Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
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- All Subjects: Social Media
Description
Misinformation, defined as incorrect or misleading information, has been around since the beginning of time. However, the rise of technology and widespread use of social media has allowed misinformation to evolve and gain more traction. This study aims to examine health and political misinformation within the contexts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Utilizing samples of misinformation from the 45th president of the United States, I analyzed the levels of engagement that this misinformation received on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. I also examined how various Google search query trends changed over time in response to this misinformation. Then, I categorized the data into misleading statistics, misrepresentations of opinions as facts, or completely false content. Lastly, I looked into the physical responses that resulted from the spread of such misinformation. My findings of this case study showed that misinformation received significantly more attention than other social media posts, as evidenced by increased Google searches related to the topics and higher levels of likes and retweets on misinformative Tweets during the specified periods. Furthermore, the former president employed all three types of misinformation, with misleading statistics most prevalent in the health misinformation sample and misrepresentations of opinions as facts most prevalent in the political misinformation sample. The repercussions of this misinformation encompassed individuals ingesting unsafe products, decreased trust in the electoral process, and a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Despite the existing research in this field, there remains much more to be uncovered regarding the vast amount of misinformation circulating on the Internet.
ContributorsShah, Sona (Author) / Boghrati, Reihane (Thesis director) / Simeone, Michael (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsShah, Sona (Author) / Boghrati, Reihane (Thesis director) / Simeone, Michael (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsShah, Sona (Author) / Boghrati, Reihane (Thesis director) / Simeone, Michael (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
As social media becomes a dominant tool in political campaigns, it is important to analyze how candidates and voters interact over social media and how this impacts elections. This study aims to uncover whether Instagram comments - a key tool voters use to interact with candidates - have an impact on voters’ perceptions and whether or not there are differences in these impacts based on the gender of the candidate. Due to bias against women in politics, I hypothesize that respondents will evaluate female candidates more harshly than male candidates after viewing negative Instagram comments associated with them. To test this hypothesis, I randomly separated a sample of 435 undergraduate students into four groups. Each group was assigned a hypothetical incumbent Senate candidate (male or female) and shown a candidate biography. The biographies were identical, save for the names/genders of the candidates. Additionally, the two experimental groups were shown negative Instagram comments associated with their candidate. Each group was asked to evaluate their candidate's viability, favorability, competency, leadership ability, and qualifications, in addition to scoring the likelihood that they would vote for them. I found that the male candidate had lower scores than his female counterpart for all six traits evaluated, meaning he was evaluated more harshly. This persisted in both the control and experimental groups, as well as both before and after the stimulus was presented to the experimental groups. However, the respondents’ evaluation scores for the female candidate dropped by a larger margin after viewing the negative comments than the scores for the male candidate did. This persisted for five of the six traits evaluated. Voters’ perceptions, then, are impacted by negative Instagram comments for male and female candidates, although there is some evidence to indicate that they have a larger negative effect on the perceptions of female candidates.
ContributorsDawson, Lydia (Author) / Woodall, Gina (Thesis director) / Lennon, Tara (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
In today's dynamic societal landscape, the critical evaluation of public policies holds paramount importance. This thesis project, undertaken by a Barrett Honors student of Public Policy, endeavors to contribute to this essential discourse by creating a policy critique podcast.
The primary objective of this project is to produce two podcast episodes that delve into the intricacies of housing policy. Through a meticulous examination, these episodes will dissect the implications of the selected housing policy. By offering a nuanced perspective, the podcast aims to illuminate the complexities inherent in housing policy issues, enriching the understanding of listeners.
This thesis project represents a scholarly endeavor to engage in informed discussions about the efficacy and implications of policies, specifically housing policies. Through the medium of podcasting, the project seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and public discourse to foster a deeper understanding of housing policy among a diverse audience.
Ultimately, this thesis project aims to contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding public policies, particularly in the realm of housing policy, by providing listeners with valuable insights and fostering critical thinking about contemporary policy challenges.
ContributorsCruz, Corinn (Author) / Uebelherr, Joshua (Thesis director) / Gaughan, Monica (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor)
Created2024-05
ContributorsCruz, Corinn (Author) / Uebelherr, Joshua (Thesis director) / Gaughan, Monica (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor)
Created2024-05
ContributorsCruz, Corinn (Author) / Uebelherr, Joshua (Thesis director) / Gaughan, Monica (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This exploration will delve into the intricate state of the fashion industry, examining how economic and social shifts during the pandemic era gave rise to unprecedented outcomes. From the highs of pre-pandemic opulence to the lows of economic uncertainties, the scrutiny will focus on the industry's metamorphosis. The post-pandemic fashion landscape is characterized not only by the aftermath of a global health crisis but also by the omnipresence of technology and the transformative influence of social media and consumers. Furthermore, the navigation will extend through the rise of TikTok and the vintage fashion revival, exploring its roots in consumerism, sustainability, and a collective consumer base. It is important to note COVID-19 as both a challenge to fashion and the mark of a new era. Through this exploration, the aim is to uncover not only the industry's response to adversity but also the beginning of a transformation that reflects a new era for fashion.
ContributorsPitti, Sanjana (Author) / Lee, Sanghak (Thesis director) / Feinberg, Cece (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
An art installation that mixed the knowledge gained from both the science and artistic sides of communication via the High Downs School of Communication. The goal of the installation was to have visitors reflect on their own social media experiences by viewing the experiences of others that were included in the installation.
ContributorsMurphy, Sydney (Author) / Linde, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Adame, Bradley (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
A deep dive into the cosmetic industry and social media marketing influence. Referencing the changes of social media throughout the years and the importance of using social media platforms to market a product. Includes a Rare Beauty case study to dive into the effects of social media on the cosmetic industry.
ContributorsPara, Olivia (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Palmer, James (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2023-12