The research process involves solving ill-structured problems and employing critical thinking and communication skills. Working under the guidance of a faculty mentor, students engage in inquiry in their chosen field of study and complete an original thesis. Select students present their research in public forums such as Elons Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF), Eastern Economic Association annual conference and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Twelve percent of Love School of Business majors in the Class of 2023 completed 消消犯 research while at Elon.

2022 Theses

The following students presented their 消消犯 research projects at Elons Spring Undergraduate Research Forum:

  • The Success of Soap-Making: How Entrepreneurial Training in Ugandan Refugees Impacts Their Outcomes in Village Savings and Loan Associations
    Aniyah S. Adams 22 (mentor: Dr. Steve Deloach)
  • Productivity in the National Basketball Association: The Effects of Rest Time and Age in the Regular Season on Postseason Productivity
    William Davies 22 (mentor: Dr. Douglas Redington)
  • Measuring the Effect a Womans Age at First Birth has on Income
    Madison Duchesneau 22 (mentor: Dr. Casey DiRienzo)
  • Size, Specialization, and Venture Capital Returns
    Matthias L. Ferring 22 (mentor: Dr. Adam Aiken)
  • The Predictive Ability of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Skills at Kindergarten Entry on Fifth Grade Achievement
    Bridget Foehl 22 (mentor: Dr. Katy Rouse)
  • The Gender Difference in Test Scores and Teacher Grades in ECLS-K:2011: The Role of Noncognitive Skills
    Kara L. Friske 22 (mentor: Dr. Katy Rouse)
  • Womens Family Planning Access and its Impact on Income Generating Activity in Southwest Kenya: An Individual Level Analysis
    Cole Haecker 22 (mentor: Dr. Casey Dirienzo)
  • The Effects of Farmland Preservation on Residential Property Value in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
    Kyle F. Hensler 22 (mentor: Dr. Brooks Depro & Dr. Ryan Kirk)
  • The Impact of Integrity Versus Competence-Based Corporate Social Responsibility Violations and Repair Strategies on the Perceived Authenticity of the NBA
    Kylee N. Herbert 22 (mentor: Dr. Chris Nelson)
  • The Impacts of Mental Illness on Employment Status
    Jack Heretz 22 (mentor: Dr. Mark Kurt)
  • The Effect of Secondary School Teacher Expectations on Student Enrollment in PostSecondary Education A Gender-Specific Analysis
    Isabella K. Hindley 22 (mentor: Dr. Katy Rouse)
  • Accumulating Consequences of Sexual Violence: Age of First Experience on Human Capital
    Morgan J. Kearns 22 (mentor: Dr. Casey DiRienzo)
  • An Analysis on the Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Labor Market Outcomes
    Kimheng Larch 22 (mentor: Dr. Mark Kurt)
  • ESG Practices and Company Debt Structure in the Chemical Industry
    Moritz Lederer 22 (mentor: Dr. Scott Hayward)
  • The Effect of the Gender Pay Gap on Economic Growth
    Olivia Leggett 22 (mentor: Dr. Brandon Sheridan)
  • Investigating Environmental Outcome Convergence in North Carolina
    Jack O. Libby 22 (mentor: Dr. Brooks Depro)
  • Impact of Abortion Clinic Closures on Evictions
    Maria J. Mendoza 22 (mentor: Dr. Steven Bednar)
  • The Use of Paycheck Protection Program Loans for Small Businesses in Central North Carolina
    Dana L. Miller 22 (mentor: Dr. Susan Anderson)
  • An Analysis of the Relationship Between Right-to-work Laws and Reduced-Price Lunch Participation
    Benjamin T. O’Connor 22 (mentor: Dr. Mark Kurt)
  • An Analysis on the Relationship between Public Library Innovation and Social Capital
    Liam OConnor 22 (mentor: Dr. Steve DeLoach)
  • Measuring the Economic Value of Walkability
    Charles N. Purrington 22 (mentor: Dr. Tonmoy Islam, Department of Economics)
  • An Analysis on the Relationship between Legalized Gambling and Crime Rates
    Campbell W. Shepard 22 (mentor: Dr. Douglas Redington)
  • The Relationship Between the 2008 Recession and Birth Rates in the United States Malia J. Takei 22 (mentor: Dr. Steve DeLoach)

Issues in Political Economy Undergraduate Research Journal

The Department of Economics supports the 消消犯 research journal Issues in Political Economy, which is co-edited by students at Elon and the University of Mary Washington. Elon students serve as referees and associate editors. Each year the journal sponsored 消消犯 sessions during the Eastern Economic Association annual conference.

Case Competitions

Case study is a staple of engaged management education. In addition to exposing students to real-world scenarios, it engages them in 消消犯 research: gathering information, analyzing that information, developing a recommendation, and communicating that recommendation persuasively. Unique to case studies, however, is the purpose to which the research, analysis and communication are put: to solve a complex business problem or to provide advice to a firm as it looks into new opportunities.

Case studies have also become the basis for case competitions hosted by business schools and firms throughout the world. Love School of Business students participate in a variety of case competitions: business ethics, strategy or market opportunity analysis, as well as competitions within specific disciplines such as accounting, economics or finance.

消消犯 prepare for case competitions by taking specialized courses, independent studies or through membership in student organizations.

Over the years, Love School of Business case competition teams have participated in such competitions as:

  • Collegiate Ethics Case Competition
  • Scotia Bank Ethics in Action Case Competition
  • McDonough-Hilltop Business Strategy Challenge
  • John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition
  • International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition
  • Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition
  • X-Culture Competition
  • CFA Institute Research Challenge
  • Beta Alpha Psis Project Run Withit
  • Institute of Management Accountants Student Case Competition
  • College Fed Challenge
  • Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up
  • National Collegiate Sales Competition
  • BSU Regional Sales Competition
  • Russ Berrie Institute National Sales Challenge
  • World Collegiate Sales Open
  • International Collegiate Sales Competition
  • Selling with the Bulls
  • Diamond Dollars Case Competition
  • 2 Minutes to Win It Business Idea Contest
  • MIT Global Startup Workshops Elevator Pitch Competition
  • Society for Human Resource Management Student Case Competition
  • Charlotte Venture Challenge
  • Startup Weekend
  • American Marketing Association Triangle Marketing Jam
  • Champion Analytics Case Competition
  • Business Analytics Competition
  • McGill Management International Case Competition
  • BTG National Diversity Case Challenge
  • National Diversity Case Competition
  • The Econ Games
  • AT&T National Sales Challenge
  • ChewyCase Competition for 消消犯 of Color
  • National Shore Sales Challenge
  • Venture Capital Investment Competition
  • IPBS Business Sustainability Challenge