Social and Behavioral Science

THE GREEN VALLEY PROJECT: HOUSING VALUATION AND RACE IN AN HISTORIC ARLINGTON COMMUNITY

Themes Urban Studies, Gentrification, Property Values. Race/Racism
Faculty Member Dr. Delario Lindsey
Academic School
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description This proposal represents part of an ongoing research project in the Sociology program aimed at understanding the forces that shape community change in the DMV overall, and more specifically, in historically African-American communities. The historically African-American community of Green Valley (in Arlington) has faced significant demographic change due in part to gentrification pressures impacting the area over the past 25 years. We explore the proposition that gentrification in Green Valley has been influenced by a racialized structuring of property values. This suggests that, all else being equal, property values vary based on the racial demographics of neighborhoods. Properties in predominantly White areas tend to be valued higher than those in mixed or predominantly non-White communities, reflecting a structural bias based on race. This mixed-method study aims to compare changes in real estate values in and around the Green Valley community as it experienced significant demographic change due to various gentrification pressures. Our findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal publication and presented at various national and international conferences.
Remote Participation? Yes
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CHILD TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT ACQUISITION

Themes Forensic and Legal Psychology, Testimony, Child Abuse, Communication
Faculty Member Dr. Ella Merriwether
Academic School
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description When a child is abused, their testimony is often the only piece of evidence presented at trial (Meyers, 1989). Judges and attorneys ask children a barrage of questions about when the crime took place, who was involved, and how the abuse unfolded (Cross & Whitcomb, 2017; Meyers, 2010; Sullivan, 2022). Unfortunately, between children’s developing memory and linguistic abilities and attorney’s need to obtain specific legal information, miscommunications regularly occur (Fenson et al., 2020; Friedman, 1993; Merriwether et al., 2023; Rhodes & Brandone, 2014). Therefore, it is important that researchers examine current questioning strategies to identify potential zone of miscommunication. The Merriwether Lab is working to obtain court transcripts of children’s testimony within the Mid-Atlantic region.Findings from subsequent studies will be disseminated at regional (e.g., VAPS), national (e.g., AP-LS, SRCD), and/or international (e.g., SARMAC) conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Psychology, Public Policy and Law; Law and Human Behavior, Child Maltreatment). Responsibilities will include identifying potential cases using Nexis Uni, filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, locating and following up with county-level court contacts, and reformatting transcripts into a spreadsheet. Undergraduate and graduate students with and without lab experience are invited to apply. Training will be provided.
Remote Participation? Yes
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EFFICIENCY OF WILDLIFE CRIME ENFORCEMENT

Themes Criminology, Data Science,
Faculty Member Dr. Erik Alda
Academic School
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description This project will examine the efficiency of wildlife crime enforcement using frontier methods, including Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Wildlife crimes, driven by the illegal trade in endangered species, threaten biodiversity and the sustainability of ecosystems globally. Despite significant resources allocated to combating these crimes, enforcement agencies face challenges such as limited funding, manpower, and evolving criminal networks.
The purpose of this research is to assess how efficiently these agencies utilize their available resources to detect, prosecute, and deter wildlife crime. Using frontier methods will help identify performance gaps and best practices, offering insights into operational improvements.
Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal publication and presentations at international conferences.
Remote Participation? Yes
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PROJECT 1: EXAMINING WHERE CISGENDER ALLY VOICES AREN’T NEEDED

PROJECT 2: EXAMINING WHAT DISQUALIFIES SOMEONE AS AN ALLY

Themes Allyship, LGBTQ, Minority Populations, Data Analysis
Faculty Member Hannah Snidman
Academic School
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Title Project #1

Examining Where Cisgender Ally Voices Aren’t Needed
Description Project #1 Minority stress theory states that individuals with a minority identity experience additional stressors that lead to worse health outcomes. Allyship has been proposed as a buffer to minority stress. The purpose of this study is to help cisgender allies be the best allies possible to the community they are striving to help. Allies may unintentionally insert their voices in spaces or situations where they are not needed. To determine if this is happening, I asked transgender and nonbinary individuals where this was happening, so I can inform cisgender allies when it’s time to be quiet and listen. The specific research question to be addressed is, where are cisgender ally voices not needed? This question will be answered through analyzing responses by transgender and nonbinary participants to the survey question, “Please identify times where cisgender ally voices aren’t needed and why”. I plan to disseminate the work by mentoring an undergraduate student on how to use the grounded theory technique to analyze participant responses. Specifically, we will engage in line-by-line coding, axial coding, and selective coding to allow themes to rise from the data. We will also use grounded theory best practices by revisiting participant responses and writing memos.
Title Project #2 Examining What Disqualifies Someone as an Ally
Description Project #2 Minority stress theory states that individuals with a minority identity experience additional stressors that lead to worse health outcomes. Allyship has been proposed as a buffer to minority stress. The purpose of this study is to help cisgender allies be the best allies possible to the community they are striving to help. Allies may think they are doing a wonderful job, and do not realize that members of the transgender and nonbinary community do not consider them an ally. The specific research question to be addressed is, what makes someone disqualify as an ally? This question will be answered through analyzing responses by transgender and nonbinary participants to the survey question, “Think of someone who says they are an ally (such as a family member or coworker), but you do not consider them one. What actions, behaviors, thinking and words have they done and said (or not done and said) that does not make them an ally?” I plan to disseminate the work by mentoring an undergraduate student on how to use the grounded theory technique to analyze participant responses. We will engage in line-by-line coding, axial coding, and selective coding to allow themes to rise from the data.
Remote Participation? Yes
Contact Information hsnidman@marymount.edu

ATTITUDES REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AMONG SALVADORAN YOUTH

Themes Mental Health, Latino Youth
Faculty Member Dr. Linda McKenna Gulyn
Academic School
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
I have been invited by the Universidad Católica de El Salvador this Summer 2025 to study attitudes held by young people in El Salvador regarding mental health. The Universidad Católica intends to initiate a program of study to educate students in psychology and mental health, and I will assist them with this. While I am in El Salvador, I will administer a survey to a sample of young people specifically addressing beliefs, stigma and knowledge regarding mental health. This research is intended to help the Universidad Católica de El Salvador establish a program of studies to prepare students to work as mental health professionals. I will administer the same survey to Salvadoran young people living here in the US, in order to detect influences of US culture specifically around mental health.
I need a Marymount-based assistant with an interest in the subject, as well as a background in social research to help me develop the survey, administer it to a sample here in the US, and analyze the results. This project has the potential to reveal and overcome barriers to access to mental health services, specifically among Latinos.
Remote Participation? Yes
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SCREEN TIME AND SUPPORTING CHARACTERS ON TELEVISION CRIME DRAMAS

Themes Criminology, Behavioral Science
Faculty Member Dr. Sarah Fischer
Academic School
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description This project uses content analysis of television crime dramas to determine how “minor” (i.e., not the lead characters) in criminal justice crime dramas (Law & Order, CSI) are portrayed in terms of their age, sex, religion, race, and the jobs they hold. In performing this analysis, students will watch Law & Order and CSI and use forms and notes to record notes about each character, the tasks the character performs, if the characters speak, and how long the characters speak. Students will also compare, in writing, aggregate data from the content analysis to data on actual workforce demographics in the United States. This analysis will be preceded by a literature review on this topic, which the student will collaborate in building.
Remote Participation? Yes
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BUILDING TRUST AND BRIDGING GAPS: INVESTIGATING REPORTING MECHANISMS IN GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HEALTH RESEARCH WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES

Themes Communication, Psychology, Data Collection, Minority Populations,
Faculty Member Dr. Shoaa Almalki
Academic School
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
Government-funded health research shapes public health policy but often struggles to build trust in marginalized communities, particularly among Black and Hispanic populations. Historical instances of unethical research have fueled skepticism, limiting participation in critical health initiatives. This study examines how reporting mechanisms in a government-funded health initiative in Central Texas influence participants’ perceptions of data collection and handling. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, semi-structured interviews will explore participant experiences and recommendations for improving transparency.
The study is guided by the following research questions:
RQ1: How do reporting strategies in government-funded research initiatives in Central Texas influence participants’ perceptions of the data collection process?
RQ2: What improvements in reporting methods do participants suggest to enhance trust and comfort in data handling?
By identifying barriers in current reporting methods and gathering participant-led recommendations, this study aims to improve ethical best practices in data reporting. Findings will promote transparency, inclusivity, and trust in health research. Results will be disseminated through academic conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and community engagement initiatives to ensure accessibility to both scholarly and public audiences.
Remote Participation? Yes
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