Elon students had an opportunity to share their research with peers and faculty members April 6 during the 12th annual Student Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF). Details...
More than 100 students presented posters, PowerPoint presentations and experiments representing a variety of academic disciplines, ranging from science and math to performing arts and literature. In addition to introducing students to scholarly research work, SURF gives students the opportunity to have their findings presented at national conferences and published in academic journals.
Lindsey Guice gave a presentation about the level of civic engagement by citizens in North Carolina. Guice, working with Professor George Taylor in the political science department, analyzed data from a recent Elon University Poll to gauge how actively citizens are engaged in their local communities. Guice defined civic engagement as activities such as contacting local political officials, talking politics with others or attending a meeting of a local governing body. She tested these against three independent variables: voter registration, age and income.
Although she found that those who are registered to vote are more likely to contact local government officials, she concluded there is a need for further research on the subject. Guice said she was surprised to find no correlation between membership in an organization and her three independent variables.
Annette Randall’s communications research focused on the tremendous brand loyalty of NASCAR fans. She conducted a survey of fans to examine their level of brand loyalty to particular products, and the possible reasons for it.
Randall found that 59 percent of the people who responded to the survey had purchased a product because it was associated with NASCAR. Her research also revealed that the longer a person identifies themselves as a NASCAR fan, the higher their brand loyalty is.
Randall said this tremendous loyalty can be attributed to the fans’ desire to support their favorite driver or team.
“In NASCAR, the pits are open to the spectators,” said Randall. “That would be the same as fans being on the sidelines during an NFL game, which you don’t see. The fans are able to meet their favorite drivers and see what they do up close, and this helps build that loyalty.”
For his research project, “Aids in the Media: Are Journalists Covering the Right Angles?” Adam Smith interviewed 20 people whose work with AIDS/HIV in some capacity, such as activists and case managers. The people Smith interviewed identified several problem areas in the media including sensationalism, a reduction in news coverage on the topic over time and a lack of attention to the subject in pop culture. His research also indicated that although the subject has been covered for two decades, the media still has a vital role to play in education and prevention. “A lot of people think it’s not their problem — that it’s not something they have to worry about. So you have to say yes, it is something you have to worry about,” Smith explained.
Greg Halstead’s research, “The Short-Run Economic Impact of Elon University,” was inspired by the idea that higher education improves society. After reviewing similar studies by Duke and Longwood universities, Halstead set out to examine the economic activity that is coming into the local area by collecting employee, student, visitor and institutional spending data. He looked at the effect that the university is having on Alamance County and three surrounding counties. Although his research is still ongoing, Halstead has found that the university does have an impact on local businesses and nonprofit organizations that enlist the help of student volunteers. “Elon is a positive stimulus to the local economy,” Halstead said.
Many students presented their work during a poster session Tuesday afternoon in the Koury Center concourse, held in conjunction with a special College Coffee. The opening of an exhibition, “African Art at Elon,” followed the poster presentations, before students, faculty mentors moderators and invited guests attended a banquet Tuesday evening to close out the day.
For more information about the SURF program, visit the link below: