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University of Central Florida

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A Constructionist Analysis Of Same-Sex Marriage, Sandra Kay Nead Jan 2005

A Constructionist Analysis Of Same-Sex Marriage, Sandra Kay Nead

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Same-sex marriage has been heavily debated in academics and in the public sphere. During the 2004 Presidential election same-sex marriage became an issue that polarized the candidates. It has become a lightning rod for public debate. Due to the increasing attention to the controversy of legalizing same-sex marriage, it is an important topic for research. This paper seeks to contribute to the research of same-sex marriage by providing insight into claims-making efforts to define same-sex marriage as a social problem. My findings shed light on this topic from a social constructionist perspective by examining the use of rhetorical idioms of …


Risk Factors For Adult Victimization Among Florida's Homeless Women, Rebecca Michelle Weichsel Jan 2005

Risk Factors For Adult Victimization Among Florida's Homeless Women, Rebecca Michelle Weichsel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of the existing research on violence against homeless women has concluded that homeless women are particularly vulnerable to violence and experience victimization at rates often exceeding the rates of housed women. Little research, however, has focused upon the specific risk factors that expose homeless women to physical assault, rape, and stalking. Utilizing a sample of 737 homeless women from the Florida cities of Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami, this study investigated the risk factors for experiencing adult personal victimization. The characteristics of homelessness, demographics, drug and alcohol use, subsistence activities, childhood victimization, mental health status, and criminal activities were …


Race, Socio-Economic Status, School Level-Resources, And Parental Influences On Fcat Scores In Florida: A Quantitative Study., Tara King Jan 2005

Race, Socio-Economic Status, School Level-Resources, And Parental Influences On Fcat Scores In Florida: A Quantitative Study., Tara King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is an abundance of literature that focuses on the standardized test score difference between minority and non-minority students. Within this literature, socio-economic factors, parental influences, and school-level resources have been used to explain the difference in test scores. The purpose of this study is to identify the variables that are thought to significantly influence test score achievement. The data come from the Florida Department of Education and the US Census. Linear regression analyses results are used to examine the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables. The results showed that overall economic factors are more closely related to …


Gender Differences In Characteristics Of Intimate Partner Homicide Offenders, Heather Lynn Wilson Jan 2005

Gender Differences In Characteristics Of Intimate Partner Homicide Offenders, Heather Lynn Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses whether or not male and female intimate partner homicide offenders differ in a variety of characteristics using data from the Chicago Women's Health Risk Study, 1995-1998. Frequencies of male and female intimate partner homicide offender's risk factors were compared to look at how they differ. The areas that were explored were demographics, prior abuse, and the criminal justices response. A number of gender differences were found. Directions for future research pertaining to intimate partner homicide offenders are discussed.


When Life Really Is A Stage: A Test Of Objectification Theory Using Dancers And Non-Dancers, Megan Duesterhaus Jan 2005

When Life Really Is A Stage: A Test Of Objectification Theory Using Dancers And Non-Dancers, Megan Duesterhaus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study tested a model of objectification theory proposed by Fredrickson and Roberts (1997) as it applies to disordered eating in a sample of dancers and non-dancers. The methods in this study are based on a previous test of objectification theory done by Tiggeman and Slater (2001). Two samples of participants were given a survey to measure self-objectification and its anticipated consequences. The first sample included 155 women who participated in either ballet, modern, jazz, or hip-hop dance. The second sample included 199 women enrolled in undergraduate classes at the University of Central Florida during the fall semester of 2004. …


Old And Homeless,A Second Look At Two Surveys, Brian Bigelow Jan 2005

Old And Homeless,A Second Look At Two Surveys, Brian Bigelow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the comparison between the Rich et al (1995) study done in Tampa Bay, Fl and Burt et al (2001) national study. Rich et al conducted a study of elder homeless Americans and later, Burt et al conducted a replication study on a national level using a similar study. My secondary analysis of the data covered four aspects: Demographics between the two groups of respondents; current housing issues; current alcohol, drug and mental health issues; and finally homeless services being used by both homeless, formally homeless and never homeless respondents. This was all compared to those that were …


The Maintenance Of Ethnic Culture And Manifestations Of Ethnic Identity In The Life Stories Of Finnish Immigrants, Minna Grantham Jan 2005

The Maintenance Of Ethnic Culture And Manifestations Of Ethnic Identity In The Life Stories Of Finnish Immigrants, Minna Grantham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether Finnish immigrants show evidence of assimilation or if they have maintained their ethnic culture in the United States. More specifically, the purpose was to examine how the ethnic culture has been maintained and the ways that ethnic identity manifests itself in their life stories. Ten qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Finnish immigrants and children of Finnish immigrants, and emerging themes were identified in the data. The results indicate a strong ethnic identity among Finnish immigrants, yet it appears to be a very much taken for granted experience for them. The immigrants' lives were influenced by …


Aggression In Lesbian And Bisexual Relationships, Jennifer Rae Parham Jan 2004

Aggression In Lesbian And Bisexual Relationships, Jennifer Rae Parham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For years, researchers, clinicians, and those working with victims/survivors of domestic abuse have overlooked the issue of same-sex partner aggression among lesbians and bisexual women. Through in-depth interviews with 19 women who identify themselves as either lesbian or bisexual, information was documented in this study demonstrating the severity of issues of power and control among some same-sex partners, as well as some if the dynamics that are unique to same-sex abusive relationships. Patterns of abuse within same-sex relationships often mirror those that are so commonly associated with partner aggression among heterosexual couples, and therefore demonstrate not only the need for …


Exposure Matters: Examining The Physical And Psychological Health Impacts Of Toxic Contamination Using Gis And Survey Data, Christine A. Bevc Jan 2004

Exposure Matters: Examining The Physical And Psychological Health Impacts Of Toxic Contamination Using Gis And Survey Data, Christine A. Bevc

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the grassroots environmental movement brought national attention to the issues related to inequities in environmental quality. Previous research addressing these environmental inequities has progressively increased and advanced methodologically. However, the arguments and focus have been primarily limited to examining the socio-demographics in an ongoing debate of race and class. This thesis extends past the methodological stalemate focusing on the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using survey data in an environmental justice case study of a community in south Florida. This approach examines the social, health and environmental impacts of a Superfund site …


Gun Ownership Trends In The United States, 1973-2000, Jason Michael Ruckert Jan 2004

Gun Ownership Trends In The United States, 1973-2000, Jason Michael Ruckert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last half century, gun ownership has been one of the most hotly debated topics in the United States. The right to bear arms was written into the U. S. Constitution and into the hearts and minds of its citizens. During the last half century, however, numerous gun control laws have been enacted at Federal, state and local levels, and it can be argued (plausibly or not) that part of the legislative intent has been to decrease the number of gun owning households in the United States. For many decades, this number hovered at one half of all households …


Do You Have A Friend?: The Impact Of Personal Knowledge Of Someone With Aids On Attitudes Towards Aids, Leith Leonce Lombas Jan 2004

Do You Have A Friend?: The Impact Of Personal Knowledge Of Someone With Aids On Attitudes Towards Aids, Leith Leonce Lombas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study of attitudes towards those with AIDS is relatively recent. Most studies have examined attitudes concerning health and medical concerns. Little research has focused on attitudes toward social and behavior concerns. The few that have focused on such attitudes have employed relatively small samples collected primarily out of convenience. The studies that have used national samples have primarily addressed public policy issues. Using national data from the 1988 General Social Survey, this paper examines the effects of personal knowledge about the AIDS virus and other attitudinal variables on four dimensions of social and behavioral concern for those with AIDS …


Population Churn: The Migration Flow Of Florida, Marguerite Cashen Jan 2004

Population Churn: The Migration Flow Of Florida, Marguerite Cashen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has focused attention on the concerns of migration in and out of Florida and within the counties themselves. In 1949, Cape Canaveral was established and the boom was on. The character of the state dramatically transformed after 1965, when plans were announced to convert twenty-seven thousand acres of swampland into Walt Disney World. Since then, Orlando's evolution is divided into two eras: before and after Walt Disney World. Orlando has changed from a quiet town whose function was to service the surrounding citrus growing regions in a sparsely populated Orange County to a booming metropolis. Has the growth …


Explaining Churn: Mass Society, Social Capital, & Community Churn, Delores Edelen Jan 2004

Explaining Churn: Mass Society, Social Capital, & Community Churn, Delores Edelen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Population churn--the population turnover experienced by a community--can have differential effects on a community. Mass society theory suggests that because the churn rate experienced by communities can contribute to their uprooting, fragmentation, and isolation, churn is a potent threat to the stability of our modern day communities. Social capital theory, to the contrary, suggests otherwise. Social capital theory suggests that churn can have positive effects on communities by bringing new migrants with valuable human capital skills and experiences to communities. These migrants bring to their new communities the potential for creating new jobs, spurring economic development, and for initiating housing …


The New Man And The New Lad: Hegemonic Masculinities In Men's Lifestyle Magazines, Ashley Michelle Elmore Jan 2004

The New Man And The New Lad: Hegemonic Masculinities In Men's Lifestyle Magazines, Ashley Michelle Elmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Men are bombarded with contradictory masculine imagery in the media. The perfect man must be aggressive but not violent, sensitive but not emotional, healthy, active and smart without being an idealist, overachiever or too bookish. Heterocentric male focused lifestyle magazines rival women’s magazines in number and availability. Some men look to these images as a tool by which to gauge their masculinity and learn their social role performance. This inquiry includes a content analysis of four major men's lifestyle magazines over a 12-month period in which four new masculinities: certitude, irony, new sexism and double voicing were critiqued. Elements of …


The Image Of Paul Robeson:Role Model For The Student And Athlete, Keith Harrison Jan 2001

The Image Of Paul Robeson:Role Model For The Student And Athlete, Keith Harrison

Dr. C. Keith Harrison

No abstract provided.


Black Athletes At The Millenium, Keith Harrison Mar 2000

Black Athletes At The Millenium, Keith Harrison

Dr. C. Keith Harrison

No abstract provided.


A Multivariate Approach To The Dynamic Of Violence Within Intimate Relationships: An Application Of Theory Of Coercive Power In Exchange, Giovanna Gianesini Jan 2000

A Multivariate Approach To The Dynamic Of Violence Within Intimate Relationships: An Application Of Theory Of Coercive Power In Exchange, Giovanna Gianesini

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study, drawing from theories of structural power and exchange, verified the hypotheses that the mechanisms, dynamics, and direction of violence in intimate relationships depends on the resources of each partner, the ratio of such resources, and their summative effects. Specifically, this study developed a framework that integrates the factors found related to domestic violence and defined as resources, and took into account their reward power, with reference to the status quo of the partners, to determine each partner's power within the relationship. The resources considered have included variables from four domains, individual, relational, social structural, and sociocultural. Existing gender-based …


Evaluation Of A Support Group For Parents Who Have A Sexually Abused Child, Mark A. Winton Jan 1988

Evaluation Of A Support Group For Parents Who Have A Sexually Abused Child, Mark A. Winton

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the effectiveness of a Parent Support Group for parents who have a child who has been sexually abused. Twenty-seven pa rents completed pre- and post-evaluation packages to assess the effectiveness of the group. The Louisville Behavior Checklist, the Mother-Child Relationship Eva l uation, the Parenting Stress Index, an educational assessment form and a subjective evaluation using content analysis were used to test several hypotheses. The results indicated that there were significant decreases in the children's dysfunctional behaviors and an increase of the number of correct answers on the educational assessment. The subjective evaluation appeared to indicate that …


The Extent And Prevalence Of Family Violence In Seminole County, Karen J.L. Casalese Jan 1984

The Extent And Prevalence Of Family Violence In Seminole County, Karen J.L. Casalese

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted for the Task Force on Domestic Violence in Seminole County whose purpose it was to study and address the problems of domestic violence. The data were collected by random digit dialing telephone interviews of a representative sample of 536 Seminole county families. The sample represented a .01% sample of the total population. The questionnaire was developed as a structured interview with unforced responses to many of the questions. Demographic information was also obtained on the respondent and members of the respondent's family. It was hypothesized that the Seminole County survey would yield family violence rates similar …


Relationship Of Speechreading Performance And Facial Hair, Ronald Goluba Jan 1975

Relationship Of Speechreading Performance And Facial Hair, Ronald Goluba

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.


White Chauvinism And The Struggle For Peace, Pettis Perry Jan 1952

White Chauvinism And The Struggle For Peace, Pettis Perry

PRISM: Political & Rights Issues & Social Movements

No abstract provided.