Today is the last day for URCAD 25!

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Examining Photovoice as a Participatory Action Methodology

Mahitha Vijily Saya, Allison Stein, Elaina McWilliams, Naqiya Ghulamali, Sachi Sheth
Mentor: Bronwyn Hunter, Psychology

Photovoice is a participatory research method that aims for participant and community engagement and empowerment. The method involves participants taking photographs relating to their lived experiences, often relating to social problems, and then displaying these photographs at public exhibitions to promote broader awareness and social change (Wang & Redwood-Jones, 2001). Although many studies report using this method as a form of participatory research, there may be wide variation in how, when, and to what extent researchers engage in partnerships with individuals who are not affiliated with academia. From a larger systematic review of studies using participatory research methodologies, we selected the 27 articles that mentioned photovoice in their title or abstract. Our research examined whether and how researchers partook in power sharing, identity and culture acknowledgment, and resource exchange throughout the six phases of research. We anticipated that photovoice is most collaborative during data collection and analysis phases of research. We hope this study will encourage researchers using photovoice to reflect on and enhance their use of participatory methods across the stages of research.

Only three days left to check out the amazing URCAD presentations!

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Comparing Fish And Crustacean Species on Harvested Vs. Non-Harvested Oyster Reefs

Aiman Raza
Mentors: Matthew Ogburn, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Allison Tracy, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center 

Oysters support one of the largest and most important fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay. They provide many ecological services such as water filtration, denitrification, and habitat for other species. However, due to issues such as habitat degradation, disease-causing parasites, and over-harvesting, the number of oysters in the bay has significantly decreased. I am interested in seeing how protecting oyster reefs affect other species that live around them, specifically fish and crustaceans. To answer this question, I analyzed GoPro footage of oyster reefs from three tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay: the James, Great Wicomico, and Choptank Rivers. Each tributary had one reef that was actively harvested and a neighboring reef where harvesting was prohibited. I watched each video and recorded the number and type of fish and crustaceans that I saw and tried to identify each to the species level. I found that there was a higher abundance of fish and crustaceans on protected reefs compared to harvested reefs, as well as higher diversity on protected reefs. This study provides evidence that fish and crustacean species benefit from creating no-harvesting areas and highlights the importance of oyster reefs for healthy ecosystems.

This work was funded, in part, by the Chesapeake Research Consortium’s C-StREAM program.

• Aiman Raza | Comparing Fish and Crustacean Species on Harvested Vs. Non-Harvested Oyster Reefs | Mentors: Matthew Ogburn and Allison Tracy | Smithsonian Environmental Research Center 

Decriminalizing (and Re-Humanizing) the ‘Squeegee Kid’

Sydney Fryer
Mentor: Dena Aufseeser, Geography and Environmental Systems

Squeegee Kids are young people between the ages of 10-25 that clean windshields in Baltimore city for a small fee. Their informal but infamous work has been seen as entrepreneurial, hazardous, or criminal over the years. This project uses discourse analysis to analyze and understand the dangerous rhetoric often used to describe these young people and the historical racism that has led to this rhetoric. It also seeks to allow these young people a chance to redefine themselves through a series of interviews. This is all in the hope that, through a more humanizing approach to understanding these ‘Squeegee Kids’, their work, and the reason for it, there can be a more humane discussion around their place in Baltimore city.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

https://umbc.voicethread.com/myvoice/thread/17403608

Visit URCAD now through Sunday:

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“Flexing” Anything But Muscles: An Analysis Of Social Media Trends And Conspicuous Consumption

Fatimah Shaalan
Mentor: Liz Stanwyck, Mathematics and Statistics

In this era, there is an ever-growing importance for both consumers and brands to understand social media’s influence on conspicuous consumption. Conspicuous consumption often comes in the form of purchasing luxury goods to elevate social-class status or represent a social identity. Today’s internet-users are constantly being bombarded with advertisements. Internet trends pertaining to products and brands often serve as unintentional advertisements driven by consumers. Such advertisements are likely to increase conspicuous consumption. I discuss previous research to better understand how users perceive online advertisements and how brands approach online advertising. These formal online advertisements tend to occur from “social media influencers” or directly on websites. Then I discuss results of a regression analysis of the influence of popular culture on randomly selected companies from Twitter “trending topics”.

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Now through Sunday!

How are power dynamics and the safety of actors navigated in a healthy way when performing intimate scenes? Caitlyn Hooper analyzes the impact of intimacy direction in theater and its impact on power dynamics. The 22^nd volume of the UMBC Review: Journal of Undergraduate Research premieres today! Download your electronic copy here:

https://ur.umbc.edu/umbc-review/

And be sure to check out Caitlyn's URCAD presentation on this topic, now through Sunday, April 25th: URCAD.umbc.edu