The Senior Project is the capstone project in the major. It is the culmination of a student’s time at the UW and an opportunity to demonstrate the results of one’s two-year educational plans and accomplishments within the major. In this manner, Senior Projects are not only a form of conclusion, but are also a means by which the student author and the major may be measured. Projects are an important piece of evidence that show what a student and the major can accom- plish. Senior Projects can take many forms. Which form they take depends on the interests of the student author and the needs of the project itself, but may include academic research, client- based work, artistic or demonstration-oriented endeavors, or community organizing processes.
​Over 300 million people in China smoke cigarettes. Indeed, throughout most of China, cigarette use is widely accepted and even promoted, while many people don’t believe or fully understand the harm cigarettes can cause. This project attempts to understand why cigarette smoking is so popular. Specifically, I ask whether certain social customs and cultural beliefs are driving tobacco-use in China. To address this question, I conducted background research on tobacco-use in China and other countries and examined the effectiveness of several strategies to control tobacco use. I also conducted an anonymous online survey of current smokers, past smokers, non-smokers, and second-hand smokers (n=458) focusing on the role of cultural beliefs in shaping attitudes about smoking behavior. The result of my research suggests that culture does play an important role in determining attitudes towards smoking and smoking behavior. Based on these results, I provide several culturally specific recommendations for limiting tobacco use in China.
Project Write-up
SPN PowerPoint Slide
