Student Research

page updated: 1 May, 2008

 

Honors Theses Directed:

  1. "Bias and Storytelling in Models of Human Evolution" (Vanessa Dailey, Interdisciplinary Humanities, 1999)
  2. "For the Well-Being of the Nation: The Utilitarian Justification of Eugenics in Germany and the United States" (Michelle Novak, Interdisciplinary Humanities, 2000)
  3. "The Nature of Scientific Debate in Paleoanthropology: An Examination of Bias in the Homo ergaster Debate" (Cory Larson, History, 2000)
  4. “The Effect of Preconceptions upon Scientific and Creationist Conclusions about Neandertal Fossils” (Todd Geist, Anthropology, 2002)
  5. “Evolution and Pre-medical Preparation at ASU” (North Noelck, Biology, 2004)
  6. “Effect of Written Materials on Doctor/Patient Communication” (Danielle Germain, Biology, 2004)
  7. “Moral and Ethical Issues Surrounding Xenotransplantation and Fetal Stem Cells” (Joshua Kolsrud, Philosophy, 2004)
  8. “Colonialism and Human Origins Research in East Africa” (Emily Goble, Anthropology, 2004)
  9. “A Computer Module for Teaching Critical Thinking in Relation to Diabetes Care” (Minal Ahmad, Psychology, 2005)
  10. “Arab-American Identity: A Historical Perspective” (Dianne Elsheik, Anthropology, 2005)
  11. "Teaching the 'Controversy:' Intelligent Design and K-12 Science Education" (Jennifer Minneci, Biology & Society, 2006)
  12. "A Philosophical Examination of the Potential Impact of Biology on the Law" (Jeremy Greenberg, Philosophy, 2006)
  13. "Of Reporters and People: An Analysis of Media Coverage of Kitzmiller v Dover " (Mike Price, Communications, 2006)
  14. "Revolution or Renovation? Evaluating the Novelty of Evidence-Based Medicine and Evidence-Based Nursing " (Leslie Padros, Biology & Society, 2007)
  15. "Darwinian Themes in Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion" (Matthew Parker, English, 2007)
  16. "Factors affecting the incidence of left/right posterior plagiocephally in new-borns." (Jessica Joganic, Anthropology, 2008)

I have also been thesis reader on a diverse range of topics including; "Infertility, Disease, and Modern Medicine: Miracle Cures or Means to an End?" (Shane Daley, 2000), "Lost in No Man's Land: History and Analysis of US Wetlands Policy" (Brian Lutz, 2002), “A Trial: A Play about AIDS in South Africa” (Julie Storey, 2003), “Helen Longino’s Social Epistemology & Eugenics: A Case Study” (Alan Fortuna, 2004). “Evolved Cognitive Modules and Their Possible Mismatch to Current Adaptive Events” (Scott Greene, 2005)

Graduate Theses/Dissertations Directed

  1. Peter A. Schmidt, jr. "The History of Atomic Power and the Rise of the American Comic Book Superhero" (MA, Interdisciplinary Humanities, 2002)
  2. Heather Lundine "Religious Tropes in American Popular Culture" (MA, Interdisciplinary Humanities, 2003)
  3. Jennifer Minneci, "Baraminology: A New 'Kind' of Systematics? " (MA, Biology & Society, ongoing)

Other Graduate Committee Service

  1. David Passiak "The Life of David Brainerd and the Politics and Poetics of Memory"  (MA, Religious Studies, 2001)
  2. Claudia Bachman "Design Failure: Intelligent Design Theory and Darwinian Theory" (MA, Philosophy, 2001)
  3. Julie Homchick  “An analysis of Charles Darwin’s Origin and its reinterpretations as represented in selected works of George Eliot” (MA, Interdisciplinary Humanities, 2005)
  4. Lydia Pyne “Shadows in the Cave:  An Intellectual History of Klasies River Mouth” (PhD, History and Philosophy of Science, ongoing)