describes research done by Spark students at College of Applied Health Sciences

1. Voice Intensity Changes in Artificial
Acoustics
• The purpose of this study was to
measure the affect of reverberation
time, gain, and noise on the amount of
vocal intensity and effort dispensed on
speaking
• We collected our own data through an
experiment
• We are finished collecting and
measuring the data, so we are currently
moved on to analyzing it.
• I aided in collecting the data during the
experiment, measuring and inputting
the data using adobe reader and
working on a literature review as well.
Ella Marzolf
SPARK student
Dr. Pasquale Bottalico / Tomas Sierra
SPARK mentors

2. Jack Guo
SPARK student
Dr. Mejia Shannon
SPARK mentor
Daily Balance Project
• This project aims to find the
perceived balance vs. objective
balance among older adults.
• The project was self-assessment
based and participant do a daily
survey and steady test for 30
days. Followed by a interview
telling their feelings and data.
• The study is now mainly in data-
collecting and data analyzing
process for different participant.
• I contributed in the process of
orientation test, transcription,
and data collection.

3. Tinnitus and Brain Imaging
• The purpose of this study is to understand
tinnitus on a neurological basis as well as
other illnesses associated with tinnitus and
hearing loss.
• This study involved conducting experiments
on participants who have tinnitus. I assisted
in this by creating and handing out flyers to
attract such people.
• Members of the lab analyzed results from
MRI imaging data, surveys, etc. from people
with hearing loss or tinnitus.
• Additionally, I helped conduct literature
searches on tinnitus, misophonia, and
related topics while also checking on
references to manuscripts.
Anna Murawski
SPARK student
Dr. Husain
SPARK mentor

4. PETE Faculty Database
Chloe Walsh
SPARK student
Dr. K. Andrew R. Richards
SPARK mentor
• The purpose of this study is to better understand
the workplace of physical education teacher
education faculty members working at U.S.
institutions of higher education. The study will
provide initial insight into factors that influence
PETE faculty members’ work, including job stress
and burnout, as well as factors such as resilience
that help prevent the onset of these negative
consequences.
• This is a mixed methods study. Qualitative data was
collected through 45-minute phone interviews.
Quantitative data was collected through Qualtrics
surveys.
• Data collection started in Fall 2019 and ended in
Spring 2020. Qualitative data analysis will begin in
Summer 2020.
• I reviewed literature to understand the purpose of
the database, updated and managed the database
through online data collection, helped assemble
700 mailing documents, and entered surveys into
Qualtrics.

5. McKenzie Freeman
SPARK student
Dr. Pamela Hadley
SPARK mentor
Early Identification and Intervention for
Developmental Language Disorder
• The first project I worked on was “When to
Worry about Language”
• The purpose of this study is to improve the
identification of preschool children with
developmental language disorders.
• I am now working on a clinical trial of a blended
intervention called “Enhanced Milieu Teaching –
Sentence Focus” or EMT-SF.
• The EMT-SF intervention targets the growth
of vocabulary and grammar to determine
the effectiveness of the intervention from
30 to 48 months of age.
• Both projects are currently in the data collection
phase. My primary role is to transcribe
conversations between parents or examiners
and the toddlers taking part in the study.

6. The Role of Extended High Frequency
in Children’s Speech-in-Speech
Recognition
•This study explores how well children (5-17 yrs) are able to utilize extended
high frequency (EHF) energy when understanding speech in noisy
environments.
•We tested participants' recognition of sentences in a 2-talker masker. Because
head orientation plays an important role in EHF energy emission, we tested the
maskers at 45 and 60 degrees relative to the target speaker.
•We are currently in the process of collecting data for the study.
•I administered hearing screenings and consenting procedures with participants
in the study. I also assisted with collecting data during sessions using Matlab.
Amber Dorn
SPARK student
Dr. Mary Flaherty, Ph. D.
SPARK mentor

7. Sarah Pechtl
SPARK student
Dr. Channell
SPARK mentor
Spoken Language Development in
Down Syndrome (DS)
• Aim: Examine use of emotional language by
children with DS during storytelling.
• Method: Children with DS told stories from a
picture book and completed other language,
cognitive, and social–emotional tasks.
• Current Status: Processing data from control
group of typically developing children with a
similar developmental level.
• My Role: Learned how to transcribe
participants’ language samples using SALT, a
computer software program.
• Next Steps: Analyze the transcripts for story
content.

8. The Role of Assistive Devices on Worry about
Falling and Leisure Self-Efficacy among Older
Adults
• This study compared users and non-users of assistive
devices on perceived worry about falling, balance
confidence, perceived health, and leisure self-
efficacy.
• In this intervention study, the treatment group
participated in the six week N Balance Program, and
the control group did not. Participants in both groups
engaged in a baseline survey and physical
assessment and a follow-up survey and assessment
after six weeks.
• In this study, users of assistive devices reported
lower balance confidence and were more worried
about falling. This study concluded that users of
assistive devices could benefit from participating in a
balance training program.
• I assisted with data analysis using SPSS software and
worked with the survey and data to develop a
research question. I also contributed to writing and
presenting the poster of the study’s findings in the
Undergraduate Research Symposium with Carla
Ortiz.
Josette Orlevitch
SPARK student
Dr. Laura Payne and Jaesung An
SPARK mentors

9. Central Mechanisms Mediating Fall
Risk in Older Adults
• This study aims to understand the
mechanisms causing changes in postural
control due to fall-related anxiety
• This study is using participant testing to
record neural, physiological and
behavioral data in a virtual reality
environment
• We are completing data collection and
beginning data analysis
• I assisted with data collection in the lab
which included set up and clean up of
equipment, as well as recording data. I
also assisted with initial data processing
and writing bibliographies on various
research studies
Lauren Penick
SPARK student
Dr. Manuel Hernandez
SPARK mentor

10. Kaushik Perkari
SPARK student
Dr. Woolf
SPARK mentor
Purpose: To see how professional
fighters conceptualize the boundaries
of acceptable drug use
Methods:
• Used qualitative analysis
• Analyzed many interviews of athletes
• Used software called Nvivo
• Looked at the psychology and reasoning
of athletes and related communities
Contribution:
• Did a thorough analysis of data and
mapped out key concepts
• Helped coordinate a template for a
publishable paper.
• Helping to write and publish a paper

11. Human Robot Interaction
• Objective of research on the HRI team
• Understand older adult’s acceptance of robotics
• Develop robots
• Help people age in their own home for longer
• Methods I performed
• Literature Review
• Data collection/analysis
• Pilot testing
• Subject matter expert
• Presentation creation
• The team is moving forward to help
develop more robots
• I will continue to help in anyway possible
• My contributions
• Graphs of data
• Help collecting references
• Included as an author for a Manuscript
Carson Smith
SPARK student
Dr. Wendy Rogers
Dr. Travis Kadylak
SPARK mentors

13. Aging and Health Policy Lab
• Initially, I looked at the
interviews describing the use of
medical marijuana by caregivers
as well as those they care for.
• I completed literature reviews
looking at marijuana use in the
workplaces as well as for
veterans.
• We are gathering literature for
multiple projects and will be
using the information in
upcoming papers.
Kate Green
SPARK student
Dr. Julie Bobitt
SPARK mentor

15. Differences Between the Perception
and Production of Sung Melodies
• This study investigates whether an
individual’s use of perception to aid vocal
productions extends to productions that do
not involve their own vocal tract
• Data was collected from ten normal hearing
listeners who completed three tasks:
• Recreating “Happy Birthday” by
manipulating recorded voices
• Judging the accuracy of “Happy Birthday”
• Singing ”Happy Birthday”
• We are working on a manuscript based on
this study for publication in journals
• During the research process, I assisted by
conducting audiograms on and testing
participants
• I also assisted in writing the manuscript and
reviewing relevant articles
Chloe Maghinang
SPARK student
Prof. Justin Aronoff
SPARK mentor

16. Young Adults’ Sexual Attitudes in
Tourism vs. Everyday Life
• This study investigates young adults’ sexual
attitudes (i.e., permissiveness, communion,
instrumentality, and birth control) in
tourism versus everyday life.
• We used online and intercept survey
methods to collect data from 254 young
adults (146 women and 107 men).
• We reviewed academic literature,
developed research design, collected and
analyzed data, and made conclusions.
• I assisted with collecting surveys (both
face-to-face and online), reviewing
literature, coding and cleaning the data,
and preparing a poster for the
Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Alexandra Trekas
SPARK student
Hwayong Son
Liza Berdychevsky, Ph.D.
SPARK mentors

17. Patrick Lynott
SPARK student
Dr. Nicholas Burd
SPARK mentor
CUMLATIVE MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHETIC RESPONSES TO
INCREASED DIETARY PROTEIN INTAKE DURING RESISTANCE
TRAINING IN MIDDLE AGED ADULTS
• The purpose of the study was to essentially measure
the effect that increased protein intake has on
resistance training-induced changes in muscle
protein synthetic rates.
• We tested 20 healthy middle-aged men and women
who had been participating in a sedentary lifestyle
for at least a year, meaning that they had not been
involved in a consistent resistance exercise routine.
• Participants ingested daily boluses of deuterated
water (D2O), heavy water, during the resistance
training program to measure daily rates of muscle
protein synthesis.
• We are currently in the data analysis stage of the
process.
• To contribute, I found multiple papers to help us
understand how the D2O method works for us to
apply it to our study. Additionally, I helped to analyze
both the collected blood and muscle biopsies of the
participants.

18. Power of the Point: Predictors of Early
Language Development in Down
Syndrome
• This study analyzes early predictors of language
development- such as eye gaze, gestures, and
social skills- in children with Down Syndrome.
• Developmental and cognitive abilities are
studied through play, evaluated using
assessments such as the Mullen Scales of Early
Learning, and observed through mother-child
interactions.
• The study is currently collecting data from
participants and analyzing video recordings of
participants who were already assessed.
• I assisted with filing data, cleaning toys, and
scoring some assessments.
• I also reviewed research articles about Down
Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome and learned
about the various evaluations used in studying
them.
Meghan Gibbons
SPARK student
Dr. Laura Hahn
SPARK mentor

19. Sport for Development
Erin Young
SPARK student
Dr. Jon Welty Peachey
SPARK mentor
• Purpose: To examine why Sport for
Development (SFD) organizations utilize a
specific sport to target the outcome(s) they
are trying to achieve.
• Activities and methods used in this study
include the following:
• Reviewing literature, researching various SFD
organizations, making a list of individuals to
contact, filling out and submitting an IRB, and
collecting data by conducting interviews.
• Currently, I am working on collecting data. I
have a group of individuals involved in
several SFD organizations that I am
contacting and will be interviewing in order
to collect the data I need to make
conclusions.
• I did the literature review, conducted
research on the SFD programs, constructed
the contact list, completed the IRB, and will
now be conducting the interviews. Later, I
will transcribe the interviews and then we
will analyze the data.

20. Jesus Rodriguez
SPARK student
Dr. Kimberly Shinew
SPARK mentor
Green gentrification and its impacts
on the health and well-being: An
environmental justice study
• We are examining the use, perceptions,
and health benefits of the 606 Trail for
residents of affordable housing units
near the trail.
• We have created a survey for the
residents and will be using these results
for our study
• The study is currently in the data
collection stage of the research process
• My work in the study included
facilitating the completion of and
collection of the surveys

21. Effect of Water Intake on Cognitive
Flexibility in Children
• The study was one that explored how
water intake effects the different
aspects of cognitive function in
children
• Worked with Dr. Khan and other
graduate students like Mr. Nate
Willis to...
• Write a research article targeted
towards children to understand
(based on Dr. Khan's water intake
and cognitive flexibility study)
• Learn my way around a nutrition
lab
• Properly analyze research studies
Kavin Lavari
SPARK student
Dr. Naiman Khan
SPARK mentor

22. Auditory Neurodevelopment of
Preterm Infants
• The research purpose is to develop
interventions to improve auditory experience
for preterm infants and to promote healthy
auditory brain development
• LENA devices make recordings of auditory
environments experienced by preterm infants
in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and
full-term infants while in utero
• The study is currently collecting data using
LENA devices with infants in the NICU and
pregnant mothers. Additionally, infant auditory
brainstem response (ABRs) are collected at age
3 months assess auditory brain development
• I have contributed to the team by collecting
LENA devices with team members, observing
consent meetings with mothers, and compiling
gift bags for new mothers
Lauren Vicencio
SPARK student
Dr. Brian B. Monson
SPARK mentor