This past weekend students and faculty from Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences presented their research at the Hawaii International Conference of Social Sciences in Honolulu, Hawaii. Here is a look at them at the conference and some information about their research.
More Conference Photos!

Measuring and Improvi
Group of people smiling with banner.
ng Faculty Research Productivity in the Social Sciences

This paper explores a number of factors that increase faculty research productivity and identifies obstacles to research, writing and publishing.

Ann Gordon, Associate Professor Political Science

Changing Attitudes on Humanitarianism: The Effect of Age and World Events on Public Opinion

The presentation examines American public opinion on humanitarian activity abroad, and seeks to determine the influence that age and generation have on the attitudes of the public. It looks particularly at the ages during which people are most sensitive to socialization, and compares those years to world events and societal changes to identify if there is any correlation between those experiences and public opinion.
Lyons, Matthew –— Chapman University
Junior – Political Science and Economics Double Major

Determining Women’s Attitudes Toward Abortion

I propose to examine the factors that contribute to determining women’s attitudes toward abortion. I found that level of education and political ideology are the strongest factors for determining attitudes, with religiosity also being another significantly strong factor. This research is important because determining attitudes can help in the approach of the sensitive topic in the media and politics.
Peake, Sarah –— Chapman University
Senior – Political Science Major, Germanic Studies and English Double Minor

Under the Influence: The Effects of the Running Tally on Party Affiliation

Many Americans express their political beliefs through their party affiliation. The purpose of this research is to explore the factors that contribute to the foundation, strength, and stability of party identification. This study supports the ‘running tally theory’, which states that a person maintains an internal library that keeps track of real-life circumstances, be they political, social, economic, or other, which inform and dictate partisanship and future political decisions.
Spencer, Katie –— Chapman University
Sophomore – Political Science and Psychology Double Major