MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Mindfulness as a Moderating Variable of Selfishness and Materialism
No full textFor materialistic individuals, the pleasure of acquisitions is central to life and is pursued to enhance happiness, possessional-defined success and attain status. Materialism can be described as the importance people attach to worldly possessions that are expected to be a source of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Focusing on the present moment is a possible method of reducing the negative influences of materialism. Therefore, this study focuses on mindfulness as a strategy to minimize materialistic pursuits. Mindfulness is the practice of cultivating a mode or state of awareness and is used to eliminate fleeting mindful states and recognize the transient nature of thoughts and feelings. Additionally, previous research has demonstrated how mindfulness can reduce the link between motivation and behaviour and promote rational judgment that is consistent with our innate needs. The present experimental research examines mindfulness activities as a moderating variable of selfishness and materialism in undergraduate students. Selfishness is widely regarded as the excessive tendency to focus on the self, regardless of the well-being of others. Considering previous research, we expect to find the participants scoring high in selfishness and materialism that engage in the mindfulness activity will shift their awareness inwards and not over value materialistic items. This mindfulness state could enhance an individual\u27s awareness and act as a gatekeeper between situational cues and one\u27s mind.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Watson 
A procrastination solution for students
No full textProcrastination can be a serious problem among students and can cause stress and anxiety. As such, it is important to investigate the mechanisms of habit formation so that we can find ways to help people develop good health habits. In this study, we are focused on progressive muscle relaxation as it has many benefits. A commonly recommended strategy to overcome procrastination is the “Just Get Started” tactic, the idea being to set and complete a very small goal, which many people find makes it easier to then carry on with the rest of the task. However, the efficacy of the “Just Get Started” tactic has not yet been scientifically validated. The present study will first assess traits of self-control, conscientiousness, self-promises and procrastination. Next, we will test the commonly recommended notion that initially setting a very small goal for the behaviour of progressive muscle relaxation, e.g., tensing and relaxing one hand, whenever one is tempted not to do progressive muscle relaxation, will help students use progressive muscle relaxation more consistently. We hypothesize that students who use this tactic will initiate progressive muscle relaxation more often and will form a stronger habit of it.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Rodney Schmaltz & Dr. Russ Powel
Examining the anxiolytic potential of Cannabis terpenes: The differential effects of alpha-pinene enantiomers on zebrafish anxiety-like behaviour and locomotion
No full textResearch into the effects of terpenes has been on the rise as a result of the recent Cannabis legalization in Canada. Cannabis terpenes have been shown to possess a wide range of medicinal properties and may be promising therapeutics for a variety of pathological conditions. This study investigated the acute effects of α-pinene on zebrafish locomotion and anxiety-like behaviour using the open field exploration test. α-pinene was administered in 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.1% doses. As α-pinene is a racemic compound, we also tested its (+) and (−) enantiomers to observe any differential effects. α-pinene demonstrated differential dose-dependent effects on anxiety-like and motor variables. Specifically, (+)-α-pinene and (−)-α-pinene had significant effects on anxiety measures at different doses in the open field test (time spent in the thigmotaxis and center zone), as well as locomotor variables (swimming velocity and immobility). (+ /−)-α-pinene showed only a small effect on the open field test on immobility at the 0.1% dose. This study demonstrates that α-pinene can have a sedative or anxiolytic effect in zebrafish and may have different medicinal properties when isolated into its (+) or (−) enantiomers.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Trevor Hamilton 
Eyes bridge the gap: how eye gaze-induced arousal biases distance perception
No full textPrevious research has found that distance perception is influenced by nervous system arousal (e.g., spiders increase arousal and are perceived as closer). The purpose of this study is to examine whether eye contact-induced arousal can influence distance perception using stimuli of real people viewed in virtual reality. Participants will view two pictures of a model at either the same or different distance and asked whether the model in the second picture is closer or farther compared to the first picture. To determine whether eye gaze influences distance, the models will be either making direct eye gaze, averted gaze, or no gaze (i.e., looking down). Participants will also have their nervous system arousal recorded. We expect that arousal levels will increase when the participant views the model with direct eye gaze which will consequently bias participants to perceive the model as closer in proximity. This research will be the first to explore the relationship between eye contact, arousal, and distance perception.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michelle Jarick 
Does perpetrator intoxication during a campus sexual assault influence perceptions of risk and sanction recommendations?
No full textPast studies show that alcohol-intoxicated perpetrators are seen as less blameworthy for their actions (Stormo et al., 1997) and that drug consumption does not diminish perceptions of blame to the same extent as alcohol consumption (Angelone et al., 2007). The present study examines whether the intoxication of perpetrators of campus sexual assault influences the perceptions of the campus community in terms of the perpetrator’s risk to reoffend and what would be deemed appropriate sanctions. It was hypothesized that perpetrators under the influence of alcohol or ecstasy would be perceived as less likely to reoffend and assigned less severe sanctions than those who are sober. In this study, members of the university community (i.e., students, staff, faculty) were recruited as participants and were presented with one of three vignettes of a campus sexual assault (respondent was either sober, drunk/alcohol, or high/ecstasy). Participants rated the perpetrator’s likelihood to commit another offense and the appropriateness of assigning specific sanctions to the perpetrator. It was found that, contrary to the first hypothesis, perpetrator intoxication did not influence perceptions of risk. The second hypothesis was only partially supported, as significant differences were only found for three of the eight sanctions: restorative justice, all on-campus activity restriction, and expulsion. The oral presentation will discuss and interpret these findings.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sandy Jung 
OCD Correlates and Photographs as a Checking OCD Coping Mechanism
No full textObsessive-Compulsive disorder is a long-lasting and debilitating diagnosis for many individuals, but the different facets of OCD symptoms can be found at varying levels across vast populations. This research involves an exploratory study evaluating whether different severities of OCD symptoms are related to higher and lower levels of characteristics like self-discipline, procrastination, and academic achievement. The follow-up study will investigate if taking photographs of checking triggers like appliances impacts the severity of checking symptomology. The predicted results for our exploration of OCD correlates is that more severe levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms will correspond to higher levels of procrastination and lower levels of self-discipline and academic achievement, with moderate symptoms resulting in the opposite outcome. This research will attempt to fill a gap in the literature regarding OCD correlates for students in undergraduate settings and determine if more moderate levels of OCD can be beneficial in academic situations. Our anticipated outcome for the following portion is that taking photographs of checking triggers will decrease the frequency of checking behaviour due to the pictures functioning as “proof” that the appliance is turned off. This investigation will provide an important focus on photographs as a coping mechanism for checking, considering that the “picture strategy” is already being used by individuals with OCD. With no previous research on this method’s efficacy, this inquiry will provide much-needed information on this coping mechanism.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Russ Powell 
Does Feeling Heard Improve Emotional Responses to Worldview Conflict?
No full textWe commonly encounter conflicting attitudes and opinions. Past research finds that encountering worldview conflict elicits temporarily lowered mood and psychological well-being (Brandt et al., 2019). Understanding how to mitigate these negative emotional consequences of worldview conflict may help improve people’s everyday experiences. Research has found that in close relationships feeling heard in a conflict can increase well-being (Gordon et al., 2013; Reis et al., 2017). We extended these findings to the study of worldview conflict. Participants completed series of open-ended and closed-ended questions to recall and describe a recent political discussion, focusing on the following: how the discussion went, to what extent they felt a range of specified emotions immediately after the discussion, how they perceived the other, and whether they felt heard by the other. We hypothesized that higher scores on the feeling heard scale would be associated with lower scores on negative emotions (particularly other condemning emotions) and higher scores on positive emotions (particularly happiness) following the discussion. Results supported our hypotheses. Higher scores on the feeling heard scale were associated with lower reported negative emotions, especially other-condemning emotions, as well as increased reported positive emotions. For some conversation topics (i.e., abortion), feeling heard seemed to have a bigger impact on mitigating negative and fostering positive emotions, while for other topics (i.e., COVID) feeling heard was not as strong a predictor of emotional reaction. This study may help guide future research on the topic of how to improve people’s experiences of worldview conflict.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Craig Blatz 
Neuropharmalogical Effects of Acute Terpinolene Administration on Zebrafish Behaviour
No full textAnxiety disorders are prevalent worldwide and have worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic. There are numerous treatments for anxiety that range from behavioural therapies to pharmacological ones. Still, there is no gold standard that works for everyone, and therefore a need to examine non-traditional treatments. Previous studies have used animal models to test the effect of terpenes on anxiety-like behaviour in rodents and zebrafish. Acute limonene exposure was found to regulate anxiety-like behaviour in mice and zebrafish. Terpinolene is a similar terpene with therapeutic properties previously established to produce antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects from action on the serotonergic pathways in the central nervous system. This study examined whether terpinolene could alter anxiety-like behaviour and locomotion in zebrafish. To answer this question, we measured behaviour relating to general locomotor activity levels, anxiety, and willingness to explore a new environment in an open field test and novel object approach test after exposure to terpinolene at 0.01%, 0.05%, and 0.1% concentrations. Terpinolene had significant effects on anxiety-like measures in the open field test, such as time spent in the thigmotaxis (outer) or center zone, as well as locomotor variables, swimming velocity and immobility at the 0.1% dose. However, when a novel object was introduced to the arena, there were no significant increases in boldness to that object. This study demonstrates that terpinolene can have a sedative or anxiolytic effect in zebrafish and may have potentially valuable medicinal properties.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Trevor Hamilton 
Three years of individual and community-based research in Indigenous worldview and housing
No full textThis presentation will follow researchers Cheyenne Greyeyes and Celina Vipond’s journey for the past three years working in Indigenous research. For Celina, that journey started with a summer research assistant position with the MacEwan Office of Research Services which connected her to their research supervisor, Cynthia Puddu from the Faculty of Health and Community Studies on the project ‘Indigenous Youth Coming Out Of Care’, which involved an Indigenous Community-Based Participatory Research approach with an Indigenous community partner. Cheyenne was hired on to the same project, which sparked years of collaboration including a publication with Radical Housing Journal titled ‘What is home? Wisdom from nêhiyawêwin”, podcasts, blog posts, workshops, and conference presentations two years in a row at the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. This work led to opportunities in youth work and counselling at Indigenous organizations, and much insight gained in research ethics, community engagement, and Indigenous knowledge keeping. We have had to learn how to negotiate wearing different hats and working in a space that not only draws on academic knowledge, but also oral teachings, ceremony, and Indigenous knowledge, as in the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing. Through this we show how students can find their career paths through diverse roles in research and collaboration, and that Indigenous knowledge has a legitimate
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Puddu 
Perceptions of Dairy Farms on the Environment: A Content Analysis of Comments on TikTok
No full textThis study examined the public perceptions of dairy farms on the environment by viewing comments to a TikTok video, which presented a claim that the dairy industry has had a decrease in its environmental impact. A content analysis was conducted with initial and secondary evaluations, finding five broad categories, which included positive and negative perceptions of the dairy industry, as well as a further six themes, including informative, clarification, blaming humans, veganism, critical, and education. The most common theme was informative, encompassing 38% of the relevant comments. The findings indicated proficient use of scientific research, critical considerations of the video, and reflected the biases and influences found in social media and popular culture