Digital Commons Network^™

Athletic Participation: A Test Of Learning And Neutralization Theories., Mario Bernard Hankerson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Athletics has been regarded as a means of encouraging youth to build character, discipline, and develop healthy habits. However, literature has emerged that asserts athletics do not prevent deviant behaviors, but instead, influence one to commit deviant acts. As such, this research examined effects of athletics on the commission of deviant behaviors via learning and techniques of neutralization theories.

Subjects for this project included 325 college students from a southern regional university. Data were generated through the use of a self-report questionnaire, which measured variables pertaining to self-reported deviant behaviors including perceptions of peer deviance, neutralizing indicators, and sports participation. …

An Evaluation Of The Ispcan Inter-Sectoral Training: Child Abuse Protocols In South Africa, Amy Maheswaran

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research studies how child abuse has become so pervasive in South Africa and evaluates a project that provides training for professionals to learn the necessary skills to build an effective social welfare system, potentially create national procedures for serving abused children and potentially change child abuse laws. Efforts have been made to build awareness on the rights of children in South Africa. Children, before and after the apartheid regime, have been affected by the breakdown of families and oppressive laws in a patriarchal society. Child abuse services and policies have attempted to address protecting children from abuse. Despite efforts …

Law, Media And Political Dissent: The Case Of The Faln, Yanira Reyes

Open Access Dissertations

Inspired on the works of scholars and activists that had denounced state repression of political activists in the United States, this research explores the theoretical proposal about the criminalization of political dissidence. The proposal of the criminalization of political dissidence is analyzed through the study of the case of Puerto Rican pro-independence organization Fuerzas Armadas de Liberaci6n Nacional, F.A.L.N. The subjects of this research were charged with seditious conspiracy and other charges. They claimed the status of prisoners of war and deny the jurisdiction of US courts over them. Affirming their right to fight for the independence of Puerto Rico, …

The Social Construction Of Personal Protection Orders: Gendered Differences?, Kristen E. Devall

Masters Theses

Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) were enacted as one method of responding to the issue of domestic violence that was thought to be escalating in epidemic proportions across the United States. This research was grounded in social constructionist theory and sought to examine the perspectives of judges who authorize/deny PPOs and the implications these perspectives have for the legal process as well as the larger criminal justice system. Through my examination of the petitioning process, I gained insights about the relationships that exist between petitioners and respondents as well as the reasons petitioners cite for why s/he is seeking a PPO. …

Working Hard For The Money : Tax Noncompliance In The Small Building And Construction Industry, Anne Austin Carroll

Masters Theses

The closing decades of the 20th century saw significant policy developments in the movement to improve business compliance with regulatory and tax requirements. Previously, controversy about whether a more or less interventionalist approach was needed dominated discussions of and proposals to enhance regulation. At the core of the debate were the theoretical assumptions about the motivations driving compliance. Advocates of the more interventional approach referred to as command-and-control regulation assume self-interest motivates compliance and a fear of sanctions deters noncompliance. Those arguing for a less interventional approach known as cooperative regulation assume civic duty, moral beliefs, fairness and legitimacy of …

A Spatial Analysis Of Crime For The City Of Omaha, Haifeng Zhang

Student Work

The spatial patterns of four types of crimes (assault, robbery, auto-theft, and burglary) and their relationships with the selected socio-economic characteristics for the City of Omaha, Nebraska, were examined in this research. The crime data were based on the 2000 police reported crime and the socio-economic data were extracted from the 1997 American Community Survey and land use data from the 2000 Omaha parcel file. The location quotients of crimes (LQCs) were used to measure the relative specialization and structure of crimes for each census tract, and as the dependent variables for the statistical analysis. GIS techniques such as geocoding, …

Male And Female Juvenile Delinquency: An Assessment Of Contextual Differences In Offending, Mark A. Cunningham

Student Work

This thesis examines data on gender and the incidence and prevalence of delinquent and criminal offending, as well as gender differences in the context of offending for a sample of high school students in Omaha, Nebraska. Context refers to the specific attributes of a particular offense, whose interrelationship describes both the features and the circumstances of the offense. A focus on gender differences in the context of offending highlights how gender impacts the structural and social conditions that are related to commission of delinquent and criminal acts, and the findings of this study underscore the importance of this research. Results …

A Qualitative Study Of Bullying Behavior In Federal Law Enforcement: An Examination Of Former Officers' Perceptions Regarding The Problem, Rande W. Matteson

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The purpose of this phenomenological research project was to study and review through naturalistic inquiry, the perceptions of former federal agents and officers as to whether they believe they were bullied at their workplace, and if so, what did those participants do to cope or adjust to the bullying behavior. Multiple sources for data collection were deployed to explore and examine whether former agents perceive they were bullied at work and what mechanisms those employees found were helpful as coping strategies.

This research project used a non-random, purposeful sample selected from contacts established through the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. …

The Normative Structures Guiding Surfers' Perceptions About The Environment: An Exploratory Analysis Of Environmental Behavior And Environmental Concern, Jeffrey G. Toussaint

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship among surfers and their behaviors and concerns towards the environment. The sample included 94 respondents to a survey posted through the Eastern Surf Association (ESA) website. This study proposed that respondents who reported that surfing was their primary outdoor recreational activity would have more environmental behavior and environmental concern than respondents who did not have surfing as their primary outdoor recreational activity. Demographic and other causal factors, were used to assess the effects on the level of a surfer's environmental behavior and concern. From these hypotheses, several other relationships are …

Pyramid Schemes: An Exploratory Study Into An Emerging Form Of White-Collar Crime, Matthew V. Carter

Theses & Honors Papers

This project was conducted to explain why people engage in white-collar crime with specific attention given to the rationales and motivations by individual participants in a pyramid scheme.

This exploratory case study utilized existing files from a law enforcement investigation as well as newspaper articles that covered the investigation.

Qualitative data in the form of content analysis of these secondary data sources was used to capture themes related to the rationales and motivations behind a person becoming involved in a pyramid scheme. These investigative files and newspaper articles represented statements made by persons who became involved in this emerging form …

Social Information-Processing In Adolescent Girls: A Comparison Of Sex Offending Girls, Delinquent Girls, And Girls From The Community, Elizabeth Knapp Kubik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Various lines of evidence suggest that sex offenders exhibit "thinking errors" or cognitive distortions about their sexually offensive behaviors (e.g., blaming the victim). Numerous clinical reports have documented cognitive distortions among adolescent male sex offenders; empirical research consistently finds evidence of cognitive distortions among adult male sex offenders; sex offender treatments that focus on cognitive distortions as a primary target of treatment have been shown to be the most effective type of treatment for sexual offending; and research on general aggression in adolescent boys and girls consistently demonstrates that aggressive children tend to have distorted beliefs about their aggressive behavior. …

A Crusade For Morality : Status Politics And Internet Filtering Legislation, Sueanne M. Plaksin

Masters Theses

This thesis demonstrates that particular interest groups supporting the limiting and restricting of patron access on Internet tenninals in public libraries is motivated by a desire to maintain their dominant cultural hegemony. These groups, identified in this work as "Crusaders" are seeking to pass federal legislation that would require that public libraries install Internet filtering software on public terminals or forfeit federal funding provided through the e-rate subsidy. The importance of such a law is not its instrumental value, but its symbolic value. The sociological theory known as status politics supplies the theoretical basis for this thesis. Briefly, status politics …

Student Perception Of Parental Responses To Their Adolescent Behaviors: The Characteristics Of Those Who Are Labeled Negatively And The Impact Of The Labels, Stephanie Medley

Honors Theses

The following research uses labeling theory to determine what type of individual is most likely to be labeled negatively by their parents during adolescence. Labeling theory hypothesizes that if an individual is negatively labeled they are more likely to engage in secondary deviance than an individual who is not labeled negatively. The assumptions of labeling theory will be identified. Types and levels of deviance will be identified. Prior research will also be examined to identify what types of characteristics have already been identified as to increase the likelihood ofbeing labeled negatively. Next, the sample and methodology will be identified. The …

Differences In Levels Of Sports Team Identification And Sports Fan Motivation Among American Indian And Caucasian University Of North Dakota Students, Tami Jollie-Trottier

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure the level of spectator identification and fan motivation among University of North Dakota (UND) students. Participants consisted of 57 Northern Plains American Indian students and 90 Caucasian students. Participants completed the Sports Spectator Identification Scale (SSIS) and the Sports Fan Motivation Scale (SFMS). It was predicted that Caucasian students would report higher levels of spectator identification with UND "Fighting Sioux" athletic teams than would American Indian students. It was further hypothesized Caucasian students would be more likely to contest changing the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo. It was also predicted that motivation …

Protestant Fundamentalsim, Intolerance, And Punitiveness, Andrea Christine Mouser

Masters Theses

Sociological literature in the area of Protestant religions suggests that association with fundamentalist denominations increases criminal punitiveness. Previous research has, however, examined this relationship without accounting for the possible influence of intolerance. This is the first study of its kind to use a national level dataset to examine the relationship of Protestant fundamentalism to criminal punitiveness. Using data from the 1991 General Social Survey, this study introduces the variable intolerance into the relationship, which prior research has shown to be related to both Protestant fundamentalism and criminal punitiveness. Bivariate correlations and path analysis reveal that intolerance is a significant variable …

Teachers' Perceptions Of School Safety, Safety-Based Changes, And Their Resultant Impact On School Climate: A Case Study, Laura L. Finley

Dissertations

In the last decade, several high-profile shootings in suburban school districts have drawn attention to the issue of school-based violence. Consequently, schools all over have responded in many ways. The literature reveals that many suburban and rural schools have adopted the same measures as have urban districts, despite the fact that their discipline and violence problems are qualitatively different. These responses have generally been punitive and technological in nature, rather than curricular or structural reforms. This has included institution of metal detectors, more restrictive student dress codes, zero tolerance laws and others. Some, though, have suggested that these responses may …

Why Mystery And Detective Fiction Was A Natural Outgrowth Of The Victorian Period, Sharon J. Kobritz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Master Project presents evidence showing why mystery and detective fiction flourished during the Victorian period and argues that this enduring genre was a natural outgrowth of this time. The project presents material on the culture of the Victorian period and shows how the roles of men and women are defined. This project will argue that mystery and detective fiction flourished because of the changes in popular culture; that the sweeping changes in education, medicine, literature, religion and business solidified the popularity of this genre. Along with this genre of fiction came a new way of publishing and reading. One …

Ideology Or Insanity? Media Presentation Of Ted Kaczynski And Tim Mcveigh, Matthew P. Sheptoski

Dissertations

This dissertation explores mainstream media presentation of two convicted murderers: Theodore J. Kaczynski, otherwise known as "The Unabomber," and Timothy J. McVeigh, found guilty of the 1995 destruction of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. More specifically, I analyze The New York Times's and Time's presentation of these two actors in order to assess whether their acts were attributed to political and ideological motivation or psychological abnormality and mental illness. Quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that Kaczynski's crimes were more likely to be attributed to psychological abnormality and mental illness, while McVeigh's crimes were more likely to be …

Mpa/Msa Program Survey Of Columbus State University Alumni, Judith A. Frix

Theses and Dissertations

Questionnaires were mailed to all Columbus State University MP A/MSA alumni, and the responses were used to evaluate alumni perception of the program. Survey questions included: indication of the alumni option area; selection and evaluation of program objectives; relationship of the degree to the objective; year of graduation; perceived importance of the degree to life success; job status during and after completion of the degree; rankings of curriculum, support facilities, and advising; value of degree versus the cost of acquiring the degree; the fulfillment of learning expectations; career goals reached through program training; contribution of the program to the general …

Examining Perceptions About Restorative Justice Among Correctional Managers And Leaders, Sigrun M. Klausen

Theses and Graduate Projects

There has been an increasing dissatisfaction with the current criminal justice system, and restorative justice with its ancient roots, has made its way into criminal justice in the past 20 years as a different way of thinking about crime. The Minnesota Department of Corrections established a Restorative Justice unit in 1994 as the first state in the nation. To adapt restorative justice in the prison system, a change in organizational culture is required, and it is important that managers and leaders understand and accept the principles. A questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was sent to managers and leaders in …

Analysis Of States Gun Control Restrictions, Xiaofeng Cheng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the policy effects of several state gun control restrictions in the United States. The study employs the data of gun related crimes and gun control restrictions from Statistical Abstract of Criminal Justice Handbook through five years (from 1995 to 2000). Although many scholars have studied previously gun control policy effects on crimes, they always focus on the total violence level and ignore to compare the policy effects of different gun control laws. The present study examines intensively gun related crimes and compares several gun control policies.

Pooled data is employed to access the effects of gun control …

A Critical Review Of Issues In Applying Restorative Justice Principles And Practices To Cases Of Hate Crime, Terri Lee Kelly

Dissertations and Theses

A restorative approach to justice focuses on accountability for healing the harm done to victims and communities as a result of criminal acts. Hate crimes are intended to send a threatening message to a particular group of people. There is enough reliable research on restorative justice principles and practices, and on the causes, meaning and impact of hate crimes, to bring together a representative selection of available literature for a critical review. This thesis critically reviews the literature of restorative justice principles and practices, and the literature of hate crime causes, definitions, laws, and typologies of offenders, using as a …

The Impact Of Systematically Varying The Duration Of Breath Samples During Infrared-Based Alcohol Breath Testing, Chris C. Clatterbuck

Dissertations

The present study set out to investigate the reliability and performance of the BAC DataMaster®, an infrared-based alcohol breath testing instrument. The focus of this study was to determine: (a) the impact of varying breath sample duration during testing, (b) if Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels produced by the DataMaster® (BAC_DM) are significantly different from BAC levels produced by analysis of whole blood (BAC_WB), and (c) if the relationship between BAC_DM estimates and BAC_WB is influenced by the amount of alcohol an examinee has ingested. Each of 27 participants was randomly assigned to one …

What Have They Told Us About Gangs? A Content Analysis Of Twentieth Century Texts On U.S. Gangs, Douglas Lee Gilbertson

Dissertations

Inspired by a scholarly desire to understand and explain things, formal theoretical explanations for the social problem of gangs have been around just about as long as gangs themselves. This is an inductive content analysis of the texts within twentieth century works explaining gangs. This study explores those explanations as social artifacts and analyzes the text within them in order to identify textual similarities. This is accomplished by consolidating codified text or words until typologies of abstract theoretical concepts are revealed. The purpose of this study is to identify probable causal factors for gang formation and gang joining behavior that …

The Leadership Of The Domestic Violence Movement In Minnesota, Suzanne Koepplinger

Theses and Graduate Projects

The beginnings of the domestic violence movement were heavily influenced by cultural feminist thought and servant leadership styles. In recent years, more hierarchical and professional service providers have gained ground and changed the face of service provision, legislative efforts and public outreach in the domestic violence movement. What began as a social change movement has evolved into an institution in its own right. This shift has caused new styles of leadership and a new paradigm to take root. Transforming, empowering and visionary leadership, all with a base in feminism, mark the current players. It has not been an easy transition, …

Discrimination And Nepotism Within Police Specialty Units, Robert Norvell Hollins Iii

Dissertations and Theses

A career as a police officer has served as a legitimate avenue for many Black Americans to elevate themselves from numerous low paying less prestigious jobs, to a more respectable better paying secured occupation that has a higher social economic status. The general perception related to the civil service position of a police officer, suggests that it is an occupation which should offer an environment free from discrimination and nepotism, thereby allowing fair treatment and equal access for advancement to all individuals employed within the police organization.

The concept of a police organization that offers fair treatment and equal access …

Multisystemic Therapy: Why There Is A Need For It, What It Is, How It Works, And An Intern's Experiences In A Mental Health Agency Utilizing Multisystemic Therapy, Christy Ann Claiborne

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Role Of Police, Prosecutors And Defense Attorneys In Traffic Accident Investigation And Adjudication In Chattanooga, Tennessee., Karen L. Beisel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study provides, via personal interviews, a qualitative examination of police, district attorneys, public defenders and private attorneys who were involved in traffic accident investigation and criminal court adjudication in Chattanooga, Tennessee. These data were compiled to develop a profile of the actors and their involvement in the process of a criminal charge stemming from a traffic accident. The literature suggests that the actors work as a team to process a case from investigation to adjudication; however, the actors in Chattanooga, Tennessee were fragmented in their handling of a case. This study collectively examines police and attorneys in relation to …

The Ethical Implications Of Telemedicine And The Internet For Home Healthcare, Keith Alan Bauer

Doctoral Dissertations

Information and communication technologies, such as the Internet, are transforming our business, education, and leisure practices. The healthcare industry is no exception to this trend and the burgeoning field of home-based telemedicine is evidence of this. As with many technological innovations in healthcare, assessments of homebased telemedicine and correlative policies are being driven by economic and technological criteria that emphasize cost reduction and technologic efficiency. These are important considerations, but these assessments neither identify the ethical values involved in home-based telemedicine nor address its possible ethical implications. Since the economic and technologic viability of home-based telemedicine is not identical with …

If Not You, Then Who? : An Historical Perspective On The Effectiveness Of School-Related Programs In The Prevention Of Teen Pregnancy, Linda Ingram Shoemaker

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined school-related programs developed to prevent teen pregnancy over a fifty year period from 1950 to 2000. The first programs to reduce unprotected intercourse were implemented in U.S. schools in the early 1900's. Since that time, few attempts have been made to evaluate program effectiveness. This has created serious limitations in the efforts of schools to reduce unwanted teen pregnancies. While there exists an extensive body of research and literature that describes efforts aimed at the teen who faces as unintended pregnancy, the more general field of teen pregnancy prevention has not been explored as extensively. This study …