AP Capstone Program

List of 7 items.

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  Maia Alvarez '21

  A varsity tennis player, Maia has explored children’s cognitive development through her internship with a pediatric neurologist. She also pursues her passion for culture through her travels to 32 countries and her tenure as president of the French Club and leader of a French class for elementary students.
  
  Past research includes: The Illusion of War: The Dangers of War Toys in Children’s Pretend Play; Tetris: A Supplementary Treatment Option for Adults with PTSD
  
  Culminating research project: The Effect of Parenting Styles on Academic Work Ethic
  
  Synopsis: Parents are the most influential influences on their children. A parent’s form of parenting through their actions is called their parenting style, which is distributed in four groups: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved. Although parenting style has been seen to affect several aspects, such as academic achievement and cognitive development, little is known on parenting style’s effect on work ethic in an academic setting concerning adolescents.
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  Ashley Arango '21

  A dedicated track athlete for the past four years, Ashley explores her interest in psychology through her research in AP Capstone and plans on pursuing industrial-organizational psychology upon graduation.
  
  Past research includes: Social Anxiety in School: The Need for Special Accommodations
  
  Culminating research project: The Relationship Between Social Media and Emotional Intelligence
  
  Synopsis: In this research, a correlational study between the amount of time spent on social media (screen time) and the Emotional Intelligence (EQ) of teenagers between the ages of 14-18 was conducted. EQ was broken down into four quadrants: social awareness, self-management, relationship management, and self-awareness. The study found a statistically significant relationship between screen time and EQ as well as screen time and relationship management.
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  Leila Barket '22

  A committed student-athlete, Leila has earned internships at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for nutrition and diet as well as Baptist Hospital for orthopedic surgery. She uses her experience coupled with her interest in psychology to study mental health issues.
  
  

  Past research projects include: The Need for Virtual Reality Therapy as a Required Resource for Veterans with PTSD; Reimagining Family-Based Therapy: The Need for Virtual Reality Therapy for Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa
  
  Culminating research project: The Relationship between a Coaches’ Communication and their Athlete’s Self-Conceptual and Motivational Response
  
  Synopsis: This research aimed to study high school football and wrestling coach’s communication toward their athletes and how it effects their motivation and Athletic Self-Concept (ASC). Communication was qualified through content analysis of responses to hypothetical situations and grouped into four perceived mechanisms: Internal locus of control, Avoidant, Closeness, and Accountability. This study found that football coaches statistically exhibit the “Closeness” mechanism while wrestling coaches exhibit “Accountability.” Despite the differences in communication styles of the coaches, there were no differences in different athletes’ motivation and ASC.
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  Elizabeth Dolan '21

  A committed singer and member of the Robotics Club, Elizabeth works with foster children through the Made with Love Foundation.
  
  Past research includes: The Need for eSports in High School Education
  
  Culminating research project: Developmental Differences in Gender-Specific Spatial Skills
  
  Synopsis: In the field of gender studies, psychologists often argue if men and women are psychologically different because of their environments, such as gender stereotyping, or if the differences are causes from inherent neurological variations each gender holds. This research aimed to clarify this dispute and tested how gender-specific spatial skills vary in different age groups.

   
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  Kayla Dumas '21

  Kayla is the founder and leader of the Cafecito Organization, a group that organizes mission trips to Fundación Red de Miscericordia orphanage in Dominican Republic. She pursues both her passion for early childhood education in her research but has also studied Alzheimer’s Disease, research that has earned her a silver medal in the Science Fair.
  
  Past research includes: The Call for the Prohibition of Sibling Separation in the U.S. Foster Care System
  
  Culminating research project: The Effect Attending Preschool has on Children’s Academic Self-Concept and Long-term Academic Success
  
  Synopsis: The purpose of this study was to assess whether the academic feedback children received in preschool had a positive impact on the child's Academic Self-Concept (ASC) and long-term academic success. The study’s results showed that the elementary students who went to preschool demonstrated significantly higher ASCs and higher letter grades throughout elementary, and that preschool teachers were more likely to give their students growth mindset-based feedback.
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  Andrea Escobio '21

  Student Council representative for three years running, Andrea competes as the ninth ranked soccer player in the state of Florida and one of the top 150 soccer players in the nation. She uses this experience and perspective to drive her research concerning student-athletes.
  
  Past research includes: The Call for the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to Regulate Social Media Networks
  
  Culminating research project: The Ivy League vs. Division III: A Social and Academic Comparison of Student-Athletes
  
  

  Synopsis: Because athletes in Ivy League universities get preference in the admissions process, the general student population could be inimical toward these student-athletes. Analyzing the way Ivy League and Division III student-athletes feel regarding academic footing in relation to their peers points to the purpose of the research conducted: to determine whether student-athletes in Ivy League universities feel out of place, both socially and academically, amongst their peers.

   
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  Landon Glavach '21

  An elected member of the Student Council for four years in a row, Landon earned the Engineering Award and the AP Statistics Award, driving his research interests to explore statistics and the American media.
  
  

  Past research includes: The United Nations and Global Warming: A Call for Rightful Challenge to National Sovereignty Culminating research project: The Public’s Ability to Detect the Media’s Misuse of Statistics
  
  

  Synopsis: This research project analyzes media bias, if the media misuses statistics, and if the public can protect itself from the misused statistics. The results showed that the media is purposefully misusing statistics to mislead voters. This study suggests that news articles need a more rigorous fact-checking process and that the teaching of statistics must become more widespread.