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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- Creators: School of Life Sciences
My research aims to determine the effectiveness of meditation and sleep applications (apps) on the reduction of anxiety and stress in college students, with a focus on sedative piano music. Results showed a significant reduction of stress and anxiety levels in college students when listening to sedative piano music versus non-sedative piano music. Music along with other therapy modalities in meditation and sleep apps show promise in reducing students’ anxiety and stress and promoting their successes.
Abortion is one of the most polarizing moral issues in our society today. This issue divides the country into two separate groups: Pro-choice or Pro-life. Our thesis analyzes published reviewed articles, media articles, policy papers, and perspective, opinion, and commentary pieces to discuss the ethical implications of selective abortion, specifically sex-selective abortion and genetic-selective abortion. Our thesis provides an overview of selective abortion, explores women’s bodily autonomy in the U.S., addresses the complexities of both sex-selective and genetic-selective abortion, and finally evaluates the U.S.’s regulation of selective abortion. Through these topics, we were able to determine the implications selective abortion has on the disabled community and how selective abortion is being used to ban abortion overall in the U.S.
Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is a congenital disease that affects the female reproductive organs, causing them to be either malformed or completely absent. Much of the research regarding MRKH primarily focuses on the biological aspects of the disease and ignores the social impacts of the disease. I have conducted research to assess three of the underlying factors affecting women with the disease and gained a better understanding of how this disease affects these individuals and creates new obstacles for them throughout their lives. I found that for many women with MRKH, the decision to pursue treatment is greatly influenced by their environments and communities. Treatments range from something minor like vaginal dilation to much more controversial and riskier experimental treatments like uterine transplant surgery to experience pregnancy. Patients often experience “gender role insecurity” based on the cultural norms of their society. Gender role insecurity is the concern that gender norms may go unfulfilled, and even affects the relationships between women with MRKH and those who do not have the disease. This is a concern that women feel due to social pressures and standards. Gender role insecurity is important because it lets us understand what women with MRKH feel they lack in terms of their femininity and why medical intervention is so highly prioritized. Some societies and cultures with a more traditional background have a greater influence regarding the treatment options that MRKH women pursue. By analyzing support groups and online message boards, it seems that these support groups give women with MRKH the support and freedom to explore a range of treatment options, away from significant social pressures.
This study looked at student’s perceptions of COVID-19 and differences in how universities handled COVID-19. It aimed to assess what measures made students feel safe and were the most effective in lessening spread. A risk-perception survey scored feelings of safety/risk, and semi-structured interviews provided context. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis showed mixed opinions on university measures, and interviews identified wearing masks, social distancing, isolating, and limiting social contacts as measures that were effective in curbing spread.