The Baby Animal Effect in Wildlife Conservation Advertising

This study examines how baby animal appeals influence wildlife conservation intentions and donation behavior. Participants shown a baby animal demonstrated more empathy and stronger conservation intentions than those shown an adult animal. Furthermore, promotion-focused participants responded with higher conservation intentions and donation amounts after viewing baby (vs. adult) animals, while prevention-focused participants showed no preference. By demonstrating how baby animal appeals interact with self-regulatory focus, these findings shed light on the boundary conditions of the baby animal effect and identify empathy as the key mechanism driving conservation behaviors

Savannah Bananas: Growing the Greatest Show in Baseball

Co-founded by Jesse and Emily Cole, the Savannah Bananas delighted fans with their unique brand of baseball. The barnstorming team delivered its high-octane entertainment in sold-out ballparks across the country, including Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums. The team played Banana Ball, a derivative of conventional baseball that offered a faster-paced, more surprising game filled with trick plays, wild stunts, crazy contests, and unlikely dancing. The Bananas accumulated more TikTok followers than any MLB team, and sold merchandise to fans around the world. While the Savannah Bananas thrived, MLB experienced declining attendance and television viewership, particularly among young people, until several significant rule changes were introduced in 2023. These modifications shortened the length of games and increased the amount of exciting action. Attendance rose, though not yet to previous peak levels. MLB owners began to discuss further radical changes, including one new rule that bore a striking resemblance to a distinctive feature of Banana Ball. Baseball traditionalists reacted quite negatively to some of these ideas. Fans First Entertainment, the parent company of the Savannah Bananas, had bold ambitions. The organization planned to launch its fourth barnstorming team in 2025. The coming season included games at seventeen MLB ballparks and four football stadiums. Fans First aimed to operate a six-team league the following year. Would people embrace the idea of an entire league of teams playing Banana Ball? Could the teams fill larger ballparks and stadiums around the world year after year? Perhaps most interestingly, would the Bananas influence the evolution of the MLB game, or would the MLB owner and fans resist bold changes, such as the Golden At-Bat Rule, to attract new fans

The Role of Individual Values in Bryant University\u27s Sustainability Efforts

This research examines student, faculty, and staff perspectives on sustainability at Bryant University, with the goal of understanding how individual values align with the university\u27s environmental initiatives. The objective is to assess perceptions of Bryant\u27s current sustainability practices, explore how effectively these efforts are communicated across campus, and identify potential gaps between institutional action and community awareness. To achieve this, the study gathers qualitative data through an open-ended survey and applies sentiment analysis to interpret student attitudes toward sustainability. By analyzing these responses alongside Bryant\u27s sustainability marketing efforts, this research will identify gaps between student engagement and institutional messaging The results revealed that while many respondents expressed positive attitudes toward sustainability and demonstrated a general understanding of its importance, there were also signs of limited awareness regarding Bryant\u27s specific sustainability initiatives. The sentiment analysis highlighted a gap between institutional efforts and student perceptions, suggesting opportunities for the university to strengthen its communication strategies and better align its outreach with the values of its community

Menstruation Cycles and the Impact on a Female Athlete\u27s Performance and Perception of Performance

This two-part study investigates the impact of menstrual cycle hormone levels on performances and perception of performance among division I athletes. A survey was given to the captains of all Bryant University female sports teams for the dispersal amongst their teams. Each of the 13 female sports teams participated and contributed. A total of 107 survey responses were collected. Data regarding the perception of menstrual cycle on specific aspects of their athletic lives were collected, as well as whether they were on contraception, their age of menarche and heaviness of flow. The results indicate that 83% of athletes surveyed believe their menstruation affects their athletic performance, as well as 46.8% strongly believe their period causes them more fatigue at practice. As a follow up, study two was then performed to see how much the menstrual cycle impacts field performance. Athletes’ perceptions of their performance were found to be influenced by menstrual symptoms, often leading to a negative self-assessment during menstruation. Twenty Division I softball players at Bryant University were monitored during their fall season. Paper calendars were utilized for menstrual cycle tracking, as well as a daily 4 question survey where athletes reported their self-perception of performance. The calendar and self-perception were then compared to the actual performance of these athletes. The results indicate that female athlete participants performed worse on their period 57% of the time and their self-perception was worse 6.5% of the time compared to 3.8% when in other phases of their cycle. These findings highlight the need for support strategies to optimize an athlete’s performance and the need for change in Division I athletes training regimens

Profit Over Patients: Examining the Influence of Pharmaceutical Companies on Mental Health Medication Prescriptions

This paper explores the relationship pharmaceutical companies have with the overprescription of mental health medication, highlighting unethical marketing practices and their impact on prescription patterns. Previous literature addresses unethical pharmaceutical company marketing strategies, relationships within the field, and cost differences. This study includes qualitative insights from professionals in the field. Interviews conducted collected information that showed the prevalence of mental health illnesses, how treatments are prescribed, and the extent of pharmaceutical influence. Initial findings suggest a significant push for medication as it is the most common treatment method for mental health illnesses. This study highlights pharmaceutical companies\u27 profit-driven motives and their effects on individuals\u27 mental health treatments

The Role of AI in Risk Management: Benefits, Challenges, and Adoption Strategies

This study explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in risk management, focusing on its integration within business operations. The primary objective of this research is to examine both the potential benefits and associated risks of adopting AI technologies, with a specific emphasis on data security, ethical concerns, and governance. A mixed methodology was employed, combining a comprehensive literature review on AI\u27s applications and limitations with qualitative interviews conducted with professionals from various industries, including risk management, higher education, and IT development. The findings highlight key challenges in AI adoption, such as data privacy issues, bias in AI algorithms, and the lack of ethical reasoning in decision-making processes. Based on these insights, the study recommends practical strategies for businesses to mitigate risks, including implementing effective governance frameworks, developing AI literacy through employee training, and deploying safeguards such as guardrails, audits, and human oversight. The findings emphasize the importance of balancing AI\u27s potential benefits with responsible integration to foster trust and ensure ethical AI practices in business operations

The Importance of Changing the High School Math Curriculum to Encourage More Students to Pursue a Degree in the Mathematics Field

The mathematics field is a much larger field than many may think with mathematical analysis being involved in many jobs now, yet the need for more people to pursue mathematical careers and join the field is increasing daily. The focus of this thesis is to not only understand why some students are not inclined to pursue a degree in the mathematics field, but also to find methods to entice them to join the field. The literature researched demonstrated that experiences both in and out of the classroom have an impact on perception of the field, with the actual curriculum having the greatest impact on students\u27 decisions. To understand opinions on the mathematics field, surveys will be issued to Bryant students. The goal is to better understand perceptions of the field, so that curriculums can be improved to increase attraction to the field. Ultimately, the findings shows that math majors and non-math majors alike see a need for changes to the math classes taught in high school. Therefore, it is important to further discuss the changes that can be made to the curriculum at the high school level, such as adding a simple course that discusses the paths one can pursue as a math major