b'Exploring the Factors that Affect Rates of Globalization across NationsAlejandro A. BricenoSponsor: Dr. James LaPlant, Department of Political ScienceThis quantitative study explores the research question What factors predict the level of globalization across nations?. The independent variables used in this study are level of transparency, per capita GDP, population density, human development index scores, level of income inequality, and freedom index scores. The dependent variable used in this study is the scores of globalizations. A correlation analysis, six scatter-plots and two ANOVAs examine the relationship between the dependent and the independent variables. The correlation and scatter-plot analyses discovered that the income inequality rate was a statistically significant negative predictor, while the level of transparency, per capita GDP, population density, human development index scores and freedom index scores were positive indicators. The ANOVA studied the relationships between particular regions and sub-regions of the world with the dependent variable and found that some areas of the world have higher scores over othersOpioids in the United States: What Factors Influence the Opioid Death Rate among U.S. Counties?Jessie E. KalinowskiSponsor: Dr. Bernard Tamas, Department of Political ScienceMore people died from opioid-related causes in 2016 than from car accidents or gun homicides combined.Many believe that the prescription rate of opioids is the driving factor for the devasting number of deaths in this country, but I believe the main factor driving opioid deaths has more to do with mental distress than anything else.This theory was tested by compiling data from 3,102 counties in the United States with 16 variables collected for each county.This research discovered, that although the prescription rate was significant and had a positive relationship with the opioid death rate, most of the opioid deaths occur in counties with lower prescription rates.It was also discovered that that Americans with no health insurance are less likely to die of an opioid overdose.The age group (24-44) was the most significant age group at the county level affected by this epidemic.This research indicates that more opioid deaths occur in counties where there are fewer substance abuse treatment facilities.And finally, the most significant variable in the multiple regression analysis of the data was mental distress, confirming, based on this research, that mental distress does influence the opioid death rate substantially.85'