The Covid-19 pandemic introduced society to the difficulty of preventing the spread of an airborne virus, requiring the usage of face masks. While face masks provided some protection against catching this deadly disease, they also impacted the communication of those who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing. The purpose of this study was to identify how face masks have impacted these populations specifically the impacts that different types of face masks had on acoustics, speech reading, sign language, vocal strain, and clarity of understanding of what is being said. In addition, this study gathered data on the emotional toll face masks created for participants trying to communicate throughout the pandemic. This is interfering with accommodations they routinely use in daily communication, such as lip-reading, creating feelings of greater disconnection from each other and the hearing world. This research was done as a mixed-method while using a Qualtrics survey. The participants that were recruited for this study were faculty/students from the University of Northern Colorado and their associates, eighteen years old and above. Results show significant impacts on the communication processes of participants in the study due to the use of face masks and emotional responses related to such impacts.

This current study focuses on examining social activism in the context of the current global pandemic as well as narratives surrounding social movements. The uprisings following the murder of George Floyd, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing social inequalities have played a role in the lives of those who have been affected. We sought to identify psycho-cultural predictors of social activism and thematically analyze personal narratives about racial and social justice. We conducted a longitudinal study with (n = 248) young adults ranging from 18 to 72 years of age. The participants completed quantitative measures of belief in a just world, social dominance, ethnic identity, and social activism. In addition, participants also responded to a qualitative open-ended question regarding their experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that belief in a just world, and social dominance will have negative associations with social activism and ethnic identity will have a positive association with activism. The study’s limitations and future directions for research will be explored. Keywords: Activism, Thematic analysis, Just world belief, Social dominance, Ethnic Identity, Covid-19, George Floyd, Racial unrest/uprising

Individuals’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines vary depending on the sources they obtain vaccine information from, regardless of accuracy. Despite COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in reducing the likelihood of hospitalization, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 90% of U.S. adults have been vaccinated for COVID-19 as of June 2022. In addition to factors related to the sources of misinformation individuals are exposed to, vaccine attitudes and behaviors are shaped by individuals’ socioeconomic backgrounds. Yet, little is known about whether individuals can identify misinformation based on perceived sources of COVID-19 vaccine information. This research study aims to fill this gap in the literature by identifying the extent to which different sources of COVID-19 vaccine information and misinformation influence individuals’ decision for acquiring COVID-19 vaccines. A sample of n=100 participants completed a 30 questions survey on Qualtrics to examine common misperception regarding COVID-19 vaccine side effects, as well as their understanding of irrefutable COVID-19 vaccine information. Research findings suggest that individuals are inclined to share information despite having no prior knowledge regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Findings suggest that health campaigns to correct the misinformation and provide accessible and reliable COVID-19 vaccine information are an effective intervention in delivering messages that are easy for individuals to understand the COVID-19 vaccine information. Therefore, individuals can make informative decisions in regards to receiving the COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

Defined as conspicuous consumption (O’Cass 2004), the consumption of material goods to establish one’s status has received plenty of attention by researchers (Corneo 1997; Phillips 2011; Chaudhuri 2011). While an ample amount of research has examined the relation between tangible goods and social status, little to no attention has been given to the COVID-19 vaccine as a status symbol. The current study investigates the relationship between conspicuous consumption habits, educational attainment and the timeline of when consumers received the COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 351 participants completed an online survey containing questions about conspicuous consumption and the COVID-19 vaccination timeline. Results indicate that consumers who scored above average in conspicuous consumption habits and higher than average in educational attainment pursued earlier access to the vaccine. However, it is noteworthy to consider that there is an interaction effect between conspicuous consumption and educational attainment. In this instance, it is possible that healthcare access--in particular the COVID-19 vaccine--can be used as a status symbol for those who are highly educated. This research has implications for a further understanding of conspicuous consumption beyond the traditional sense.