Social Sciences – Page 27 – UROP Spring Symposium 2021

Social Sciences

K-12 Science Pedagogy Research and Development

Various formats of media have had their influence on children for a very long time, however, in recent decades there has been a substantial influx of new media technologies. Consequently, students have been immersed in the digital world therefore educators should strive to accommodate the latest technological tools to replace or aid their conventional pedagogical tools. The process of teaching and learning is not only dependent on the delivery of the material but, in order to ignite motivation and enthusiasm in students for a more active and enjoyable environment, a teacher must be innovative, clear, and creative in his/her delivery methods. Teaching media can have a significant role in increasing students’ motivation in the learning process since it is an effective and efficient support tool that can be used to explain the material, actively engage the students during the learning and achieve the learning objective. Learning media can be divided into several types: (a) graphic media is a visual representation of information in the form of Figures or signs, for example, such as diagrams, posters, illustrations, etc. (b) audio media, namely the sound which is recorded and conveyed through a device, for example, such as radio, podcast, telephone, etc. ; (c) Audio-visual media, such as television and voice slides; (d) Multimedia, such as interactive media, hypermedia, virtual reality, and multimedia kits. By using these instructional media, the learning process becomes more varied, making the presentation of material less verbalistic and more engaging. My research reviews a selection of studies on digital media and learning and found that integration of media in the curriculum increased the knowledge and skills of children to think, plan, observe, solve problems, construct and test hypotheses, be creative and collaboratively learn.

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Tech and Innovation in K-12 Education

A meta-analysis was undertaken to investigate different learning styles, educational gamification, and the use of technology to determine the effectiveness of K-12 students learning and educational development. Relevant studies used in this study include Wirkala & Kuhn, 2011; Duncan & Chinn, 200; Schmidt, Loyens, van Gog, & Paas, 2007. Over 30 other studies were analyzed and categorized into five different categories: Learning, Motivation/Engagement, Teacher Certification, Tests and Assessments, and Online Learning. These studies were also ranked using an A/B/C grading scale. Various learning mechanisms that significantly increased understanding, student motivation, long-term retention were drawn from these studies. The most prominent learning mechanisms include problem-based learning, machine learning, collaboration within teams, and simulation-based learning. Machine learning and gamification incentives proved to be the most effect “non-tradition” learning mechanism. These results are in line with the goal of this analysis. Additionally, our project is hoping to find out more information about the impact of teacher qualifications on the extent of K-12 student learning.

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Associations of adverse childhood experiences with chronic systemic inflammation in adulthood

Background: Childhood trauma and adverse childhood events (ACEs) contribute to adult physical and mental health. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that explain this relationship, which could inform the development of targeted interventions. Recent research has suggested that chronic systemic inflammation and immune dysfunction may play a key mediating role between ACEs and health outcomes across the lifespan. Objectives: The goal of this project was to review existing literature in order to determine the potential for chronic systemic inflammation to explain associations of ACEs with adult health outcomes. Exposure of interest: adverse childhood experiences Outcome of interest: chronic systemic inflammation Methods: Pubmed and Scopus were searched with subject headings “ËœChildhood Trauma’, “ËœAdverse Childhood Experiences’, “ËœChild Abuse’ cross referenced with “ËœInflammation’, “ËœC-reactive protein’, “ËœCRP’, “ËœInterleukin’, and “ËœIL-6′. A wide range of studies like literature reviews, human studies, and qualitative studies were considered. Results: Among existing studies, markers of chronic systemic inflammation included C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, fibrinogen, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a. Findings indicated that chronic systemic inflammation is a mechanism by which ACEs influence health outcomes in adulthood. As an example of this, Lacey and colleagues (2020) observed that specific ACEs like household dysfunction and parental loss were associated with higher levels of CRP and fibrinogen among adults aged 44-45 years. Conclusions: Chronic systemic inflammation likely plays a role in the relationship between ACEs and adult health outcomes. This project highlights the role of early-life exposures in health across the lifespan and the need for strategies that reduce the burden of ACEs. Whether systemic inflammation can be targeted to buffer against the effects of ACEs on health will require further study.

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Multivariable Thinking with GIS

This research is aimed at understanding strengths and weaknesses of multivariable thinking in humans: how individuals can apply their thoughts and reasoning in one situation to another that on the surface may seem different, however involves similar approaches and applications. This study uses a Geographic Information System tool called the Opportunity Atlas to have participants walk through factors that may contribute to poverty, specifically household incomes. We ask the participants to create a model of the various factors after to see how they retained the information. After, the participants will also be asked to create an explanatory model of what factors might contribute to different performances on a math test. These results will then be compared to a control group who is asked to create both models without being primed with the Opportunity Atlas beforehand. We are aiming to see that the factors that the participants come up with on the math test model will be similar to those relating to household income. The sample is 30 participants, 15 in each group, and interviews are conducted over Zoom where the interviewer takes them through the process. There have not been any conclusive results yet. The project hopes to shed light on multivariable thinking and how humans can improve upon such abilities which can be beneficial in schools and workplaces. Specifically, we hope that there will be a difference between the models of the experimental and control groups, with the models of the experimental group including more factors and strengths that would not have been as obvious without the Opportunity Atlas.

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Investigating the Consequences of Critical Pedagogy Against the Backdrop of Eurocentrism

Youth are most influenced by their education when it comes to how they compose themselves in society and perceive worldly events. There is an extremely large gap in the American education system emphasized by a streamlined Eurocentric pedagogy that does not reflect the current state of the nation. The United States is a country made up of immigrants and people of diverse and drastic backgrounds. Yet, the education system has not deviated from idealizing the power of being a White christian to celebrating the many rich cultures that fill this nation. In effect, students, specifically non-white students, suffer from feeling detached from their education due to increased marginalization in the classroom. This literature review explores the effects of critical pedagogy on youth development and academic achievement. We hypothesize that the implementation of critical pedagogy in classrooms would allow non-white students to feel more connected to their education and therefore stimulate an increase in academic performance. Results from the literature review show a positive correlation between a culturally relevant curriculum or ethnic studies on academic success for non-white students in the United States.

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Promoting Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening among Asian American Women in West MI

Breast and cervical cancer disparities are growing issues among Michigan’s Asian American communities due to various barriers. Early detection and screening play an essential role in decreasing cancer morbidity and mortality, nevertheless, Asian American women are less likely to receive pap smears and mammograms due to language, cultural, socioeconomic, and healthcare access barriers. This reveals the pressing need for services tailored for ethnic groups to increase breast and cervical cancer screening for Asian American (AA) women in Western Michigan regions. The purpose of this study was to explore and compare the differences in perceived barriers for breast and cervical cancer screening and study the roles bilingual community health workers play in facilitating three Asian American groups. Specifically, our study includes Chinese, Vietnamese, and Nepali patients in Western Michigan enrolling in the Michigan Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP). Research Questions are 1. What are the major barriers related to receiving breast and cervical cancer screening among AA women? and 2. What are the roles that bilingual community health workers in Western Michigan have in facilitating women’s enrollment into the Michigan BC3NP. Tracking form that measures demographic including insurance status, age, as well as screening status and results, will be collected. The results and conclusion of the survey are yet to be determined. The results will yield evidence-based recommendations to effectively promote breast and cervical cancer screening among AA women in Western Michigan, ultimately increasing screening rates in this population.

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Data Gathering Data Analysis Toward Better Air Quality Outcomes in SW Detroit

In 2019, a resident of southwest Detroit called SDEV to ask for help with air pollution that was getting into her house. The problem was so bad that she had to change furnace filters monthly, which were completely caked with black soot. SDEV visited the resident’s home to learn more and received a furnace filter from the resident. My project involved launching a survey of residents to see how many are experiencing similar indoor air quality concerns and quantifying the information to present at SDEV’s annual member’s meeting and to the City of Detroit’s Council meeting. Using a google form, the survey was created with feedback from University of Michigan Public Health experts and other professional resources. With the internet, phone, and physical canvassing efforts, data was collected from 48 residents. We have found a majority of residents surveyed do experience some kind of air quality problems inside the house (grime, soot collecting on the walls, furnace filter color black, etc.) persisting for at least over a year. SDEV intends to use this data to push for real change and bring more resources to address the problem in people’s homes. By making the data accessible to the public, government decision-makers, and others who can bring resources, SDEV will work with community members and others to address the problem of indoor air quality. We have and will continue to connect with community members to bring awareness to the resources that can mitigate the impact of pollution at home. This work aligns with the recommendations of the community-based participatory research initiative Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments (CAPHE) facilitated by University of Michigan with SDEV and other local partners.

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Trends in the Market Status of Cannabis by US Population

In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the medical use of cannabis. In the roughly 25 years since then, nearly 35 states have passed legislation to make medical cannabis legal. A similar state-level trend for the legalization of recreational marijuana started in 2012. The population eligible for medical marijuana use has been growing, as has the population affected by the legalization of recreational cannabis. In order to determine how quickly these markets are changing and to help pinpoint years that may have been particularly influential, data was gathered that tracks adult population by state and year. This data was assembled in 2 separate groups; one where states have legalized medical marijuana, and another where states have legalized recreational marijuana (often in addition to medical). The trends observed demonstrate that the population prohibited from any type of marijuana use – recreational or medical – has been decreasing, as the populations for medical use and recreational use have been increasing fairly steadily, with large population jumps corresponding to new states’ legalization, in 2014 and 2016 in particular. By 2016, more of the US population lived in states where cannabis was legal for medical use than where it was prohibited.

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Political Beliefs and Bias in Social Network Formation

This project investigates how social networks change during divisive political discussion. In a behavioral experiment, we place student participants in a random communication network with up to 20 others. Participants discuss campus social issues over the course of several rounds. At each round, participants are exposed to differing opinions of their connections and make decisions to “rewire” their network, or to add, drop, or request new social connections to communicate with in the next round. We measure how individuals make these network decisions at both the individual and group level. We also experimentally manipulate a social cue that reveals the closeness of another person in relation to the participant. Experimental sessions are conducted remotely and anonymously, simulating interaction as it might occur on social media. Our data help understand the biases that lead people to form echo chambers, which may contribute to downstream consequences of biased information sharing, misinformation spread, and misbeliefs about public opinion.

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Political Bias in Social Network Formation

This project investigates how social networks form. Through behavioral experiments, students observe how political and social beliefs influence social network formation and the downstream consequences of selecting into a biased information-sharing environment. This might include general political reasoning, misinformation spread, and ingroup bias. Students work closely with the research mentor and project manager to learn about research design in the social sciences and gain valuable experience collecting data from human participants. Student responsibilities have included reviewing background literature, entering and maintaining data, and conducting internet searches. Students are also trained in analyzing the data for presentation. Experimental sessions are conducted remotely, and students help plan, schedule, and organize sessions.

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