our self-induced motion provides a constant “flow” of visual information (e.g. objects, people, etc.) across the retina; these regular changes in the overall image on the retina are known as optic flow. Optic flow allows one to calculate distance to objects and judge time to collision - aiding in locomotion and balance. Results from both lesion and cerebellar trans-magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies indicate the cerebellum plays an important role in ability to perceive optic flow. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cerebellar activity on the perception of optic flow. If the cerebellum generates inhibitory output towards other optic flow-processing areas, then increased activation of cerebellum should improve optic flow perception. Research indicates transcranial direct-current stimulation can modulate excitability in cortical cells; thereby a useful tool for modulating cerebellar activity. Task performance was measured under three stimulation conditions: anodal, cathodal, sham. A threshold for optic flow was measured through a motion discrimination task using random-dot-stimuli to simulate optic flow. Results showed that anodal stimulation resulted in significant increases in performance during and post stimulation for right/left motion. No effect of anodal stimulation was found for up/down motion. In addition, no effect of cathodal stimulation for either up/down, or right/left motion. These results demonstrate that cerebellar activity can be modulated with tDCS to enhance motion perception, but the direction of motion appears to be a critical factor. The results will be discussed in relation to cerebellar organization and connections with cortical motion areas.
Discipline: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jean-Francois Nankoo
 
Household Level FireSmart Adaptation Cost Analysis
No full textThe effects of global climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires in North America. The continued growth of wildland-urban interface (WUI) communities are placing more and more homes and businesses in regions where wildfires are a common occurrence. Without incentives and cost offsets from private insurers and government, homeowners have little incentive to invest in FireSmart adaptations to their property. In densely built neighbourhoods, a classic free rider problem develops where neighbours benefit from the FireSmart adaptations of their neighbours, but, in turn, place their neighbours at risk by remaining susceptible to fire. A cost analysis of FireSmart’s homeowner recommendations was conducted to estimate the compliance costs faced by the average homeowner in Fort McMurray, Alberta. This study determined that, over the lifecycle of a home, FireSmart’s recommended adaptations cost approximately 4% of average property value. If levels of government were to include fire-resistant adaptations within current home renovation rebate programs and if insurers were to include wildfire risk in their actuarial calculations, homeowners would benefit from increased awareness and financial incentives to carry out fire resistant adaptations on their property.
Discipline: Economics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rafat Ala
Chemical Sensor Interface for Analyzing Data in Real-Time
No full textThe aim of this project is to use common and relatively cheap mobile electronics to provide a cost-effective and portable method to analyze chemical data from a sensor. Current methods for analysis require expensive proprietary hardware, or static lab equipment that cannot be transported. To achieve this, the Arduino platform was chosen for its versatility and affordability, as it can be configured to receive analog input and transmit that input over Bluetooth. An Android application was created for the purpose of receiving and analyzing the data in real-time by plotting it and calculating relevant statistics, with the ability to export to a file for later analysis with external tools. Both of these devices are consumer-grade, but with the developed circuit and application applied, can be used to acquire accurate data in real-time in a portable, affordable and easy-to-use manner.
Discipline: Computer Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Davi
DNA Barcoding of Masdevallia Orchids Using the matK Locus
No full textMaintaining global biodiversity is becoming more of a focus as the quality of this biodiversity declines. Conservation efforts need to be targeted at areas where this loss of biodiversity is most critical. Orchids are a family of plant facing significant survival pressures. Masdevallia is a genus of neotropical orchids which is poorly represented in orchid studies. When not flowering, individuals of this genus are morphologically indistinguishable from each other. DNA barcoding will assist in targeting conservation efforts by genetically identifying unknown species in threatened ecosystems. Many different loci in the orchid genome have been examined for use as a barcode, and the matK locus has had the best results. The objective of this study is to use the matK locus to create a DNA barcoding system which distinguishes between individuals of the Masdevallia genus. DNA has been isolated from samples and PCR has been done to amplify the matK locus. PCR products were sequenced using ABI sequencing, and the resulting sequences were aligned to create a phylogenetic tree. This tree contains unedited sequencing data, so while not conclusive, it indicates that this DNA barcoding system is sufficient to distinguish between samples at the species level. This will contribute to a DNA library, so unknown orchid individuals may be better identified in threatened ecosystems.
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David McFadye
Market Research for RedBrick Real Estate Services
No full textDetermining the target market demand for in-fill and narrow homes in Edmonton.
Discipline: Accounting
Faculty Mentor: Fernando Angulo-Rui
Stochastic Process of Microtubule Formation
No full textMicrotubules are tubular-shaped polymers of tubulin (a family of globular proteins) found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells and are a component of the cytoskeleton. Microtubules are crucially involved in many cellular activities, including cell divisions (meiosis and mitosis), trafficking, and motility. Not surprisingly, dysfunctionalities of microtubules are correlated with a number of diseases, including various cancers, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease. One aspect of microtubule behaviours that is of interest is the dynamic assembling (lengthening) and disassembling (shortening), which follows a stochastic process. This research investigates whether these dynamic microtubule processes can be modeled using a fractal stochastic approach.
Discipline: Physics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vahid Rezani
Building a Common Identity: Does Priming Common Group Identity Decrease Political Polarization
No full textIn the political arena, combatants can engage in logical fallacies which promote an environment of conflict and disagreement. This aforementioned conflict leads to both real, as well as perceived, polarization between political opponents. One reason for the perception of polarization is simply the division of people into groups such as Conservative versus Liberal (Van Boven, Judd, & Sherman, 2012). According to Social Identity Theory, if an individual adopts a political identity, they tend to interpret information to protect that identity. Media portrayals of polarization may ironically enhance polarization (Levendusky & Malholtra, 2016). The average person is frequently exposed to media depicting the political world as polarized and conflictual. This common narrative may increase both perceived and actual polarization, particularly when people think of politics as one group versus another. However, we hypothesize that portraying polarization may not lead people to polarize themselves when they think of politics through the lens of a superordinate identity – such as Canadian. To test this hypothesis, individuals will be exposed to a current Canadian political issue as becoming increasingly polarized. A political party or national group identity will be primed. Groups will then be compared on facets such as extremity of position, perception of bias in the other side, open-mindedness, and optimism about the future. The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to identify ways in which both actual and perceived polarization can be reduced in the electorate, leading to a more inclusive and cooperative political sphere.
Discipline: Psychology (Honours)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Craig Blatz