Undergraduate Honours Theses

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Browsing Undergraduate Honours Theses by Title

Now showing 1 - 20 of 35
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    Ability (re)imagined: an exploration into accessibility, accommodation, and student success at the University of Lethbridge
    (University of Lethbridge, Department of Women and Gender Studies, 2022) Brickley, Virginia; Lenon, Suzanne
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    Are merciful judges unjust? : a discussion of mercy and justice based on the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : Univerisity of Lethbridge, Dept. of Political Science, 2010) Smienk, Megan; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; von Heyking, John
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    Community, contraception, and controversy: a history of the Lethbridge Birth Control and Information Centre in the 1970s
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of History, 2013) Patton, Karissa R.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Williams, Carol
    This honours thesis examines the history of the Lethbridge Birth Control and Information Centre (LBCIC) and the representation and acceptance of it within the community of Lethbridge as well as the Centre’s influence on the local community. The LBCIC represents the wider fight for women’s reproductive rights, acceptance of all sexualities, and women’s equality in the 1970s. This Southern Albertan organization is particularly significant because there is still a regional resistance to accessible contraception and women’s reproductive rights. The purpose of this honours thesis is to fill the historical gap and to educate scholars and citizens of Southern Alberta on this significant history of regional women’s activism. This research illustrates how the community of Lethbridge was divided in terms of social views, mores and acceptance of the services and education provided by LBCIC. The story of the struggle to establish the LBCIC in Southern Alberta enlarges the history of birth control activism in Canada. Moreover, I hope to inspire continued awareness of the importance of women’s reproductive rights through this research. The first chapter, using material from interviews recognizes the organized activism of these five women, and how they raised consciousness about women’s reproductive rights in Lethbridge, and Canadian, society during the 1970s. The first chapter also determines that their advocacy widens the national historical narrative on birth control and women’s reproductive rights activism by including Southern Albertan, rural, and small town activist experiences. The second chapter investigates letters to Lethbridge City Council during the 1974 LBCIC funding controversy, analyzing public declarations of parental authority to argue against the supporters of the LBCIC. Chapter three discusses the eroding boundaries public/private divide posed by birth control debate.
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    The critique of scientism in defense of the political community
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Political Science, 2018) Kazakoff, Thomas; von Heyking, John
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    Deliberative rhetoric in electoral authoritarian regimes: a case study of Singapore
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : Univerisity of Lethbridge, Dept. of Political Science, 2015) Stuart, Nicolette; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; von Heyking, John
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    Deliverance and nationhood: a comparative political study of T. E. Lawrence and Moses
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Political Science, 2023) Lamont, Devon; von Heyking, John
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    Development of analytical ultracentrifugation standards
    (2023) Martin, Reece; Demeler, Borries
    This project entails the hydrodynamic study of biological macromolecules in the solution phase, specifically on double-stranded DNA molecules as a biological system that can be purified and prepared in colloidal, aqueous solutions suitable for study by analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). The goal is to produce, purify, and analyze by AUC, preparations of double-stranded DNA molecules of defined length, intended for use as AUC standards for downstream applications in the biopharma industry to validate AUC results. The following sections will discuss the processes by which double-stranded DNA samples are produced, purified, and prepared for use in the AUC, and how these processes have been optimized. As such, once samples have been prepared, they are placed in an analytical ultracentrifuge under varying conditions, such as different rotor speeds, different temperatures, and in buffers with different ionic strengths. The results are then analyzed using the UltraScan software, which uses remote supercomputers to derive hydrodynamic parameters such as the sedimentation coefficient, the diffusion coefficient, and the partial concentrations of each solute in the mixture. From the hydrodynamic parameters, the partial specific volume and the anisotropy of the components in the mixtures can be derived. The data acquisition, processing, and refinement techniques used to derive the hydrodynamic parameters and extract meaningful results from them will be detailed as well. At the current stage of this project, the goal is to achieve batch-to-batch reproducibility in the generation and purification of double-stranded DNA fragments. Finally, the long-term expected outcome of this project is the development of Good Manufacturing Practice molecular standards for analytical ultracentrifugation.
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    The development of gender-differentiated /ɕ/ production in Mandarin speaking children
    (University of Lethbridge, 2014) Shi, Yanjun; Li, Fangfang
    The goal of the present study is to examine the developmental trajectory of the gender-differentiated /ɕ/ production in Mandarin Chinese in terms of the relative contribution from anatomical development, prenatal hormonal effect, and gender typed behavior. The development of gendered /ɕ/ production has been an uncharted area of research. Mandarin-speaking participants were recruited from Grade 1(age 7), Grade 6 (age 12), and Grade 10 (age 16) from schools in Luoyang, a city in central China. The participants spoke standard Mandarin and had no known speech, language, or hearing deficiency. They were asked to read a list of 36 Mandarin words with 18 target words beginning with fricatives /ɕ/ or /s/ followed by vowels /a/, /i/, or /u/. All the fricatives were extracted from the recorded speech and their spectral mean frequencies were obtained. The spectral mean frequency was used as an acoustic indicator for gender variation of the fricative production. Anatomical development was measured through height, weight, and head circumference. Prenatal hormonal variation was assessed by the 2D: 4D ratio of the right hand. Gender typed behavior was assessed via a parent-report Child Play Behavior and Activity Questionnaire (CPBAQ). The result showed that only the sound /ɕ/ exhibited gender-differentiated production. Gender difference of /ɕ/ was found to emerge between age 7 and age 12. Significant correlation existed only between gender typed behavior and gendered /ɕ/ production for 16-year old boys(r=0.40, p=0.01). No anatomical or prenatal hormonal effect was found for gender variation of /ɕ/ production. The emergence of gendered /ɕ/ production was interpreted to be associated with the beginning of sexual maturation at the onset of puberty and gender identity development that excels at adolescence. The development of gendered /ɕ/ production was considered to parallel gender identity development at first and later become part of the gender norms for boys in mid-or late-adolescence.
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    Dilemmas and dissidents in democracies: how can change be achieved?
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Political Science, 2024) Scott, Samantha; von Heyking, John
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    Effects of TCB-2 on Alzheimer's neuropathology
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience, 2022) Cocco, Giulia; Sutherland, Robert J.
    Background: In recent years there’s been a surging interest in the pharmacological benefits of serotonin receptor (5-HTR) agonists to treat psychiatric disorders, one of them being Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Research has hinted at the effects of these 5-HTR agonists on hippocampal (HPC) neurogenesis, Amyloid-b (Ab) plaque deposition and microglial activation. These are all hallmark biomarkers of AD. In light of the rise in dementia diagnoses, studies should examine different methods to moderate these symptoms. Objective: This study shows the effects of the drug (4-Bromo-3,6-dimethoxybenzocyclobuten-1-yl)methylamine hydrobromide (TCB-2) as a candidate to ameliorate AD biomarkers of neuropathology in the APPNL-G-F mouse model at 6 and 10 months of age (early and late stages). Methods: Fourteen APPNL-G-F mice were fed 0.35g of Nutella®. The treatment group received 5 mg/kg of TCB-2 whereas the controls received the vehicle only. Feeding occurred every 3 days for the length of 29 days. Afterward, they were tested on the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) task for 6 days and subsequently perfused to collect their brains and apply immunohistochemistry analysis. Results: The TCB-2 treatment was significantly more effective at decreasing A plaque count in the younger cohort, resulting in a trend of cognitive enhancement as well. It provided anti-inflammatory aid and decreased HPC surface area across all ages. Conclusion: Due to the ambiguous role of serotonin in learning and memory, our research hopes to expand its literature. The results prove that there’s potential for 5-HTR agonists to be used as medical treatments to prevent the development of AD neuropathology.
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    "For the greater good" 99.8 % free and the expendable 0.2%: Freedom Fighters and the COVID-19 pandemic
    (University of Lethbridge, Department of Anthropology, 2022) Mah, Kathleen E.; Ferzacca, Steve
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    A framework of competence in the university experience of students with disabilities
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, 2020) Pitcher, Brayden; Mather, Jennifer
    Liberal education is an approach to learning that allows students to learn practical skills to help deal with the challenges and diversity in the world. Liberal education is important to students with disabilities (SWD) in postsecondary education because of their increased difficulty to secure employment compared to students with no disabilities (SWND). In this study, a survey was conducted using questions that referred to practical skills and designed in a Likert Scale format with responses ranging from 1 (not very much) to 4 (very much). The survey was adapted from the employability skills profile created by the Conference Board of Canada, which is an organization that provides research and insights to complex challenges and issues in the education sector. The questions were grouped in five areas of development: intellectual, personal, interpersonal, academic, and human and civic engagement. The responses of each question were converted into sum scores and grouped within each area of development. The data was then dichotomized while using the median for comparison. The differences between students and their different years of study and the differences between genders were also observed. There was no statistical difference between SWD and SWND. Generally, both groups reported they felt improvement in practical skills from their university experience. In the intellectual area more SWD did not see improvement overall, however, more SWND did find improvement in learning practical skills. No significant difference between students in different years of study were found, however, the trends show that students learn practical skills early in their second year. No significant difference between the responses of genders were found, however, the trends showed that more females are finding improvement than males in learning social skills. The conclusions are that the University does generally provide opportunities for all students to learn practical skills. However further research is needed to investigate the possible differences, gather more participants, and ask more specific questions.
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    From water as a toy to water as a tool: a pilot study on object play and tool use in young children
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, 2022) Mulik, Crystal; Leca, Jean-Baptiste; Foroud, Afra
    The “Play Ethos”, a principle centred around the idea that play is beneficial, suggests the relevance of play to learning. This thesis discusses the facilitation of tool use through object play from a perspective of the “Play Ethos” and Affordance Learning Theory. A study consisting of observational, experimental, and supplementary phases was delivered to 9 children aged 3-6 years old at the Forestry Campus of the Lethbridge Montessori School. This study investigated if behaviours seen in a playful setting (observational phase) were then used to solve a problem in a task (experimental phase). Results showed that similar behaviours were conducted in both phases, however due to confounding variables and limited sample size, further research must be conducted to test the relationship between object play and tool use. Despite these results, this study identifies and explores important topics to consider when designing and facilitating experiments to young children.
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    Gender, nationhood, and the Alberta Sexual Sterilization Act, 1928-1972
    (University of Lethbridge, Department of History, 2021) Riley, Mollie; Williams, Carol; Stanley, Heather
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    The German fear of Russia: Russia and its place within German history
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of History, 2013) Dumont, Rob; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Burton, Christopher
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    Hegemony secured: Social Credit and the crippling of the Alberta left, 1935-1971
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of History, 2017) Penner, Mack; Alexander, Kristine; Kennedy, Lynn
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    "I don't really have a choice": the complexities of being Black in Canada for the Caribbean diaspora
    (University of Lethbridge, Department of Anthropology, 2022) Roache, Julisha; Ferzacca, Steve
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    "I'm a little bit like a small-town preacher, these people are my congregation": conducting professional journalism in rural Alberta
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Sociology, 2022) Lockett, Monica; Elafros, Athena; Mellow, Muriel
    In rural settings, professional work is adapted to fit the needs of the community (Mellow, 2005). I question what, if any, professional adaptations are made by journalists who work in rural communities. The production of journalistic work is highly contextual, and it is important to understand how working in rural areas impacts the development of a professional identity in journalists. I approach this study through a symbolic interactionist lens, utilizing semi-structured interviews with journalists working in a designated rural community in Alberta. Between July- August 2021, nine journalists were interviewed. My findings show deep, ingrained attachments that journalists have to their communities. These participants take the notion of objectivity and mold it to their own unique surroundings and relationships, highlighting the evident subjectivity of objective reporting. These findings are compared with the state of local media in Canada with a discussion on the changing nature of journalistic work.
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    Illegal gambling in Canada
    (University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021) Mackey-Simpkin, Sean; Williams, Robert
    Illegal gambling has historically been common in Western countries due to the fact that legalized forms have largely been prohibited. However, over the past 50 years most forms of gambling have been legalized. One of the main justifications for legalization is that it forces black-market operators to close and diverts money to governments that is then utilized for societal benefit. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the validity of this premise. A brief review of the literature of legalizing alcohol, cannabis, and prostitution on black-market operators shows this premise to be largely true for alcohol, untrue for prostitution and intermediate for cannabis. A more comprehensive review of this issue was undertaken for gambling legalization in Canada. Four sources of data were examined: the rate of criminal charges for illegal gambling in Canada from 1977 to 2018; self-reported past-year involvement in illegal gambling in a national online panel sample of 10,199 adult gamblers in 2018; self-reported past-year involvement in age restricted forms of gambling among adolescents aged 15-17 in 2002 and 2018 from the Canadian Community Health Survey; and the opinions of key informants. The results confirm that illegal gambling has substantially declined with legalization. However, the evidence also indicates that a) this decline was not immediate, but rather occurred over a period of 10-20 years, and b) illegal gambling still exists to a limited extent. Potential reasons are discusse
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    In absence of Black Atticus: cinematic portrayals of racism and redemption in the Jim Crow south
    (University of Lethbridge, Dept. of History, 2020) Harray, Bailey; Kennedy, Lynn