MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Pluralistic Mating Strategies: Examining Sexual Orientation with CNM, Jealousy, Sex Drive, and Sociosexuality
No full textStudies on jealousy show robust and replicable gender differences in the experience of jealousy toward infidelity, though how bisexuality or CNM affects this remains to be explored. In this study, sexual orientation was explored with sociosexuality, openness to consensual non-monogamy (CNM), and sexual desire, along with predictors of jealousy and openness to CNM. Participants (n=764) from MacEwan University, the Pride Centre of Edmonton, and online groups completed surveys on Qualtrics. Data was analyzed in JASP using correlational, linear regression, and MANOVA models. (H1) Ambiphilics had more permissive sociosexuality and greater openness to CNM than both androphilics and gynephilics, and more solitary sexual desire than androphilics. (H2) Openness to CNM was predicted with the regression equation: Openness to CNM = 22.17 + 0.370*(sociosexuality) +0.269*(solitary sexual desire) -0.095*(dyadic sexual desire). (H3) Sexual jealousy was predicted using the regression equation: Sexual jealousy = 3.295 -0.169*(orientation). Gynephilics had greater sexual jealousy than androphilics and ambiphilics. Sexual jealousy did not differ significantly between ambiphilics and androphilics. People with pluralistic sexual orientation and openness to CNM differ in their mating strategies when compared to monosexual and monogamous people. These findings suggest that bisexual and non-monogamous individuals use differential mating strategies that may increase their mating opportunities.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lynne Hone
A Myth Greater Than Zeus: Popular Perceptions and Scholarly Realities About the French Revolutionary Levée En Masse
No full textIn recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the Levée en Masse, or more accurately, its depiction in history. For years, the Levee has been used as a tool of propaganda and a supporting part of Marxist history on the French Revolution, creating a myth or legend of the Levée en Masse as a spontaneous and patriotic event where the men of France rushed to the republic\u27s defence. However, this has changed as historians both inside and outside France have challenged the myth of the Levée, and by the late 1980s, this myth was only perpetuated by a dwindling number of Marxists. The issue is that this perception of the Levée en Masse has been defeated in academia; the myths of the Levée remain in the popular perception of history thanks to two hundred years of Marxist literature and French Propaganda. This presentation aims to identify and debunk the nationalist legend of the Levée en Masse that has distorted the Popular perception of this pivotal and complex historical event.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kelly Summer
The Amplifier of Gang Culture: Prisons
No full textThis paper examines how the prison system amplifies gang culture and fosters gang involvement among incarcerated individuals, particularly marginalized youth. It argues that instead of rehabilitating offenders, prisons serve as environments that facilitate gang recruitment, leading to their growth. To support this claim, three key ideas are analyzed. First, social and economic conditions drive marginalized youth towards violent behaviours and gang affiliation. Second, the prison environment exacerbates gang connections. Finally, the convergence of street and prison cultures has established a vicious cycle that deepens marginalized youth\u27s entrenchment in gang life. The paper highlights systemic issues, such as poverty, ineffective foster care systems, and historical trauma, which create vulnerabilities that gangs take advantage of to recruit new members. This exploitation frequently happens in prisons, where gangs offer protection, identity, and economic opportunities. Additionally, the convergence between the “code of the street” and the “convict code” reinforces dangerous levels of hyper-masculinity, mistrust of authorities, and retaliatory violence. As a result, it has become a new cultural norm that sustains the cycle of gang involvement that extends far beyond incarceration. To conclude, responses from institutions have failed to disrupt this cyclical pattern. Instead, it has exacerbated it, allowing gangs to use the prison system to accelerate recruitment, thus proving how prisons no longer and have never served as a deterrent
Evaluating the impact of virtual reality training simulations in nursing education
No full textAs part of their education, nursing students are required to learn how to operate a variety of complex medical equipment which is often only accessible in classroom or laboratory settings. Students are required to master operational skills, but are not able to access the equipment they need to practice. To address this issue we created a virtual reality IV pump training simulator so that students are able to practice anywhere, for as long as they need in order to master the skill. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the potential effectiveness and impact of the VR simulation by determining student satisfaction with this method of practice and their perceptions of the effectiveness of VR for their learning. Research questions: Do students view the VR training simulation as an effective alternative to a physical IV pump for training purposes? Are there any barriers that might limit students’ ability to access or use the VR simulation? How do students perceive the VR simulation in terms of effectiveness for learning? Our VR prototype was tested with current nursing students. This presentation will discuss the development, study results, and room for improvement.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sam Qorban
Royal Alberta Museum research
No full textDuring the Winter Semester of 2025, I completed an internship at the Royal Alberta Museum in the Military and Political History Department. I catalogued and researched several artifacts for the museum’s records. This presentation highlights the systems I used—both within the museum and online through platforms such as Newspapers.com and the Internet Archive—the insights I gained from working in a museum environment, and the artifacts I studied. My research focused on the historical and cultural significance of these items, both within Alberta and in broader Canadian and international contexts. The artifacts I examined include several World War I centennial remembrance coins and a World War II battle dress worn by a soldier who served overseas in England.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aidan Fort
Joan of Arc: a study in virginal power and female autonomy
No full textThis work examined the life of Joan of Arc a visionary and military leader from fifteenth-century France through contemporary records and later post-humous interpretations by admirers and detractors alike to determine if Joan was able to achieve autonomy in her brief career and if so by what methods. Using these resources it argues that Joan was clearly able to achieve an unprecedented level of political and military autonomy for a common woman in fifteenth-century Europe by using the holy notions of virginity and divine connection that has allowed many mystics and visionaries to ascend beyond their stations throughout history. Furthermore it considers the gendered notions of clothing that were clearly at play as many considered Joan to be ‘dressing as a man’ and changing her identity to achieve her goals an argument that this paper disagrees with based on the evidence.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sean Hanna
Why buy? The impact of social media on young consumers’ perceived environmental responsibility
No full textEnvironmental issues and consumerism are becoming critical to young people\u27s lives and identities. This is a significant trend as they emerge as a vital segment in the consumer market. This seemingly contradictory connection can be better understood when considering social media\u27s place in young people\u27s lives. Social media is a powerful tool for consumers and companies, as it promotes products and perceptions. However, social media\u27s role in shaping young people as shoppers is largely overlooked, especially in literature regarding sustainable shopping practices. Thus, this qualitative study used a grounded theory approach to investigate this topic through one focus group and 50 online survey responses. In it, many participants spoke about their struggle to balance a desire to make environmentally responsible choices with the pressures of social media, affordability, and lifestyle aspirations. They explained how these competing interests and obstacles create a complicated social landscape that young consumers must navigate. Thus, there was a call against the current system. Most respondents expressed heavy frustration about companies\u27 roles in promoting overconsumption and continuing to overproduce, with little regard for the environment. This suggests that individuals feel negatively about environmental responsibility being cast onto consumers instead of corporations. However, participants still emphasize individual efforts to be environmentally conscious. Therefore, this study offers thoughtful and creative insights into how young people understand sustainability and their role in it. It also showcases young consumers\u27 feelings and beliefs about how they can comfortably impact their environment, offering perspectives on healing relationships with companies and the environment.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kalyani Thurairaja
Beyond the Paycheck: The Case for Culturally Competent Financial Literacy for Internationally Educated Nurses
No full textBackground: Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) are critical to sustaining the U.S. healthcare system, yet they face a unique and precarious set of financial challenges upon arrival. Current support systems often fail to address their specific needs, offering "one-size-fits-all" financial literacy programs designed for a domestic workforce.
Problem: This generic approach overlooks the high-stakes financial realities IENs navigate. These include significant migration-related costs, predatory recruitment practices like Training Repayment Agreements (TRAPs), persistent pay gaps, and the non-discretionary cultural and economic obligations of transnational remittances.
Argument: This commentary argues that generic financial advice is not only inadequate but culturally incompetent. It fails to address the lived, transnational financial reality of IENs, who must simultaneously manage new-country debts and old-country family obligations, all while learning a new financial system.
Proposal: We call for a new paradigm: the research and development of a "Culturally-Competent Financial Literacy" (CCFL) model. This commentary proposes that such a model must be peer-led, co-designed with IENs, and provide specialized education on topics like identifying predatory contracts, building U.S. credit from zero, and managing the psycho-social pressures of remittances. This is a necessary step toward fulfilling the promise of ethical recruitment and providing genuine workforce support
Fermat\u27s Last Theorem and the Golden Mean
No full textWe attempt to find solutions to the Diophantine equations from Fermat\u27s Last Theorem in the ring Z[tau], where tau is the golden mean. We begin with the case when n=3 and create an algorithm to generate solutions to the equation. Out of these solutions, we have found only four to be primitive. Also, we attempt to find solutions under higher powers greater than three but have not found any solutions in such cases. The algorithm and solutions themselves are all provided in the paper.
Indigenous Resurgence and Futurism in Literature
No full textIn the realm of Canadian literature, the general question emerging asks “Is Indigenous literature considered Canadian literature?” To reframe the question, should Indigenous literature stand as its own category and how do Indigenous stories demonstrate history and culture within the framework of Indigenous resurgence? While Indigenous literature includes various genres and styles, I argue it is separate from Canadian literature as a whole. If Indigenous works remain under the category of Canadian literature, then another colonial constraint is placed on the native voice. Indigenous literature should be thought of as uniquely heterogeneous as there are a multitude of different cultures, languages, and practices which apply to their literary works. However, my focus will be on the regeneration and resurgence of the Indigenous voice through literature. Michi Sagiig Nishnaabeg author Leanne Betasamosake Simpson and Metis writer Chelsea Vowel challenge the depiction of narrative and storytelling by bringing indigenous stories to life in their works in a non-traditional way (with regards to Canadian literature). Simpson’s short story “Big Water” and Vowel’s comic “Kitaskinaw 2350” illustrate resurgence in literature demonstrated through the futurism of Indigenous culture alongside settler society.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. L. Camille van der Marel