UNC Asheville - Relevant Classes
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Undergraduate Research Papers and Projects (with Abstracts)
Changes in Value Orientations of College Students: Assessing the Impact of Economic and Societal Events over the Last Decade.
The purpose of this longitudinal analysis was to examine value changes in U.S. college students over the last decade. Many societal and economic events, including 9/11 and the recent recession, have provided a context that provides importance for undertaking this endeavor. The Rokeach Value Survey was administered to students in Organizational Behavior classes at two different Universities in the southeastern United States between the years of 1999 and 2010. The principal researcher inputted and examined the data to find patterns and shifts in values associated with key events surrounding the corresponding time periods. Generational cohort theory is used to develop the hypothesis that terminal values (beliefs associated with ‘end-states’) will show more stability throughout the years in comparison to more variable instrumental values (beliefs associated with modes of conduct). Results should indicate that values, such as health, family security, and a comfortable life, will continuously rank high among students even in a dynamic and changing societal context. As a set, instrumental values (i.e., ambition, self-control, and being forgiving) are expected to show more variability through changing societal conditions. The main implication from these findings is that students, who place a high value consistently on certain outcomes in life, may display modes of conduct that are more in line with shifting values congruent with their current perceptions of the world they live in.
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Raising awareness through social media: How to shed light on human trafficking
This project examines human trafficking and the commercial sex industry as two societal issues that have continually been overlooked. Often times, human trafficking is passed over because of the sensitive nature of the discussion and stigma associated with it. Within history there have been topics within that have overcome stigma and issue sensitivity to bring about real change. The practices that made those topics approachable could be applied to other stigma related issues in order to bring about overall change in thought process. Through this research, it is intended to find ways which reduce stigma about human trafficking and raise awareness to help promote change. On Eagles Wings Ministries, a non-profit organization located in Asheville, works to educate and raise awareness about human trafficking. This project will evaluate the effect social media has on the issue as a whole and produce tactics for the On Eagle’s Wings Ministries to become more successful.
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