Research Symposium

BIO

Hello! My name is Julia Eazer and I am a senior in the IMS program. My goals are to attend to medical after taking a gap year in which I will be working as a medical assistant. I have been working with Dr Delp for over 3 years and its a privilege to have been able to complete an HITM with her as my mentor.

The Effects of Muscular Stretch Training on Vasculature in the Proximal Tibial Metaphysis

Abstract

Past studies have shown the blood flow to the proximal tibia increases with muscular stretch training in rats models. The results also show a significant change in bone volume between stretched and non stretched legs, indicating a morphological change has occurred within the bone. The change is likely due to vasculature remodeling through the process of angiogenesis. To asses this, a stain that binds to endothelial cells, called lectin, was used on longitudinal sections of the bone. Fluorescent images of lectin and DAPI stains were taken at the proximal metaphysis. Qualitative analysis using a custom made program in Python which analyzed fluorescent regions in the images taken showed a significant increase in vasculature. There was on average an increase in vasculature volume of 65% in stretched tibias compared to nonstretched.

Keywords: vascular, bone, biomedical, cardiovascular

BIO

My name is Leslie Alday and I am from Gainesville, Florida. I am a Junior at FSU and I am studying Biochemistry. My research interests include biology, statistics, Latin, and information science. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in one of these fields.

Modeling Overlapping Textual Data and Describing the Relationship Between the Overlapping Layers.

Abstract

Modeling textual data helps make the data contained in large or information-dense texts easier to manage. At times, information is found in overlapping layers on a page. Utilizing an encoding method to interconnect the various layers can help with the interpretation of the text. This research aims to develop a bibliographic data model that describes the layered text and shows the connections between the layers. Two documents that contain two overlapping layers of information each from the FSU Digital Library Paul A.M. Dirac Papers will be used. Each document will be encoded using a different application of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) guidelines. The first application will focus on the logical structure of the text. The second application will focus on the graphical location of different objects on the document. These methods will be used to create a data model and the results of this research will be published editions of text that can go online.

Keywords: Digital Humanities

BIO

Hi there! My name is Corey Burns and I'm a freshman from North Florida. After graduation, I hope to be a teacher for several years and eventually move into educational leadership and policy. My research has primarily consisted of data analysis and scoring ELL students. My goal is to teach English to students around the world in effort to cultivate their opportunities. In the meantime, I am interested in getting more hands-on experience as an educator.

Learning A Second Language Unconsciously

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the bearing of 3 different implicit language aptitude scores [LLAMAD, Artificial Grammar (AG), and Passive Priming (p)] on L2 speech performance. It was hypothesized that all three of these implicit aptitude scores would have significant positive correlations with L2 speech performance. 250 speech samples were recorded by Chinese college student English-L2 learners and rated on comprehensibility and accentedness. The averaged ratings were then compared to the students’ corresponding LLAMAD-, AG- and p-scores resulting from separate tests. It was found that LLAMAD-scores had a significant positive correlation, AG-scores had no significant correlation, and p-scores had a significant negative correlation with L2 speech performance. These results have a bearing on L2 education at large; L2 education traditionally centers on conscious (explicit) language-learning and scholars have called into question the exclusion of unconscious (implicit) language-learning. This data suggests conflicting support for the inclusion of unconscious language-learning streams into L2 curriculum.

Keywords: language, aptitude, syntax

BIO

Hey y'all! My name is Seraiah Kercy, and I am a sophomore from Fort Lauderdale Florida. I am currently majoring in Family and Child Sciences but by the end of the semester I hope to double major in Psychology and Family and Child Sciences. I decided to work on this project because I believe that the telling of how Black people and people of color impacted our world today is important. In today's world, our stories are being erased and I believe that our project helps in combating this issue.

The Black Artist's Way: Topics in Black Theatre and Performance

Abstract

Post George Floyd, the world recognized that there are major social, political, and economic issues concerning racial diversity, equity and inclusion in the United States. Corporations, educational institutions and families desperately searched for ways to close the identified gap in racial equity. Though there have been great gains, this problem persists. In 2018, a Black Theater and Performance Group, the Essential Theatrical Associates, created a children’s program named Talk Dat Talk; which implemented artistic ways of teaching children about the folklore of enslaved people. During the abrupt emergence of Coronavirus, ETA decided to present the program virtually; in turn, it became well-known and used to inform public school students about African storytelling and increase diversity in classrooms (Selmore, 2022). The success of this virtual experience has inspired the creation of The Black Artists’ Way, a series of online videos produced to educate students on significant Black women in Black Theater and Performance. The six women researched were Toni Morrison, Billie Holiday, Lorraine Hansberry, Dorothy Dandridge, Zora Neale Hurston, and Nina Simone. This project presents research on the works, lives, and influence of these six women. The goal of this virtual series is to increase equity and diversity in classrooms, give teachers the tools necessary to create impactful lesson plans, and enhance the knowledge students have about African Americans. Through the creation of this online video series, the information will be accessed by a variety of students and educators—from middle schools to universities.

Keywords: Black Artist, Theatre, Performance, ETA

BIO

Hello, my name is Viviana and I am from Austin, Texas. I am a senior, graduating this semester, with a major in communication science and disorders and a minor in child development. My undergraduate research interests include early communication intervention for young prelinguistic children. I am also interested in bilingualism and children with speech and language impairments. I plan on beginning graduate school and pursuing my masters in speech language pathology in the Fall.

Adult Strategies and Child Acts for Communication Development in Early Intervention

Abstract

Early intervention in speech therapy is critical for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to learn communication skills during the period of normal brain development and can have a significant impact on a child’s development that minimizes the long-term negative impacts of a speech-language delay or disorder. Early intervention programs also aim to provide education, support, and guidance for parents and caregivers. This presentation will overview the data collection process of child and adult communication acts and strategies. The data set came from an overarching study which examined the effect of a multicomponent professional development approach on early intervention providers’ use of the Family Guided Routines Based Intervention framework. Communication was coded using The Observer XT software on the NOLDUS platform to add information on caregiver and child impacts in early intervention services within the home. The Observer XT software on the NOLDUS platform allowed for a quantitative way to code behaviors and visualize them on a timeline and assess reliability between the coders. The different strategies and implications for communication acts are discussed in this presentation.

Keywords: communication, gestures, child, development, intervention

BIO

Emma Robbins is a freshman vocalist in the College of Music majoring in music (general emphasis). In addition to her involvement in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, Emma is a student in the Honors program, a speaker coach and member of the performance committee for FSU's annual TEDx conference, a College of Music Board of advisor, and a sister in the music sorority Sigma Alpha Iota. Next year, she hopes to participate more in FSU's film and production communities to gain experience in her intended profession of music supervision.

Life History Theory & Goal Time Horizons: An evolutionary perspective

Abstract

Life history theory (LHT) provides a conceptual framework in the field of evolutionary psychology for
analyzing reproductive and behavioral trajectories in individuals from different childhood environments.
Two strategies are categorized under this theory: fast and slow. Fast life history strategists tend to be
birthed into environments with prominent stressors of unpredictability and harshness, causing earlier
onsets of puberty and sexual exploration, higher externalizing behaviors, shorter goal setting, and
substance abuse tendencies. Slower life history strategists mature in stable and resource-abundant
environments and exhibit a preference for delay discounting in goals and sexual fitness – opposites of
fast life strategy. Isolating the environmental stressors of harshness and unpredictability, this study
builds on prior research to see if maturation in unpredictable environments is directly correlated with
impulsivity in adult behaviors towards goal setting (Study 2). After surveying more than a hundred
undergraduate students and community members on their childhoods and current most important
goals, data was extracted and coded to determine if the presence of unpredictability in childhood
environments is correlated with goal timing. Using statistical analysis, it was determined that through
the meditation of a participant’s consideration of future consequences, goal time horizons in adulthood
are influenced by adolescent unpredictability. This work benefits a growing interest in how childhood
environments can inherently affect the life trajectory of individuals by examining and understanding the
effects causal stressors, like unpredictability, have on developed behaviors from adolescence to
adulthood

Keywords: Psychology, Childhood, Behavior, Goal-Setting, Mind

BIO

Julia is a freshman studying cell and molecular neuroscience on a pre-med track from Colchester, VT. While she is a STEM major, Julia is interested in other fields, particularly in regards to societal divides and opportunity disparities. She is an EMT and hopes to continue on to a career in emergency medicine after her time her at FSU!

Turning Down Higher Wages? A Lab-in-Field Experiment on Tax Code Notches and Labor Market Decisions

Abstract

Mani et al. (2013) find that poverty negatively affects cognitive function across different populations. In this paper, we extend their insights into a labor market environment by conducting a lab-in-field experiment in which participants from a student population choose a wage each round and complete a known number of real-effort tasks. Similar to Mani et al., we use an easy and hard prime and recruit subjects of both low and high income as measured by their Pell Grant eligibility to test whether poverty affects optimal labor market decision making. Optimal decision making is assessed by participants’ ability to maximize their earnings by weighing the loss of an experimenter benefit verses higher wages.
To supplement this analysis, we collect a variety of other measures from participants including executive function measurements of inhibitory control as well as demographic and other background information related to labor market exposure and poverty. We also conduct interviews with a subset of randomly selected participants to articulate their strategy during the game and how it relates to their own experiences navigating the intersection between labor markets and public assistance.
This research has important implications for the economic mobility of thousands of low-income Americans. Impoverished people seek to advance economically but fear losing public assistance, thus relinquishing opportunities for long-term growth. Ultimately, our research may encourage a simplification of our labor and benefits systems, as complexity only benefits those with the resources and cognitive capacity to deal with it, thus excluding already disadvantaged low-income individuals.

Keywords: Poverty, cognitive function

BIO

Jack Mills is a first year student at Florida State University currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Jack’s passion for accounting began while doing research in the field of economics, which is the project he is presenting at the UROP symposium. Jack plans to graduate and get his CPA in order to work as a forensic accountant.

Eliminating Discrimination In Hiring Isn’t Enough

Abstract

Many companies have implemented policies that ensure there is no discrimination in the hiring process. While these policies are a good thing for businesses to implement, we reviewed literature that shows how the hardships and discrimination that a diverse workforce face may go overlooked. There can be differences in things like tasks given to different groups of individuals, which can lead to differences in standards and promotability for different groups of individuals. These aspects can cause workers to be unhappy in the workplace, causing them to leave and voiding the positives that are gained from hiring policies designed to create a diverse workforce. Support systems, as well as randomizing assignments for different tasks, are ways to reduce disparities in the workplace.

Keywords: Labor Discrimination, Economics, Workplace Equality, Workforce Diversity, Workplace Bias

BIO

Hi! My name is Cara, and I'm from Tampa, FL. I'm a Nursing major and I hope to become a Nurse Practitioner in Women's health in the future. I am interested in research in Women's health and making Women's health more equitable in our community.

Examining the Factors that Limit the Participation of Eligible Mothers in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Abstract

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a program that strives to protect the wellness of low-income mothers and their young children who are unable to meet their necessary nutritional needs. This program has proven to be extremely beneficial for those who utilize WIC services, but often women who are eligible for the program’s benefits do not participate in WIC services. The purpose of this study is to explore what factors may cause eligible women to be unable or unwilling to participate in WIC services in their community. We will recruit postpartum mothers (N=100) from ages 18-40 years who have given birth in the last 6 months. A portion of these mothers will be WIC eligible. From that subsample, we will determine the number of mothers eligible, but not currently receiving WIC services from the North-Central Florida community. Data will be collected through both quantitative and qualitative methods, to determine reasons mothers are not utilizing WIC services. It is anticipated that factors such as prenatal care receival, marital status, race, and housing will contribute to the lack of participation by eligible mothers in WIC services, and we predict that these factors will be the conclusive reason as to why eligible women do not receive WIC services. Through our research, we hope to explain what factors restrict WIC program participation in eligible households. By better understanding what factors limit or decrease participation, we can better the attainability and availability of WIC services to eligible women.

Keywords: WIC, Mother, Infant

BIO

I am from Port St. Joe, FL and a senior at Florida State University graduating this spring. My research interests lie specifically in gender-based violence, anti-LGBTQ+ violence, and journalistic ethics relative to hate crime reporting. Post-graduation, I will be traveling to Barcelona for a service-based internship, and I begin graduate school in Fall 2022 at Florida State.

Fatal Anti-Transgender Violence in America: Building a Database of Transgender Homicides

Abstract

Violence against the transgender community is a serious social issue, and researchers argue that anti-transgender homicide is an increasingly violent epidemic that proves transphobia is still prominent and dangerous in American society. Addressing this violence requires understanding anti-transgender bias, yet a comprehensive database on victims of anti-transgender violence does not currently exist. Therefore, our research team has been working to create such a database of all known anti-transgender homicides in the United States between 2015 and 2020. Once completed, the comprehensive database will be used to examine (a) broad patterns in incidents over time and (b) individual, situational, and contextual features of fatal violence directed at the transgender population. Preliminary results from these data collection efforts as well as the narratives of transgender people lost to this form of violence will be presented.

Keywords: LGBTQ+, hate crimes, violence, database, transgender

BIO

Hello all! My name is Arianna Kassatly and I am a human resource management major in the FSU College of Business. I'm originally from Atlanta, but have wanted to go to school in Florida for as long as I can remember and have loved living in Tallahassee for the past two years. In the future, I hope to get my MBA and eventually start my own business. I'm an active member of the UROP program, the FSU Honors program, and am also an intern with the Minuet Group. Although I'm a business major, I chose to pursue a research project that was in the history department to not only broaden my horizons, but because I find the message of our project extremely impactful and empowering. Thanks you for attending the Undergraduate Research Symposium! Enjoy!

Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Women of the SOE

Abstract

Ungentlemanly Warfare is about unearthing the stories of women spies in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) active during WWII. While these agents were very influential in WWII, their stories are often swept under the rug and they have received very little recognition for their efforts. With the research we are engaged in, we are creating a database on these women spies, their backgrounds, and accomplishments. These details show that these women were powerful forces that knew their capabilities and that they were able to aid Europe during these challenging times. These women not only fought fascism but also had to combat the patriarchy while out in the field. These spies’ drive to survive often came from the reminder of what they were fighting for. They found power in keeping their true identities a secret from the Gestapo because in doing so, they were fighting against tyranny and cruelty. These women spies were so passionate about the freedom of their country that they endured unimaginable torture and fear to maintain the SOE and lead to the ultimate destruction of the Nazis. It is now our responsibility to bring their stories to light.

Keywords: WWII, History, SOE, Britain

BIO

I am Matthew Conlan, a 4th year undergraduate student studying Environmental Science and Policy who will be graduating at the end of the Fall 2022 term. While this is only my second year in college, I seek to push for many growth opportunities that will allow myself to learn and become more. With that, it means I am interested in research that pursues connections with the environment around us, especially as a Florida native. My hope is to have the opportunity to pursue a career with Florida Fish and Wildlife, working with environmental regulation and enforcement.

Photodegradation of Rhodamine Dye in Water Under Solar Radiation

Abstract

In June of 2021 Lake Jackson suddenly found its water draining through Porter Sink and into the aquifer that feeds all of the rivers and lakes in the area. When that happened however, there was a prevailing question: Where did all of the water go?

To determine this, a team of researchers from Florida Geological Survey introduced into the sinkhole Florescence dye, a soluble eco-friendly water marker. After processing through the water column and testing at several sites, the team was unable to find any trace of the dye within water samples. As a result, the team now questioned if there were any other outliers affecting the dye such as photodegradation when exposed to sunlight.

Rhodamine Dye is one of the common substances utilized for water tracing. Its emission spectrum makes it incredibly viable for use with a fluorometer as it can be evaluated into the parts per billion. However, there are studies that indicated that Rhodamine and Fluorescein dye will degrade at a higher rate when subject to lower concentrations (Cai 2020), as what is seen in this study.

Further, exposure to solar radiation will cause Rhodamine dye to experience photochemical decay (Water Tracing), which will further reduce the fluorescence of the dye within water.

Keywords: Degradation, Rhodamine, Radiation, Lake Jackson, Photochemical

BIO

I am a second-year marketing and management major from Dallas, Tx. My research interests include entrepreneurship, public management, and policy. My career goals include creating my own institution and having my ideas put towards projects that make a difference. My achievements while at the University include Dean's List, UROP Leader, and research assistant with UROP. My skills include analytical thinking and reasoning, great time management, and resounding teamwork abilities.

Perceived Fairness in Performance Appraisal and Political Behaviors: A List Experiment of Employees’ Reaction to Performance Appraisal

Abstract

Performance appraisals are meant for management to assess not only the production of the work the employee produces but analyzes the employee’s progress with the company. Perceived fairness in performance appraisals has been a key concern for management and organizational convergence. Public employee reactions include them acting in partisan ways from trying to gain favors to scapegoating. This misuse of evaluation not only hurts the establishment but creates an atmosphere of political behaviors. The project conducted a list experiment method on FSU students that will in turn eventually use public employee involvement and perspectives. In turn, these findings can be used on a larger more professional scale with the same experiment method to ascertain the true intentions that lie behind the employee’s assessment of their performance appraisal. These findings can in turn add to the database of knowledge on performance appraisal as well as emphasize the importance of conducting the best appraisal for each member of the organization.

Keywords: public policy, performance appraisal, list experiment

BIO

My name is Abdullah Ismail I'm a freshman at FSU studying finance and political science. I'm from Saudi Arabia where I've lived my entire life, before coming to Tallahassee for school. My goal is to attend law school after I graduate and hopefully practice law as my career. I'm primarily interested in research in the social science field, I believe my skill set is in analysis and humanities rather than in math and STEM fields; Thus I enjoy fields that employ those skills more such as social science.

Investigating Social Workers’ Attitudes and Experiences with Open Peer Review

Abstract

While “Peer Reviewed” articles are viewed as the gold standard in the scholarly community, the peer review process is still imperfect. Inaccuracies have been able to surpass the review process, and bias is known to be a factor in the editorial process. In recent years “open peer review” has been suggested as a combatant to many of these problems. “Open peer review” is an umbrella term for a variety of mechanics that “open up” the peer review process, such as revealing the identities of the editors or revealing their edits. Open peer review is a suggestion we can make to the current peer review system, it however, has not been well tested, especially in the field of social work we’re examining. The purpose of the study is to assess the perceptions and attitudes of scholars in the field to open peer review, as well as assessing deficiencies of the current system of peer review.

Keywords: Peer review, Meta-research, Social work.

BIO

My name is Nia Ogletree and I am a first-year student from Tallahassee currently majoring in Environmental Science and Policy. I have an avid interest in environmental advocacy and sustainability and chose to work with Dr. Ernst because of her work with community resilience against the effects of climate change. On campus, I am involved in the Honors Program, Presidential Scholars, Sustainable Campus, and the Black Student Union. In the future, I hope to continue striving towards sustainability and environmental justice in the Tallahassee and FSU community.

Evaluating Knowledge Products for Sustainability, Resilience, and Climate Change Response Efforts

Abstract

This research evaluates decision-support tools that are built for decision-making towards sustainability and resilience in the context of climate change.
We seek to understand how these tools are applied in different contexts by analyzing six decision-support tools built for ecosystem-based management processes. We collected data, reviewed research studies, and analyzed their methods using the KnoPE (Knowledge Product Evaluation) Framework, a four-dimensional analytical system that organizes elements, assesses scales, assesses alignment to a theory of change, and analyzes the use of a decision-support tool. Developers and investors of the decision-making tools are interested in advancing them to the point where they are accessible and ready to be placed in the hands of policymakers who have the influence to make change happen. Policymakers need support to plan for a variety of climate-change impacts and these tools will provide context and information so they can better prepare for the impending future.

Keywords: Climate, sustainability, resilience

BIO

My name is Gia Rivers and I am a sophomore at Florida State University from Melbourne, Florida. I graduated from Melbourne High School with the International Baccalaureate Diploma. My current research interest is in high symmetry metal-organic frameworks that can host spin-qubit centers. My current career goal is to work in Pharmacology Research.

Synthesis of High-Symmetry Lanthanide Complexes for Quantum Information Processing (QIS)

Abstract

A qubit is an important component for quantum information processing, which applies the quantum property of superposition to access multiple states beyond the two states accessible by a classical bit (which can only hold the states 0 or 1). One important parameter that should be studied is qubit coherence time, which is the lifetime of the superposition state. There are currently many different methods for the development of qubits being considered, the manipulation of electronic spins being one viable pathway for the development of qubits. One current research objective is working with Ytterbium to synthesize metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and exploring the influence of the rigidity and vibrational properties of these frameworks to increase the coherent time. Other research objectives include the study of high symmetry complexes for optical readout of spin qubits and the exploration of high symmetry structures for the implementation of spin “qudits”. Single crystals will be obtained by slow diffusion of different solvents, and they will be characterized by single crystal x-ray diffraction to study the symmetry and packing of the molecules. Measurements of their magnetic properties will be done by SQUID, and the coherent time will be measured at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory using Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The current hypothesis is that the change of the halogen in the MOF will affect the coherent time of the MOF.

Keywords: quantum, qubit, qudit, crystal, metal-organic framework

BIO

I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, and developed a love for interdisciplinary knowledge. My research interests are broad and expand from topics about correctional/prison systems to developing quantum theories. Outside of academia, I enjoy nature by traveling around the United States. I spend my free time reading and creating art with all types of mediums.

Cultivating Therapeutic Relationship Among Counselors-In-Training: Impact of Mindfulness

Abstract

Therapeutic alliance has been identified as an essential factor in good therapeutic and treatment outcomes, although specific traits that lead to these benefits are still being examined. This research aims to analyze the impacts of using mindfulness techniques in counselors-in-training and how they influence the therapeutic alliance. Our comprehensive literature review analyses prior research on therapeutic alliance and mindfulness to investigate how mindfulness can impact the development, strength, and nature of the working alliance. Mindfulness techniques are rooted in Buddhist culture, and despite its longevity, the use of mindfulness-based intervention and tactics are fairly new for western clinical use. Research suggests further analysis of mindfulness techniques is warranted to gain a better understanding of its potential influences, specifically in the therapist-client relationship. The literature suggests that traits closely relating to mindfulness techniques such as empathy and awareness may have a positive impact on cultivating a better therapeutic alliance or relationship.

Keywords: Mindfulness, Therapeutic Alliance, Psychology, Therapeutic Relationship

BIO

I am a second year student originally from Spain majoring in Marketing. I have always had an interest in the research process, especially within the field of environmental sustainability which drove my interest in this research project. The topic of fashion is also one that greatly interests me and the industry's environmental impact which I was able to explore through this project. I hope to further develop my research experience and skills in the future.

The Sustainability Practices of Fashion Resale Businesses Advancing a Circular Economy: A Multi-Case Study

Abstract

Due to the environmental degradation perpetrated by the fashion industry, many fashion businesses have recently made systemic efforts to become more environmentally responsible and conscious (Yang, Song, & Tong, 2017). As a result, businesses are beginning to center their business models around circular economy practices. The resale market has always been a part of a circular economy, but its current rapid growth implementing sustainability practices is unmatched (Machado, Almeida, Bollick, & Bragagnolo, 2019). This study aims to explore the current trends and sustainability practices in the fashion resale market by analyzing six leading businesses’ models. A qualitative research method was used for the multi-case study employing document analysis. This study is a part of a larger project that will include the analysis of in-depth interviews of the founders or key employees from the six businesses. Data analysis of documents is in progress using open coding and the constant comparative method. This study provides educators, researchers, and practitioners with valuable insights on the sustainability practices and successful business models of leading resale businesses in the fashion industry and shed light on how their sustainability practices advance a circular economy.

References
Machado, M. A., Almeida, S. O., Bollick, L. C., & Bragagnolo, G. (2019). Second-hand fashion market: Consumer role in circular economy. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 23(3), 382–395.
Yang, S., Song, Y., & Tong, S. (2017). Sustainable retailing in the fashion industry: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 9(7), 1266.

Keywords: Sustainability Practices Fashion Resale Businesses

BIO

My name is Maiqi Zhang, and I am from Gainesville. My research interests include topics in business and social studies. In the past two semesters, I've conducted research with Dr. Ally Zimmerman on the subject of Accounting. Our group focused on analyzing and finding factors that affect the success of FSU accounting alumni. In the future, we are considering potentially expanding our research to cover the outcomes of all FSU College of Business graduates. I am also a Sophomore. In my free time, I like to watch boxing. I've already written and published one article on the world's third most visited boxing website(boxingnews24.com). In my spare time, I am slowly working towards publishing more articles.

Factors That Lead FSU Accounting Alumni to Success

Abstract

The field of accounting is one of the most predominant areas in business. Since 1975, over ten thousand students have graduated from FSU with undergraduate or graduate degrees in accounting. Decades have passed, and accounting methods and fields have changed, but the factors that determine the outcomes of those FSU alumni have yet to be analyzed. In a study orchestrated by Dr. Aleksandra Zimmerman, researchers collected the background and career information on alumni who graduated in accounting through websites such as LinkedIn and from FSU’s university records. Utilizing the method of surveying, researchers also reached out to alumni with research questions regarding their gender, race, employment history, salaries, and other related and defining experiences. Following the survey results and various data collection, researchers utilized univariate tests and multivariate regression analysis to determine which factors are significant determinants of the career success of FSU accounting alumni. In terms of the study, success was loosely defined as having a higher salary, a higher position in a company or public accounting firm, and the opportunities to work internationally. Researchers found factors such as participation in college activities and being male to lead to a higher salary. Being female, utilizing alternative work arrangements and age led to lower salaries. Whether alumni spent their years in public accounting or not, salaries were not affected. However, those who spent more years in public were more likely to become a partner, and those who spent more years outside public accounting were more likely to become CFOs.

Keywords: Business, Accounting, Success

BIO

Paulina Adkins is a second-year student at Florida State University double majoring in Finance and Risk Management/Insurance. She has been conducting research under Dr. Zimmerman to evaluate which factors lead FSU accounting alumni to success. Paulina plans to continue researching alongside Dr. Zimmerman and stay active in UROP by becoming a leader next year. In addition to UROP, she is currently a member of Women in Business and the Financial Management Association as well as Vice President of Professional Development of Pi Sigma Epsilon.

Factors That Lead FSU Accounting Alumni to Success

Abstract

The field of accounting is one of the most predominant areas in business. Since 1975, over ten thousand students have graduated from FSU with undergraduate or graduate degrees in accounting. Decades have passed, and accounting methods and fields have changed, but the factors that determine the outcomes of those FSU alumni have yet to be analyzed. In a study orchestrated by Dr. Aleksandra Zimmerman, researchers collected the background and career information on alumni who graduated in accounting through websites such as LinkedIn and from FSU’s university records. Utilizing the method of surveying, researchers also reached out to alumni with research questions regarding their gender, race, employment history, salaries, and other related and defining experiences. Following the survey results and various data collection, researchers utilized univariate tests and multivariate regression analysis to determine which factors are significant determinants of the career success of FSU accounting alumni. In terms of the study, success was loosely defined as having a higher salary, a higher position in a company or public accounting firm, and the opportunities to work internationally. Researchers found factors such as participation in college activities and being male to lead to a higher salary. Being female, utilizing alternative work arrangements and age led to lower salaries. Whether alumni spent their years in public accounting or not, salaries were not affected. However, those who spent more years in public were more likely to become a partner, and those who spent more years outside public accounting were more likely to become CFOs.

Keywords: Business, Accounting, Success