MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Analyzing Alberta\u27s Proposed Exit from the Canada Pension Plan: A Bureaucratic Caring Perspective
No full textThis paper explores the potential health impacts of Alberta\u27s proposed withdrawal from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) on Canadian seniors, focusing on the economic, political, and educational domains of Ray\u27s Theory of Bureaucratic Caring (TBC). We analyze data from Statistics Canada and nursing and health science literature to discern the interplay between CPP income and health outcomes. The economic domain discussion highlights the importance of solidarity and caring for others as a basis for reciprocity in creating a more caring and stable economic environment. The political domain explores how political literacy and nursing advocacy can integrate caring principles into policy decisions. In the educational domain, we examine the role of nursing faculties in fostering political literacy to include caring principles in policy discussions. We propose restructuring nursing curricula to bridge the gap between caring principles and political action. We also advocate for Health Impact Assessments to inform policy decisions, aligning them with Ray\u27s TBC. The implications include the need for informed nursing advocacy, political education, and a caring approach to economic decisions. Future work involves assessing the impact of an Alberta Pension Plan on Albertan and Canadian seniors\u27 well-being and promoting a compassionate and equitable society through care-informed policies
Neuroticism to GAD: The Influence of Thought Processes and Metacognitions
No full textGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) consists of chronic, distressing worry across multiple areas. Neuroticism, the personality trait of negative emotionality, has been proposed to contribute to GAD through several maladaptive thought processes. One such process is anxiety sensitivity (AS); the fear of anxiety and its consequences. Another is intolerance of uncertainty (IU); the perceived inability to cope with uncertain events. Two metacognitions known to be related to GAD are positive beliefs about worry (PBW), which are beliefs that worrying is beneficial, and negative beliefs about worry (NBW), which are beliefs that worrying is harmful or uncontrollable. Our first study investigated if PBW and NBW would moderate the relationship between AS and GAD. Based on data from 573 students, several negative moderations were found. However, these data were affected by students’ high scores on the GAD measures. Our second study addressed and built upon this by sampling 624 participants from the Canadian general population. Here we found that neuroticism led to AS and IU, which led to GAD symptoms and higher worry severity. These results are consistent with past research on the pathways between neuroticism and GAD. Further, when examining worry severity, NBW positively moderated the effect of a subfactor of IU, while PBW negatively moderated the effect of a subfactor of AS. These findings expand upon past research by suggesting that metacognitions may moderate the relationships AS and IU have with GAD. This suggests that metacognitions may be an important component of treatments for GAD that target AS or IU.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alexander Penney 
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Canadian News Media Coverage of Immigration And Multiculturalism During the First Wave of the 2019 Global Pandemic (COVID19)
No full textThis paper aims to examine how Canadian news media framed immigration and multiculturalism during the first wave of the pandemic, between January and July of the year 2020, focusing on determining and identifying patterns in the media coverage of three different major Canadian news outlets (CBC, the National Post, and the Globe and Mail). This study utilized critical discourse analysis (CDA), employing media framing as one of its theoretical frameworks, to deconstruct underlying meanings in the selected articles, conceptualize thematic descriptions, and better understand the representation of ethnic and racial minorities in Canada within the construction of the text.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kalyani Thurairaja
Variable Selection for Clustering and Classification of Data with Missing Values
No full textThis poster presentation embarks on a comprehensive exploration of explicit variable selection procedures in model-based classification, where classification aims to assign labels to unlabelled observations. Delving into existing methodologies, we will dissect the intricacies of variable selection, setting the stage for an extensive examination of an approach aimed at minimizing within-group variance while maximizing between-group variance, known as Variable Selection for Clustering and Classification (VSCC).
With a focus on enhancing classification accuracy and interpretability, we will unveil the details of VSCC, elucidating its significance in model-based classification frameworks. Furthermore, we will investigate how this approach performs when applied to simulated and real data sets with missing values.
Through meticulous evaluation and analysis, we will scrutinize the performance and robustness of the variable selection approach in handling the challenges posed by incomplete data. Our findings will be synthesized into a comprehensive discussion, shedding light on the implications of the results and offering valuable insights for future research directions and refinements in variable selection methodologies within model-based classification.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Francza
An Analysis of Electroencephalogram (EEG) with Machine Learning
No full textOur capstone project was done in collaboration with Dr. Cameron Hassall from the Psychology department at MacEwan University. Our data was based on one of Dr. Hassall’s papers on “Task-level value affects trial-level reward processing” (Hassal, C, 2022), where he wanted to determine if the Anterior Cingulate Cortex was responsible or involved in decision making. To determine this, a task sequence was carried out 427 times using 12 participants over a 52 minute period. While the participants completed these tasks, brain activity was being measured using an electroencephalogram (EEG). For our project, the goal was to train a machine learning model to accurately classify an EEG event after training on past events. In greater detail, we focus on the brain signal when the participant hit the left or right button in response to the stimulus which are colored shapes.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dana Cobza
Addressing the Perpetuation of Violence and Impunity: A Call for Reforming the Definition and Enforcement of Genocide
No full text2040: Climate Change Documentary Analysis
No full textThis paper examines the impacts of climate change on human health and well-being, utilizing insights from the documentary 2040, directed by David Gameau. It explores how agriculture and ocean ecosystems can contribute to climate change mitigation. While the agricultural industry is a significant source of emissions, it is also particularly vulnerable to climate impacts (Gameau, 2019). Rising ocean temperatures and acidification threaten biodiversity and disrupt vital ocean circulation (Gameau, 2019).
This paper highlights the interrelation of climate change, planetary health, and human well-being and advocates for a multisectoral approach. It emphasizes strategies like sustainable agriculture and marine permaculture alongside adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability. This research accentuates the importance of environmental justice and the need for equitable and inclusive climate action.
Through examination of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger and responsible consumption, this paper identifies crucial intervention areas. Recommendations include reducing waste, promoting sustainable consumption, and implementing upstream policies to support climate mitigation. The research highlights the urgent need for global action to combat climate change and protect human health for future generations. Given the climate crisis\u27s implications for nursing practice, adopting planetary nursing approaches is essential to safeguard both the planet and its population
China’s One-Child Policy Through the Feminist Lens
No full textThe one-child family policy was developed and enacted in 1979 to mitigate concerns about social and economic problems from rapid population growth. The policy was more effective in urban areas than rural areas, and the policy witnessed uneven enforcement throughout mainland China. I will examine the historical context and repercussions of the one-child policy and discuss the main criticism of it (its amplification of discrimination against women, who, as a result of the policy, faced forced sexual procedures, infanticide, abandonment, and a skewed gender ratio) through the perspective of feminism and feminist theory in policy-making and policy analysis. Women bore the burden of following the one-child policy disproportionately to their male counterparts. Thus, feminist theory is a crucial lens in evaluating the one-child policy, considering women (especially rural women who were restricted in their choices of birth control - IUD or sterilisation) were the primary targets because of their ability to bear children. With existing patriarchal traditions and beliefs, the one-child policy caused a surge in violence against women, thereby creating a cycle of inequality. Amongst women, the most targeted demographic was rural, low-income women who could not afford the fines and thus were subject to other brutal punishments. Widespread abandonment and murder of female babies, frequent coerced and sex-selective abortions, and China’s continued struggle with the demographic challenges the one-child policy created demonstrate the policy’s enduring repercussions. The policy challenged the core beliefs of the feminist theory- equality and autonomy. The government failed to consider their female citizens and ignored feminist beliefs to ensure obedience to the policy, which indicates the government did not see women as first-class citizens who were entitled to autonomy and protection.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marielle Papi
A Designer\u27s Guide to Internationalization and Localization of Design
No full textThis research delves into the intricacies of international design within the magazine industry, employing diverse methods such as literature review, interviews, surveys, co-design sessions, content analysis, and finialized design outcomes. Unveiling crucial concepts like localization and cultural sensitivity, it emphasizes the necessity of transcending mere translation in international design. Insights from industry players and consumer perspectives underscore the importance of adaptability and cultural respect. The study culminates in outcomes like the Diversity and Adaptability Composition Test (DACT) and adaptable magazine templates, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and practice, fostering inclusive visual communication globally. While acknowledging limitations in sample sizes, the research reflects a shift from broad exploration to a focused framework, aspiring to elevate international design standards.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Adolfo Rui
The Role of Property in Gender Diversity Among Indigenous Societies in North America
No full textThis study explores the relationship between Indigenous gender diversity, namely Two-Spirit identities, and property ownership and understandings of the land in Indigenous communities in North America, as compared to that of Western colonial ideology. As a society\u27s economic structure can be understood by studying its mode of production and whether property is seen as private or communal, I consider the influence of economic structures in Indigenous gender diversity: If pre-colonial Indigenous societies were inclusive of all genders, then is the absence of private property ownership in Indigenous societies one of the reasons for their inclusive and equal societies? Along with the harsh socio-cultural changes brought on by colonial assimilationist policies, Indigenous economies and modes of production were also drastically altered under colonization. Accompanying these Western economic influences was a colonial emphasis on patriarchy and cisheteronormativity which negatively impacted Indigenous nonbinary gender identities, suppressing Two-Spirit identities. From an anthropological perspective, I explore these economic changes in the mode of production among various Indigenous groups in North America to reveal associated shifts in perspectives on gender diversity and Two-Spirit identities. Through a holistic lens, I discuss the role of colonial economic influences as part of the sociocultural changes to the status of Two-Spirit identities in Indigenous societies in North America.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leslie Dawson