Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Influence Of Risk Perception, Vulnerability And Community Level Processes On Human-Wildlife Conflict In Southeastern Kenya, Jerry K. Daday, Douglas C. Smith, Michael K. Stokes, Charles Kimwele

Sociology Faculty Presentations

The prior literature on the sociology of disasters has primarily examined community responses to large-scale episodic disasters, such as in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. However, the study of persistent and chronic disasters in developing countries represents an area that has largely been ignored in prior studies. Flint and Luloff’s (2005) Inter-actional theory as a framework, our research examines the influence of perceived risk, vulnerability and community characteristics on human-wildlife conflict among 275 subsistence-based farmers living in four small villages in Southeastern Kenya. These farmers rely on a horticultural and pastoral economy for survival and …

The Effects Of Gender On Small Businesses: A Case Study Of Kasigau, Kenya, Leslie Abell, Jerry Daday

Sociology Faculty Presentations

Small businesses are seen as an agent of economic growth in developing countries. Recently, the idea of micro-lending has received increased attention due to its promising effects on employment and personal economic growth in rural developing areas. However, we lack an in depth understanding of how male and female business owners differ.

In the summer of 2007, our research group from Western Kentucky University spent three and a half weeks in a small rural area of Kenya, Africa. This area called Kasigau was situated at the base of Mount Kasigau in eastern Kenya. During our time there, we surveyed the …