MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Youth-engaged research in a pediatric mental health care trial
No full textA pan-Canadian pediatric mental healthcare trial aims to determine if an acute mental healthcare bundle, compared to standard care, improves wellbeing at 30 days post-visit in children/youth seeking Emergency Department (ED) care. Since youth and their families are the ones affected by trial objectives, a youth advisory committee (YAC) (n=6 Advisors) with lived experience was formed. The YAC meets quarterly to collaborate and lead trial-related activities, of which 2 engagement activities are described below.
First, following discussions of ways to improve trial participants’ survey completion rates, Advisors ideated creative retention strategies that led to developing a 3-minute video with the message of “why participating in research matters”. The video will be embedded at the start of the survey in REDCap, to engage trial participants in a more evocative way. Survey completion rates will be monitored to determine if embedding the video increased completion rates.
Second, the YAC has opportunities to propose seed projects in acute mental healthcare (with mentorship) that aligns with their interests. One Advisor chose to engage with an Elder to determine the gaps in mental healthcare in EDs for Indigenous communities. The Advisor’s personal narrative outlining considerations for cultural relevance that arose in conversation with the Elder will inform the seed project proposal for executive research team review.
Engagement experience is evaluated using a validated measure (PPEET©). Baseline evaluation data indicate that most Advisors’ are familiar with their role and expectations, and anticipate that more meaningful engagement will occur as the trial progresses.
Faculty Mentor: Jananee Rasiah 
Impact of Content Reinforcement of Muscular and Skeletal Systems on Knowledge Retention in Nursing Students
No full textNumerous studies have expressed concern over nursing students’ ability to retain the anatomical knowledge they gain in the first year to the subsequent years of nursing (Narnaware, Y. 2021). The present study assesses the impact of content reinforcement on the musculoskeletal systems over eight weeks. Results show that compared to week 1, repeating knowledge of the musculoskeletal systems resulted in organ- and week- specific retention over eight weeks of these systems. The skeletal system was seen to have two dramatic increases in knowledge retention, week 2 (+20%) and week 6 (+28.5), which can be the result of midterms and quizzes of the skeletal system around these times. The muscular system, however, was seen to have only three weeks of positive knowledge retention, with week 4 having a knowledge retention loss of 20.9%. This may be the result of other exams on varying body systems happening around this time, which leads to students studying other systems over the muscular system. This study demonstrates that content reinforcement should be used as one of the interventional strategies to improve knowledge retention in nursing students.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Raj Narnaware & Melanie Neumeie
Synthesis and Evaluation of Switchable Hydrophilicity Solvents
No full textThis work will produce and test a range of chemicals that have potential to be switchable hydrophilicity solvents, and development of novel purification techniques . Produced chemicals will be tested for switchability, those that show SHS properties will be used as catalysts in a variety of chemicals reaction systems as catalysts. Further, through development of a novel SHS catalysts and purification methods it will increase their use both in the laboratory and industrially.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Roland Lee 
Examining how different sensory inputs impact motor learning
No full textDuring prism adaptation, a participant reaches to a target while wearing glasses that shift their vision horizontally (e.g., to the right). During the first few reaches, the participant misses in the direction of the prism shift. However, after many trials, the participant adapts to the prism shift by reaching further leftward to compensate for the rightward shift in vision. Recent work in our lab has shown that participants demonstrate a “congruency effect” such that they show larger adaptation aftereffects when the hand used and the direction of prism shift are “congruent” (e.g., right hand adapting to rightward shifting prisms), compared to incongruent (e.g., left hand adapting to rightward shifting prisms). In the current study, we investigated what sensory feedback signals might be important for eliciting the congruency effect by manipulating whether participants could see their hand (i.e., concurrent feedback), or could not see their hand (i.e., terminal feedback), under either congruent or incongruent adaptation conditions. Following prism exposure, we measured aftereffects for proprioceptive changes in both sensed arm position, using straight-ahead pointing and target directed pointing, and sensed eye position, using visual straight-ahead. We observed a significant congruency effect for target directed pointing following prism adaptation, independent of the visual feedback condition. In addition, although, we observed significant aftereffects in the visual straight-ahead task following adaptation, we did not observe a congruency effect. These results suggest that the congruency effect is primarily related to proprioceptive changes in limb position, but not eye position.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Strieme
The Unsolved Mysteries of Applied Behaviour Analysis
No full textKnowledge and awareness of Behaviourism and the practice of Applied Behaviour Analysis vary across students and academics. Despite the introduction of certification and an ethical code for behaviour analysts and the advocacy of several groups, a consensus in the representation of Behaviour Analysis remains elusive. Textbooks and instruction at all levels of education can wildly differ in the presentation of Behaviour Analysis and Behaviourism. Inaccurate information can be dangerous and could mislead those who could benefit from Behaviour Analytic interventions from receiving effective treatment. Behaviour Analysis has long been recognized as the gold standard of treatment in patients with autism spectrum disorder and harm can be placed upon clients who are led to believe in the myths surrounding ABA. In the current study, we will analyze various textbooks and surveys filled out by undergraduate students and faculty to ascertain their knowledge of Behaviourism and ABA and attempt to analyze the variance in the knowledge and representation of ABA and Behaviourism. It is expected that the results will replicate the results denoted in past studies will exist within students and facility alike as well as the textbooks. The aim of this study is to increase the accurate representation of the theory of behaviourism and practice of ABA to ensure clients and consumers of science alike are exposed to accurate information to make choices in academic pursuits, employment and treatment options.
Faculty Mentor: Miranda Macauley 
Lateralization of facial emotion recognition in the human cerebellum: A transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS Study)
No full textThe cerebellum, one of the oldest structures in the nervous system, is well-known for the important role it plays in the coordination and timing of movement. However, there has been a paradigm shift with recent clinical, neuroimaging, and experimental research suggesting that the cerebellum also plays a role in higher-order cognitive functions such as attention and emotion. The substantial increase in research regarding the cerebellum\u27s ability for emotional processing has indicated that it may be particularly adept at recognizing and processing negative facial expressions (e.g., fear, anger, sadness). Previous research using functional brain imaging and patients with cerebellar brain injuries provide some evidence of cerebellar lateralization, with the left cerebellum being more specialized for processing emotions than the right. To examine this, we delivered transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left cerebellum of 67 healthy participants, randomly assigned to a tDCS condition (anodal, cathodal, or sham), and had them complete a facial emotion recognition task pre-tDCS, during-tDCS, and post-tDCS. Anodal and cathodal cerebellar tDCS did not significantly alter participant reaction time and accuracy. Participants did get faster, less variable, and more accurate over time, especially for positive emotions (happy), compared to negative emotions (angry and sad). However, due to relatively limited research examining the role of the cerebellum in emotion processes, and the limitations of the current study, we cannot say for certain why there were no effects of tDCS.
Keywords: cerebellum, cerebellar lateralization, cerebellum and cognition, facial emotion recognition, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Striemer 
A Signature Squeak: Acoustic Features Related to Identity in American Pika
No full textMy research will explore the communication system of American Pika (Ochotona princeps) with a specific focus on the individual identity cues in their short calls. American pika produce vocalizations that aid in individual identification and territory protection, but little research has been conducted indicating acoustic features related to identity in the calls. I will record individual calls from multiple pika in the Highwood region of Kananaskis, Alberta. Calls were measured and compared to determine if any call variation exists between individuals using discriminant function analysis. Data suggests these calls do contain acoustic features that should allow individuals to recognize each other by sound alone. This provides us with a better understanding of territorial behaviour in pika. Because pika live in high alpine scree locations they are key indicators of the effects of climate change. Therefore, any exploration into their behaviour may aid in understanding the potential effects of climate change on this species and perhaps alpine species more generally.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shannon Digweed 
Canadian Undergraduate Perspectives on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for Mental Illness: Does Psychiatric Illness Type and/or Age Influence Acceptance of MAiD?
No full textIn 2024, Canadians whose only medical condition is an untreatable mental illness and who otherwise meet all eligibility criteria will be able to request Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). This study investigates the attitudes and beliefs of undergraduates towards widening the scope of MAiD. We were interested in understanding if age and type of mental illness influenced undergraduates’ acceptance or rejection of MAiD. To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the perspectives of Canadian undergraduates regarding this controversial legislation, including the factors that may predict acceptance or rejection of MAiD for mental illness.
413 undergraduate students participated in this study which examined the factors that correlate with the acceptance or rejection of MAiD for untreatable mental illness. Four scenarios were presented in which age (older or younger) and illness type (depression or schizophrenia) were manipulated. Demographic questions and measures assessing personality, religion, depression, anxiety, stress, attitudes towards euthanasia (including a revised version for mental illness), fear and acceptance of dying and death, and stigma towards schizophrenia and depression were administered. Questions assessing participants’ general understanding of MAiD and their life experiences with death and suicide were also asked.
Most of the participants accepted MAiD for both depression and schizophrenia. As hypothesized, support for MAiD was higher for patients with schizophrenia than for depression. Additionally, as predicted, support was higher for older individuals suffering from each mental disorder when compared to younger individuals. Variables such as religion, personality and political affiliation were also associated with acceptance or rejection of MAiD.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Lori Harper & Dr. Russ Powel
Fighting for Women, Life, Freedom Across Borders: A Content Analysis of Internet Activism Displayed in TikTok Videos and Public Protests Concerning the Iranian Protests
No full textThis study examined internet activism displayed in TikTok videos and the sharing forms of public protest using TikTok videos regarding the 2022 Iranian protests. A content analysis of the 50 most liked videos using the advanced search “Iran protest 2022” identified eight general themes, including educational awareness, public marches/gatherings, cutting hair, miscellaneous, sports demonstrations, hacking Iranian media/ technologies, purposeful modesty law violations, and burning hijabs. The most prevalent theme of the eight was educational awareness, accounting for 50% of the total videos used in the sample. All videos included in the sample supported the protests and the symbolism provided, and no videos were found to be pro-Islamic regime
War Trauma Effects on Civilians: A Content Analysis of Reactions of Civilians with PTSD on YouTube
No full textThis qualitative study explored the effect of war trauma on Iraqi civilians by examining YouTube videos that contained interviews with civilians, doctors, and military personnel giving their reactions and experience with war trauma and PTSD. This study examined 12 videos of civilians in Iraq and refugee camps, psychiatrists, and veterans who served in the Iraq war, and it identified the following themes: killing or death of family members due to war violence, fear, PTSD, nightmares, and anger. This study identifies the emotional responses to war trauma, and it demonstrates that most civilians have also developed other mental disorders due to exposure to war and life-threatening conditions