Kyara Somers
1. What is the title of your honour’s thesis project?
Investigating the Communication of Birth Control on TikTok Platforms
2. Can you give a brief description of what your honours thesis project investigated?
My thesis collected 100 videos with the most likes from TikTok using “#birthcontrolpills” along with their user engagement in terms of comments, views and shares. The three main objectives were to identify the common themes within the videos such as usage or side effects, to analyze the understandability and actionability of the information given and identify if the source of the information was a healthcare provider or not. In addition, the accuracy of the information provided was analyzed using reliable references.
3. Why did you choose this topic?
I chose this topic because TikTok has become a very popular social media platform that is used by individuals of all ages. I realized that this platform is being heavily used to spread information on different healthcare topics and I wanted to further investigate the accuracy of this information specifically on birth control pills. This platform has potential to spread information to a lot of people in a short period of time therefore it is important that this information is accurate.
4. What did you find the most rewarding about completing an honours thesis?
Completing an honours thesis was not in my original plans until I started talking to my professors. This type of project requires determination, good time management and communication skills, along with a lot of hard work. I am so proud of myself for taking this extra step during my undergraduate career, and I am also proud that I have contributed research to this growing topic.
5. What did you find the most challenging about completing an honours thesis?
I was nervous to complete an honours thesis because my writing skills were still developing. During my last year at St.FX, this is something I tried to work on throughout the year. With the help of my supervisor and second reader I was able to create an amazing thesis.
6. Was there any part of this process that surprised you?
I would not say that I had any surprises through the process, but I did learn a lot more about research and its importance within our discipline!
7. Do you have any advice for future honours students?
I think the most important thing is to find a supervisor that you can communicate well with! This makes the process so much fun and easier for the student. Additionally, I would recommend documenting the various deadline dates and scheduling times throughout the week to work on your thesis to keep on top of the work.
Hannah Smith
1. What is the title of your honours thesis project?
Predictors of Healthy and Unhealthy Music Use in Young Adults
2. Can you give a brief description of what your honours thesis project investigated?
The goal of my honours thesis was to determine the factors that predict healthy and unhealthy music listening. We looked at factors such as music listening motives, sex, genre preference, and time spent listening to music. We surveyed StFX students and found that those with depression, anxiety, and stress were all more likely to listen to music for unhealthy reasons. We also found that those with stress and anxiety were also associated with healthy music use. Our results suggested that some individuals with poor mental health engage in healthy music listening practices, while others engage in unhealthy music listening practices. The findings of my thesis may have implications for individuals who use music for emotional regulation, whether through therapy or independently.
3. Why did you choose this topic?
I chose this topic because I love music and I believe it is a powerful tool that can be used in so many ways, including to support our mental health. I wanted to find out about the differences between the healthy and unhealthy uses of music because I believe that it is important that we use music in a healthy way and unfortunately not everyone does.
4. What did you find the most rewarding about completing an honours thesis?
The most rewarding thing about completing my honours thesis was at the end of the year I had a research paper that I could be proud of. I got to see how my findings had real-life implications. It was a big project and when I was done it was a great feeling to see the finished paper. By the end of the project I realized how much I learned, and how doing the thesis had aided my development. Throughout the process I gained experience in research, writing, survey formation, data analysis, and more.
5. What did you find the most challenging about completing an honours thesis?
One challenging thing about completing a thesis is that it’s a real marathon, not a sprint. It takes planning and preparation, but there will be many people to support you along the way, including your supervisor. You should really like the topic that you pick because you’re going to be focusing on it all year. Since the process is long, your research question might change along the way. You kind of have to learn to manage your time and roll with any changes, but in my experience it wasn’t overwhelming.
6. Was there any part of this process that surprised you?
I was a bit nervous about starting my thesis because I didn’t know anyone who had done a thesis before, and I didn’t really understand the process. One thing that I hadn’t considered was the help and support of faculty and peers that I would receive. I worked through the SHEA lab with Dr. Thompson as my supervisor. We had biweekly meeting with all the honours students within the lab, which was super helpful. As a Health student, we also had weekly seminar sessions that included information on how to write your thesis, lots of practice for your defense, etc. It was a really small class and I felt like we all supported each other throughout the year.
7. Do you have any advice for future honours
Something that was really important to me was that I enjoyed the process. There are a few things that I would suggest. Pick a topic that you like and that you’ll enjoy researching. If you’re just starting out, try to do a little background research on the topics that you’re interested in, and discuss them with your supervisor. Whenever you have the opportunity try to connect with your peers who are working on their thesis. They’re working on the same things you are you can support each other. Don’t be scared to ask questions when you’re not sure; your thesis will be better for it. Finally, if you try to have fun and care about the project you’re bound to have a great experience and great success. Good luck!