MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Approaches to Ethical Ethnography and Excavation (Globalization Theory vs. The Abu-Lughod Theory)
No full textThis poster looks at three different data sets: an ethical code of conduct from a museum, a conduct policy from a board of trustees, and an Indigenous forum, and applies to two theories in order to find significance.
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Long
Department: Anthropolog
Cerebellar tDCS alters recalibration but not realignment during visuomotor learning
No full textPrevious research suggests that the cerebellum is a brain region that is important for motor control as well as motor learning. To further examine the role of the cerebellum in motor learning we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) – a non-invasive brain stimulation technique in which a weak electrical current is applied through the scalp to alter the baseline activity of neurons under the stimulating electrode. In the current study, participants (n=60) completed a prism adaptation task in which they pointed to targets on a touch screen with their right hand before, during, and after adaptation to 17° rightward shifting prisms while undergoing either anodal (+), cathodal (-) or sham tDCS. Our results indicate that, during prism adaptation, cathodal (-) stimulation significantly reduced pointing errors (i.e., recalibration) during the first 40 pointing trials compared to both anodal (+) and sham stimulation. However, there were no significant differences in adaptation after-affects (i.e., spatial realignment) between the three groups. Overall, our findings offer further insight into the role of the cerebellum in motor learning and how tDCS might be used to enhance recovery in patients with cerebellar brain damage.
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Striemer
Department: Psycholog
The relationship between ADHD-like traits and attention and visuomotor performance
No full textThe cerebellum is generally known as a brain region that plays an important role in motor coordination and motor learning. However, recent neuroimaging and patient studies have demonstrated that the cerebellum is also involved in a variety of cognitive functions (e.g., language, attention). Furthermore, abnormalities in the cerebellum have been linked to a number of psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Previous work has consistently shown that individuals with ADHD have smaller cerebellar volumes when compared to controls. This study will examine the role of the cerebellum in attention and visuomotor learning in individuals who score higher or lower in traits associated with ADHD. First, we will use the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale to determine whether an individual is high or low in ADHD-like traits. Then, we will then compare these two groups on attention and visuomotor learning tasks that are known to rely on the cerebellum. Specifically, we will measure spatial attention using a covert attention task and sustained attention using the sustained attention to response task (SART). In addition, we will measure visuomotor learning using a prism adaptation task. We predict that those who are higher in ADHD-like traits will demonstrate decreased performance on each of these tasks compared to those lower in ADHD-like traits. This study will provide further insight into the role of the cerebellum in attention and motor learning and how these functions may be related to ADHD.
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Striemer
Department: Psychology (Honours
Using Video Modeling to Teach Facial Expression Recognition in Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Variety of Contexts
No full textAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that appears within the first three years of life. ASD involves impairments in social communication and interaction which includes limitations in verbal and non verbal communication such as understanding and using body language, gestures, and facial expressions (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Facial expressions are vital in communicating social and emotional cues and understanding facial expressions is important to understanding simple social situations and acting appropriately (Akmanpglu, 2015). In this study, we will attempt to increase individuals with ASD’s ability to recognize 3 basic human emotions, happy, sad, and mad, and their corresponding facial expression in different social contexts. This will be done using a teaching method known as video modeling. This study will be a multiple baseline across targets design with 5 participants. It will take place over 9 weeks with 30 minute sessions each week. We hypothesize that the participants will be able to determine how a person is feeling just by reading their facial expressions instead of the contextual cues of situations more often than before the video modelling sessions took place. Learning to label these emotions in others could possibly lead to having more appropriate responses and interactions with others displaying these emotions in the future.
Faculty Mentors: Russ Powell and Miranda Macauley
Department: Psychology (Honours
Does Fairness Matter? Motivation Levels as a Result of Perceived Fairness
No full textOur research aims to understand the role of perceived fairness in selection mechanisms. Organizations use different selection mechanisms when recruiting people. The study explores peoples’ perceptions regarding the fairness, the specific questions being: (1) Do perceptions of fairness vary according to selection mechanisms? (2) Do these perceptions change depending on whether people are: selected/not selected, and whether they are offered cash / offered a voluntary position? (3) Do selection mechanisms affect peoples’ motivation for a task, even when the level of economic incentive is the same? Previous studies such as research by Kahneman et al (1986) challenge the traditional economic theory by demonstrating the effect of fairness on peoples’ decision making. They found that people perceive economic actions as fair when others were treated fairly, and that people resist unfair changes – even at a personal cost. What people perceive as fair was influenced by implicit rules deeming what was unfair. Additionally, Savage et al (2010) studied perceptions regarding fairness of different selection procedures. They found that weak first rule was perceived as most fair and that people regard price changes as fair when there was a humanitarian reason behind the change.
Our research extends this discussion by exploring peoples’ perceptions of fairness and their resultant motivation levels to do a task. We collected data through a survey among 254 MacEwan students. Subjects were presented with hypothetical scenarios regarding recruitment for a sustainability initiative on campus. Respondents were asked to rate their perceptions of fairness for four possible selection procedures. There were challenges designing a survey that incorporated all three of our research questions. We used eight different surveys; these surveys contrasted paid versus voluntary positions to determine if perceptions of fairness change. Data was collected through the Qualtrics platform which insured that each student viewed a random version of the survey and an equal number of each survey was presented. Our preliminary results indicate that selection procedures do affect perceptions of fairness and that people care more about fairness when being selected for a voluntary position. The next stage of our research includes setting up an actual sustainability initiative on campus and measuring student responses. Our research holds significance for how organizations use fair procedures in selecting people, ensuring compliance in public policy, and in determining how people value monetary versus non-monetary incentives.
Kahneman, D., J. Knetsch and R. Thaler. 1986. Fairness as a Constraint on Profit Seeking; Entitlements in the Market, American Economic Review. 76: 728-741.
Savage, D. A., & Torgler, B. 2010. Perceptions of fairness and allocation systems. Economic Analysis and Policy, 40(2), 229-248.
Faculty Mentor: Rohit Jindal
Department: Decision Science
Redesigning Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
No full textThe process of redesigning "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. This is a dark, German classic that has been designed countless times before. The main goal of this project was to create something unique that would stand out. Brainstorming, mind mapping, and visual analysis were all used in the creation of this book. The manipulation of text, image, and layout enhance the twisted narrative by adding more depth to the reading experience.
Faculty Mentor: Constanza Pacher
Department: Design Studies
 
Applying Structural-Functionalism and Post-Colonialism to Residential School Survivor Stories
No full textConducting a compare and contrast on the interviews of survivors from residential schools. I will be applying two anthropological theories (structural-functionalism and post-colonialism) to the interviews supplied by the Indian Horse and their #next150 Challenge.
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Long
Department: Anthropolog
Experimental Typography in a Collaborative Publication: Hysteria/Delirium: Anthology of Horror
No full textIn this experimental typography project, we translated an assigned classic horror short story into a two-page layout that challenges convention. We were encouraged to explore alternative ways to organize the page; linear and non-linear representations of the text; the integration of text and image; and the nuisances of written and spoken language through linguistic deconstruction, pace, rhythm, and other techniques. As a group, we built a collective publication that was professionally printed in the Winter of 2019.
Faculty Mentor: Constanza Pacher
Department: Design Studies
Greed,Grevince, and Opportunity: An Empirical Analysis of Violance in Civil Wars
No full textSince the cold war, there has been an increase in the rate of civil wars and a dramatic drop in interstate wars. Arguably, intrastate wars are more devastating in loss of life, both civilian and military, then interstate wars. However, which type of intrastate war breeds the most battle deaths or the most civilian casualties?
This paper will use the Correlates of War Intrastate Wars dataset to determine the number of intrastate wars with battle deaths data. Each conflict is given a motivation variable based on its onset motivation. The motivations are either Greed, Grievance, or opportunity. The overall amount of battle deaths for each motivation will be compared and analyzed. From this analysis, the most violent motivation will be found and compared to the relevant theoretical framework to reach an explanation for the level of violence in certain types of intrastate wars.
Faculty Mentor: Jean-Christophe Boucher
Department: Political Scienc
Overview of Macewan University\u27s meteorite collection along with a detailed investigation of the Allende CV3 chondrite
No full textOur understanding of the formation and evolution of meteorites has exponentially progressed since the beginning of the nineteenth century. To date, there are over 60,000 named meteorites, which are classified based on their chemical and physical properties (Meteoritical Bulletin, 2019). MacEwan University has a collection of meteorites, which has been catalogued as part of my undergraduate research project, including detailed analyses of the Allende CV3 chondrite from which a polished thin section is available for study.
The Allende meteorite thin section was analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to characterize micro-textures and mineralogy based on major element abundances. X-ray mapping of the distribution of 10 elements was performed using an electron microprobe. These analyses focused on refractory inclusions including calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAIs), amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs), Type A, Type B, or Type C. An additional part of this project investigated an organic compound in a meteorite mimic. The organic compound chosen is an aldehyde as this class of compound has been proposed as a possible synthon for the production of primordial amino acids.
Faculty Mentor: Erin Walton and Robert Hilts
Department: Earth and Planetary Science